reloading start up

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I want to soon begin my reloading journey. I always hear you can do it for cheap. Never bought .308/7.62 in bulk... calledcthe lgs and he said they have 200s rds $130. Figured that could get me somewhere ... what Im asking is what so I need? My dad used to reload shotshells so I have an old scale, and also in the reloading mechanism, you can do the selected powder release.
I can buy a press for $30.
Im trying to take the economic route here ... what else do I need and how much should I pay?
 
You are entering a world where you can spend as much as you want... but start up is anything but "cheap" once you're setup, you can save some money... but a lot of us wind up shooting more... I would suggest starting with a book... or several, on reloading... most of the bullet & powder manufactures have free literature...

Also, proceed to the reloading area of the forum... and remember, reloading is a hobby where you are literally playing with dynamite...
 
Lee makes several reloading kits that have everything you need. They are not too expensive. RCBS makes a higher end kit that is good too. Starting out, stay with a single stage press until you get the hang of reloading. That way you will become familiar with each step in the reloading process. Guys will tell you to go with a progressive set up but stay with the basics when starting out. I still do 80 percent of my reloading on an old RCBS junior press. I have larger presses for resizing rifle brass along with a small Dillon for my carry ammo practice. Look at reloading as a hobby, not as work. In addition, get a tumbler to clean your brass. Lee makes a dandy primer tool. Get two. That way you have one for each size primer. They run about 15 bucks or so. I have been reloading since 1965 so I am quite knowledgable on this topic. AND.....buy several reloading manuals and follow what they say. Even pick old reloading manuals in second hand bookstores. They still have alot of good information in them.
 
ABC's is a good book to start. Never go cheap. If you are into shooting enough to reload, buy the stuff that will last a lifetime. I have all the GREEN (RCBS) stuff and have NEVER been unhappy. Lee's single stage presses are OK but never have liked their scales or powder measures
 
You will get a ton of advice, not all good. I started with an old man that's been reloading for years tellin me to get a hornady book and a press. A week later I got a Dillon 550 and a book a week later, and jumped head first in. Don't take a whole lot of brains to get it done. A few tools like a caliper and a scale and a set of dies you can get started. Some say you have to start with a single stage etc etc. I didn't, and I load some real accurate rounds. I shoot a lot so progressive was a good route for me. You'll get addicted to it. I know the cheapest places to order stuff, and I make sure I'm gettin the best price ever. It's a hobby in itself
 
I also suggest you start off by buying and reading the ABCs or Reloading and the Lyman Reloading manual. They will give you good info on the basics of reloading and the equipment available. The amount you eventually spend will depend on your needs and how easy you want reloading to be. Remember, good reloading equipment will last forever. Once you have an idea of what you want, come back to the forum for suggestions and answers to any questions you have.
 
Ahh.... wouldn't a manual just come with whatever kit I bought? I'm not too big into reading. I'm a college student, and I don't even read my textbooks :D
 
if you don't read and understand in college all that will happen is you flunk
in reloading not reading and UNDERSTANDING will get you seriously hurt or worse, most reloaders I know don't have a book they have a small library and read them.
reloading isn't hard but if you want to keep your eyes,face ect intact know what you are doing BEFORE you do it
 
Thanks for asking our advice

Ahh.... wouldn't a manual just come with whatever kit I bought? I'm not too big into reading. I'm a college student, and I don't even read my textbooks :D
Reloading may not be for you, then. Reloading is not rocket science, but it does involve flame and smoke and things that go VERY VERY fast.

Not all kits include manuals. One of the best (Kempf's Gun Shop) doesn't have one, nor a scale, but I consider it one of the best because it does not make you take things you may want to replace. Since it is a Lee press (with dies, primer device and powder measure), the natural choice for a scale would be the Lee Scale, which some people just find too difficult to work and the Lee Modern Reloading book, which some people do not like because of the writing style or how the load recipes were gathered.

