Help me get into reloading

[pmhayden]

I have only been reloading for a year. But my 2 cents is that you are better off with the RCBS kit and the Rockchucker Supreme, than the Lee kit. Someone gave me the Lee kit and I only used a few of the items. You are better off buying things one at a time. I do like some Lee stuff, eg., dies and the priming tool. But not the cheaper press. I have heard good things about the Lee Classic CAST press, however.

I have been happy with a single stage press, but I am still learning, and not a volume producer. In fact, I am VERY happy with the Rockchucker Supreme. I have heard good things about the Lee Classic CAST IRON press. But I do mostly .223 and .308. I enjoy puttering and taking my time. I look forward to quiet time in the garage, and if I make 50 .45s in 2-3 hours, that is fine. I would not sweat the single stage v. progressive issue right now. There is so much to learn when you start. I am just happy to be reloading.

Stay away from the aluminum Lee single stage press. Get a good scale. The Lee scale sucks. But Lee dies are good and easy to use. Get a good dial caliper. Check visually for powder every time, every case. Weigh often. Measure often. Check often. Your eyes and brain and scale are the most important tools.

Oh, did I say, get a good mentor? They are way more important than the press. Get a mentor with OCD.

 

[mtgianni]

If this is the Lee kit you are looking at I would pass. It's the one I started with and if I had it to do over again would have started with a little better quality.

The press was OK and the hand primer worked great and I still use both on occasion. The scales are the about the cheapest scales you can buy though probably accurate enough. The worst part was the powder measure. It was absolute junk.

I've had great luck with Lee dies, but they will not be included with the kit. You will also need a dial caliper to measure overall length.

I bought a Lee Turret press kit in 89. I still use it. I have sold or traded a Lyman scale and an RCBS scale because the Lee was the most accurate scale with scale check weights from .5 grains to 100 grains. It is a pain to set up but very repeatable and dependable. If you use ball powders the measure works fine though you can throw away the set up figures included in the instructions. It will not through consistant charges with some flake powders and some stick powders. Unique is one that tends to bridge and be inconsistant for me.

 

[sarge1967]

I just got the Hornady Auto Primmer feed for my press via UPS today and the thing works great! It takes a whole step out of the process. I do not know if RCBS has anything like it but it makes me glad I picked the Hornady.
Thought this might help you decide as well.

 

[rfd]

whooeee, a loaded subject if every there was one! i'll give you my perspective on handgun reloading ...

first, learn what it's all about, understand the handgun loading process thoroughly, be focused and think safe thoughts. get yerself at least a few good manuals like lymans 49th, read 'em all.

i've used all the press types out there - single, turret and progressive - for both rifle and pistol, and i personally prefer a turret. for a newbie, you really can't go wrong with lee - the price is uber cheap, good quality and their classic turret press (not their deluxe turret press!) is the way to go. get a lee 4 die carbide set as well.

the lee auto prime system is kinda wonky and kinda works reasonably well with a bit of tweaking/fiddling.

the real issue with handgun loads is that most of the powder loads are 10% of what's used for rifle loads and therein lies the challenge - scaling (mass weight) or throwing (by volume) charges from 2 to 6 grains or so. i highly recommend getting a really good powder scale (i.e. rcbs 502 or 505) for starters and weigh all loads. won't even get into powder measures, though a good one is something you'll want down the road.

other must-have things to get are digital calipers, case mouth chamfer tool, bullet puller (yer best friend as a newbie loader), and a test weight kit for your powder scale.

build a dummy round to test out yer die settings and to make sure the rounds you produce are at least as long as your load recipe's minimum oal.

if yer loading for a semi-auto, learn to plunk test the chamber with yer dummy round.

my current press is a redding t-7, with redding titanium carbide die sets in .45acp and .38spl, and the redding press auto primer, i do not drop powder on the press - press mounted powder measures are not as accurate as separate bench mounted powder measures that are isolated from vibration. vibration (working a press) settles powder in the measure's hopper and makes for inconsistent charges ... to each their own. i do use an rcbs 505 analog beam scale in conjunction with a jennings mack 20 digital scale that reads to the hundredths. always test check yer scales before loading. always validate powder measures, too.

you have lots to learn and experience. take it slow, be focused, be safe at all times. we all want our firearms to go bang! and not kaboom!

 

[semperFi]

Complete starter kit

This kit is a good way to get started. I use Hornady stuff and like it a lot.
There is a rebate with Hornady now. You get 500 free bullets with this kit. 100 free per set of dies.

Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press Kit

RCBS is good as well. I would steer clear of Lee though.

Sarge: is this a complete starter kit to get the ball rolling? What else is needed ?

