Hey Everyone, well I have decided that i NEED to take the plunge and start reloading to be able to afford shooting mass quantities of .45 that I plan to do(I have a CCW, but want to shoot as much as possible to be 150% competant with this round/gun before i start to Carry, i want to be able to hit what i am pointint at).

BUT I really dont know much about reloading, So i was hoping ya'll would help me out and let me know what I need to get started, I also plan on reloading for .223/5.56 precision shooting so i need to be able to do both.

Thanks for all the help guys!

James

i would start with a single stage press like a rockchucker, if you can find a buddy that reloads to help you get started would be a big plus! you will wonder why you didnt start years ago! good luck!

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

The first thing you need to do is read The ABCs of Reloading 9th Edition. This will give you a primer on reloading and answer many of your questions.

Thanks guys! I was debating on either a single-stage or turret style lee.

Styx Gun Range up in alabama has a reloading class on the 20th that im going to go to. $40 bucks and you basically go step through step and learn everything. Not too shabby!

You will find a lot of strong opinions on this both ways. Personally, I'd get a Rockchucker kit, which will have everything you need to get started except dies and shellholders. It will load almost anything you want, rifle or handgun, and is solid, well-made equipment. I started this way on the advise of a friend and think it was a good decision. I've had mine for over 20 years and it looks brand new.

RCBS' customer service is second to none, if you ever need them - I never have.

If you get really serious, especially in precision rifle, you will probably eventually upgrade some of the equipment, but the kit as-is will serve you well for years.

Seems like there are two groups of loaders, the Lee fanboys, and everyone else. I have no experience with the Lee except for looking at them in the store, but they seem of lighter construction to me. I think they will load ammo that goes "boom", but you're much more likely to find the high-volume or precision guys using something other than Lee.

Of course, that's just my opinion, worth what you paid for it.

Good luck

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SWCA 1748

Greetings,

All great advice above. Something else you need to consider before you buy one piece of equipment is: Where are you going to load, what you're going to mount the press on as far as a stable, solid platform, and lighting. You can have the best equipment you can afford, but if things move, climate changes a lot, and you can't see your situation so well, things won't turn out as consistent as you'd like at the least. Plus, you need to load in a nice quiet place where you can focus on the task at hand.

Sorry for running on but having experienced some of the above, I'd like to help you have a safe and rewarding re-loading experience like I have.

Hobie

Buy a couple of reloading manuals i.e. Lyman, Speer, Hornady etc. Next,get first class equipment, you won't go wrong with RCBS either. Go to the reloading class you mentioned, if at all possible. Study your loading manuals
until you are quite familiar with safe procedures. Once you actually load a few cartridges and shoot them, you'll have a great deal of satisfaction in making and using your ammunition. Good luck, & don't be afraid to ask questions.

I see that several have recommended the RCBS Rockchucker press. This is an excellent press but they don't make it any more. They now make the Rockchucker Supreme and it is a much bigger press designed to handle the largest magnum rifle cartridges. This results in a very long throw, especially when loading the 45 ACP. Look for a good used Rockchucker press.

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Dick

RCBS makes great equipment, so does Hornady and many others also do. It is hard to make a really bad choice. All the above advice is very good. Depending on how well you book learn it would be a great idea to get some hands on help.

Regardless of what equipment you buy, buy the ABC book and a manual or two first. Don't buy any equipment yet. Get the Speer manual and another either Lyman or Hornady.

You need to determine how much ammo you will think you need to determine what type of press. There is no reason to get a single stage as a turret can be made a single stage so you can start single and then go with the turret.

Go to the RCBS web site and watch all the videos and click on the top "Guide to Reloading" this will give you a overview of the whole deal.

RCBS - Precisioneered Shooting Products - Products

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Still Running Against the Wind

Awesome, Thanks Rule3!

I have had a Rockchucker for years. Great press, but if someone told me I had to load 500 cases of .45 ACP with it, I would jump off a bridge. It will work great for your .223.

Get the turret press, I have the lyman T mag, makes changing calibers quick ...

The suggestions for getting the manuals is great. Never read the ABC book and I have been just fine, well, for the most part!

The NRA has a book on reloading that can be kind of helpful. Very basic.

As for the press type to get, really, that is determined by the need of ammo, to be honest. If you are going to shoot 500 rounds a month, on a Lee Classic Cast Turret press, that will be close to 5 hours, if not more, at a decent, consistent, conservative, conscientious rate.

The press can be made single stage in a heartbeat and you can load rifle on it too.

One of the cheapest places to get a decent kit with that press is: kempfgunshop.com

I am not affiliated with them at all other than they are fellow Hoosiers!

