Want to start reloading

[carpriver]

I have been reloading with a Lee turret press and the Lee reloading manual. Read the book and take your time and you'll fine. I was loading about a hour after I got the press setup. It's not hard but you do have to pay attention to what you are doing. I have 3 or 4 other reloading manuals and I have down load the reloading information for the powder manufactures for the powders I use.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

When I say "a little reloading", I'm talking just to try it out and see if its something I want to pursue in the future. I'd be more than happy to be able to sit or a 1/2 hour or an hour and make a box. I don't shoot a ton and there are supplies locally I can pick up. I don't want to jump in head first and buy $1k+ of equipment.

As far as my mechanical background. I have been using tools as long as toys. I worked for many years in the automotive field as a technician, switched over to electronics by working in a casino on slot machines, and finally ended up in the medical field working in biomedical engineering. I still work on cars for myself building everything from v8 muscle (have a 66 nova I'm restoring in my garage a the moment), to turbo alcohol injected 4 cylinder cars. I have many tools that I can use for this such as several digital calipers and a nice bench as well as safety equipment like goggles, gloves, and even respirators. I also have ventilation in the garage (to evacuate welding fumes), that could help with lead dust etc.

So I'm very confident working with my hands, however as stated reloading can be very dangerous. Taking my time and being careful are definitely number one on my list. Another reason I want to start small is because of that. If I start small, very small, I will learn and be more careful working on such a small amount at a time.

So I'll pick up a couple reloading books (I like to have an actual book to reference while in the garage), and start reading up more and checking out YouTube. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Boogsawaste]

Forgot to add that I'm not looking to make ultra powerful defense loads or anything. I just want some cheaper ammo to practice and have fun with. Basic target loads. For my defense rounds, I'll just stick with factory stuff. Thanks again. You all gave lots of good info and recommendations.

 

[gregintenn]

Where do you live? You are welcome to come here, if by chance you are local, and use my stuff to give it a try. I expect others would offer you the same. All you'd need to bring is brass, primers, powder, and projectiles.

 

[gwpercle]

Jim,
Take a look at the Lee Hand Press. Not expensive, and so much easier to reload with than the " Whack-A-Mole" loaders. I started with the hammer driven ones, prior to Hand Press invention, so I know how they work the limitations and how incrediably slow they are. The hand press is so much better and not expensive. I have three bench mounted presses but find the Hand Press so "handy", sorry about that bad pun, that I have two of the hand presses and use them all the time. I can reload any where inside the house and not be stuck in an unheated, unairconditioned outbuilding if I don't want to.
Check them out and good luck .
Gary

 

[Engineer1911]

To safely use a Lee Loader to seat primers, you need a quality pair of safety glasses and foam ear plugs. That FIRST primer detonation will get your attention. Trust me, there will be at least one. It might be only one, the last one, or just the first one.

You now have the Knowledge (wisdom) of my Experience.

 

[Narragansett]

The process of reloading is simple enough. It is fun and satisfying, not to mention that it is a way to save a few bucks. When I first started, it was on a lee loader. Then I graduated to a Lyman Spar T press. New it was 10.00. I see them on ebay from time to time for more than 10.00, but a regular press is easier to deal with than a lee loader. And full length resizing in carbide dies is the way to go.

You can invest a lot in this, but it is not necessary. What is necessary is to read manuals, and stay within their parameters for given loads. Understand that changing components( primers) changes pressures. Also, if you are shooting vintage firearms, be kind to them, and keep the loads on the lighter side. The quality of today's gun steel is better than that of 75 years ago.

Reloading and ballistics is a science, and moreso if you are tuning loads to a rifle barrel, but you can also tune a load to a pistol.

Understand the different characteristics of the burning rate of powders, and what detonation is ( not good).

While I graduated away from bullet shooting to clay target shooting, reloading shotshells was what I did the most of, and I used to try out all sorts of stuff. However, when I wanted to try non published loads, I used to call the good people at Hercules Powder, give them my recipe, and they would load it in their crusher" test gun" and give me the velocity spread and pressure data. I do not know if anybody will do that for you today.

Just be careful, read, and wander into this slowly and with purpose. Another thing, if you are going to shoot lead, use a good quality hard cast bullet. It helps with leading.

Good luck, and have fun

 

[Boogsawaste]

Thanks again everyone. By the way, I'm in hellertown pa. It's very close to Allentown.

 

[gregintenn]

Thanks again everyone. By the way, I'm in hellertown pa. It's very close to Allentown.

