New guy looking at reloading

[Glockfan.45]

Hello all. I have been shooting for some time and finally I now feel that the volume of my shooting justifies reloading. I have never reloaded before, nor do I know anyone who does it. So I am posting this to get some advice. Can anyone recomend any good books to read on the topic (kinda like a idiots guide) ? I live in a town home so I dont have alot of space. I plan to reload alot of .45acp, and .223 what would be a good setup? Thanks in advance for any wisdom you should choose to impart.

 

[owenbright]

Reading material:
1. "ABC's of reloading" or LEE's modern reloading
2. Some kind of reloading manual like Speer #13

Equipment wise, I think a lot of it will depend on how much (volume)
you want to reload and how much you want to spend.

 

[Finch]

So not to hijack the thread or anything, bu I'm in the same situation. Just spent 43 dollars today and all I got was 100 rounds of .40 s&w and 100 rounds of .45 ACP. So reloading is starting to look good.

Hopefully my questions will help GlockFan's as well. Could someone provide a list of what one would need to reload one type of caliber, say .45? I would like to see what it takes to jump into such an activity.

 

[db_tanker]

Same kind of post I saw a few days ago...same answer...


Look into what is called a turret press. You can set up all your dies on a turret press. Some presses, like the Lee, have an auto-index feature...is it needed? Dunno...I load mostly for rifle and a few pistol rounds for single shots and don't really need large scale production...YET.

Since your getting into it fresh, get the books FIRST...read...as far as what the books tell you that you will need, brand-wise, take it with a grain of salt...I still have my first lee classic press...I just use it now for decapping and for pulling bullets...but its still around...my main press is a rock-chucker, though. For the rounds you plan on doing, that lee turret press will be just fine, I think. I am guessing that your 223 will be fed into an AR-type rifle, so a case trimmer might be needed eventually, as well. How you throw your powder measure will be a personal preference, I think. And priming, as well. I use a hand-primer...I actually have two...one from RCBS and one from Lee...both work good...the RCBS uses standard shell-holders (I have the old one, not the newer unit with the universal holder), the lee uses a special type of shell-holder. Both work just fine. As others have stated, there is a better feel with these units...you know the primer is going in correct.
For the 223, I would also think about a Factory Crimp die...mebbe...although there are a whole gang of things to think about...so get the books, read and you will be better able to make the right choices when you go make your investment.

D

 

[loadedround]

I load many pistol and rifle cartridges and startred out with a single stage press, moved to a turret press and then to two Dillon 550B progressive presses. As others have said, get several reloading manuals and read them throughly and I also suggest talking to others on your range for opinions on equipment. Possibly they may demonstrate their presses to you. Another possibility would be to visit any gun shops in your area carrying reloading presses for teir help. After all this, you can make an educated decision. Rememger this, "everyone one will have an opinion on what's best(even me) and will be more than glad to give it". Listen and then make up your own mind !

 

[JoeHatley]

Here is a link to a three part article from Real Guns that should get you started with your information gathering.

www.realguns.com/archives/reload.htm

Links to parts 2 and 3 are at the bottom of part 1.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[benedict1]

Lee Classic Turret Press

The New Lee Classic Turret press would be a great setup--the Classic Turret, not the original. To load one caliber, buying from on-line dealer(s) with shipping would be around $200 for eveything you need.

Check these links for complete discussion of this new press and accessories needed to load--

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp

http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm

Here is where I got my equipment--they are shooters who know reloading--

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/leeprecision/presses/90064.html

Even at the start I could load around 150/hr. Now I load 2-250 per hour. So if you shoot 4-500 rounds per week this should be more than adequate.

Note in the links the ease to change turret/dies and primer size. I go from 9mm to 45 ACP literally in less than 5 minutes. An extra turret for this press is inexpensive--Lee dies, the DeLuxe Pistol set with Factory Crimp die, is what you want. The rifle dies are different--also carbide though. Don't get steel--too much lube action for me.

