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All you reloaders out there

4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
Im thinking of beginning reloading but have never tried it before and have no experience with it. I would like to be able to reload everthing from high powered magnum rifle cartridges to handgun cartridges. What would I need and what would be the easiest and least expensive way to get started? I am looking for a decent balance betwwen good, easy and cheap. Are there any decent kits that will come with everything I need, less the powder, primers and brass?

When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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Comments

  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    Easiest and least expensive may be mutually exclusive terms. For easiest (and best for starting IMHO) go to http://www.rcbs.com/guideframe.html and look at the master reloading kit. It has everything you need except dies and components. Least expensive would be to list all the items in the kit and then look for each item at the e-auctions and yard sales and penny saver newspapers. Not the easiest but the cheapest. One (or 2) other thing, get a good reloading book(or 3 or 4) and find a teacher/coach/friend who will walk you through the process for the first few times you reload.

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here are a few links to check out equipment offered by a few companys. I personally think Lee the easiest setup to use, and it will load everything you mentioned. I use the 3 turret but you may like the 4. I'd get the 4 if starting over again. Lee is also probably the least expensive, although I dont consider their products of cheap quality. I've been using mine for over 12 years and all their products are still working fine. I use a Lyman balance beam scale, but wish I could afford an electric. Check out the sites and decide what is in your price range and go from there.



    http://www.leeprecision.com/
    http://www.lymanproducts.com/
    http://www.huntingtons.com/
    http://www.hornady.com/
    http://www.redding-reloading.com/default.html

    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • bama55bama55 Member Posts: 6,389 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Start out with Lee equipment, then later, with more experience, upgrade to Dillon.
    I have loaded thousands upon thousands of rounds on a single stage
    press. I now have a Dillon 550B and wish I had bought one when they
    first came out.

    Don't send flowers when I die. Send money now, I can buy more ammo.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lee obviously has its partisans. I'm not one of them, but that is not to put them down. I would go with the single stage RCBS set-up to start. You can load anything except shotshells and will learn the details of loading. If you have a problem with anything RCBS makes, they give you **great** service. If - and only if - you find yourself a few years down the road still loading, and loading a lot, *then* consider going with a progressive system. And if you can't afford a Dillon at that point, wait until you can. I loaded more rounds than I can count on a single stage press in the course of 25 +/- years until I bought a progressive Dillon roughly two years ago. I love it, but I still use the single stage for loading smaller lots and rifle ammo.
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  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    Ok, say I buy a rockchucker single stage reloading press, what else will I need?

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • JimFJimF Member Posts: 9 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here's what I've used for over 25 years:

    RCBS Rockchucker
    Ohaus 10-10 scale (I think?? those are RCBS now??)
    Forster case trimmer (I'd buy an RCBS now,...better avail. of pilots)
    Redding Powder measure.
    Lee hand priming tool.
    Calipers.
    Micrometer (maybe)
    Deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner, Lyman case prep tools.
    Tumbler if you do handguns much.

    I've added a Pact, electronic measure and scale and am very satisfied.

    Last but not least, buy a Chrony.............

    JimF
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Need:
    Press, Scale, 6" Dial Caliper, Die set and Shell holder (for each caliber), Manuals (at least get the one from the company that makes your bullets, several are prefered), Case Lube
    Best things to add:
    Case Trimmer w/ pilots, Chamfer tool, Primer pocket cleaner, Powder Trickler, Powder measure, Loading blocks (can be homemade), hand priming tool (Might be on Need list, depending on how press is equipped)
    Nice to have:
    Primer pocket uniformer, flash hole deburing tool, Tumbler/polisher, Case gauges,
    Toys for Rich Boys:
    compairater, Consintricty measuring tool, case mike, borescope, etc

    I've probably missed somethings, wouldn't surprise me any (oldtimers syndrome). Get the manuals first as they explain how the different tools are used and when. You will notice that except for the Calipers and Dies that most of the items in the first 3 sections are included in the Rockchucker Master Kit. The 'chucker is the press by which all others are compaired.

