Want to start reloading, need ya'lls input

[USAF007]

Hey Everyone, well I have decided that i NEED to take the plunge and start reloading to be able to afford shooting mass quantities of .45 that I plan to do(I have a CCW, but want to shoot as much as possible to be 150% competant with this round/gun before i start to Carry, i want to be able to hit what i am pointint at).

BUT I really dont know much about reloading, So i was hoping ya'll would help me out and let me know what I need to get started, I also plan on reloading for .223/5.56 precision shooting so i need to be able to do both.

Thanks for all the help guys!

James

 

[michael thornton]

i would start with a single stage press like a rockchucker, if you can find a buddy that reloads to help you get started would be a big plus! you will wonder why you didnt start years ago! good luck!

 

[Dragon88]

The first thing you need to do is read The ABCs of Reloading 9th Edition. This will give you a primer on reloading and answer many of your questions.

 

[USAF007]

Thanks guys! I was debating on either a single-stage or turret style lee.

 

[USAF007]

i would start with a single stage press like a rockchucker, if you can find a buddy that reloads to help you get started would be a big plus! you will wonder why you didnt start years ago! good luck!

Styx Gun Range up in alabama has a reloading class on the 20th that im going to go to. $40 bucks and you basically go step through step and learn everything. Not too shabby!

 

[Merrifield]

Thanks guys! I was debating on either a single-stage or turret style lee.

You will find a lot of strong opinions on this both ways. Personally, I'd get a Rockchucker kit, which will have everything you need to get started except dies and shellholders. It will load almost anything you want, rifle or handgun, and is solid, well-made equipment. I started this way on the advise of a friend and think it was a good decision. I've had mine for over 20 years and it looks brand new.

RCBS' customer service is second to none, if you ever need them - I never have.

If you get really serious, especially in precision rifle, you will probably eventually upgrade some of the equipment, but the kit as-is will serve you well for years.

Seems like there are two groups of loaders, the Lee fanboys, and everyone else. I have no experience with the Lee except for looking at them in the store, but they seem of lighter construction to me. I think they will load ammo that goes "boom", but you're much more likely to find the high-volume or precision guys using something other than Lee.

Of course, that's just my opinion, worth what you paid for it.

Good luck

 

[Hobie1]

Other things you need..

Greetings,

All great advice above. Something else you need to consider before you buy one piece of equipment is: Where are you going to load, what you're going to mount the press on as far as a stable, solid platform, and lighting. You can have the best equipment you can afford, but if things move, climate changes a lot, and you can't see your situation so well, things won't turn out as consistent as you'd like at the least. Plus, you need to load in a nice quiet place where you can focus on the task at hand.

Sorry for running on but having experienced some of the above, I'd like to help you have a safe and rewarding re-loading experience like I have.

Hobie

 

[special44]

Buy a couple of reloading manuals i.e. Lyman, Speer, Hornady etc. Next,get first class equipment, you won't go wrong with RCBS either. Go to the reloading class you mentioned, if at all possible. Study your loading manuals
until you are quite familiar with safe procedures. Once you actually load a few cartridges and shoot them, you'll have a great deal of satisfaction in making and using your ammunition. Good luck, & don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

[rck281]

I see that several have recommended the RCBS Rockchucker press. This is an excellent press but they don't make it any more. They now make the Rockchucker Supreme and it is a much bigger press designed to handle the largest magnum rifle cartridges. This results in a very long throw, especially when loading the 45 ACP. Look for a good used Rockchucker press.

 

[wharvey]

RCBS makes great equipment, so does Hornady and many others also do. It is hard to make a really bad choice. All the above advice is very good. Depending on how well you book learn it would be a great idea to get some hands on help.

 

[Rule3]

Regardless of what equipment you buy, buy the ABC book and a manual or two first. Don't buy any equipment yet. Get the Speer manual and another either Lyman or Hornady.

You need to determine how much ammo you will think you need to determine what type of press. There is no reason to get a single stage as a turret can be made a single stage so you can start single and then go with the turret.

Go to the RCBS web site and watch all the videos and click on the top "Guide to Reloading" this will give you a overview of the whole deal.

RCBS - Precisioneered Shooting Products - Products

 

[USAF007]

Regardless of what equipment you buy, buy the ABC book and a manual or two first. Don't buy any equipment yet. Get the Speer manual and another either Lyman or Hornady.

You need to determine how much ammo you will think you need to determine what type of press. There is no reason to get a single stage as a turret can be made a single stage so you can start single and then go with the turret.

Go to the RCBS web site and watch all the videos and click on the top "Guide to Reloading" this will give you a overview of the whole deal.

RCBS - Precisioneered Shooting Products - Products

Awesome, Thanks Rule3!

 

[McShooty]

I have had a Rockchucker for years. Great press, but if someone told me I had to load 500 cases of .45 ACP with it, I would jump off a bridge. It will work great for your .223.

