I originally started back around 1982 with this little single round thing from Lee (I *think* it was called simply the Lee Loader) where you set the spent brass into a metal base and knock the primer out with a rod (had a pin on the end) and hammer. You then drove the spent brass into a larger metal cylinder that resized the brass. Upon driving the case back out, it would seat a new primer on a different base. Add powder from a little plastic scoop, seat the bullet by hand, then crimp the case with yet another metal cylinder and your hammer!

I reloaded many hundreds of rounds of .38spl with that thing before eventually "trading up" for a Lee progressive piece of crap. Another year went by and ended up with a Dillon XL650 my wife found at a yard sale for $75.00, including tool head, primer tubes, and one set of dies!

I started with shotgun shells for skeet back in the mid nineties then around 20 years ago began with my old grey Texan single but recently have been using my Hornady AP progressive for my handgun stuff. Save money .. ... nah; but sure is relaxing.

Started with my dad doing shotgun sells at about 10. So 48 years.

I started in 2001 when my wife went to nursing school. She knew a lot of time would be spent studying and wanted me to spend my extra time productively. She bought me a Dillon 550B with .45ACP dies and I never looked back. I now reload for many calibers, thanks to her generosity, and keep the family accessible to ammo.

Has anybody beat my 65 years yet?

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
I first started reloading in 2005. I had a Lee loader and didn’t like it. I bought a Dillon 550 B with 45 ACP dies and never looked back. One of the old timers at work helped me get started.

I started about 35 years ago with the same setup. A Lee Hand Loader. A friend had one and it scared the shit out of me that part of this process involved a dead-blow rubber mallet. I reloaded .44 magnum shells with it for a little bit before getting a Lee single-stage press. Back in 2005, I stepped up to a 550b.

Since 1972. Dillon 550.

A long long time ago (probably around early '70s) I started with Mequon Benchrest / Target reloading hand dies and a Marlin 336CS .30-30. Never should have traded both away.

Kit looked like this


Decades later

Started with a 9MM Lee Loader back around 1969/70.

Soon acquired Rock Chucker, then Dillon 550B and XL650.

Started "making" cartridge cases (Czech 7.62 x 45 mm, 6.5 x 55 Swiss, 9mm Makarov, 7.63 x 25 Mauser from .223, etc.). Learned a lot from John J. Donnelly's "Handbook of Cartridge Conversions".

Definitely haven't saved money but have had a great deal of enjoyment/satisfaction.

Only about 15 years ago 2007-8.
While I have had guns since the 70's, I have only been "all-in" shooting since 2005.
Before that it was more casual.
As the intensity increased, more ammo, more guns led to reloading but only rifle rounds.

1967, with a little RCBS Jr. press..

Since 1999.

With a lot of breaks, and changes in tooling.

I started on a lee pro 1000, doing 40 S&W. Back then I calculated my costs per round out to about 2.5 cents.

A lot has changed. I no longer really enjoy the progressive process and costs tend to be very close to what I can purchase the same round in bulk through a local friend with an ammo shop.

I do enjoy processing and cleaning brass. It's a cathartic exercise. These days if I'm loading, its single stage on a rock chucker. I loaded a bunch over 2020-2021, and haven't done any since.

I started with a Lee Loader in 74 or so. I soon moved to a RCBS Jr and many years later to a Dillon 550. I have loved every minute of it.