When you buy a kit, it will almost always come with stuff you don't want and will lack stuff you need. I prefer to assemble my own. Even Kempf's kit comes with plastic cartridge boxes. I have enough cartridge boxes.

Since you will be loading rifle cartridges, I suggest making sure your press is strong enough and has enough leverage to make you happy. The Lee $30 press has a simple linkage which is sufficient for your cartridges, but the linkage on the Classic Cast will be much easier on your arm (even if you are athletic) and easier on whatever you mount the press on.

If you are considering the hand press (possibly for its small size, portability and lack of a need for a loading table), think about it. You will have a bunch of stuff spread out on a table in front of you anyway. A hand press will occupy both hands and be inconvenient to keep putting down and picking up. If you load more than a few dozen rounds at a sitting it will get tired pretty fast. Unless you are WAY short on funds. Then, use what you can afford.

I mounted a press on a board and wedged it into the drawer of an end table with the scale and other stuff on the coffee table. Worked like a champ. Took up little more room than the Lee Hand press and was a lot more convenient.

So, tell us how much you plan to reload per month?

What kind of scale is it you have? What condition and have you checked its operation? I am sure it is OK, but may need to have the pivots cleaned.

Good luck

Lost Sheep
 
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Learn to like reading...or don't start. I don't care if you hurt yourself, that's your choice, but you have no right to hurt someone else in the process through preventable ignorance or arrogance. If you don't completely understand the processes, you're a danger not only to yourself, but anyone that has the misfortune to be anywhere near you as well.
 
I got into reloading 2 years ago and I figure I've gotten my rounds down to only about 3 times the price of factory ammo. I'm hoping to cut that in half before I pass. Like another poster said: Start-up. And it is addictive.
 
xxxleafybugxxx said:
Ahh.... wouldn't a manual just come with whatever kit I bought? I'm not too big into reading. I'm a college student, and I don't even read my textbooks

No offence but with an attitude like that I recommend you dont even think about reloading and just keep buying cheap factory ammo. I cant speak for everyone on this forum but before I reload a new recipe I have never done before I look to at least a few different reloading manuals. If you dont have the money or dont want to spend the money on a couple of reloading books then go to your local libray and borrow a few and read then all at least a couple of times. Also knowing someone that reloads and can show you how and help you set up your reloading bench IMO is a must, because reloading when you dont know what you are doing or taking the time to read and find how to do it properly is a waste of time and is an accident waiting to happen.

Now if you want to reload and dont want to spend alot of money look at one of the starter kits and upgrade to better stuff as you can afford. If you are reloading for a rifle I would recommend a single stage kit like the Lee 50th Anniversary Breech Lock Challenger Kit, then the only thing you need to buy is Dies and a Case Length Guage in whatever caliber you plan to reload.
http://leeprecision.com/50th-anniversary-breech-lock-challenger-kit.html
If you want to load for hand guns then look at the Lee 4 Hole Turret Press Kit
and again all you need then is the dies in whatever caliber you want to reload.
http://leeprecision.com/value-4-hole-turret-press-kit.html
Now some of this gear in these kits are not the best but they are usable and safe and will last untill you can afford to upgrade to better gear but stuff like the presses are great and will last a lifetime. The prices shown on the Lee website are MSRP and they can be found alot cheaper then this delivered. On top of these kits I would recommend the book "The ABC's of Reloading" plus at least a couple of reloading manuals.

Edit: Here is some of the reloading manuals I have (I try to buy the newer editions as they come out) All of these are pretty good and if I was you I would look at least a couple of them (after you get "The ABC's Of Reloading" first)
"Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition Revised", "Speer Reloading Manual #14", "Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition", "Sierra 5th Edition Rifle and Pistol Manual of Reloading",
 
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"I'm not too big into reading. I'm a college student, and I don't even read my textbooks"

His parents would be SO proud to read that line. Anyone out there wonder why OUR graduates don't compare well with those from just about anywhere else? - LOL -

With that attitude I'd also suggest just buying store-bought ammo to avoid a Darwinism down the road. Learning to safely reload may well just be too 'hard' for this 'student'.
 
