Reloading for Pistols

C

cjr8fan

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I just purchased a new Springfield 40 xdm.I want to start reloading for it but I only have two single stage RCBS presses and I am wanting a progressive press. But I dont want to spend alot of money any suggestions???? Ive been looking at Lee 3-4 hole turret presses.Please give me suggestions
 
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Look at the Lee Pro1000, once you get them set up right they can crank out some volume. The Loadmasters are supposed to be even better, but I have never used one.
Of course the Dillons would have to be the ducks guts in progressive presses, as long as you have the money.
 
I have found that I cannot save any money in handloading for my 40, I can buy loaded ammo for the same price as all the componants cost. My time is worth a little money so I buy the loaded stuff in 500 or 1000 round lots.
I save on my 38 & 357 loads, so that I load myself. I plan on buying an RCBS Progressive press in the future for 223, and any pistol rounds.
 
I have the lee 3 hole turret with an auto disk powder measure and it works pretty well. Not as fast as a progressive but I don't shoot that many rounds.
 
I am reloading 40's for under $6 a box, even with the high component prices. That does not include brass as I have a ton. I use a Hornady LNL progressive which can be had at a reasonable price.

A turret press is not a progressive. You can get a lot of cases loaded on two presses, set up for different things. What volume are you looking at shooting?
 
I dont know which one to use I have only used two RCBS single stage presses.I just dont want to change dies alot so that's why im debating on turret or progressive dont want to spend lots of money
 
Midway has a new RCBS Turret press for $219.99, A new Progressive press only, lists for $559.99. Yes a turret is not a progressive but it beats changing dies all the time, JMHO & $.02 Good Luck
 
I just found a Lee Progressive from a friends friend and he is willing to sell cause he getting out of reloading! He said $50 bucks!!!!!!!!!!! Score if he has many press I may buy more and resell i'll keep you guys posted
 
Sounds like a great deal. High volume is pretty tough on a single stage, even with two of them. Load using the $50 press for a while and after saving sooo much money get a Dillon.
 
Originally Posted By: RiflemannI have found that I cannot save any money in handloading for my 40, I can buy loaded ammo for the same price as all the componants cost. My time is worth a little money so I buy the loaded stuff in 500 or 1000 round lots.
I save on my 38 & 357 loads, so that I load myself. I plan on buying an RCBS Progressive press in the future for 223, and any pistol rounds.

So you are buying 40 S&W ammo for less than $8 a box of 50?
I am loading pretty high quality practice ammo for $7.75 a
box. Granted I count nothing for my time, but I am under
extreme stress in my career, so pulling the handle on a loader
press is worth a couple of hundred dollars an hour at a
psycho-therapist's office.
smile.gif


As to the original question, no help here. I have looked at
the progressive press purchase several times, and if I
were to get one, it would probably be the Hornady Lock'n'Load.
But I have a hard time getting past the cost, and the notion
of all of the fiddling to get them running good, and keeping
running good, and checking for low powder, no powder, etc.
For now I just run 100 round batches through the single
stage, and load all winter long, when I shoot very little
on the pistol range. Right now my shop looks like an ammo
dump.
rolleyes.gif
Powder Valley just delivered another
1000 RNHB Double Struck 185 gr. .45 bullets, so time to make
a bigger pile of ammo for the Summer competitions.

Squeeze
 
Squeeze,---- I would have to go back and look at my figures on the 40, but somehow I calculated out how far 1# of powder would load and brass and bullets and primers, and looked at bulk ammo prices in the midway catalog, and I thought I would just buy the loaded ammo for the price. I can get Ultramax FMJ for $327.96 per 1000 or $.33 per round. I will have my son go over the numbers I had and maybe I missed something and will start loading my own 40.
Thanks for your figures on your reloading, it will get me to relook at my numbers. Take Care----Riflemann
 
I load 40's for less than $5/100, I do shoot led though, and brass is all range pickup.

I use the RCBS piggyback. I probabbly wouldn't go that rout again. I love everythign RCBS, including their customer service, and warranty, but the piggy back just isn't the best. It gets the job done, but dumps too much powder onto the ground, and I have problems with the primer station somemtime too.

I intend to upgrade to one of the Dillon's when I get to it. They aren't cheap, but from what I have read, seems to be the way to go for progressive. With the money I save in reloading, it is easy to justify, when the wallet can afford it, and stay away from other toys :0).
 
