from zero to shooting; newbie saga

[LittleCooner]

My suggestions -
1) look at purchasing a lee priming tool. You will learn along the way that priming is better done one at a time with a primer tool. I sit in front of the TV at "priming time" and prime what ever batch I am working at the time. You will need shell holders for the tool, as they are flat, washer shaped, to just slide into the tool. Tray will hold 100 primers at a time and shaking will turn them all cup down.

2) some place like Sinclair International, etc sells "imperial sizing lube". A small shoe shine can size will last years and years. Try it on the 223 and 308. place on by finger and once you get the die lubed, it takes a very small amount. It makes a lot less mess than a pad and other type lubes IMHO. I just wipe off with a rag after I resize and continue the process.

3) on a budget? These cheap ( $ 10) digital dial calipers work great and the ones I have appear to provide correct reading when compared to my old set that now costs well over $ 100.

4) somewhere along the way, after a few reloading cycles, the brass will grow on the 223 and 308 and require trimming. You will need an outside-inside deburring tool. I usually use the inside part to do a light chamfer on the inside of new cases to help in bullet seating any. You can use this Tool by hand just fine, but there are two ways to speed up the process and save the hand. One is a "Tool base" that looks like the old pencil sharpner that you mount on the bench, but the one I perter is the holder sold by Sinclair Int. that you chuck in a drill. I have this battery powdered Black and Decker drill/cordless screwdriver that turns slow and it is the berries for using the deburring tool.
If you are headed for extreme accuracy- get a flash hole deburring tool from Sinclair and "prep your cases". look inside your new brass and you will see where a sprue is found in some of them where the manufacturing process of punching the flash hole left a sprue on on side. Tool is cheap and just has a cutter you drop down and cut out the sprue. This is the first basic step to anyone in the extreme accuracy game in prepping cases for matches.

Good luck, I think you will enjoy "rolling your own" and punching holes downrange.

 

[LittleCooner]

Comment on finding powder in this "crazy time"

One powder I love that does not appear to have a great following, so you may find it on someone shelf, is Hodgdon H-414. Load great in the 223 and everything else up to and including your 308. Years ago, the IMR powders were what everyone used, all being an extruded powder (looks like sticks). Throwing charges that are consistent in weight is impossible, making weighing every charge and using a powder trickler necessary. I found this ball type powder to produce great groups in my rifles and throw very consistent charges years ago. I have shot 25-30 pounds of this stuff in the past 25 years in my rifles and love the stuff. If you find a pound, grab it. I think after the crazy time is over and you burn a lot of your reloads down range, you will still have a pet load of H414 in your notes long into the future.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Things are arriving

Dies all 3 calibers...check
Shell plates all 3....check
1000 55gr hornady .223....check
200 168 Sierra Match King .308....check
Bullet puller....check

UPS driver just smiling at me now. The rest is coming this next week. Going to finish the bench and get the rest organized in anticipation.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Littlecooner: Took your recommendation on the Imperial Sizing wax. I was just crossing off the last items from the list this morning before I head to the range to "make some brass"

Already have a case prep tool and a resizer on the way.

I told my buddy that I had ordered the "last thing". He just laughed at me. I guess I know why. I'm constantly reading the books I got and realizing I forgot....one last thing.

UGH.....

 

[SanJoseScott]

Powder

Comment on finding powder in this "crazy time"

One powder I love that does not appear to have a great following, so you may find it on someone shelf, is Hodgdon H-414. Load great in the 223 and everything else up to and including your 308. Years ago, the IMR powders were what everyone used, all being an extruded powder (looks like sticks). Throwing charges that are consistent in weight is impossible, making weighing every charge and using a powder trickler necessary. I found this ball type powder to produce great groups in my rifles and throw very consistent charges years ago. I have shot 25-30 pounds of this stuff in the past 25 years in my rifles and love the stuff. If you find a pound, grab it. I think after the crazy time is over and you burn a lot of your reloads down range, you will still have a pet load of H414 in your notes long into the future.

Can't find this one either but I do appreciate the suggestion. My books confirm it is a good multiuse powder which is what I'm looking for.

Oh well, off to Home Depot to get the top for my bench. Everything comes in this coming week so I need to be ready

 

[Skip Sackett]

Case lube. If you don't have that, you will have only one case in the die and come to a screeching halt.