Ahh.... wouldn't a manual just come with whatever kit I bought? I'm not too big into reading. I'm a college student, and I don't even read my textbooks:D

Says a LOT about your approach to things,,, DON'T reload for yourself or anyone until you grow up.
 
Didn't realize everyone here was so ***tight. I didn't say I would absolutely not read any manuals. Nor did I say I will start reloading without knowing what I"m doing. If you guys even knew me, you would know I take firearm safety very seriously, in EVERY aspect.
So, back on topic... after I do my "research", what tools do I need?
Instead of buying a full kit, I would rather buy the individual supplies I need. And since my father has some reloading equipment I can put to use, I would rather not buy things if it isn't necessary.
 
The ABCs of Reloading is ok, but don't get the newest (9th) edition; it is dreck. Get any of the earlier editions, which are available on Ebay or Amazon.

Also, get Lyman #49. Its beginning chapters deal with the basics and what you need to get started.
 
If you do your research, with the resources already suggested, your question about what tools you need will be answered.

I don't think anybody has questioned your safety practices, rather your apparent lazy approach to this.
 
Didn't realize everyone here was so ***tight. I didn't say I would absolutely not read any manuals. Nor did I say I will start reloading without knowing what I"m doing. If you guys even knew me, you would know I take firearm safety very seriously, in EVERY aspect.
So, back on topic... after I do my "research", what tools do I need?
Instead of buying a full kit, I would rather buy the individual supplies I need. And since my father has some reloading equipment I can put to use, I would rather not buy things if it isn't necessary.
OK, now you're talking.

I am a believer in assembling one's own kit. The research you put into each equipment pick is good training, too, and a lot more fun than reading.

You have a mentor. Excellent.

Any of us could give you an inventory of the tools we use every day and occasionally, but those lists would be OUR lists. Might not match your needs. You mentioned your calibers/chamberings. What kind of shooting do you do? What goals do you have? (Strictly hunting? long-range accuracy? Casual plinking?) What equipment do you have already available?

You only NEED three tools to load. (Plus the consumables)

Press because fingers are not strong enough to form metal
Dies because fingers are not accurate enough to form metal to SAAMI specs
Scale because eyeballs are not accurate enough to measure out gunpowder

Your research will tell you what else you need. For example, bottlenecked cases require lubrication (or you will wind up with a casing stuck in your die). You can apply with a lube pad, spray from an aerosol can or apply with your fingers, sponge or paper towel. What's your style?

A loading block is convenient, two are even better. When loading in batch mode, I put cases in one to the left of the press and an empty block to the right. As I process each case they move from the left to the right. But I load in batches of 50. If loading in batches of 20, as you might, moving from one end of the block to the other would do. Again, it is a matter of style.

I stay away from electronic scales. Gravity is more dependable than batteries and mechanical scales are not subject to electromagnetic emanations as the cheaper electronic scales are. If you do get an electronic scale, have a mechanical balance-beam scale to periodically verify the electronic's accuracy.

I have come to appreciate Lee equipment. Lee has some ground-breaking innovations and while their stuff is not as well-finished as some of the others, they generally work just as well or better, but some (for me) dismally. Again, your research as you shop around, inspect and handle equipment will inform your decision-making.

A bullet puller (either collet-type or inertial) is handy. It was years before I had one and several more before I ever had to use it, but when you do need to disassemble a round you have made (bullet seated too deep, for example, or suspected incorrect powder charge) you need it.

Case tumbler. To clean your cases. You can use a paper towel. A tumbler is easier and makes your brass shinier. I loaded for 3 decades before I had one. I have one now and my brass is prettier now but shoots just the same.

ABC's of Reloading. It's a good read. A lot more entertaining than textbooks, I guarantee it.

What's your major, by the way?

