Hello all, I have been seriously considering getting into reloading and was curious what the startup was like.$$$$ wise. I am thinking of reloading shotgun shells and 270 shells. What is the learning curve like? Anything you would like to share would be great.

Find a mentor is the best piece of advice I can give you. Somebody that can show you hands on how to do stuff. It is not hard to learn, and easier today with videos and stuff but the lessons are much easier if you can see someone actually load something and walk you thru the steps makes a world of difference.

The cost to get setup in rifle loading is about $250 + the cost of supplies, and you will recover that in about 6-10 box's of ammo depending on what price bullet you use. I am loading 6.5x55, 300Wmg and 9.3x62 ammo at about 1/4th to 1/3rd the price of factory ammo for the same bullets, and have loaded 270 for 35 years. The 6.5's (and 270's) cost me about $9 or less a box when factory ammo is $16-$35, the 300Wmg's cost me about $10-12 a box when factory ammo costs about $35 for the same bullets...and the big old 9.3x62 Mauser, that is just barely smaller than a 375 H&H, costs me about $15 a box when factory ammo starts at $40/$45 a box using the same cheap bullets like I am, and goes to about $100 a box where I will be at about $20/$35 a box for the same bullets. These big 250, 270 & 300 grain bullets ain't cheap and run from just below a $1 each for the bullet alone to double that...and handloading is the only way I can afford to shoot any of these guns as much as I like.

If you can't find someone in Dallas to teach you, get back to me for some ideas up here at Lake Texoma.
Ron

Cant say I know anyone off the top of my head who loads in the area. Just might get in touch with you sometime. Thanks.

WileyCoyote can offer as good or better advice than just about anybody so I'll offer two other thoughts to live by.

1. NEVER load for someone else.
2. NEVER shoot anyone else's handloads.

For shotshells I would get a Mec machine. If the budget is tight you can start off with the 600 Jr. or Sizemaster. Loading will be slow, but for a beginner it is probably the best route. If you want to go ahead and spend a few more bucks you can get the Mec Grabber and have a shell with each stroke of the handle.

helpful link www.reload-nrma.com/intro-reload.html.
Read up on it. Having a mentor is a good idea. There is plenty of info avilable if you cant find anyone to help.