Question for those that re-load amo

[Sitting Bull]

Good day all,
I have a question for those who re-load. I am thinking of starting to re-load and I am thinking of purchasing the Lee Classic Loader for my .243. Do you have experience and opinions with this product? I am not a heavy shooter maybe 4 boxes a year at the best. or should I purchase the Lee anniversary kit which will give me everything.

Thanks for your replies.

Guy.

[Paladin]

I used to re-load and the Lee was my loader of choice. It was relatively cheap and precise.
My experience would lead me to say that 4 boxes a year is not enough to make it worthwhile.

Ray

[rangerbluedog]

The Lee is pretty good. I use RCBS products and they suit me a lot better. I'm with Ray - only 4 boxes a year will not get it paid for very quick. Done right, accuracy will improve though!
(Of course, with the cost of ammo increasing exponentially, reloading may be the only option one day)

[coffeecup]

You're talking about the old-style Lee Loader that you use a hammer with, right? Not a bad way to go if you don't shoot much, but you may also need a case trimmer--that tooling can get touchy about case length.

Back when I had a cast bullet business, I spent a lot of time helping folks get set up to reload. To help them figure out if it was cost-effective to set up to reload (absent any other factors, like oddball cartridges etc), I always suggested the formula (cost of tools)= or < cost of one year's ammunition. That typically gives a 3-year break-even on the purchase of tooling, unless the shooter starts shooting more (which almost always happens).

[Old Hunter]

I have reloaded handgun and rifle (extensively when I competed) since 1978 - if you are in it for the long haul buy good equipment (I have RCBS and Redding that I bought in the late 70's and early 80's that function like new). If you are going to stay at the "four box per year" level then the Lee, while slow, will get the job done. Just buy a Lee case trimmer (caliber specific) and stud/cutter tool (about $5 each) and you will have a self guaging case trimmer to go with your Lee classic kit. OH

[jmh58]

Look for a used press (RCBS, Lyman, Redding) and dies.. Gun show, flea mkt etc.. You can get quality stuff for good prices.. JMO!! John

[Sitting Bull]

Thanks for the replies , I have been on the fence between the Loader needing a hammer or the kit with everything included. The $170.00 they want here is not an issue, it is more about will I find the time to shoot more and will I actually be better off with good store bought ammo if I dont shoot more than that.

Guy.

[TAB2you]

Sitting bull,

Thanks for posting this question. I shoot a 243 and 30 06. I had the same question, and determined as little as I do, the factory ammo is sufficient for my needs. I shoot less than 4 boxes, about a box a year for tuning up and then the hunt. Maybe 2 boxes is coyotes are thick.

Guys, thanks for posting to the thread, helped me figure out he reload thing.

T

[treefarmer]

The reloading issue might even have some implications of things to come in the political arena. Here in Florida, I'm reading on an outdoor forum that all kinds of ammo is very scarce as there has been another "run" since the 23 steps were mentioned by the guy that lives in the White House. A reloading outfit and components might not be a bad idea.
Treefarmer

[knifemaker3]

Hate to bust ya'lls bubble but powder and primers are all but non existant right now with all my distributors I purchase from.

When there is a scare ammo isn't the only thing purchased in huge quantities. Powder and primers and bullets go just as fast. I'm limited pretty much to what I have in stock at the store and that will be it for probably at least 6 months if not longer.

Just the way it is.

[rangerbluedog]

Still plenty of powder and primers around here, but BULLETS are getting hard to find.
Went diggin for .224" last week and anything between 40 and 80 grain was cleared out!

[Old Hunter]

Got caught with my pants down in 1994 (remember 1000% ammo tax for Hillary-Care, tagnents in powder, and chemically decomposing primers?) I stocked up back then using a ROP/ROQ inventory system (like I learned from the USAQMS when I was an enlisted supply clerk) - been well stocked ever since! I travel around the eastern half of NC and there are shortages of many items - but everything is available in limited quantities here and there - been finding stuff for buddies who are not well stocked. As RangerBluedog stated .224 bullets in the middle weights are about gone (223 REM shooters I guess) but I can still find 130 & 140 grain .277 and 150, 165, and 180 grain .308 pretty much everywhere I look (assuming they stock reloading supplies). Powders are getting thin too, except real slow stuff like Re22, Re25, and IMR7828, etc. OH

Ps If anyone owns a .338 WIN MAG I found a box in my storage room containing several bags of new WIN & REM brass, Speer bullets, Hornady dies, RCBS Precision Mic, and some other stuff. I have owned three Model 70's in .338 WM over the years, but they are all gone now - going to sell the reloading components and dies, etc.

[knifemaker3]

At my store.....

small rifle primers....only have 3 boxes of thousand left..I think.

small pistol......long time gone

large rifle......plenty of several brands

large mag pistol.....few left


Powders......well not much left other than the slower selling stuff.

Called all my distributors Friday to see about what they had in primers....they laughed. Powders....was told they were even worse.

If you can find it in your area be glad. Around here it's getting harder to find and most of us just have what is on our shelves and won't have anything to restock for awhile.

Bullets are not that bad......yet. Still able to get most of what I need from one or the other of my distributors.