Starting reloading, what is needed

Oracle

Oracle

US Veteran
Joined
May 19, 2018
Messages
712
Reaction score
1,195
Location
Selah, Washington
I am seriously considering starting reloading. The local Cabela's Outfit store carries reloading items. I asked an employee what was needed, I am not confident in what he told me.

So, what do I need and what brand?
 
Register to hide this ad
Once yo decide what calibers you will be reloading and what equipment you want start searching the used market. Reloaders are always upgrading or dying off putting used equipment on the market. Main components do not tend to wear out. A lot of us are using presses that are 50+/- years old.
 
Depends to some extent as to what you plan on reloading. The lyman manual is a good place to start. Add a manual from a bullet maker, and you've a great start. I would strongly advise not starting with a progressive press. Using something like a lee loader or a single stage press may take more time per round, but you'll be able to see any mistakes easier.
 
Number One Tip, do NOT try to "go cheap". Purchase the cheapest powder scale on the market and you will end up purchasing another, and more expensive as soon as you discover the flaws in that cheap scale.

To start out I would suggest going with RCBS Equipment. A Rock Crusher press is an excellent and durable single stage press that can serve you well for 30 years or more. Same for the RCBS Powder measures and scales. BTW, I recommend the Competition powder measure, it's not cheap but it is well made and very easy to set up.

BTW volume based powder measures will have a variation in the thrown charges and that variation is a product of the metering quality of the powder being used. Large granule flake or extruded powders meter poorly and can show a variation of +/- 1/2 grain or more. With poor metering powders an automated electronic scale can be quite useful but a less expensive option is to just weigh each charge thrown and use a trickler to get the charge weight perfect.

As for load manuals, you never can have too many. I have the Speer, Lyman, and Lee manuals on hand. Lots of interesting and informative information in these manuals well worth studying.

So to sum up, you need a Press, Powder Measure, and Accurate Scale plus load manuals. Then you will need Dies for your specific calibers. BTW, my Dies are either RCBS or Lee because the cost/value for these brans is excellent.
 
Were I replacing everything, I'd probably start with one of the kits from RCBS, Hornady, etc.

You'll need to start out with the basic decisions ... caliber and then single stage or progressive.

Have fun, it's a great aspect of the hobby.
 
The very first thing you have to think about is: WHERE AM I GOING TO RELOAD? You need some space and a solid table or work bench. You will need to see what you are doing too, so the area needs lighting.

Secondary recommendation, Brands. When buying new Lee, will be the CHEAPEST! In both meanings of the word. You can mix brands of equipment as long as the die sets and the press use the standard 7/8-14 thread pattern. Try to keep the die sets in one brand so you can swap small parts when one breaks. (many thing are covered by warranty, but it takes time for them to arrive. Most brands, the decapping pins are not warranty items, so a pack of extras is a safe bet!)

If you are REAL GOOD at following directions, you can start with a progressive, but a single stage is far simpler.

STAY AWAY from: light weight aluminum presses. Durability comes from mass or at least thick castings.

When I have to buy new dies and I'm in a hurry, I prefer RCBS or Redding Die sets! But I'll take a bargain on used any brand! Lee has very short dies as a rule, but that usually not a problem until you get into progressive presses.

Powder measurers (also called DROPS) are a necessity, buy a very good one for the rest of your life. (Lyman 55 is a very good time proven design)

Ivan
 
Shellholders.....

Don't forget shellholders and a powder funnel. Loading blocks are a good thing to have.

I've been doing good with an RCBS Uniflow powder measure. I check my charges with a $30 Harbor Freight digital scale.

Learn as much as you can from a book. You can get extra info off of the internet or on this forum, but people do things different ways. There are difference in the types of cartridges that are important. Safety is the utmost.

More charge data can be found at the powder manufacturers web sites.

Find out what calibers you will be loading for.
 
Will you just be loading for pistol cartridges? Rifle? Shotgun? Each has their own special needs, some of which overlap. If you do buy a digital scale, make sure you have something to check it with. The cheap ones can be very finicky and inaccurate.

Bob
 
Lots of great advice above and don't have much to add but do not let those with prejudice towards certain brands sway you too much. Over almost forty years I've had Lee, Lyman, Hornady and RCBS presses, dies and other components. I now have nothing but Lee for all my needs (except priming and powder measure).
Lee equipment will last and I've had no trouble with any caliber I've loaded for.
Agree with the suggestions for manuals. I have Lyman 50th; Hornady 10th and latest Lee. Also have caliber specific for my most shot rounds.
Enjoy and be safe.
 
A few reloading manuals , at least 4 , because there are so many different powders, primers and bullet no one book has it all .
Read the first few chapters of each... the instructions ... again , so much info that no single book has it all. Speer , Hornady , Lyman #50 , Western Powders , Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #4...all are good and you will use them.

It's rare to buy everything you need at a yard sale for $10.00 in an old cardboard box...one thing is you don't know what you need .
Buy a starter Kit like the Lee 50th Anniversary Challenger Press Kit, they sell for right at $140 - $150 and contain a single stage O press and just about everything you need . You can always upgrade later and you will always have a need for a single stage press .

