Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters I want to start reloading...

I know nothing about reloading and I want to start doing a lot more shooting. Am I correct in assuming that I will save a lot of money reloading? What would I need to puchase as far as equipment in order to be completely set up for reloading my 30-06 ammunition.
Anyone have any idea what all this would cost (in Canadian $)

There are basic kits available from RCBS and others. Check Cabela's, Midway or any of the other mail order companies. Cost can be as much as you want to spend. There is a lot of other equipment that you will want to add to your basic kit. You can do a lot more shooting for a lesser price.Rick.

Lee Precision is the way to go for good, cheap ammo. Cabela's will sell you a Lee Loader kit for $13 US, and a scale for $18. That will get you started, and you'll make the cost back on the first 100 rounds.

You don't actually save money reloading, if you have, say, $500 per year to spend on ammo you'll still spend $500, but you'll shoot more. Quite a lot more.

If you have the cases paid for, you can load .30-06 for $0.25-$0.30 US, which is $5-$6 per box, and about the same as the Korean War surplus stuff you see. And, with any effort, your ammo will shoot better in your rifle than most factory ammo. Quality hunting loads, with $2 bullets, of course cost more.

Unless you are going to start shooting competetively, you probably won't save a lot of money reloading. Yes, you can make up a box of ammo that will shoot better, for less money if you reload. Problem is, you can fall into the trap so many of us do...that is, you want smaller and smaller groups! No harm in that, but here's how it went for me. First, I started trying different powders for my .30-06. Win 765, then IMR 4350, then 4320, then BLC-2, then AA2700, then...etc etc. Then I needed more than 1 reloading manual. I tried different bullets and weights. Hornady Interlocks, Barnes X, Speer HotCors, Sierras, Noslers etc etc. Then different tooling. Sinclair bullet comparator, RCBS Precision Mic, Forster Benchrest micrometer seating die etc etc. See what I mean? All for a .30-06?
I shot NRA bullseye for awhile, running thru 300 - 500 rounds of .45ACP a month. That's where you can save some dough by reloading.
I finally figured out it doesn't really matter if my .30-06 shoots 1/2", 3/4", 1", or 1 -1/4" groups, the deer will still be dead.
I had a lot of fun, and I have lots of partial boxes of bullets and cans of powder. Did I mention my experiments with primers.......? The old 77 still shoots.
The bare minimum. Cases, powder, primers, and bullets. A press, 2-die set, case lube, scale and funnel, calipers, and a reloading manual or loaddata.com. After you've fired the cases a couple of times, you'll need some way to trim and chamfer them. A tumbler wouldn't hurt.......and there you go. See what I mean?

Velox,
Go ahead and get yourself a Lee Anniversary Kit. It's a great starter, with everything you NEED to be functional -- except a manual, and the powder makers hand those out for free at gun stores (at least in the US, they do). As for dies, I have never tried the Lee dies, and have a definite preference for the Hornady seater and Redding FL sizers, but then, I have plenty of RCBS sets that are just fine, too.
But like I said, the Lee kit will be a good START. I now have a fancy-schmancy Dillon progressive loader, while using the Lee press as a portable setup for load work at the local range.
Warning...I kind of got "hooked" on reloading like Joe did, just not that bad. But careful reloading can be as rewarding as shooting itself. Good luck, and have FUN.

Velox,

I have a RCBS reloading video that I got as a promo somewhere along the way. pm me your address and I will send it to you.

Chris

Beginning to handload is starting on a slippery slope <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I started to save money on .44 Specials and now, a couple thousand dollars or more down the road, I'm loading for a number of cartridges. Also seems that it makes buying a new rifle easier...."Aw, no problem, I'll just pick up some dies for it."

I second the suggestion to start with the Lee Anniversary Kit...it is a good, affordable place to start and see if handloading is enjoyable to you. Not everyone enjoys it. If it does appeal to you a move up to another brand of equipment has benefits, but the Lee press, etc., can always keep a place at the bench for simpler tasks. I started with the Lee and now have an RCBS press and Redding dies, but the Lee still does some work.

I'll third the Lee Anniversary Kit....for the reasons stated by others.

I am going to go against the Lee flow and say that RCBS is the ONLY way to go. Start with the master relaoding kit, buy a chrony and elec powder scale and have fun.

If you go the RCBS route, Natchez Shooters Supply usually has the best deal on the RCBS Master Kit. Try www.Natchezss.com. That was the kit that was recommended to me by the "experts" over on .shooters.com 5 years ago. That's what I did, and I've been happy with the choice.

Good advise from the gang, but all the sources they mention won't sell this stuff into Canada. The Lee anniversary kit, all you need to add is shell holders for the autoprime and some dies. Depending on what part of Canada you live in, try Wholesale Sports, Russell Sports, Ellwood Epps, the Lee kit runs about $150 cdn including the Lee manual, dies from $20-50, another good thing is a Lee trimmer for 3006, it's about $10.
If you get a chance find somebody in you area to do it with once, watch them etc. A great site for Canadian rifle looney's (although they prefer to be called Canadiangunnutz) is www.canadiangunnutz.com
Good luck, it's relatively easy to get started but it's sure handy to have an expert near by at the beginning.
Martin

No, you won't save any money, but you will shoot more. IMHO you wont save any money by buying cheap hand tools. If you stay with it you will tire of them soon and replace them with the real stuff. Before you spend any big money buy or borrow as many reloading manuals that you can and study them. Subscribe to Handloader mag and read that. You will soon know what you need . Add to your inventory of tools as you become familiar with the procedures involved and you have determined that you really need that particular item . The RCBS Master kit is a good way to go. It has all you need for getting started .

I couldn't have said it better Martin. Excellent advice, very pertinent sources.