Thinking about buying my first press...

[EddieZoom]

Green, Orange or Red they are all good

Don't forget the Blue ones

[mdi]

Regarding the "opinions" expressed, especially from Lee Haters; most reloading presses are simple hand operated tools. None offered today are made from inferior materials, although some do differ and are made with modern materials and methods. Many of the most vocal reloaders that spend a lot of time badmouthing a particular tool are not mechanically inclined enough to operate a can opener, let alone a reloading press (basic hand tool knowledge is not present and reading instructions is too difficult. How many youtube videos show a claw hammer being used on a punch or Lee Loader?). I use many tools from different manufacturers and just like any other man made tool, some are better than others, but none really bad (I just got a seating die from Redding and it won't adjust bullet seating down enough to seat a particular bullet to the manufacturer's specs., Hornady V-Max.. So do I condemn all Redding tools?).

In an open forum you will read everything, 99.9% are opinions, "what I do" posts, just like mine...

[dragon813gt]

^
Well said

[RED BEAR]

I have been using a regular Lee classic press for 37 years now and it works as good now as the day I jot it. I count know about saving money but I sure do shoot a lot more. For years I would shoot 1 to 5 thousand rounds a week. I also use Lee scales and powder measure tried both Lyman and rcbs but still come back to the Lee. I think you would be well served with the basic Lee loading kit with press powder measure ( not the set of cups) and scale. The thing that I do not recommend is Lee trimmers or bullet sizers. Tried both and ended up with hornady trimmer and rcbs sizer. But Lee makes great products for people of all experience level. I personally prefer single stage press as I like to weigh every load. But that is a personal thing if you prefer a turrent then by all means go for it as it can be used as single stage also. Happy reloading it is a very addictive hobby.

[RogerDat]

Don't forget the Blue ones

Oops my bad! Blue too.

[quail4jake]

My first press was a MEC 650 super inherited from my dear uncle who left us too early. True junk but I remember uncle Paul every time I see it on the scrap iron pile! Best of luck to you...

[JeffG]

Well, I think I'll at least give it a try. And it sounds like the Lee Classic is a solid choice.

I could get the Lee kit, 45acp and 9mm dies, shell holders for both, and maybe a bullet puller

Then brass, powder, primers, and bullets

That would get me started?

Get the Lee Auto Disk powder measure. I also use Hornady measures but the Auto Disk does a great job.

[MT Chambers]

Press 1) Forster Co-ax
2) RCBS Rockchucker or Ammomaster
3) Redding Ultra-mag
4) press cobbled up from old car jack
5) Lee

[mozeppa]

i have about 40,000 tied up in my reloading equipment....when do i start saving money?

[EddieZoom]

i have about 40,000 tied up in my reloading equipment....

Is that dollars or lira

Either way...wow, impressive.

[JBinMN]

i have about 40,000 tied up in my reloading equipment....when do i start saving money?

Whoah!

[David2011]

Ok, I DON'T have 40K invested in my reloading equipment but feel like I have a very good reloading room. There are 3 single stage RCBS presses of various models, 2 Dillons; a 550 and a 650 and a Ponsness Warren shot shell press, bunch of casting stuff and good accessories. The PW makes powder puff (relatively) loads for Cowboy Action that you can't buy. That doesn't save money but it gives me what I want. OTOH, if I had bought factory loads for all of the .40 S&W I've shot in USPSA matches and practice I added up that it would have cost me over $26,000 at $0.30/round in the last 10 years for that ammo. I figure .40 costs over the 10 year average 2 cents for a boolit, 4 cents for a primer and 1.5 cents for powder. Brass is only good for about 10 loadings before it cracks and I buy once fired at good prices so I'll round the price of brass up to .5 cents/loading. That's 8 cents/round for 90,000 rounds for a total of $7200. Pretty sure that pays for everything in my loading room and then some.

[DerekP Houston]

Get the Lee Auto Disk powder measure. I also use Hornady measures but the Auto Disk does a great job.

That's a solid recommendation but if I may, I'd suggest the "pro" auto disk with the round drum, I snapped the basic one twice just over tightening the screws and the price difference was pretty minimal. I still use the auto disk setup when running small batches with low-mid charge weights.

[Drew P]

Nobody has ever saved a dime reloading. If you read to the contrary then they are deluded. Lol. I spent maybe 2500$ on ammo before starting reloading. Now that I reload, it will be several decades before I will be in the black again! But, it’s fun, and I can shoot a lot more, with less guilt. So, it’s worth it, but it’s NOT a fiscally prudent hobby!

People’s cost calculations are in reverse, calculating what the ammo they have already made would have cost new. This isn’t how it would really play out without a reload room.

[jetinteriorguy]

If you want to save money, put it in the bank. If you want a rewarding hobby, and more ammo to shoot for the same money spent, your on the right track.

[kmw1954]

I'm still baffled by the way folks always want to put a value on whatever it is they are doing. Sorry but you just can't put a value on living. No one can value my time more than me. Just sitting here writing this has value to me.

[robg]

Get kids interested in guns reloading or motorcycles then they'll never have any money for drugs!

[Geezer in NH]

One needs a single station press, a great scale, powder measure and manuals.

All are extras use it for a year or 2 you will not save money but you will shoot more.

I have been reloading since the 1960's. I now have 2 Lee classic cast single stage, 1 RCBS jr. single stage, a Reading "c" single stage, 1 Lyman Spartan turret, and 1 Dillon Square deal B in 38/357 and 9mm conversion.

For dies I prefer green RCBS as first choice but have many others.

In the early 90's through 2004-5 I reloaded none as surplus was so cheap I spent all my time shooting and had no desire to reload for NFA auto's. When the ammo dried up and Ihad sold the NFA for medical reasons reloading came into play again.

Reloading is a means to me to be able to shoot more not just to save money. If I shot once a month at a club factory ammo would do but I have my own range and shoot everyday I can therefore I reload.

[Gunners Mate]

Well I shoot bucket loads of 44 Mags I can reload 225 rounds for about 90/95 bucks around 0.41 cents per round, this is no target load these are are full house loads 180 gr JHP with 31 gr of H110 running over 1800 fps.
35.00 for a pound of powder
9.00 for primers
50.00 for projectiles
I Buy in bulk
Primers by the Thousand
Bullets by the Thousand
Powder by the 8lbs

a quick Search at midway the cheapest JHP Ammo I could find was 1.07 per round so rolling yer own can save quite a bit of money.

As far as a press goes if you got the cash a redding T7, if you want go progressive a Dillon 650.

FWIW I have not saved a dime reloading but I sure shoot a lot more and have been able to acquire some nice equipment to boot. If you buy good equipment you can usually get your money out of it later if you decide to get out of reloading.

[Greg B.]

David was on to the answer to the cost benefit question about reloading saving money.To add to his point how much would you spend on factory ammo if you shot as much as you do reloading?

Greg B.