That and asking questions from us old guys who have been doing this for 50 or so years (experience is a heck of a teacher) will get you going and keep you on track .
Gary
 
Oracle - just a suggestion - you provide just a bit more information to receive the best guidance. For example, using extremes, if you said you intend to load one rifle cartridge for precision target shooting of 100 rounds per month, the guidance would differ from if you said you want to shoot hundreds of rounds per week of a handgun cartridge.
 
rockquarry said:
Read at least one paper handloading manual first.
Click to expand...

Go to a gun club or library - some place that has several handloading books or manuals. Find one that you enjoy reading. Read it.

My favorite is just a book, not a manual. It's an oldie. It's called "Handloading for Handgunners" by Maj. George C. Nonte. I lost my copy years ago, but the library can get it for me if I put in a request. I can spend hours reading that book.
I keep the Lyman reloading manuals for reference.
I started with this. All it took was a mallet, powder, bullets, primers, and time.
 

Attachments

  • hornet.jpg
    hornet.jpg
    78.1 KB · Views: 31
Last edited:
I've been loading for 50 years and have used products from several companies. Out of that I'll make the following comments. I'll also agree the Lyman manual provides the best information to beginners.

Scales: Lyman has a very sight edge due to the agate bearings for the beam. The others work, it's just a very slight edge. Treat it with care and get a set of test weights to keep verifying accuracy.

Powder measure: adjustable provides the best flexibility, fixed measures can be much faster to use if you're switching loads more often IF the inserts match the actual weight of charge you want with a given powder. DO NOT bet on the accuracy of charts. Sometimes they'll be dead on. More often you (should) find yourself making your own charts of X measure = Z grains of whatever in the real world.

The multiple adjustable slides of the Lyman 55 allow you to determine charge weights, measure slide adjustment with a calipher and record this to get you in the ball park when changing charge weights. You can get real frustrated fussing with adjustable measures trying to get back to a desired weight. I've got an RCBS measure that once I got it adjusted to throw the desired charge, I went out and bought another brand to do other things. Hack: once you've got an adjustable measure set for a given charge for one powder, it just might throw a needed weight for others.

Added edit: RCBS and others now make micrometer adjustable powder measures. They're more expensive (sometimes MUCH more) and, never having used one, am not sure on how accurate/repeatable the adjustments may be. Read and follow directions if you go this route. Recheck actual thrown weight after changes.

Many don't do this, but a case gauge is real cheap insurance that your loads are going to fit in your chamber. If loading bottle neck cases, you can verify that your headspace (case shoulder to base) measurement is good.

As a few people is noted, cheap can end up being very expensive. OTOH, in some cases (no pun intended) don't pay too much for a name.
 
Last edited:
I'm not a big fan of lee dies for expanding. They don't work that well with cast bullets, rcbs or the Lyman m dies are better for lead bullets.
 
AlHunt said:
Were I replacing everything, I'd probably start with one of the kits from RCBS, Hornady, etc.

You'll need to start out with the basic decisions ... caliber and then single stage or progressive.

Have fun, it's a great aspect of the hobby.
Click to expand...
I agree on a kit from Lee, or RCBS, etc. Otherwise you will suffer way too many shutdowns while you wait on stuff to come in. I got an RCBS kit one Christmas about 35 years ago, and with a set of dies, I was on the ground running. Since then I've mostly bought dies, a digital scale, and a Lee Auto-Prime. I think my starting manual was the Speer #9? If loading pistol rounds, I'd get Bullseye and Unique starting out.
 
The best advice I got when starting out, an old timer told me to start with a single stage press! He was right, it helped me understand the process, bust MOST IMPORTANT, things went at a slow pace, to catch potential errors, and correct mistakes already made. Both Lee & Lyman are good reloading manuals to start with, the Powder Mfg sites are a good source for loading data also.
 
Before spending a LOT of money....................

Read up on reloading to get an idea of what is needed per
equipment $ cost for the ammo that you will be making.

When you have a caliber, start with a light target load that is safe and learn the basics of putting a load together.
You will have mistakes and "Junk loads" but this happens when you start out, but they can be taken apart, no big thing if just 20 loads.

Yow will have to select a case, primer, powder and bullet but they can be bought
in town in small amounts, for your fist try.
If you decide that it is your cup of tea.............
larger amounts of supplies might be in order.

I have always had a RCBS single stage loader, case tray, scale, small container and alum. spoon, in a well lighted area for my loading.

Take your time read up, then go spend some $$.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
reloading 460 for deer hunting
Replies
8
Views
853
venomballistics
venomballistics
O
Lee Loaders, need help.
2 3
Replies
47
Views
2K
rwsmith
rwsmith
chief38
My experience & opinion as to costs of reloading now days.
2 3 4
Replies
73
Views
3K
Rudi2
Rudi2
Smoke
What Constitutes "Reasonable Preparedness" ?
2 3
Replies
59
Views
1K
Rustyt1953
Rustyt1953
C
Question
2
Replies
20
Views
473
mtgianni
M

Latest posts

Back
Top