Just purchased my first Press

Jc85

Jc85

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After much reading and deliberating. (and saving) I purchased my very first reloading press.

I wanted to get the Dillon plan B but couldn't Waite any longer so I purchased the lee Loadmaster in my caliber.
Now im just impatiently waiting for it to arrive.
I have my peripherals needed to start reloading once my press arrives but I have a few questions. Being new to powders Im still up in the air as to which brand/make to get. Ill sort it out intime. I know lead bullets are cheaper then fmj but is there a drawback besides a slight ammount of fouling?
anyhow just wanted to say hello and Ill be reading all I can on this side of the forum.
Take care
Jc
 
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Congrats!

What calibers will you be loading? I am sure you will have no shortage of opinions about what powders/bullets to use.
 
9mm for starters. (i know I know) But im saving up for a 357 and that is were my reloader is really going to be employed here in a few months. But until then I thought it would be fun to reload my piles of 9mm brass.
 
Nothing wrong with 9mm. I reload a lot of it myself because its so affordable.
I like Hodgdon HS6 works great in the auto cases. Works for .357 too, there was a recent thread or two about that. Alliant Unique would work in those two also.

As for bullets you might try precision bullets. A lead bullet with a teflon coating. Same load data as lead but less messy.
 
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thanks. Ill give it a try.
I'm setting my bench up tomorrow once I clear out the garage and hang some shelf's. Ill post up some pictures once I get it all sorted.
 
Don't be afraid to ask if you have any questions. One is usually encouraged to learn the basics on a single stage press before getting into the progressives. Small mistakes can lead to big problems and things move pretty fast with the progressives. Pick a powder, Unique is great for 9's, that is bulky enough that you will notice a double charge and pay close attention to the sound of the report when shooting. Inspect your barrel for obstructions after any weak shots.
 
I cut my teeth so to speak on a friends bench, so I do have some practical hands on time. I just figured if I was going to spend money I really only want to do it once.
Being a first time owner is different then using a friends equipment. he had all the stuff already laid out for me, I would just come down and assemble. But now its me buying the gear, me buying the bullets, powders and am a tad overwhelmed with the different types of powders each brand makes, even tho Ive read up on just about all of them Its still very disheartening to a first time user to walk into my g/s and see 3 different types of bullseye pistol powder.. (just generalizing) So as I said before im reading, learning and will greatly accept any friendly advice..
Jc
 
The first thing you need to do is take a road trip. You aren't too far from one of the best stocked reloading supply stores in the country.
Fin, Feather and Fur Outfitter in Ashland, Ohio.
Fin Feather Fur OutfittersAddress:‎
652 US Highway 250 EAshland, OH 44805
(419) 281-2557
Been there only once but it is well worth the trip. I live in Indiana and had a business trip to the area. Stopped and was totally amazed. The stuff you are interested in is in the basement. You can miss it if you don't ask! When you get there though, you will find it was well worth the trip!

I hope you aren't disenchanted with the Lee progressive. I have no experience with them but some folks claim they take a lot of tinkering. Just be careful and take your time.

I'm just glad you are now loading your own ammo! On your own equipment! No turning back now!

Too cool. Every reloader should be a caster too. I will forgo the usual subliminal message usually posted at this juncture! ;)

Welcome to the addiction!
 
Reloading is like smoking a pipe.
Go slowly and you'll enjoy it more (and theres less chance to make a mistake---have you heard of those Hornady bullet puller dies?)
Enjoy the adventure!:)
 
I was on 71 the other day.. Bet I drove right past it..
I got out of town allot on business. Hopefully the next time im heading towards Columbus ill pop in. Oh man Im right near it.. Maybe come spring me and the buddy's will take a ride down.

Yea I've read tons of pro's and cons about the lee loaders, will see how it works out.

I'm at a cross road ATM. I still need to purchase a set of scales and the rest of my peripheral list. Wounder if it would be a good idea to buy the 50th anniversary edition and have another single stage that comes with allot of the other loading bench requirements, instead of buying them separately.
thanks for the warm welcome.
oh and yea I read something about the puller die, but I already own the kinetic hammer type
 
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JC,

If I could make another suggestion about Fin. Don't buy anything else until you stop in there, seriously. They have a TON of presses that you can put your hands on! RCBS, Hornady, Lee and Lyman. Opened up and on the table, in mock setup. Dies galore, powder in untold tons and bulk to premium bullets. All of the peripherals you will ever need are in that basement! They even have a small range down there!

Seriously, if you can wait, wait. I guarantee it will be worth the trip.

For those that may wonder, no, I am not affiliated with them in any way. But man, that is one cool store! :)

http://www.finfeatherfuroutfitters.com/

Check this place out too. They have some unusual stuff and are pretty cheap and in your area as well.

http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx

They are only 15 or 16 miles from you.

If I lived that close, I would be broke! SERIOUSLY!
 
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How are you fixed for brass? I would be willing to mail you a few hundred if you need some to help get started.
 
Lead is great for range work if you keep the velocity down and use the correct hardness. It's all I reload in my 9mm Makarov and .45 ACP.
 
walnutred said:
How are you fixed for brass? I would be willing to mail you a few hundred if you need some to help get started.
Click to expand...

Now THAT is the main reason I am on this forum. True gentlemen that are willing to give of themselves to pass this hobby forward!

