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

[epags]

To all: Don't forget your reloading manuals. I figure I have invested over $200 (not accounting for inflation).

 

[spladi]

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?

It depends weather or not you have the variables you mentioned. Its kind of like eating out. Have you kept a record of costs for something that gives you pleasure? If you are an all around loader for hunting and competing then its in the thousands of $ and if only a loader for a couple of hunting rifles then its somewhere less than a $1,000.00. A great deal of recollection for us old guys would be required to give an accurate dollar cost.

 

[SWHandldr]

Funny the differing relationships we have with our spouses. If mine sees me looking a something more than a couple times she suggests I buy it, or it'll just show up on the front porch one day as the delivery truck speeds off.

I bought the initial "everything" at once when I retired and stopped executing orders to somewhere else every couple years. The core of "everything" included RCBS RC Supreme Master kit, a MEC 9000 and MEC Size Master and lesser sundry tools. Totaled about $1800. Added Case Prep station, Charge Master and more dies over the next few years. All of which push the original total added to about $2600. Not included is all the lead casting kit. 20lbs bottom pour, heated luber-sizer, molds, handles, thermometers...total just under another $1000 I think. So the core gear was around $3600. It has of course grown since. It's a disease.

Time handloading and in the woods is better in every way than gambling and chasing wimmin. Gar-own-tee. I don't count good liquor in moderation cuz that's one of the Lord's gifts, imo.

 

[Starlite]

When I started reloading with my own supplies. I got lucky and found a complete Hornady Kit (including a sonic cleaner and my choice of American series dies). It had the classic machine and a digital scale. This cost was $500 Cdn.

 

[CoSniper66]

Pueblo shooter, I guess math is not your strong point.

 

[villagelightsmith]

Obsessive-compulsives beware! If I was interested in "saving money" I'd not have needed to buy and try everything in sight for a single caliber. One can easily "get by" with 2nd hand and Lee stuff and make ammo just as good as mine if they know what they're doing. On the other hand, I had to try every other idea that had come down the pike in the last century aand apply it to my cartridge of interest at the time. Believing far too much of the advertising I had researched, I spent c@ $500 on single-caliber-specific stuff in the blink of an eye, and probably tripled that before I moved on to another caliber. And then came the .17's. And the .300's. Turning, reaming, etc. And then came annealing.
One can spend as little or as much as they want. Have fun with it, and don't look back.
Now ... does anybody have any spare dies for the .50-140 Sharps lying about? Or a decent .14 caliber x 16" barrel?

 

[scasolari]

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?

Basic setup that i started with was about $2-300 about 10 years ago. Now I have a few more presses and im sitting close to a few grand betwen presses, dies and powder measures.

 

[PuebloShooter]

Pueblo shooter, I guess math is not your strong point.

Nope. But I am fluent in the dark arts of sarcasm.

 

[cabelasken]

I'm probably into it for over $3.5K, but that includes 3 progressive PW shotshell loaders. Luckily nothing wears out!!!

 

[Mcranch]

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.

Who did your comparators order through?

 

[CoSniper66]

Nope. But I am fluent in the dark arts of sarcasm.

I am also a pueblo west shooter

 

[Huntsman66]

I currently have 3 different options for case trimming…why? I have no idea, i just thought I needed it…

 

[ed209clark]

2-10k easy you have to include the differs calibers, components, otherwise it's a moot point. Most of us have been doing it a while so we forget and costs have gone nutty in the last 10+ years you will spend more now days finishing stuff and it will cost way more than the equipment, if you shoot fclass you probably have more stuff than a guy reloading for one caliber for hunting, so I'd sub-divide into categories. Some more things to thinks about…

 

[Footsie80]

I'm about $1500 Canadian in. That includes powder, bullets and primers for 450 or so rounds. I am not into precision stuff (yet), just making good, fast and accurate hunting rounds. My next purchase will be good brass. Just using once fired until it needs to come out of service.