What's going on with reloading these days?

[Martinjmpr]

I got out of reloading in 2017. We had moved to a new house and I didn't really have a dedicated space for my reloading bench. Plus I really had stopped reloading by 2015 or so, it just wasn't worth the time.

But ammo prices have made me start to re-think reloading. My biggest issue is that I have a nice collection of revolvers in .38spl and .357 and ammo for those calibers is crazy expensive. By contrast, 9mm is about half the cost, probably because it's so popular and there are so many companies making it, that drives the prices down a bit.

Prevoiusly I had a basic Lee single-stage press and made each cartridge Indvidually by hand. I could load 50 rounds of .38spl in probably an hour or so. It was easy but also labor-intensive and kind of a grind (the "setting up" took most of the time.)

The main reason I had the Lee was that it gave me the opportunity to load a variety of calibers. At one time I was loading .38/.357, .30-06, .308, .30-30 and .45ACP (I had dies for 9mm but at that time 9mm ammo was so cheap I never had a reason to load it.)

But now I'm thinking of getting a press solely for loading .38/.357. And I'm thinking of going with a progressive press.

But I really want to know what's going on price-wise with reloading components? Back in the 2000s - 2010's I could get once-fired .38 brass dirt cheap. Cast .38/.357 bullets were also very cheap. And Small Pistol primers were also generally available even when small rifle, large rifle and large pistol primers were hard to find.

So is that still the case, relatively speaking? I mean, I get that everything has gone up in price, particularly ammo. But are you reloaders out there having as hard a time finding primers as shooters are having finding loaded ammo at reasonable prices?

Also, any pointers or tips for getting a progressive press? As I said, I only anticipate loading .38/.357 (assuming I can use the same dies for both - I did on my single-stage Lee.) Any other calibers it's cheaper and easier to buy ammo than to load it. I know about the Dillon but I also know there are other progressive presses out there.

Thanks in advance!

[funkymonkey1111]

have you looked into a dillon square deal if you're only going to do 38/357?

primers are still not readily available, but they are more available now than even a few months ago. expect to pay $90/1000. Small pistol and Small rifle are the most popular and thus are often the hardest to find, but it also seems there are more of them on shelves (i think the real unicorn in Large Magnum Rifle).

[Martinjmpr]

I'm crunching numbers here to see if it would even be worth it.

From what I can see on GB and the like, it seems like once fired cases can be had for around $50/500 or .10 each
Simple lead SWC bullets are around $15/100 or .15 each
Primers are $100/1000 or .10 each
Powder is hard to quantify but when I reloaded .38 I remember my charges being pretty small so I would guess .05 at most.

So that's a minimum of .40 each and that doesn't include the press, the dies and of course my time.

Over on Ammoseek I am finding a fair amount of .38 SPL at .40/round and under as long as I'm willing to buy a large quantity (which I am.)

So it wouldn't be economically viable unless there is some source of dirt-cheap cases or bullets.

Do those number sound right? The big killer is the case and bullet costs. That's .25 each right there.

[Tim K]

Remember you only pay for the brass once.

Dillon square deal B is a solid option. I had one for years to load .45. Worked great for smaller volumes. By the time you’re done, you’ll spend twice that to move up to a 750.

Just know the SDB is pistol only.

[.455_Hunter]

I'm crunching numbers here to see if it would even be worth it.

From what I can see on GB and the like, it seems like once fired cases can be had for around $50/500 or .10 each
Simple lead SWC bullets are around $15/100 or .15 each
Primers are $100/1000 or .10 each
Powder is hard to quantify but when I reloaded .38 I remember my charges being pretty small so I would guess .05 at most.

So that's a minimum of .40 each and that doesn't include the press, the dies and of course my time.

Over on Ammoseek I am finding a fair amount of .38 SPL at .40/round and under as long as I'm willing to buy a large quantity (which I am.)

So it wouldn't be economically viable unless there is some source of dirt-cheap cases or bullets.

Do those number sound right? The big killer is the case and bullet costs. That's .25 each right there.

I think you are correct.

[funkymonkey1111]

I will tell you during the crazy runs during the main covid time .38sp and .357 were nearly impossible to find, and they're both still relatively uncommon now. Of course, if you've got a source for some, you're in good shape.

like Tim said, you're only paying for that brass once and will likely not lose much of it with a revolver.

[20X11]

IMHO...Reloading has never been economically viable in "the moment", and probably rarely if you account for your time. Reloading's payoff is over the long haul if viewed in merely economic terms. I'm glad I started reloading 30+ years ago, and I look forward to loading more rounds with some of those $17/1000 primers I invested in way back when. Not to mention all the bullets, cases, and powder I have layed away for my "retirement hobby".

[DFBrews]

I remember feeling like I was taking advantage of people for selling primers for 30 dollars a thousand.

[Batteriesnare]

I'm seeing pistol primers sit on the shelf for $13/100; powder is available but expensive and selection is hit and miss.

[Great-Kazoo]

I'm crunching numbers here to see if it would even be worth it.

From what I can see on GB and the like, it seems like once fired cases can be had for around $50/500 or .10 each
Simple lead SWC bullets are around $15/100 or .15 each
Primers are $100/1000 or .10 each
Powder is hard to quantify but when I reloaded .38 I remember my charges being pretty small so I would guess .05 at most.

So that's a minimum of .40 each and that doesn't include the press, the dies and of course my time.

Over on Ammoseek I am finding a fair amount of .38 SPL at .40/round and under as long as I'm willing to buy a large quantity (which I am.)

So it wouldn't be economically viable unless there is some source of dirt-cheap cases or bullets.

Do those number sound right? The big killer is the case and bullet costs. That's .25 each right there.

As mentioned for 38 & 357 specifically the SDB is the way to go. Granted the dies are press specific. However once you get in the groove, you can really crank them out. If you want to step up, to allow for both handgun and rifle options, down the road. The dillon 550 can't be beat, which uses standard dies.

As for primers, i posted here (reloading) and the buyer intel forum for primers. I'm running the ginex for wheel guns, supposedly some light strikes are reported, running striker fired pistols. . As well as ZSR and now fiocchi primers. They're $0.08 per with free shipping & hazmat. If you look at load data, using 5 gr per round, average, that 1400 rounds per lb.

Invest in some primer, now, then powder & brass. Once you have those the press is the easiest to acquire . As for the 38 & 357 brass. literally 6-8 months ago it was either non-existent, or very proud of their price. Now there's so much i'm actually turning down 1x fired 38 brass. If you need some, i can throw a small flat rate box full, out.