FWIW

I would buy all the stuff used on the internet. I would start with single stage. While you are reading the ABC's of reloading and watching the videos/DVD's of reloading.This will give you time to accumulate good used equipment. Ar15.com HAS A BUNCH of stuff for sale. I got a rockchucker press for just shipping. I got a partner press for $35 shipped. I got a dillon scale for $25 all in great working order.

Be aware that you are going to spend $1,000's of dollars. People think reloading is to save money. Yes you will, but as you get better with it you are going to upgrade equipment and have a major stockpile of components.
I never thought of all the stuff I would have for this. Today I am going to my local guy to buy projo's (hard cast) to put more in my stockpile. Lead is a commodity and as the dollar goes down lead/brass/copper goes up in price.Stock up now so in many years to come you are shooting for bargain prices.

Mak sure you have a proper climate control area. In FL you have humidity and it will rust your stuff.

All of this can be worked out while you are reading.

Good luck and time flies. I am reloading for 3 years now.


ETA: This is the time to start buying powder/primers and projo's. There is no panic buying now. If that starts you are going to be SOL.

I would wet my feet with spening money right now. Go buy the ABC's of reloading and then go buy 1K of Large pistol primers. That will be for your 45acp loads. Buy 1 pound of winchester 231(powder) or 1 pound of bullseye.(powder) Thats is for 45 acp. keep them seperate when stored. Do not store them in ammo cans.
Then read and read and read. Every week buy something else. Little by little. Remember when you think you are done spending you will spend much more.

Good luck and have fun.

PM me with questions and I will try to help. The reloading boards are great to read and learn. Did I mention you are going to read alot. LOL

I am in a similar boat with the .45 ACP and .223. If I hadn't gotten a deal on a NIB Rockchucker II kit last year, I was intended on buying either a Forster Co-ax or a CH4D 444 press. The Forster was my primary choice with it's reputation for precision. Major downsides, besides costing almost as much for the press as a Rockchucker Supreme kit, is the primer systems is very slow and involves handling the primers. I purchased a RCBS automatic bench primer, which was one of the best investments for my arthritic hands.

As you can see, there are differing opinions, as usual. Getting the reading material and digesting it first is good advice.

When I started eight or so years ago I bought a Lee Anniversary Kit -single-stage, had everything needed to load, and was inexpensive. But I can't recommend going that route -too slow and too cheap. I eventually replaced everything in the kit. I bought the Lee Classic Turret press and will likely use it till I die or can't see to load anymore. It eliminates the need to change dies going from one stage to the next, which is a significant time-saver in my view. If you're going to shoot A LOT, eventually you'll probably go to a progressive, but very few people recommend starting with one -the possibility of making mistakes increases significantly, at least for a beginner. And with reloading you want to avoid mistakes as much as is humanly possible.

I've never seen this mentioned before, but it seems to me that the most important factor in reloading is the person doing it. I know a number of people whose personalities are simply incompatible with this activity. If a person tends strongly to be impatient, distracted easily, careless, inattentive to detail, etc., I would be very reluctant to encourage them to take up loading ammunition. It is a process which demands the opposite characteristics. Safety is seriously compromised otherwise.

We all wish you well in your endeavor. Keep asking questions as needed; as many of my friends tell me, the only dumb question is the one that's not asked.

Andy

I have not seen this mentioned either and is no doubt the most important thing of all.!

It doesn't matter if you have the best equipment in the world if you don't have this it will not matter.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Thanks again for all the info and advice guys! Im watching Videos on Youtube, and on the RCBS website right now!

Some more suggestions:
1. Start collecting brass
2. Buy carbide dies for your straight wall brass
3. When reloading make sure there are no other distractions
4. Take your time and double check your powder charges
5. Put aside the money you save reloading to buy more guns

The only aspect of personality that I have ever covered when trying to encourage a new loader is by asking about their mechanical skills.

If you cannot remember if it is "righty tighty, lefty loosey" then you should use the most basic of setups and leave the progressives to others. That doesn't mean that you are bad or anything, but knowing one's limitations is key to success in any aspect of life.

Paying attention to details is of prime importance and is a GREAT caution to a new loader.

p.s. Midway and Lee precision websites also have videos to watch.

The biggest thing is this: Get started. Buy something this week, then next week get something else, by the end of a month, you aren't all stressed about the money you are going to spend, read in the meantime, watch the videos, but start today.

Oh, and another thing, send away, e mail or call for all the catalogs from RCBS, Hornady, Lee, they all have basic reloading guides and you can see more detail of the equipment.

Dillon just has the models on the front cover so you will not get past her!

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

Might as well take a break now and then

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Still Running Against the Wind

After buying the Lee anniversary single stage press kit I spent over a year lurking on forums like this and purchasing the rest of what I needed before I loaded my first .45 rounds. I load to target practice for what I carry I don’t think I’ll ever need anything other than a single stage. The only thing I’ve added to the Lee kit items are a used RCBS powder measure and a digital scale. I now load .45, 9mm and 38 special and the savings are tremendous with free range brass.