    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    #1, before anything else - a good loading manual. I strongly recommend Lyman. Their service and product line have really declined in the past 30 years, but their manuals are still tops - because they are not commited to a single powder or bullet producer. Absolutely get a good scale. I've never had one of the electronic jobbies, but if I ever need a new one, that's what I will buy. Absolutely a good, accurate set of calipers. I'm not sure what comes in the starter kits, but you will need a lube pad (or some way of lubricating cases unless you are loading straight wall pistol rounds using carbide dies) and a deburring tool. A powder measure (metering dispenser) is close to the top of the list of almost necessary items. I have mine set up to the left of my press with room in between the two for a loading block. I put powder in the empty case & set it in the block. When the block is full, I tilt the block to the light and do a careful visual check of powder depth (in addition to checking weight every fifty or so rounds on non-critical loads), then seat bullets & move the completed rounds aside. I've loaded 100s of Ks of rounds and never had a squib. One Kaboom and that was the brass (.40 S&W in a Glock). I stick with loads where a double charge will make one hell of a mess on the bench, not in the chamber. From there, it really is a matter of personal preference, goals and gadget love. Powder tricklers, case trimmers, primer pocket swadge for military brass, flash hole de-burring tool, etc. But, really, there is only so much 'stuff' one can use for this; it's not like fishing or shooting!
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ditto on the Rock Chucker ... for a single stage press it is the best. I must add any single stage is good to learn the basic's ... espically if you are learning on your own, but once you feel comfortable (usually less than 500 rounds or so). I really am a fan of the Dillon progressives though. With it you can load at least 4 times as fast while loosing very little in preformance. I can load plinking/practice ammo that shoots sub-MOA all day.

    However when I'm loading for a match I still use my RCBS single stage, and weigh each powder charge by hand.

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    If you buy cheap or bad equipment in the beginning, it will give you a negative experience and you'll more than likely give it up. Go with good equipment up front and get a local "loader" to train you.

    I like Dillon, RCBS, and Hornady professional stuff best.

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the feed back gents, I appreciate your help. I knew I could get some good input from yaz. Now all I gotta do is convince the wife it will save money and be a good investment.

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Seems to me there was a thread on the best reloader a while back and everybody was swearing by the Dillon 550B. At leat that sticks in my mind because I was thinking I'd want to remember that if I should ever have a basement again -- I'd probably get into reloading too.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • inspectorknuckleheadinspectorknucklehead Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you do buy an case trimmer, get an RCBS Trim Pro. You can get an accessory called a Three Way Cutter that also removes the burrs from inside and out of the case neck while trimming. It will cut your trimming chores to 1/3.

    I'd stick with RCBS equipement all the way, except for the Piggyback Conversion Unit. It's a piece of CRAP! It won't index reliably and will strip out the indexing bushing.(they're made of nylon) The priming function is also unreliable. Sometimes the primers don't seat all the way and...Oh, you get the idea.

    John Colson

    "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one" Luke 2:36
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    4GodandCountry-
    While that is a good argument, it does not pan out ... every one I know that started re-loading to save money DID NOT SAVE A DIME ... they just started shooting twice as much!

    offeror - I think you are correct ... the Dillon 550B is topps!

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • VarmintmistVarmintmist Member Posts: 1,074 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    RCBS, the Reloader Special kit is a great deal if you are a little short for the Rockchucker. I run a RS-5 (old) works like a champ and has for 16 years, and I bought it used. Stay away from the Lee scale. Lee dies are under 20 NEW, they will do the job. Later, after you get your feet wet, Redding neck sizers are real nice. The Lee auto prime is a must, RCBS makes one but I have ne experiance with the RCBS. For case lube I really have had good luck with Hornaday One Shot spray lube, just dont be shy when using it and make sure you get the necks real good. I have also found that after blowing large dollars on ammo boxes that 200 45ACP fit real nice in a Jif peanut butter jar. 40, 30-06, you could probably get 50 in np

    Those people who see nothing but grey areas, no black and white, are lost in the fog.
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    www.dillonprecision.com
    www.wideners.com
    www.midwayusa.com

    The big three in relaoding...

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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