Help with starting to reload ammo.

I would really like to start reloading my own ammo to save myself from these obnoxious prices and shortages that we are seeing in today's ammunition market. The issue I'm having is I'm not really sure where to start.

I don't know anyone that reloads and I feel like the internet is full of articles that are focused on promoting the most expensive reloading kit with all the unnecessary ad-on features.

All I'm trying to find out is what are the necessary items for making my own ammunition. I'll be mostly doing .45 acp and 9mm... for now.

 

Look into Dillion Precision Products, great stuff, and good people.

And do spend the extra money on carbide dies for those pistol rounds, they will pay off in not pissing around lubing all of those cases, and then cleaning it back off before shooting them.

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

 

Buy a LEE anniversary kit & a set of carbide dies.

But don't think you will be immune to shortages when you reload. Good like finding bullets & brass & primers. Sometiems its just as hard as finding loaded ammo.

And buy a very good, manual that explains the reloading process. Lee Modern Reloading is a good book.

 

Exactly. I reload 45 colt, 45acp, 357 mag, and have loaded 223, 308, 30-06, etc. I only use Lee stuff and it is great for the price. They are great to deal with too. CS is top notch ime.

Edit to add: I have a small gun site that you can check out if you want. You can get all the info you need there. There are other great sights around too.

http://firearmsforum.us/board/

 

That anniversary kit is a hell of a deal! So do I have to buy the carbide dies separate? And can I do that from Lee?

 

You can buy the dies direct, but I always buy mine on eBay. It's usually cheaper that way.

 

Okay so the kit and the dies will be everything I need for the main setup. But what else would I need for each individual caliber I want to reload. Sorry if this seems like rookie questions lol

 

You'll need dies for each caliber, a shell holder, cases, brass, bullets, powder and primers. I use Unique powder for 45 colt, 45acp, 357, and 44 mag. It's a universal pistol powder and will work for most. It burns a bit dirty, but it's nice having one powder to deal with. Especially at first.

So get the press and dies first. Then we'll go from there.

 

They're in the mail now haha

 

Which press kit did you get?

 

I got the anniversary II kit and I found a 45 acp die set for a deal too. Both of them together was $200 so I couldn't be happier.

 

Cool. Let us know when you get it.

 

Would I need anything other than different dies to do .44 magnum cartridges?

 

You'd need a different shell holder and magnum primers. Unless you use Winchester large pistol primers. They work for either magnum or non-magnum, (standard), loads. I use the Winchester primers so I can keep things simpler.

Of course you need cases, and bullets for 44 magnum, or any caliber you load.