Lost Sheep
 
Criminal justice is my major.
My purpose will be for paper punching, and hunting. I have a trip that is in the planning for November, and would like to use rounds I put together.
Like I said, my father has a scale. I'm not sure of the device that its called, but for shotshells, the reloader he has spins the shells in a circle and fill each part when it makes a 360 degree turn weather it primer, powerder, wad, shot, or crimping the shell. I figure I can use this tool only for the measured powder release. Thats he has that I could use.
 
You can use the scale, not much else.

Criminal justice is my major.
My purpose will be for paper punching, and hunting. I have a trip that is in the planning for November, and would like to use rounds I put together.
Like I said, my father has a scale. I'm not sure of the device that its called, but for shotshells, the reloader he has spins the shells in a circle and fill each part when it makes a 360 degree turn weather it primer, powerder, wad, shot, or crimping the shell. I figure I can use this tool only for the measured powder release. Thats he has that I could use.
You can use the scale.

The press you have is for shotguns and is not suitable for metallic (rifle and handgun) cartridges. Sorry. There might be conversion kits available, but I have never heard of one. In my opinion, you are better off with something made from the ground up for your purposes.

Considering your purposes and your chambering, I would suggest a single stage press. Fifty rounds an hour is easy to do, weighing each powder charge and taking your time. You can get supreme accuracy that way.

Get a good one because you will want to keep it forever, no matter what else you get in the future. Lee Classic Cast Breech-Lock is my suggestion, about $105. Other candidates; Lyman Crusher, Redding Boss or RCBS Reloader are all in the $130 range. RCBS RockChucker, a little more. Forster CO-AX above $200, but it is a REALLY GOOD press. You can get by with a $30 Lee Reloader, but you will not be happy with it for very long. Barely enough leverage for a bottlenecked rifle round.

Before I give you a list of other tools, you should probably get familiar with the names of the tools, or nothing will make sense to you. (What is the difference between a chamfer tool and a deburrer and why use them?). These links should help.

The "sticky" thread at the top of TheFiringLine's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST "
www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

The "sticky" thread at the top of TheHighRoad.com's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST"
www.thehighroad.org//showthread.php?t=238214

I generally eschew kits but the Classic Cast has some good kits built around it and considering your chambering, you might want to do the math to see if the inefficiencies you get from using a kit someone else designed are outweighed by the price break you usually get with a kit. You will have to make a parts list and do comparison pricing at your local stores and online. I would give you a list of names, but there are so many and I would leave a lot out if I tried that now.

Criminal Justice? I feel for you. If you think your textbooks are dreary now, wait until you get into Law; case research will probably drive you batty. But that won't last long. Count your blessings. My major was Mechanical Engineering. (Forgive me, I just had to tease you a bit.)

Lost Sheep
 
xxxleafybugxxx said:
Didn't realize everyone here was so ***tight. I didn't say I would absolutely not read any manuals. Nor did I say I will start reloading without knowing what I"m doing.
You pretty much said you didn't want to read anything. Let me ask how do you plan on reloading safely without reading any reloading books (by watching YouTube)? LOL

If you want to get into reloading without spending much money then a "Reloading Kit" is the way to go. Even if you have some things already buying things separately will cost you alot more money. I didn't buy a kit when I start reloading by myself but I already knew how to reload as I had be using my fathers and friends reloading gear for a long time. The problem with going out and buying everything separately when you dont know exactly what you want is you will buy the wrong thing or something that wont do the job properly, even if you have a few things now I can guarantee it will cost you alot more then buying a kit. IMO you would be better off buying a cheap kit now learning how to use it, then upgrading stuff you know you want and need. Just buy the Lee 50th Anniversary Breech Lock Challenger Kit, plus Dies and Case Length Guage (in whatever caliber you plan on reloading). If you know someone that reloads that can take you under there wing and show you what you need to buy, then look at getting everything separayely, if not then a "Kit" is the way to go.
 
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