Newbie on the Fence About Reloading

[TNFrank]

You know, in all the years I've been reloading I've never used Bullseye. Always stuck with Unique, you get a good amount of powder in the case so it's harder to get a double charge and it works with just about any handgun ctg. that you'd care to load.
If it was me I'd just pick up a $99 buck Lee Kit from Midway USA and upgrade your press at a later date. Then you can add to it as needed but at least you'll be reloading and saving a few bucks in the mean time.
I'm not crazy about Lee presses but it'll do fine for 9x19mm until you can get a better one, ditto on the little Lee powder scale that comes in the kit, it'll work but an RCBS 5-0-5 is better but you can get by with what's in the Lee kit for now. Not sure if it comes with dies or not, if not just get a set of Lee dies too and be very careful with your loads, it's real easy to double charge with Bullseye because you use so little of it that it doesn't fill the case much.

 

[Mphstiger1981]

Thanks TNFrank,

I did buy one earlier this week. Should be here Friday or Saturday. Bought the Anniversary Press with all the stuff that comes with it. There are still some things I'll need to pick up, .38 special bullets, dies for 9mm and .38, digital calipers and some other, perhaps slower burning powder than Bullseye.

As an aside, I noticed that Lyman's manual lists the "most accurate load" in bold face for each bullet type. Now, I'm still reading and hopefully learning, but I do not remember reading how a guy just starting out is supposed to figure out the right powder for "me". My instinct tells me to use the powder with the largest suggested starting load for that particular bullet, meaning it's probably a slower burn rate powder, and large loads help to decrease the chance of a double load or overloading the charge. Am I getting close on this, or am I just missing the boat entirely? The kit I purchased also includes the Lee Reloading Manual, so I'll have at least one more source for recipes, assuming that helps.

 

[lougotzzz]

thanks guys. Perhaps the best way to get answers to all the questions rolling around in my head would be to ask how much should someone expect to spend to get started with an average grade bench system?

You are going to spend alot of money

 

[Mphstiger1981]

You are going to spend alot of money

Do NOT let my wife see you say that.....

 

[blujax01]

...
As an aside, I noticed that Lyman's manual lists the "most accurate load" in bold face for each bullet type. Now, I'm still reading and hopefully learning, but I do not remember reading how a guy just starting out is supposed to figure out the right powder for "me". ....

I started out with a jug of Titegroup and loaded 9mm, 38 special and 45 with it because that was the only powder I had. Everything went "bang" and no one got hurt.
There are lots of sources for "recipes" in books and on line and you can usually find one somewhere to fit your components.
Obviously there are better combinations and I am learning what my guns like by experimenting with different powders, bullets and loads, which of course is half the fun!
An oldster who runs a little basement shop near me doesn't buy into the hype at all. He swears by W231 and uses it for everything.
Sez "It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian".

 

[Mphstiger1981]

I started out with a jug of Titegroup and loaded 9mm, 38 special and 45 with it because that was the only powder I had. Everything went "bang" and no one got hurt.
There are lots of sources for "recipes" in books and on line and you can usually find one somewhere to fit your components.
Obviously there are better combinations and I am learning what my guns like by experimenting with different powders, bullets and loads, which of course is half the fun!
An oldster who runs a little basement shop near me doesn't buy into the hype at all. He swears by W231 and uses it for everything.
Sez "It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian".

Thanks. I appreciate that insight...more than you can know.