 

[sarge1967]

Sarge: is this a complete starter kit to get the ball rolling? What else is needed ?

It is a "basic" kit. You need dies and shell holders for each of the calibers you are going to load and a set of calipers. Then add components and your set.

Some things that you will eventually need.

Case trimmer if you plan on reloading rifle calibers
Brass tumbler to clean brass
Auto Primmer feed: Takes a step out of the process


With Hornady's rebate program I have been able to get lots of quality Hornady bullets with my purchase of the kit and all the dies I have bought. You get 500 with the kit and 100 for each set of dies. You do have to pay shipping though.

 

[BobB257]

There is good advice above esp the part about buying a few books and doing the reading first then buying the stuff.
Lyman book is good and the Lee is also packed with info.
I bought a used JR RCBS that came with a bunch of stuff from a guy who was getting out of metalic due to lack of use\divorce. Swap meets are loaded with reloading stuff at a very good discount and the stuff does not wear out for all but a few reloaders.
No money will be saved but you will have more fun shooting loads you cant buy. And way more rounds per dollar spent. (Sorry to your wife if she is the family book keeper)
I love loading down plinking wadcutters for my 357 and 38 for my kids to shoot. 8 year old daughter shoots K frames like a champ at plates 10 yds out.
I have not bought a turret but run progressive for my shotguns. They save a huge amount of time and turn out the ammo. I suggest starting on a used single stage to get the hang of it then buy the nicest progressive you feel you can afford.
Trimming with Lee case trimmer is very easy and with an adapter to a battery screw driver it is fast.
My Lee powder measure works awesome. I bought it to reload Aliant Steel Shotgun powder way before I started on metalic reloading. Plastic yes, accurate yes, price, half what a metal one goes for used.
You can do a lot with just the Lee dippers and a scale to start out. Low volume production, but accurate for 25 shells at a time at the kitchen table.
I agree on the Ohaus scales, I own two and like the 505 RCBS. Both bought used. Never tried a Lee.
I highly recommend the Lee factory crimp die for straight wall pistol cases. The carbide sizer re runs the case to be sure it will chamber as you crimp.
Dies made by Redding are pricy but very good stuff. I use them for rifle in 308 and 30-06.
Lastly the most important tool in your kit in my mind is a chronograph. ESP if you think you want to be a "MAX" area guy with your reloads. (I am not) Speed is pressure and you will only know if you are way off the book loads by checking it for real. They are sometimes tricky but give good feedback to what you are building, esp if you use factory ammo across the same screen to get a reference. If its faster than the book chances are you are over pressure.
Lastly be careful with the tumbler, esp crossing back and forth to rock polishing. There is a good deal of lead in the stuff that the media cleans off the case and it is airborn in the dust. I clean my rifle cases in an ultrasonic that a friend owns.
Have fun shooting more.

 

[blujax01]

Well, I just discovered that I own a rock tumbler kit. ...

That's funny and oh-so true! And the rock tumbler should work more than adequately. (I wonder what forgotten toys I have stashed around I could repurpose?)

What you're asking is akin to asking a bunch of motor heads which is better - Ford or Chevy. The bottom line is that at any given price point it is going to be a matter of personal choice.
And since yer buddy chimed in it sounds like you two can "enable" each other to go to a higher price point!
Whichever one you choose, you're going to have a great time. Welcome to your next obsession ...

 

[semperFi]

This kit is a good way to get started. I use Hornady stuff and like it a lot.
There is a rebate with Hornady now. You get 500 free bullets with this kit. 100 free per set of dies.

Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press Kit

RCBS is good as well. I would steer clear of Lee though.

It is a "basic" kit. You need dies and shell holders for each of the calibers you are going to load and a set of calipers. Then add components and your set.

Some things that you will eventually need.

Case trimmer if you plan on reloading rifle calibers
Brass tumbler to clean brass
Auto Primmer feed: Takes a step out of the process


With Hornady's rebate program I have been able to get lots of quality Hornady bullets with my purchase of the kit and all the dies I have bought. You get 500 with the kit and 100 for each set of dies. You do have to pay shipping though.

Thanks for your recommendation and eqipments lists

 

[sarge1967]

Thanks for your recommendation and eqipments lists

Your quite welcome!

Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2

 

[RichardF]

I would definitely buy a turret press. You can always use it as a single stage when your first learning. I bought an RCBS turret but would consider the Lyman turret or something else. I don't really care for the priming stage on the RCBS. I've only reloaded maybe 1000+ rounds so far but have enjoyed the time spent doing it. It's another reason to have more conversations with my Dad, who is more seasoned in reloading and to seek wisdom from some of the folks through this forum.