If you were to start reloading today?

[Steve300xcw]

Thanks for the heads up on this, Ill probably skip the 9mm for now and just focus on the rifle cartridges. I sometimes forget how cheap a box of 9mm is compared to any of my rifle ammo.

Handgun..I load for 45,44 an 357. 9mm gets bought by the case from whoever has the best deal

 

[Dirty-D]

I started with a second hand Dillon 550 about 20 years ago for low pressure 40 and 45 rounds for IPSC/USPSA. It was nice because it had lots of upgrades someone else who was willing to teach me the ropes so I got a set-up and a process to match. I was shooting 100k+ a year back then, before life, wife, children took over…

I’m now doing hunting ammo with a Forster co-ax, am learning a lot of what I need, what works for me, and how to balance cost vs. utility.

My biggest issue now is getting powder from the 8# tub into the redding 50PR thrower, and back into the bottle without little grains all over my space!!!

Currently working on loads for 300WSM with H4350. The big 36 hour Texas freeze/Ice storm of 2026 allowed me to build up ladders with 3 different bullets. Time to shoot!

 

[streamerfish]

You mentioned the starline brass and that got me thinking. How many reloads do people get out of higher end brass vs the cheaper hornady brass? Is it 4-5 on higher end stuff and more like 2-3 out of the hornady brass usually?

Depends on what your shooting, how your sizing etc...

Creedmoors I've been seeing as many as 7 without trimming. I usually get 5/6. Considering starline is around 60 cents each, when im down around 10-12 cents per brass after 5-6 loads im good. Your gonna need 12 loads out of lapua to get the same roi.

Something that is notorious for growing like a 300 win mag maybe just a couple.

Reloading becomes pretty fast when you have no brass prep, and your powder throws take a few seconds.