 

[RIKMAN]

Get the turret press, I have the lyman T mag, makes changing calibers quick ...

 

[Skip Sackett]

The suggestions for getting the manuals is great. Never read the ABC book and I have been just fine, well, for the most part!

The NRA has a book on reloading that can be kind of helpful. Very basic.

As for the press type to get, really, that is determined by the need of ammo, to be honest. If you are going to shoot 500 rounds a month, on a Lee Classic Cast Turret press, that will be close to 5 hours, if not more, at a decent, consistent, conservative, conscientious rate.

The press can be made single stage in a heartbeat and you can load rifle on it too.

One of the cheapest places to get a decent kit with that press is: kempfgunshop.com

I am not affiliated with them at all other than they are fellow Hoosiers!

FWIW

 

[lougotzzz]

I would buy all the stuff used on the internet. I would start with single stage. While you are reading the ABC's of reloading and watching the videos/DVD's of reloading.This will give you time to accumulate good used equipment. Ar15.com HAS A BUNCH of stuff for sale. I got a rockchucker press for just shipping. I got a partner press for $35 shipped. I got a dillon scale for $25 all in great working order.

Be aware that you are going to spend $1,000's of dollars. People think reloading is to save money. Yes you will, but as you get better with it you are going to upgrade equipment and have a major stockpile of components.
I never thought of all the stuff I would have for this. Today I am going to my local guy to buy projo's (hard cast) to put more in my stockpile. Lead is a commodity and as the dollar goes down lead/brass/copper goes up in price.Stock up now so in many years to come you are shooting for bargain prices.

Mak sure you have a proper climate control area. In FL you have humidity and it will rust your stuff.

All of this can be worked out while you are reading.

Good luck and time flies. I am reloading for 3 years now.


ETA: This is the time to start buying powder/primers and projo's. There is no panic buying now. If that starts you are going to be SOL.

I would wet my feet with spening money right now. Go buy the ABC's of reloading and then go buy 1K of Large pistol primers. That will be for your 45acp loads. Buy 1 pound of winchester 231(powder) or 1 pound of bullseye.(powder) Thats is for 45 acp. keep them seperate when stored. Do not store them in ammo cans.
Then read and read and read. Every week buy something else. Little by little. Remember when you think you are done spending you will spend much more.

Good luck and have fun.

PM me with questions and I will try to help. The reloading boards are great to read and learn. Did I mention you are going to read alot. LOL

 

[novalty]

I am in a similar boat with the .45 ACP and .223. If I hadn't gotten a deal on a NIB Rockchucker II kit last year, I was intended on buying either a Forster Co-ax or a CH4D 444 press. The Forster was my primary choice with it's reputation for precision. Major downsides, besides costing almost as much for the press as a Rockchucker Supreme kit, is the primer systems is very slow and involves handling the primers. I purchased a RCBS automatic bench primer, which was one of the best investments for my arthritic hands.

 

[snowman]

As you can see, there are differing opinions, as usual. Getting the reading material and digesting it first is good advice.

When I started eight or so years ago I bought a Lee Anniversary Kit -single-stage, had everything needed to load, and was inexpensive. But I can't recommend going that route -too slow and too cheap. I eventually replaced everything in the kit. I bought the Lee Classic Turret press and will likely use it till I die or can't see to load anymore. It eliminates the need to change dies going from one stage to the next, which is a significant time-saver in my view. If you're going to shoot A LOT, eventually you'll probably go to a progressive, but very few people recommend starting with one -the possibility of making mistakes increases significantly, at least for a beginner. And with reloading you want to avoid mistakes as much as is humanly possible.

I've never seen this mentioned before, but it seems to me that the most important factor in reloading is the person doing it. I know a number of people whose personalities are simply incompatible with this activity. If a person tends strongly to be impatient, distracted easily, careless, inattentive to detail, etc., I would be very reluctant to encourage them to take up loading ammunition. It is a process which demands the opposite characteristics. Safety is seriously compromised otherwise.

We all wish you well in your endeavor. Keep asking questions as needed; as many of my friends tell me, the only dumb question is the one that's not asked.

Andy

 

[Rule3]

As you can see, there are differing opinions, as usual. Getting the reading material and digesting it first is good advice.



I've never seen this mentioned before, but it seems to me that the most important factor in reloading is the person doing it. I know a number of people whose personalities are simply incompatible with this activity. If a person tends strongly to be impatient, distracted easily, careless, inattentive to detail, etc., I would be very reluctant to encourage them to take up loading ammunition. It is a process which demands the opposite characteristics. Safety is seriously compromised otherwise.



Andy

I have not seen this mentioned either and is no doubt the most important thing of all.!

It doesn't matter if you have the best equipment in the world if you don't have this it will not matter.

 

[USAF007]

Thanks again for all the info and advice guys! Im watching Videos on Youtube, and on the RCBS website right now!