I use the RCBS II and a pad. Do as you want, but, use a good lube or you will stick a case sure as the world. Not a fun thing at all.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Case lube. If you don't have that, you will have only one case in the die and come to a screeching halt.

I use the RCBS II and a pad. Do as you want, but, use a good lube or you will stick a case sure as the world. Not a fun thing at all.

I got the imperial sizing lube recommended in an earlier post and I added the RCBS pad with lube so I can try both. I hear you on NOT having to figure out how to extract an unlubed piece of brass from the resizing die.

On another note: The bench is now ready so all that is left is to receive the stuff and then learn how to use it all.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Powder Valley Inc just got a shipment in. H414, IMR3031 and BLC(2) all in stock. I'm off to pick up 6lbs of Varget locally today so I'm ok for now.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Lord what have I done.
LnL Press is here
RCBS case trimmer is here
scale is here
Tumbler and media is here
Powder, primer, bullets are here

Going to take the afternoon off to setup the press and get everything else set and ready.

Heck, I may run some brass through the tumbler while I wait for the case lube to arrive.

Kind of a strange feeling to see everything coming together....

 

[mike smith 1002]

great to see someone taking up the reloading hobby been loading since 1970 you will always find something you need dont forget a primer flipping tray. I am having the same problem with powder my go to has been alliant bullseye, 2400 and power pistol .38 .357 .44 45acp
imr 4198 and 3031 222 223 308 but I can get hodgon so a fellow reloader suggested H335 for 222 223 308 and 30-30 working up loads now. I hope you enjoy the sport and shoot great scores

 

[Rule3]

Lord what have I done.
LnL Press is here
RCBS case trimmer is here
scale is here
Tumbler and media is here
Powder, primer, bullets are here

Going to take the afternoon off to setup the press and get everything else set and ready.

Heck, I may run some brass through the tumbler while I wait for the case lube to arrive.

Kind of a strange feeling to see everything coming together....

What you have done is spent a lot of money. What SCALE did you get? I hate to see you get all this nice stuff and have problems with a cheap scale.

A scale is the most important item in reloading. If it is a cheapo electronic, I suggest getting a good balance beam and check weights.

Also suggest Wilson case gauges for the rifle calibers especially 223 if shooting from a semi auto.

Here or where ever you buy your stuff.

L.E. Wilson Case Length Headspace Gage 223 Remington

Reize your 223 brass and check the length. Trim if needed. 223 is a little trickier than the straight case 357 Mag. Practice loading with some dummy rounds.

Happy reloading, start low and slow.

 

[dkjbama]

I really hope you didn't get that Varget. It is an extruded "stick" powder and it meters like gravel through the LnL AP powder measure. At least it does at 223 size charges. I never tried it with 308 size charges, but wouldn't expect it to be much better. It literally crunched every time I pulled the handle. For best results with the LnL AP powder measure, try to stick to ball powders: H335, BL-C(2), CFE223 and others

 

[SanJoseScott]

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ......

That is the sound of my first batch of brass running through the Lyman 1200 tumbler with walnut media, a touch of red rouge and cut up dryer sheets (my buddy sells this stuff).

Answers to the questions above:

Scale: I actually found myself looking at a variety of lower cost digital scales with the MISTAKEN thinking of saving some cash. Then it dawned on me that the scale was NOT the place to scrimp (just like Rule 3 commented). I bought a nice mechanical scale (RCBS 10 10) because I have some history with open beam scales during my early years (don't ask).

I also have a RCBS Trim Pro kit that is mounted to an appropriate size of 1X6 so I can move it around when I don't need it.

The LnL Press is now mounted to the bench and I have fit several dies in loosely because I don't have the case lube yet and I'm not going to start off with a stuck case (thank you guys for posting that tip). It was an interesting read-and-do exercise to get things set up. The Case Activated Powder drop is quite the device and it took some careful contemplation and thought.

I did get the Varget powder knowing it was extruded but my background advisor who actually got me motivated to take this leap offers that it is an excellent all around powder for both .223 and .308 which he reloads and shoots competitively. Now I know that powder preference is developed over time based on many factors and I had to pick a starting point which was affected in large part by what one can get right now. I got an excellent deal on some Varget so I went with it. After I get some experience I will most likely branch out to other types and experiment. Right now I'm starting with the basics.

