Brass and Equipment Help

[Gatormba]

I am brand new to reloading and I'm still in the process of getting things set up. Where are the best sources to buy 9mm and 45acp brass? Obviously I am saving the brass I should from production range ammo but where can I buy large quantities of good brass? I've seen a lot listed on eBay but I am not sure about the quality or reliability. Anyone have some recommendations?

Also my father in law gave me his old RCBS single stage press to get started but what other presses and equipment would you recommend I look into getting?

[8531]

I usually collect more brass than I shoot at the range but when I purchase brass I buy from http://www.chestnutridge.com

Like you stated...I bought from ebay once and it was a horrible experience and the seller wouldnt take the brass back. Bought brass from chestnutridge 3 different times now and all the brass I have gotten from them has been great quality brass

[mcb]

I just received 146lbs of 40S&W brass from and ebay auction. State of Pennsylvanian was auction off a lot of once fired brass.

No more range brass for me, at least for a little while.

Ebay works. Just about any of the major manufacturer's brass (Win, Rem, Fed) works just fine. I like lots of brass that are all the same head stamp but to be honest untill this most recent purchase I ran mixed brass through my reloader. You want to buy once fired brass not range brass if you can that way you know it has not been abused my some crazed IPSC shooter trying to shoot 9mm Major. I have order brass from www.brassmanbrass.com and gotten decent brass for the money.

As for a reloaded if you get serious about reloading pistol ammunition you will probably want to get a progressive reloader. Start with that single stage press its a good place to get your feet under you. When you really want to start cranking out the ammo go look at Dillon Precision. There 650XL will do several hundred rounds and hour and will handle anything from the smallest pistol cases up to 30-06 length rifle cases if you want.

Presses like the Dillon 650 are not cheap but worth if if you going to reload a lot. I have had mine for a bit over a year and I expect it to have paid for it self by the end of this summer. I will have about 14,000-15,000 round though my press by then and that was about what I calculated it would take to break even on it. With the price of ammo going up thought I will probable break even sooner.

Rambling
mcb

[jalley]

You can normally find good deals on brass on ebay. Just make sure that they list what headstamps are included so you know what quality to expect.

[rodnocker1]

Watch out for their shipping charges though. Some people will tell you it costs a fortune to ship brass due to the weight but they can ship 2,000 rnds of .45ACP brass in a UPS Flat Rate box for $8.95 so don't let anyone tell you it costs more just so they can run the cost up.