Hi,

What would be the cheapest way to reload shells for my Winchester model 94.

Also, could you suggest where to buy?

Thanks

A hammer and a nail.

Costs go up from there.


How many rounds do you want to load.

Unless you plan to shoot more then a couple boxes a year it could be cheaper to buy for one caliber.

Unless you already have the reloading gear buy used. A used press, used dies, used scale.

Look for some one selling out now is a very poor time to buy reloading stuff.

A cast bullet with a light load of powder is about as cheap as one can go.

quote:

A cast bullet with a light load of powder is about as cheap as one can go.

check Oregon bullets or Meister.....find a bullet with a gas check attached.....you'll be surprised how fast you can drive it.

Look for a neighbor or other co-worker or someone from the gun club that can help reloading.....get a set of dies from the classifieds or ebay.....you're going to be making the ammo about as cheaply as I can imagine.

Can you clue us in on what kind of shooting you intend to do and how much of it? Also, what are your challenges? Finding ammunition? Finding brass? Finding the proper bullets? Do you already load for some other caliber(s)?

Some really good replies. p dog's suggestion wasn't too far fetched as you could find yourself an original LEE Loader which is the simplest of reloading tools. You use either a non marring mallet or arbor press to neck size the case. This is the way my best friend started with his 32 Special when we were in high school. They make good ammo.

Vapor dogs suggestion is very good too because cast bullets perform very well in both the 30-30 and 32 Special and right up to factory jacketed velocities without the problems of say shooting cast to jacketed velocities in other cartridges such as 308 or 30-06.

If you absolutely have to you can use 30-30 cases to make 32 Special cases. They will be just a smidgen shorter, but not enough to make a difference.

Stonecreek is correct in asking what is your intended use for this ammo?

If I'm not mistaken, RCBS makes a tong style reloading tool. Check their catalog online or even call 'em. In addition, you'd need dies, a scale and a trimmer. You could prollty get by with the Lee dippers but I wouldn't. I'd also get a set of calipers. Don't forget a loading manual - Lyman's?
Good luck
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by Bear in Fairbanks:
If I'm not mistaken, RCBS makes a tong style reloading tool. Check their catalog online or even call 'em. In addition, you'd need dies, a scale and a trimmer. You could prollty get by with the Lee dippers but I wouldn't. I'd also get a set of calipers. Don't forget a loading manual - Lyman's?
Good luck
Bear in Fairbanks

Are you thinking of the Lyman 310 tool?

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinJ:
If you absolutely have to you can use 30-30 cases to make 32 Special cases. They will be just a smidgen shorter, but not enough to make a difference.

They are both listed as being 2.04" long.

I'd go further and just fire loaded .30-30's in the 32 Win. Bullets will rattle down the barrel a bit, but then you'll have formed brass. Otherwise you'll need to expand the necks up to 0.322. Maybe some of the older dies sets have a tapered expander as standard.

Lee Pacesetter 2-Die Set 32 Winchester Special $35
It comes with a dipper and a load sheet.
Lee Reloader Single Stage Press $30
Hornady InterLock Bullets 32 Caliber (321 Diameter) 170 Grain Flat Nose Box of 100 $25
or
Hunters Supply Hard Cast Bullets 32 Caliber (324 Diameter) 170 Grain Lead Flat Nose Box of 500 $65
Everything except the cast bullets are in stock at Midwayusa.com
Then you need large rifle primers which are hard to find. Medium range powers in the IMR 3031, Varget, AA 2015, etc. range. also hard to find.
Good luck! Lot's of loading data at http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

quote:

Originally posted by MuskegMan:

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinJ:
If you absolutely have to you can use 30-30 cases to make 32 Special cases. They will be just a smidgen shorter, but not enough to make a difference.

They are both listed as being 2.04" long.

I'd go further and just fire loaded .30-30's in the 32 Win. Bullets will rattle down the barrel a bit, but then you'll have formed brass. Otherwise you'll need to expand the necks up to 0.322. Maybe some of the older dies sets have a tapered expander as standard.

Believe me, when you expand the 30-30 out to 32 you lose a wee bit of length.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinJ:

Believe me, when you expand the 30-30 out to 32 you lose a wee bit of length.

Probably so. I'll have to collect data next time I run '06 hulls thru the Whelen die.

0.010" wouldn't bother me at all. 0.020" would get my interest, but I wouldn't throw any away. I've trimmed an extra 10 thou (beyond trim-to-length) before - not intentionally, mind you. No ill effects from that.

I just bought a bag of .32 Win Special brass on GB for only about $5 over what it should cost. There was also lots and lots of "once-fired" .30-30 brass for not totally insane money. The .38-55 brass went for 2.5x normal pricing.

smokin':
I wasn't thinking specifically of the Lyman tong tool but of that style.
As I recall (it's been some time) I saw a similar style tool a few years ago in the Huntington's catalog. Dunno if it's still produced or not tho. That's what I was referring to.
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by Bear in Fairbanks:
smokin':
I wasn't thinking specifically of the Lyman tong tool but of that style.
As I recall (it's been some time) I saw a similar style tool a few years ago in the Huntington's catalog. Dunno if it's still produced or not tho. That's what I was referring to.
Bear in Fairbanks

I don't think they make it now, but LEE had kind of a nutcracker type tool that you could take along with you to the shooting bench. My good friend has one. Here is a pic of one:

The Lee hand press is still available.

http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...eech-lock-hand-press