Questions From a Know Nothing Guy

[unloved]

I want to start reloading so that I can afford to shoot more. I know a guy who wants to trade my Kel-Tec P11 for:
1. Lyman Orange Crusher press
2. RCBS dies for 9mm, .38 spc, .357 mag, .45ACP, and .30-06
3. Lyman case trimmer
4. RCBS scale
5. several hundred CCI Large Pistol Primers
6. several Hundred bullets in various calibers
7. some .45ACP brass
8. a bunch of small tools that I don't know what the hell for
9. a can of Blue Dot powder
10. basic instruction on how to use it all

Should I jump on this deal? How many rounds can I realistically expect to turn out in a few hours with a single stage press? Will I need to buy a lot of other equipment to get started? I know nothing about loading.

Thanks for your time everyone.
P.S. I'm guessing all of the stuff is at least 15 years old. Is that bad?

[VMJade]

IANAL, YMMV, This advice is worth what you paid for it, etc. etc. etc.

I've been able to turn out about 45 rounds an hour with a single stage press- that's priming the brass by hand, which it doesn't look like he's offering you the equipment for.

It sounds like a so-so deal, especially if you've not gotten into reloading yet.

Reloading CAN BE a delightful, rewarding process in which you save money on ammo, learn interesting new things about...well, reloading, and so on.

Reloading can also be a really nifty way to destroy your weapon and injure or kill yourself.

I'm not saying don't do it, but I am saying that if you do, don't do ANYTHING for the first few months (really years) without consulting reloading data.You can find it online from reputable places like http://www.hodgdon.com/

If you're interested, go for it. If you've only got a passing interest in it, think carefully- it may turn into a dust collector on the workbench.

[Xringshooter]

What he offers gets you about 2/3rds of the way there. You would need to add:
A priming device
A powder measure (something to dispense the powder)
A loading block (something to hold the cases as the go through the process)
A case length guage (a case trimmer doesn't do any good if you don't know what the correct length is)
Different powders for different calibers/loads
Cases to reload
Bullets to put in cases
You will pick up other things to round everything out as you get more involved in reloading.

MOST IMPORTANT - A good reloading manual to tell you how to do all this. Start with "The ABC's of Reloading" or the latest Lyman relaoding manual or any manual from a bullet manufacturer.

If you don't think you will be interested then I wouldn't make the trade.

[cosmo05]

Keep your gun. Buy a Rock Chucker kit from RCBS. It comes with everything you need, (except the particular dies and shell holders you are loading for) and a loading manual. You will be WAY ahead of the game.

[reichebrown]

Reloading can also be a really nifty way to destroy your weapon and injure or kill yourself.

If i knew how to give rep points i would

[shooter357]

If i knew how to give rep points i would

Click on the little scale in the corner of the post to the right of the word permalink.

[dodge]

I would only go for it if you didn't really like the pistol. In doing some price checking for you I found at Cabela's prices you are coming out ahead.
1) $104.95
2) for pistol dies $64.99 per and for rifle $26.99
3) $56.99
4) $71.99
5) $3-$4 per 100
6) $12.00 and up per 100
7) Remington bulk $18.99 per 100
8) unknown as we don't know what tools are included
9) App. $20.99 per lb.
10) priceless as I can't put a value on experience.

On gunbroker a Kel-Tec P11 is running about $250.00

[JoeWilliams]

Well, I've got $243 into my Lee setup

$27 Lee hand press kit... $45 will get you a Lee Challenger breechlock press
$60 for .38 Special, .357 Magnum, & 9mm dies
$20 Lee Perfect Powder Measure
$20 Lee Safety Scale
$2 Lee primer pocket cleaner
$45 Lyman Turbo 1200 case cleaner
$13 Hornady powder trickler
$13 Lyman Pistol and Revolver reloading manual
$23 Lee Modern Reloading
$20 3 loading trays

Bout the price of your gun.