Take your time.

I would wet my feet with spening money right now. Go buy the ABC's of reloading and then go buy 1K of Large pistol primers. That will be for your 45acp loads. Buy 1 pound of winchester 231(powder) or 1 pound of bullseye.(powder) Thats is for 45 acp. keep them seperate when stored. Do not store them in ammo cans.
Then read and read and read. Every week buy something else. Little by little. Remember when you think you are done spending you will spend much more.

Good luck and have fun.
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The information above is great. One thing I would change. Don't buy Bullseye powder until you are experienced at reloading. Buy Unique instead. Reason being, Bullseye is a fast burning powder, and it doesn't take much when reloading bullets. Unique is a medium burning powder, and you must use more in the case. Because of this, it is safer, by reducing the chance for a double charge. Again, this is just my opinion. I've been reloading for 15 years.
Good luck and enjoy.
augy

thanks for the Info sir! its greatly appreciated!

I see no sense in urgency to BUY anything other than the ABC's and a manual or two? There is no hurry. Get the catalogs, figure out what you need, want, before you start buying stuff. Once you decide what equipment. look for the best price. Natchez generally beats Midway but Midway has perhaps faster shipping and better return policy. For powder and primers try and find a place local so you do not have a HAZ MAT shipping fee. For now all you need is a box of 1000 large pistol primers and 1 lb of powder (for 45, Bullseye or HP 38)
Do you have brass already?

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Still Running Against the Wind

Only one mention of an essential component has been mentioned...a scale, be it balance or digital, is absolutely necessary. Calipers also. Case cleaning equipment. Brass, as mentioned. Bullets?
Like in most hobbies, the start-up costs sting a bit but once you get it all going, it can be a very rewarding endeavor.(except when trimming brass without a Gracie,boring ).

Lots of good advice up above. Hope you enjoy yourself.

Hobie

This is how I started a year ago. I'm sure others will suggest other brands of starter press kits, you know "go blue and big or go home".

Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit Cabela's--- $99.00 or less

Harbor freight vibratory brass cleaner--- $ 40.00

.45 4 Die set Cabela's--- $36.99

Lee Modern Reloading Manual on eBay--- $13.99

1000 Berry’s and others, bullets--- $119.00

1000 CCI large primers Cabalas--- $29.99

1 Lb. Unique Powder at gun shop--- $17.99

Brass--- Range Brass Free

Digital caliper on ebay--- $8.50

Loading tray x 2 on ebay--- $13.50

Work bench (two old nightstands and a piece of plywood)--- Free


Total $378.96


1000 rounds of .45 WWB at Wally World can be $330.00



You might find these items now for more or less, definitely more on factory ammo.



...

I forgot Safety glasses and lizard litter for the vibratory brass cleaner.


What else did I forget yaaaa’lllll

I won't offer any suggestions about equipment or components since you've already and will get plenty of that. Ultimately that decision is up to you once you've done your research. When I started reloading there was no one to teach me and no internet. It was all done by the book and it was The ABC's of Reloading.

Once you've done your reading/research and start buying components you're going to want to buy a lot of different powders, bullets, etc. I'd suggest you resist the urge and initially stick with one type of powder and one style/weight of bullet and primer. Use the KISS rule and keep it simple until you feel confident enough to change, if you want to continue. I've seen more than one person want to start reloading and buy a lot of components only to give up for whatever reason. He just had more to sell off in the end.

When you do have what you need and are ready to start only have ONE type of each component on your loading table. One type of primer, One can of powder and One style of bullet. Then confirm in your manual(s) you are using those components only. It's real easy to become complacent and pick up the wrong can of powder.

Once the reloading process starts DO NOT allow yourself to be distracted. If you have to step away write down where you left off if you haven't completed a process. And when you're finished make sure you document everything. There's no sense in duplicating a load that does not work or you're not happy with.

I am anal about documentation and have kept it for over 30yrs in regards to reloading. I make my own reloading labels and separate loading sheets for each caliber and keep my loads in a binder and on my PC.

More importantly, if you get stuck or have a question, ask. It's better to be safe than sorry. Best of luck to you and Be Safe.

I'd like to say that all the advice is good but depending on needs and budget it is possible to get started for quite a bit less than some would have you think. I started reloading in 1973 or 74. didn't get a scale or brass cleaner to the mid 90's.

Lee and others have powder measures with fixed cavities. Look at their powder charts and reloading tables and try for a load near the middle of the range. This should give you good practice ammo and still safe. The scale becomes needed when you start working up loads for accuracy or trying to put together some warm loads.


As for brass, a mesh bag and dishwasher will do the trick.

As you reload acquire the luxury items as you can.