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MaxKimber

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Ok, so I have a friend who is considering getting into reloading. He had assisted a friend reloading and liked it.

He shoots some oddball expensive ammo, 8mm Mauser & .338 WinMag, so reloading makes sense.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, especially on equipment.

There seems to be two schools of thought on starting out. My stance is to get good equipment that will last a lifetime, and there's the just get anything then upgrade once your fully committed. Thoughts...
 
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MaxKimber said:
Ok, so I have a friend who is considering getting into reloading. He had assisted a friend reloading and liked it.

He shoots some oddball expensive ammo, 8mm Mauser & .338 WinMag, so reloading makes sense.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, especially on equipment.

There seems to be two schools of thought on starting out. My stance is to get good equipment that will last a lifetime, and there's the just get anything then upgrade once your fully committed. Thoughts...
Click to expand...

Before a beginner buys any equipment, it's best he read the front section of at least one paper loading manual. He may decide handloading is not for him. Stay away from YouDupe; some good information there, some bad. A beginner may not know the difference.
 
If he has had some experience loading with someone else and he still wants to become a reloader, then I say get good equipment...this is no time to skimp. That said, start basic. With the exception of a couple of die sets, ALL of my reloading equipment was "used" when I got it. People buy it and don't use it, it is gifted and people don't use it, people inherit and won't use it. I bought my gear used and upgraded as I was able over the years, but it has always been solid quality equipment. I have a special place on my bench for all things RCBS, but others like Lee, Dillon and Redding. Its a matter of preference and availability.

I have been reloading for 30+ years now. Never had an issue, because the guy who taught me was of the "Check it twice and then check it two more times and then one more time to be sure" School of reloading.

It is a very fun and interesting hobby and when it comes to some cals, it is almost required.

Start with reading several published re-loading manual "How To" and then get good equipment new or used and preceed with care and caution.
 
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The main decision is how big of quantity?

Medium to high quantity, a Dillion 550 new or used.

High quality? Redding T-7 turret press, for dies RCBS or Redding. Depending on how good the Redding Competition dies with Collet neck sizing are top of the line for 7/8-11 type dies. I have 8 sets! They are expensive, but produce 1/10-1/4 MOA for 1000-yard shooting. The only thing better are the Wilson Arbor Press dies. (Tried both and prefer screw in dies and presses.)

For AR type ammo, look at RCBS Black Box. I have 223, 308, & 300 BO. These are Small Base FL Sizers and Taper Crinp seaters. (NO CASE TRIMMING!)

My bench has a RCBS Rock Crusher (bought uses 28 years ago) A Dillon 550 (Bought 1984 and upgraded 25 years ago) and a Redding T-7 (Bought new 25 years ago).

The A-Frame press from Bonanza/Forrester, is the only press I wish I had, but my ammo outshoots 3 of the 4 guys I shoot with that use them, the 4th beats me most of the time! (He's a several time National Champion in several disciplines!)

Ivan
 
STORMINORMAN said:
As Delmar O'Donnell once opined... "Okay... I'm with you fellas!";)

A RCBS Rockchucker it is!

Cheers!
Click to expand...

When I started reloading many years ago, I bought my crusher USED from a buddy, and have loaded many thousands of 11 different calibers since then....NEVER had any problems and still use it today. Best $35. I ever spent, lol !
 
I started with Lee Loader hand tools, then was relieved to get a single stage RCBS. I still have it, although I mostly use a Lyman T-Mag I picked up accidentally at a divorce garage sale in the 90s. The angry woman behind the table sold me that and a few die sets in a box for $10. And laughed.
 
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Buy some good reloading manuals ... the printed kind and read the informational chapters in the front ... lots of different things discussed .
There are always several ways to do anything reloading wise .
My Go-To manuals are Speer , Hornady , Lyman Reloading Handbook , Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook ... (load plated and coated like cast lead ...Lyman is the book) and Western Powders Manual is good as is Nosler and/or Sierra ... use data from the bullet makers you like to load .
Load Safe & Good Luck ...
I've found reloading a very enjoyable hobby !
Gary
 
I would highly recommend that you check ebay for Rockchuckers. Price is good and they NEVER wear out. I have two and use them for some 17 different calibers from .32 S&W to .577 Snider. I still reload often and in the 40+ years I have reloaded rifle and pistol/revolver ammo, I never felt I needed to upgrade. Once you have the best, there is no need to hunt for something else.

The two biggest add-ons I have installed on my one of my presses was a primer tube and a spent primer tray - that's it. I find that the primer tubes work great and no need for a hand primer. If I am reloading a large amount of ammo, I will set up both presses, one for sizing, spent primer removal, and priming. The other one for bullet seating and finish crimping if needed for the caliber I am loading. Take if slow at the start, get some loading blocks, electronic scale, powder measure set, case cleaner, and case slick spray.
 
Noooo!

DON'T DO IT!

If it turns out he really does like it "Reloading" will become "Handloading" and there are not enough benches, bins, shelves, racks, cubby holes or brackets to contain the addiction. Sinclair International, Brownells and Redding will be fighting over who gets his first born and Midway will garnish his wages...


Seriously, it has been on of the most rewarding lifelong endeavors I have ever taken up. The process greatly expands your knowledge and the utility gained by expanding the usage range of your firearms is amazing. "I" believe every shooter should, at the least, give it a try with someone already established. This to prevent frustration if nothing else. My great uncle taught me when I was 11 years old and I remember the first lesson to this day some 60 years later and it is a fond memory to say the least. If nothing else it satisfies that little "machinist" urge most men have.
I recommend buying the best equipment you can to cut out the variables especially while learning. "I" rank Redding and Forster at the top with RCBS, Hornady and Lyman in the middle. Lee equipment works OK but you have to tinker with it quite a bit to get consistent results. The exception being their neck dies with the mandrel, you can get different diameters and really customize neck tension with more ease than the bushing system offered by others.


Books; you can't have too many, from Handloader magazine to Lee's loading books but if I could only have one it would be the Lyman #46 already mentioned. Build a library and keep copious notes well organized. If you will do that you will be able to develop loads for many applications that provide many years of service from your firearms.


Best of luck and hoping he enjoys the hobby!
 
Most people who shoot rifle (in my experience) do not shoot nearly the volume that pistol shooters do. You can do very well with a good quality single stage press which will cost you a lot less up front that a progressive. The only down side is how much ammo you can crank out in a given period of time. The quality of the final product will be the same.
 
robertrwalsh said:
Most people who shoot rifle (in my experience) do not shoot nearly the volume that pistol shooters do. You can do very well with a good quality single stage press which will cost you a lot less up front that a progressive. The only down side is how much ammo you can crank out in a given period of time. The quality of the final product will be the same.
Click to expand...

I use a Dillon progressive to load handgun, but prefer to use a Lee single stage for rifle.
I think rifle just benefits from that little extra attention.
 
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