Hope this helps.. If you need more rounds per week then a more complex progressive press might be right, bearing in mind that the learning curve can be longer. Whatever you get, you will enjoy this absorbing part of the shooting hobby.

 

[Ares45]

THE place to start = "ABC's of Reloading". It's reloading for dummies in plain english, easy to understand. Read the book 1st and all your equipment and component questions will be answered. CAUTION, "ABC's" is NOT a load book. You will also need at least one (preferably more) reloading manual before you get started. Hornady, Lee, Speer, Lyman - all are good choices.

 

[Glockfan.45]

So not to hijack the thread or anything, bu I'm in the same situation. Just spent 43 dollars today and all I got was 100 rounds of .40 s&w and 100 rounds of .45 ACP. So reloading is starting to look good.

Hopefully my questions will help GlockFan's as well. Could someone provide a list of what one would need to reload one type of caliber, say .45? I would like to see what it takes to jump into such an activity.

Not at all thanks for the bump I wasnt getting any responce earlier. And the link was helpful Joe thanks.

 

[highlander 5]

starting reloading

"ABC's of Reloading ' very good manual IMHO the latest Lyman manual very detailed I beleive its the 48th edition and one from the major bullet or powder manufacterers

 

[Run&Shoot]

Link to good starting thread

Here is a thread that RustyFN started and he itemizes what he bought with prices from Midway. Benedict1 contributed good advice to that thread as well.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=222120

He was looking for pretty much the same start as you seem to be. For about $207 he has a sweet system. You're going to enjoy reloading. Like having your own science lab and factory at home.

Really read a couple of manuals. I have reloaded for about 18 years and I just refreshed my manuals from 1990ish. I have Lyman, Lee, Speer, Laser-Cast, and Nosler now, and I get info from Hodgdon, Alliant, Winchester, and Accurate web sites. I just finished my third complete reading of all my manuals (I do that about every 5-7 years). When you start it is tempting to just dive into the data tables, but you won't regret taking time to read at least one of the manual's complete narrative sections.

Have fun!

 

[tkcomer]

The only thing I can add is get what they call the small base die for the 223. With my AR, I can only get two reloads on my 223 brass before the gun starts hanging up. It’s the same with my Ruger Mini-14. I threw away a lot off brass before I realized what was wrong.

 

[RustyFN]

Glockfan, you will get a lot of great advice here. They have helped me buy a great system. Good luck.
Rusty

 

[JDGray]

The already mentiond Lee manual is a good book. I would start with a turret press, less complicated, and you can still turn out a good amount of ammo. For the money, ya cant beat Lee

 

[Glockfan.45]

Thanks for all the advice. I have been looking and LEE does seem to offer alot for the money. I was looking at a set up that primed, charged, and even droped bullets from a tube. It looked pretty cool kinda like an all in one deal. And the price wasnt to bad at Midway.

 

[benedict1]

Stick with Classic Turret Press--

Unless you are very adventurous, please consider starting with a turret press--The New Lee Classic Turret being the preferred one. Progressives with case feeders, bullet feeders, etc can be daunting to a new reloader. Some folks are even better off starting with a single stage press. The Lee Classic Turret press can be used that way too and when ready, graduate to the auto-indexing 2-250 rounds per hour class.

Read those basic reloading books--Lee,or Lyman, or ABCs of Reloading, etc--you will save yourself lots of headaches and put yourself in a position to asked more questions.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

For new reloaders that need quantity, the Lee Classic Cast turret is tought to beat

I agree with everything benedict said. The Lee Classic Cast turret press is tough to be for a combination of versatiliity, affordability, ease of use and durability. My current thinking is this is the press most reloaders should start with. It can be slow enough to help a newbie learn the reloading process and it can be fast enough that only competition shooters will need more ammo.

And after you begin to need more ammo, you'll have a good press to load that 20-100 round run for your milsurps, etc., without tying up your new higher priced progressive.

Just my .02,

Dave