Red, I am in awe of your kindness!
 
thank you. I have about 300 once fired brass I collected myself once I got serious about purchasing a press. I just wish I would of made my mind up a month before and saved the 500 rounds I threw into the range bucket.
I was going to ask about fmj vs lead, we're talking hard cast lead correct? Something like Hard Cast Bullets 9mm 115 Grain Lead Round Nose
Whats the downsize to using lead. I read you shouldn't clean your firearm after every range session if you use lead cast bullets? I don't know if I can have a dirty gun =)
Ill head down to Fin's as soon as I get a day off.
Oh thank you for hipping me to Pat's reloading. How are you more familiar with my immediate area then I am. scary, but in a very helpful way
 
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I have had a Loadmaster for about 12 years, the Loadmaster zone sight mentioned earlier is great, I would advise you check it out. The Loadmaster is a good press, but there is a learning curve involved don't let it frustrate you. I have worked the bugs out of mine, feel free to PM me if you have any trouble be more than willing to help. Good shooting
 
smith crazy said:
Now THAT is the main reason I am on this forum. True gentlemen that are willing to give of themselves to pass this hobby forward!

Red, I am in awe of your kindness!
Click to expand...

I'm not being THAT generous Smith Crazy. After all, I offered him some 9mm brass, not 43 Mauser. Every time I go to the range I seem to come home with 100 or so extra 9mm and 40 S&W brass. ;-D
 
+1 on "The Fin". Top notch folks and a there's way cool restaurant (Grandpa's Cheese Barn) across the lot.
Make a day of it and in the afternoon run over to Shelby, about 30 minutes west of Ashland. There's a place called The Sportsman's Den that should pretty well fill out your day.
 
id defiantly go. perhaps this Sunday.
thank all of you for you're replays. Had a reloading dream last night. My brass was filthy, My items should be arriving any day now Ill let you know how it goes.
 
I've had a Load Master for several years now and the best advice i could give a novice Load Master owner is to NOT set up or use the case feeder.

Most of the complaints Load Master user's have is problems with the priming. I found that the majority of those problems went away when I took off the case feeder. I personally found the case feeder to require more attention then I wanted to give it. That would interfere with the smooth operation of the press which caused priming issues.

If you notice, Dillon and Hornady progressives don't come with case feeders. That's an expensive option. You have to feed those presses by hand and you will be much happier if you do the same with your Load Master.

The Lee Load Master Zone is a great forum that has lots of good information on setting up and modding your press.
Also...buy some spare parts like primer sliders , the beaded chain and primer springs. You'll need them. They're cheap parts so buy a few.

I'm very happy with my Load Master...especially after I got rid of the case feeder.

Dan
 
Dan-the-man said:
.buy some spare parts like the beaded chain. You'll need them. They're cheap parts so buy a few.
Dan
Click to expand...

yea so ive noticed.
My load master arrived and I have to say for setting up my first progressive press the directions were not as in depth as I would of liked. All in all If I would of done it before and known what to expect, set up would of taken me 15 minutes at most. (to get it assembled) I still need to adjust and fine tune it before I begin production. Thank you for the lee load master forum. Ill join there shortly. Also thank you for the tip about the case feeder, Ill see how it goes.

Im making my bench atm, for now I had the machine just mounted to a table in the garage for initial assembly. Now I have it mounted to a piece of old shelving which I secured to my table with a continues hole through the back mounting pad of the press and 2 C clamps. sturdy level and portable. If I need to move it, just remove the back bolt, loosen the clamps and retire it out of harms way.
Thanks all for the help.
JC
 
Congrats on starting the reloading adventure. If someone already mentioned it, I must have missed it, so let me say that your number one priority is to buy a good reloading manual!

I really like the Lyman 49th edition reloading handbook. It will answer many of your questions with regard to powder, bullet weight and type, burn rates, etc, etc. Read it all, and take your time.

Best of luck!



WG840
 
Wheelgunner840 said:
\ so let me say that your number one priority is to buy a good reloading manual!
I really like the Lyman 49th edition reloading handbook
WG840
Click to expand...

agreed. I own that, the lee #2 edition and a paper manual for my caliber.

so, oh my god.. whoever said that the loadmaster needed a bit of "tinkering" to get it to function properly made a gross understatement.
Oh and agreed on the auto case feeder causing priming / depriming issues.
So to get started I did an initial set up and cycled a few empy cases through it Till I encountered a "stiff" indexing cylce. Then No indexing at all. I looked closely at my carrier and see the priming pin in the UP position. I dissembled the priming arm (or whatever the technical name is) and discovered a bent/broken piece of plastic. (the one that slides/retracts after the primer is seated. Lucky lee send a replacement one with it (funny). After re assemble I still had 0 indexing on the indexing arm, I unscrewed the alignment bolt at the bottem of the press (please excuse me for not using the technical names, I haven't committed them to memory and my instruction booklet is not in fornt of me.) Re aligned the carrier for proper indexing, then had to re adjust the auto feeder, the 1/4 shaft seemed to of bent in the bracket (Christ what a stiff cycle that must of been.) Oh and don't even get me started with the proper alignment of the dies. All said and done I know more about the internal workings of my lee load master then I do my own wife. Got everything working smoothly nice and lubricated so I decided to do a trial decapping run. The auto case feeder really just causes problems And say you didn't have a case fully seated or some mishap those cases start to get backed up quickly, interfering with the entire action of the dies and indexing until the case feeder arm is cleared.
But as of this moment my press is set up, aligned, dies set to proper depths and awaiting powder, bullets, primers to start production. Wish me luck.
Jc
 
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