Originally Posted By: RiflemannSqueeze,---- I would have to go back and look at my figures on the 40, but somehow I calculated out how far 1# of powder would load and brass and bullets and primers, and looked at bulk ammo prices in the midway catalog, and I thought I would just buy the loaded ammo for the price. I can get Ultramax FMJ for $327.96 per 1000 or $.33 per round. I will have my son go over the numbers I had and maybe I missed something and will start loading my own 40.
Thanks for your figures on your reloading, it will get me to relook at my numbers. Take Care----Riflemann

Rifleman,

Just for reference, I load my 40 target ammo with Hodgdon
Universal(around 5.2 gr) and I buy that by the 4 or 8 lb
lots. So for simplicity I just go with $18/lb, which is
probably on the high side. So at 7000gr per lb, that is
$0.014 per round, for powder. I load Berry's bullets,
that run me about $110/1000 shipped to my door. So bullets
cost me $.11 per round. Primers run me $30/1000, so add
another $.03 per round for a primer. Brass for me is free.
I am a Hunter's Safety Instructor/Pistol Instructor, and
the range where I teach provides mountains of LEO practice
40 brass, for the picking. LEOs are not the most highly
motivated range police up types.
grin.gif
No problem, I
clean up behind them.
thumbup.gif


At any rate, the estimate comes out to $.154 per round,
if I don't have to pay for brass. I can get range brass
for $5/100, so even if one added $.05 per round for brass,
you would save about $.10 per round hand loading. Again,
if you don't count the time investment. For me hand loading
is therapeutic. But for those that would rather do some
thing else with their down time, $.33 per round is a decent
price. This is for 40 S&W, if you really want to see
savings, load for 10mm Auto, or 380 Auto, or high quality
self defense ammo in any pistol. It is a closer call for
9mmx19, and 40 S&W, target ammo, but even then I know my ammo
is of the highest quality and it is proven reliable in my
pistols. I completely understand if one prefers to purchase
their ammo. I am not convinced I save any money. I just
shoot high quality ammo more often.
thumbup1.gif


Please don't tell my wife I wrote this.
scared.gif


Squeeze
 
I plugged my prices into this and it spit out my answer....
http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp


As to the original question, no help here. I have looked at
the progressive press purchase several times, and if I
were to get one, it would probably be the Hornady Lock'n'Load.
But I have a hard time getting past the cost, and the notion
of all of the fiddling to get them running good, and keeping
running good, and checking for low powder, no powder, etc.

It is really not that intense a machine. I can do 2-300 rounds an hour without pushing it. Powder tower is right in front of your face, the biggest hassle is loading primers because you have to do it several times per hour. I don't have any of the power accessories like case feeder etc. Keep an eye out for sales and save up some Cabelas points or discounts.
 
I think for specifically for handgun reloading that a progressive is the way to go. I can shoot hundrends of rounds at time when I take my handguns out. Too expensive to buy, which leaves reloading. I can do a couple hundred an hour with a progressive. Where as with a single stage it would take me hours, as it does for my rifle rounds. To me the question isn't if you should, it is which one, and how long will it take you to save up for the right one.

I do have 2 single stage presses, a turret press, and a progressive. All have their purpose, but for me a progressive is a very nice comodoty. Do you have to have it, no, will it save you a ton of time, absolutly.
 
Squeeze's numbers match my figures exactly. My friend and I are tossing around the idea of reloading for pistol (9mm). The only thing I am not sure of is brass price because I do not have any idea how many times I can reload new 9mm brass before it splits. I was guessing maybe 10 reloadings which makes brass about $.002/round. Basically I am telling my friend that we could shoot high quality ammo for the same price as the dirt cheap stuff. Hopefully that translates into better accuracy and more FUN! I am deciding whether my time makes that a good enough reason. I won't reload for pistol, however, unless we go in on a decent progressive press. I am leaning towards a Hornady Lock-N-Load.
 
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If you shoot lead bullets you can save even more money. There are plenty of accurate lead bullets, some guns require more cleaning with the led though.

Also, range pick up brass is free. There is always plenty of 9mm lying around.

I never would have gotten into reloading for a break even, I just don't enjoy it as much as many of the other guys on here. For me it is a task that allowes me to shoot more, which I love. Playing with loads for accuracy is fun too!!
 
I've loaded in excess of 5K rounds of 9mm and 40cal in the past 2 yrs on a single stage press. I buy lead cast bullets from Wideners. 9mm come in 3K lots, .40cal in 2K lots. I'll size up approximately enough for the lot of bullets. Expand them. Sit in front of the tube and prime. Then load in 1hr-1.5hr sessions. Once the brass is prepped and primed I can run about 250rds/hr. This is all done on single stage presses! I'm kinda on the same page as Squeeze. If I had a progressive, the time I would save in loading would be spent at the shrink's office at $225/hr.

Using lead cast bullets, my 9mm runs right at .10/rd and .40cal .12/rd. All my brass is picked up at the range.
 
I finally shot my springfiled 40 xdm friday did great also found over 120+ range brass i would have to say shot once cant wait to set up my Lee pro 1000 and start reloading!
 


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