Where to get a bargain on new reloading kits?

[tsafa]

I am looking to get into reloading. I want to start reloading shotgun shells first because I want to shoot trap on my property and I want to power down the shells a little bit to make sure the fallout stays on my property.

So do you guy have any recommendations on where to find bargains on new shell reloading kits. I don't have any equipment now. I will want to also get metallic reloading equipment soon after too, so any equipment that can be used for either is a plus.

Here are some links I found. Any feedback is appreciated.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...=cat20851&rid=

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...851&hasJS=true

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/produ...:referralID=NA

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...847&hasJS=true

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com...9-at-midsouth/

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/anivers.html

[max384]

I don't reload shotshells (yet), but I have two friends who have the Lee Load-All Reloader (your first link) and say good things about it. Both have since upgraded, but still recommend it for starting out.

What kind of price range are you looking at?

[tsafa]

I don't reload shotshells (yet), but I have two friends who have the Lee Load-All Reloader (your first link) and say good things about it. Both have since upgraded, but still recommend it for starting out.

What kind of price range are you looking at?

I want to keep the total investment under $300. The Lee Load-All Reloader (first link) sounds great for $40 but I am a little nervous about its durability given all the plastic I see in its base. I would be willing to spend the $150 for the Mec 600 Jr if it is really that much better. I don't want to spend more then that because I need a metallic reloading kit too (thinking Lee Anniversary Kit) and don't want to go broke reloading. I know that there will be a lot of extra tools needed too, dies, plus the reloading material itself.

[hornady]

For the money the Lee is not a bad loader, every other loader on the market the price more than triples, You can pick up a used one for almost nothing, The price of reloading has sky rocketed in the past 2 years, more so with shot shells, most guys are getting out of reloading shot shells for just this reason. A lot have found they can just go to Wal-mart and get the value box of 100 cheaper than you can reload them. But if you are still thinking about it , PM me I have an old Lee 12 Gauge loader I will let you have cheap. I also have a Lyman Single stage press for Rifle and Pistol; I would let you have cheap to get started there.

[Azzy]

If he isnt interested in the lyman, I would be, been saving brass so I can pick up a used loader and start shooting my own loads (some part of me thinks it would be a hoot, so I doubt I will save money )

[knight0334]

check out the following too.. These 3 regularly hand Cabelas's butt to them for prices.

http://www.midwayusa.com
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
http://natchezss.com/

[hornady]

And of those three Mid south gets 90% of my orders, Good prices and same day shipping, most orders are at my door in 3 days. Good place to deal with.

[max384]

check out the following too.. These 3 regularly hand Cabelas's butt to them for prices.

http://www.midwayusa.com
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
http://natchezss.com/

... and selection on reloading supplies. I only shop Cabelas for the experience of a walmart sized store of nothing but hunting/fishing/outdoor/shooting/reloading supplies. I very rarely buy from them online because their prices are invariably high.

I also like http://www.sinclairintl.com/

[Flash]

I want to keep the total investment under $300. The Lee Load-All Reloader (first link) sounds great for $40 but I am a little nervous about its durability given all the plastic I see in its base. I would be willing to spend the $150 for the Mec 600 Jr if it is really that much better. I don't want to spend more then that because I need a metallic reloading kit too (thinking Lee Anniversary Kit) and don't want to go broke reloading. I know that there will be a lot of extra tools needed too, dies, plus the reloading material itself.

DON'T feel nervous about the LEE Load-All.

I have two of them, one in 12ga, one in 20 from when they first came on the market in the 70's. (There have been a few refinements since then, but that's just gravy - the originals work fine). They have done thousands of rounds in both chamberings, and they are fabulous. Absolutely indestructible, and they are as good now as the day they first were bolted to my bench. I wish they mad one in 410. I have mine set up to standard velocities using 700-X powder, 1-1/8 oz in 12, 7/8 in 20. This works for hunting, trap, skeet, allaround training, new shooters, etc.

Just be sure to keep the parts and pieces together - as someday you MAY want to change loads the bushings and inserts work just like they do in the higher-priced products, replace bushings for different charges of shot or powder.

The difference in price from LEE to others is the cost of reloading a thousand or more shells. The difference in functionality is not a whit. The difference in result is even less. There may be "brand-name snobs" who would argue, but my 25-straights never asked which loader I used.

BTW, the LEE Anniversary kit is a good place to start, too.

Just be sure to get a couple of GOOD loading manuals; for my opinion, the LYMAN 49th edition is the best all-around brass-cartridge source, "ABC's of Relaoding"s next. LYMAN also publishes a very comprehensive book on shotshell relaoding, filled with information that may be glosed over or omitted entirely from other manuals. Highly recommended.

Flash

[tsafa]

Thanks for that feedback Flash and everyone else.