How much did you spend on equipment (not supplies) to reload?

[C-130 Dude]

I have heard lots of folks asking how much does it cost to reload. There is the initial expense and there are the ongoing expenses. Like updating equipment when something new or improved comes out. Or you get into another caliber. All in, how much do you have in equipment only?

 

[blacktail 8541]

If I really added it up it would probably scare me!
Not including die sets over 10K.

 

[Recon$$]

About $1500-1700 in equipment. I don't reload to save money. I only load for my hunting/target guns. That will probably be changing after the last couple years. Might have to get into the 9mm and 5.56 game.

 

[ColoradoElkHunter]

Depends. Will my wife see any amount I post?

 

[memtb]

It would be hard to figure…… mine has been a very slow progression of about 55 years!

This will be difficult for many of us to give an accurate figure at today's prices…..as things have been quite inflationary for the past 15 or so years!


Hopefully, there is a relative newcomer to hand loader that could provide a fairly relevant price! memtb

 

[S96743]

For hunting loads it can be done for under 1k for a few different cartridges. But that's with modest equipment. Rockchucker/single stage press, basic dies, beam scale, dial or digital caliper, and a powder drop and funnel. We used to load sub moa rifle ammo with this setup from 243 win - 300wby. Even used birch wood brass cleaner instead of a tumbler.

After 30+ years I still use the birch wood cleaner even though I have a rotary tumbler. Found better ES and SD with the carbon left in the case necks. Have a chargemaster (gift) and still use the old Redding beam scale to double check. I did add a case trimmer the last couple years and head space comparators.

 

[C-130 Dude]

It would be hard to figure…… mine has been a very slow progression of about 55 years!

This will be difficult for many of us to give an accurate figure at today's prices…..as things have been quite inflationary for the past 15 or so years!


Hopefully, there is a relative newcomer to hand loader that could provide a fairly relevant price! memtb

I would be interested in how much you spent back when. I have been reloading since 1972. Started on shotshells, 12ga and 16ga. Have around 3200 in it now over the years. NOT including expendable supplies.

 

[C-130 Dude]

About $1500-1700 in supplies. I don't reload to save money. I only load for my hunting/target guns. That will probably be changing after the last couple years. Might have to get into the 9mm and 5.56 game.

Equipment cost only, NOT expendable supplies. How much?

 

[C-130 Dude]

Depends. Will my wife see any amount I post?

Maybe, if she reads this forum. My wife freaked when I started this discussion. Many honey-do's forthcoming, me thinks...

 

[C-130 Dude]

For hunting loads it can be done for under 1k for a few different cartridges. But that's with modest equipment. Rockchucker/single stage press, basic dies, beam scale, dial or digital caliper, and a powder drop and funnel. We used to load sub moa rifle ammo with this setup from 243 win - 300wby. Even used birch wood brass cleaner instead of a tumbler.

After 30+ years I still use the birch wood cleaner even though I have a rotary tumbler. Found better ES and SD with the carbon left in the case necks. Have a chargemaster (gift) and still use the old Redding beam scale to double check. I did add a case trimmer the last couple years and head space comparators.

How much for all equipment?

 

[Bigwilly556]

Just got back into reloading. Had an old rcbs press, dies, scale etc. Worked lots of OT last year built 2 new rifles in calibers I previously didn't have, so why not buy once cry once. Area 419 zero and accessories, new dies, rcbs match master and miscellaneous odds and ends. Probably $2200-2500.

 

[C-130 Dude]

Just got back into reloading. Had an old rcbs press, dies, scale etc. Worked lots of OT last year built 2 new rifles in calibers I previously didn't have, so why not buy once cry once. Area 419 zero and accessories, new dies, rcbs match master and miscellaneous odds and ends. Probably $2200-2500.

Nice hardware, I'm jealous.

 

[Recon$$]

Equipment cost only, NOT expendable supplies. How much?

1500-1700 equipment sorry. My biggest investment was my powder dispenser and I only use match dies. Everything else is basic. No annealing.

 

[ARlife4me]

If I reloaded only 1 cartridge it would be a very low number. '84 price on 550, 44mag dies, 264wm dies, trimmer and beam scale. As of today, I reload 20 different cartridges (8 pistol and 13 rifle). In the last 6 years I've added another 550 so 1 is setup for small primers and 1 for large. Plus added an electronic scale, electric trimmer, 7 powder measurers (6 for 550, 1 non), 2 single stage presses, 1 depriming press and 2 hand primers. I have no clue on what it totals?