That's a pretty good piece from Tennessee. Perhaps there's someone here local to you who'd give you a hand in the right direction.

 

[smokindog]

Our local Cabelas has free reloading classes on Sundays, one is an overview and the other is a basic setup and walk through. Looks like there's a Cabelas not too far from you (40 miles or so). I'd call and see if they also conduct such courses. They are FREE!

Thanks again everyone. By the way, I'm in hellertown pa. It's very close to Allentown.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Huh, didn't know they offered a class like that. I've been to that cabelas a couple times. Might have to look into seeing if mine offers the same. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Bart45]

Keep it simple. Understand what is happening in each step. For my powders, I like those that give full cases to prevent the remote chance of any overcharge.

 

[rwsmith]

My Lee Loader came with a scoop....

It came with a scoop that threw exactly 2.8 grains of Bullseye (I checked it out on an analytical scale) which is an ideal target load. I just threw powder with the scoop to make a couple of thousand rounds. Didn't even need a scale for that.

 

[rwsmith]

I've only had one go boom

To safely use a Lee Loader to seat primers, you need a quality pair of safety glasses and foam ear plugs. That FIRST primer detonation will get your attention. Trust me, there will be at least one. It might be only one, the last one, or just the first one.

You now have the Knowledge (wisdom) of my Experience.

I had one boom tapping in a primer using Lee Loaders, but that sucka was LOUD. I had my glasses on but no hearing protection.

 

[WeebleWoble]

edit : wrong topic

 

[Alaska MJ]

Boogsawaste,

You DON'T NEED TO DO A LITTLE RELOADING!

You NEED to spend a COUPLE MONTHS READING about the process,

Then it's even better if you can locate someone to MENTOR YOU in the process.

You might also LOOK FOR AN NRA CERTIFIED RELOADING CLASS/INSTRUCTOR, and take it.

Reloading CAN BE DANGEROUS to you and others along with your firearms.

Moon man I f we all took the class we wouldn't need this forum ,then what would you do for fun???????

 

[Alaska MJ]

Keep it simple. Understand what is happening in each step. For my powders, I like those that give full cases to prevent the remote chance of any overcharge.

When you first start out like bart says use powder that fills the case,for the min. loads .

 

[Clovishound]

Another bargain basement press is this one:

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-reloader-press-90045.html

It is not a high quality, long term press, although it may well serve as a stand alone decapping station when you move up to something better.

The other option is to spend another $60 or $70 and get the classic turret press.

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-90064.html

You can prime with the turret press without purchasing anything else. It is a long term press. It may not be the last press you ever buy, but is a high quality press that should give many years of reloading.

Bottom line is you will realistically need to spend a couple hundred to get set up. A press, a scale, a measure, dies, a set of calipers. I would consider a reloading manual as a must, as well. Some presses have on press priming included. If you get one that doesn't, you will also need some form of a priming device. A Lee ram prime is probably the cheapest, a hand primer is more expensive, but much faster.

You can use dippers, but a powder measure can be had for not all that much more $, and is far more practical, especially for handgun calibers. I have a stand alone measure, and a through the die measure. The through the die is soooo much faster.

Here is what I load on. Prices are current from FSreloading and are rounded.

Lee Classic Turret press 89
Auto disk pro measure 41
Lee balance scale 21
.38 spl 3 die set 27
HF dial calipers 15

Grand Total: 193 plus shipping.

This is a decent reloading setup, although not a dream setup by most anyone's standards. Still, it is a setup capable of producing quality ammo in a reasonable time. I clean my cases in a plastic jar with citric acid (unsweetened lemonaide Koolaid). I have one of the $3 primer pocket cleaners, but now use an old toothbrush. I have a small inexpensive electronic weight scale that is much easier to use than the beam scale. I also have a set of 9mm dies and another turret plate that allows for quick changeover of calibers.

I started out with the Lee handloader that a buddy loaned me. It was great for learning on. I highly recommend spending a little more on a decent press. If you decide not to pursue reloading, you can probably offload the equipment without losing much.

 

[Boogsawaste]

Well guys I haven't don't much with this in the last month besides Internet reading. Been busy at home with other projects. After familiarizing myself with some terms and tools needed, revisiting this thread again and it makes a lot more sense.

Santa was nice enough to get me some gift cards to cabelas so a trip this weekend will have me returning with a couple manuals and a press along with associated dies and whatever else I can get my grubby hands on. I decided to skip on the lee loader and spend a couple bucks more on either a bench mounted unit or the hand held one. Thanks again everyone for their input and opinions.