Anyone reload their own ammunition? I've been thinking of getting into it, with the cost of ammunition skyrocketing. Thinking of getting started in .308, and 9mm. What does it cost to get started with reloading? I have plenty of time, so I don't mind getting a setup that's slow.

I reload my own ammo. I reload 9MM, 38 SPC, 357 Mag, and 223.
If you aren't worried about speed, which I am not either, you can buy an RCBS Rockchucker kit. It comes with almost everything you need to get started including a reload manual. You will need to buy the dies, powder, primer and bullets, this is assuming you save your brass. I would also recommend getting a tumbler and a media seperator. For rifle rounds you are also going to need a case trimmer to size bottle neck cartridges. You will also need to get a caliper to measure overall length. This can be critical.

It cost me less than $500 to get set up to reload 9MM, which is where I started. Once I got comfortable with that I began to buy the dies and supplies I needed to reload other calibers as well. Once I was set up I started looking for specials on primers, bullets and powder. When I find good deals I buy in quantity, and it has cut my ammo costs by about 2/3.

My set up has been flawless, so I recommend it highly. I also recommend buying several different reloading manuals and reading them. There is a lot that can be learned. Once you start getting stuff together a bunch of questions will come up. Feel free to ask, I will help as much as I can.

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NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
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RCBS used to sell an "anniversary kit" that came with the partner press. At a heck of a deal ($100), it was pretty good for it's time, and it's what I started out with. However, a good press (Rockchucker), a good digital or beam scale, and calipers are the bare minimum required.

You can get away without getting a tumbler, if you wash the brass instead using dish soap, water, and a 2 liter bottle. Just make sure that all of the soap and water are out of the case before you load. To get started with 100 rounds of .223 will run $50 or so in components. A typical pound of powder will hold 7,000 grains (measurement of powder), and your typical local id around 25 grains or so. In other words, the powder lasts you the longest with components.

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I reloaded at one time the following calibers:

38 spl
45 acp
40 s& w
7.62x25
7.62x54R
7.62x39
5.56

The rifle reloading saves the most money, while pistol reloading takes the most time. Plus, you get better accuracy with the rifle reloading.

The #1 tip that I can offer is to PAY ATTENTION when reloading. Take your time, tell the wife to be quiet, and don't reload while sleepy or under the influence. Double-check everything before, during, and after reloading. Calibrate your digital scales every 50 rounds.

We've thought of getting into shotgun shell reloading- anyone know the financials of that? We already reload for pistol and rifle, but shotgun stuff requires a new press, etc. What is the cost breakdown on shotgun reloading?

It's not nearly that good unless you shoot Tungsten, or Bismuth shot. If you're an upland hunter, I wouldn't worry about it.

Cabellas has a shotgun press on sale for about $60. Primers are staring to get a little pricey, but powder and shot aren't too bad.

I am getting ready to start reloading shotgun shells also. I am buying components when I find specials, just like I do with rifle and pistol rounds.

_________________
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

Yea, I reload a few calibers.....
.22 Reed Express (a 7.62x25 necked down to .22), .223, .25acp, .256 win mag, 6.5Grendel,
7.62x25, 7.62x39, .308, .30carbine, .32acp, .32H&R Mag, 9mm, 9mmMag, .38, .357Mag,
.40S&W, 10mm, 38-40, .38Casull, .41Special, .41 Mag, .44Special, .44Mag, and .45acp

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Retired Navy SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Instructor
certified pistol, rifle, shotgun, home defense Instructor
NRA Life Member
Survival & Disaster Preparedness Instructor

Snicker ... looks to me like you need to branch-out a little with your ammo selection there Sarky .

Some of that I was doing for friends as they didn't want to bother, but they paid for the
dies, primers, powder, and bullets. At that time I still had my FFL so I got it at wholesale
and charged them retail in order to pay for my time reloading.

_________________
Retired Navy SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Instructor
certified pistol, rifle, shotgun, home defense Instructor
NRA Life Member
Survival & Disaster Preparedness Instructor