I will spend this weekend learning the bits and pieces and going back over EVERYTHING many times before I even think about actually loading. However, I will say that the set up is starting to actually look like something and my garage has never been this organized and clean (side benefit).

I will post as I go in the hope that somebody else may benefit. If I over do it just let me know, but I sure do appreciate the hints and support

 

[Rule3]

Scale: I actually found myself looking at a variety of lower cost digital scales with the MISTAKEN thinking of saving some cash. Then it dawned on me that the scale was NOT the place to scrimp (just like Rule 3 commented). I bought a nice mechanical scale (RCBS 10 10) because I have some history with open beam scales during my early years (don't ask).

No need to.
Gee, What ever are you referring to???

Oh and on the dry sheets, I hope they are used ones and not new. New ones will make a sticky mess of your brass.

 

[forestswin]

Scale: I actually found myself looking at a variety of lower cost digital scales with the MISTAKEN thinking of saving some cash. Then it dawned on me that the scale was NOT the place to scrimp (just like Rule 3 commented). I bought a nice mechanical scale (RCBS 10 10) ....

"you have chosen.............. wisely" Grail Knight

 

[SanJoseScott]

No need to.
Gee, What ever are you referring to???

Oh and on the dry sheets, I hope they are used ones and not new. New ones will make a sticky mess of your brass.

Now this is an interesting moment. Sitting here sipping a wonderful cup of coffee listening to the quiet hum of the tumber on its last of the 4 hour initial run when I open this thread and read a tip about the possible sticky mess lurking behind the garage door. So I'm in a mental quandry right now....go in and check? Or, get another cup of coffee, kick back and let it finish.....I'm going for option B (let you know how it works out).

Gotta watch some videos on setting up the powder drop. There is a piece called the powder stop that doesn't seem to fit like the instructions.....

 

[dkjbama]

Gotta watch some videos on setting up the powder drop. There is a piece called the powder stop that doesn't seem to fit like the instructions.....

You won't need the powder stop for loading rifle. It is used when loading pistol using the powder through expander to expand and charge the case in the same step.

It's not that Varget isn't a good powder. It is. It just doesn't play nice with the LnL powder measure.

 

[carpriver]

I started reloading a few years ago. I had no experience with reloading. I started reloading for a 9 mm pistol, Now I reload everything I shoot. 9mm, 38spl, 357mag, 44spl, 44mag, 45 acp and 45 colt, 5.56, M1 carbine, I still use my Lee classic turret press. Reloading is a great hobby as it allows me to shoot more and a reduced cost per round. If I could make a suggestion? it is to pay attention to what you are doing avoid distractions and only one container of powder on the bench at a time No exceptions, always keep powder and primers in the original containers. Once you develop your system you'll be rewarded with good ammo.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Well I watched all the videos, took all the advice I could find and this morning got everything dialed in (dies, powder drop, primer feed, etc). A couple of hours ago I was re-reviewing and I realized I didn't have any more excuses so I broke out the power and primers.

All brass is cleaned and I checked length. Only once fired so no long cases. Inspected and all looked well. So I chose 20, 10 each of different manufacturers and set them aside.

Loaded up the primer feed (simply have to get a primer tray!).

Read the Lyman and Hornday books and chose to start with a 41g load for .308 with 168g HPBT Sierras.

Filled the powder holder and cycled the drop a few times over the bottle then I put in back in the press and started dropping into a cartridge and then dumping the powder into the scale. Weigh the charge, adjust and repeat until I found the charge I wanted. Then I cycled 5 times to make sure each was exactly the same charge.

Then I took a deep breath and ran 10 cases. Went with single case all the way through first (Yes, I measured the seating depth and it was per Hornady and the same as a factory load I have as reference). Primers were seated fine and I made 10 rounds. Labled them and set them aside.

Then I did 10 more with 42g of Varget. Same deal and in the end I have 20 rounds that I will shoot tomorrow.

I'm feeling kind of good right now.

 

[SanJoseScott]

Ok....so I have a question for the experts:

What is the point of having a progressive press that decaps on one stoke and inserts the new primer on the next stroke since cleaning the primer pocket is a recommended step?

Just curious.....