Reloading Newbie Question

[Killermonkey21]

Hello High Roaders,

I have long wanted to reload due to the price of ammo for training, but I have a question you more experienced reloaders might be able to answer for me.

I only shoot about 200-400 rounds a month and don't mind doing something slowly if it means it gets done right, so I'm not too averse to a single stage press. I would LOVE to get a nice progressive with all of the fixings, but I don't think it's in the budget. I was looking around for a good single stage "kit" that was at a decent price but had most of the essentials for me. I found this RCBS Kit on Midway and I was wondering if it would really be saving me any money, or if the stuff I would be getting with the kit is junk and would need to be replaced anyhow.

I plan to reload mainly one caliber (.45 ACP) for my Government Model 1911, so it would most likely be to work up a couple loads to tinker with and then pump out a few hundred a month for training and competition. I own other calibers, and will of course buy dies so I can load those as well.

In order of how much is shot, from greatest to least: 9mm, .38 special, .357 Magnum, 7.62x39mm, 8mm Mauser, .243 Win

But .45 ACP is my favorite gun of the bunch and I would love to be able to shoot my own reloads through them both from a economic point of view, and a pride point of view.

So, my main question, as stated above, is "is it worth it?" for the above link. And if you think not, what would be your suggestion? I
Thanks for all of your help, and take care.

-SSG John V.

EDIT: I also found this Hornady Lock and Load Kit on midway. Thoughts?

 

[Mike 27]

You won't go wrong with either kit. and could reload all of the suggested calibers with either, and work up your goal of 2-400 with no problems in a month. If you enjoy the hobby you will find yourself shooting more. Most don't save money but find themselves shooting more. I started to save money as well but find myself shooting much more. When I pull out the 45 for the range I have went through 400 rounds or more in a session and thought nothing of it.

 

[germ]

For your intended volume, I'd suggest the Lee Cast Turret (LCT) instead of a single stage. Comparatively, you can go much faster on the turret. Plus you can so easily use it as a single stage at any time. I'm not a Lee fan boy by an stretch of the imagination, however, I have to agree with so many others that this press is probably one the best values in reloading. My only "complaint" is that it only has 4 holes, I'd much prefer 5. Well, that's just one of the reasons why I also have the LNL AP.

BTW, I bought the LCT well after the LNL in order to satisfy other needs. I prefer it for making work up loads.

Check out Kempfs for LCT kits.

 

[medalguy]

I'd recomment the RCBS press. You can load anything with it (rifle or pistol) and the press will last a lifetime, and when you're gone your kids can use it another lifetime, or probably sell it for what you paid for it way back in 2012.

You can get sufficient leverage from that press to form brass or load any caliber of rifle brass except .50 BMG.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Thanks for asking our advice and for your service to our country.

Hello High Roaders,

I have long wanted to reload due to the price of ammo for training, but I have a question you more experienced reloaders might be able to answer for me.

I only shoot about 200-400 rounds a month and don't mind doing something slowly if it means it gets done right, so I'm not too averse to a single stage press. I would LOVE to get a nice progressive with all of the fixings, but I don't think it's in the budget. I was looking around for a good single stage "kit" that was at a decent price but had most of the essentials for me. I found this RCBS Kit on Midway and I was wondering if it would really be saving me any money, or if the stuff I would be getting with the kit is junk and would need to be replaced anyhow.

I plan to reload mainly one caliber (.45 ACP) for my Government Model 1911, so it would most likely be to work up a couple loads to tinker with and then pump out a few hundred a month for training and competition. I own other calibers, and will of course buy dies so I can load those as well.

In order of how much is shot, from greatest to least: 9mm, .38 special, .357 Magnum, 7.62x39mm, 8mm Mauser, .243 Win

But .45 ACP is my favorite gun of the bunch and I would love to be able to shoot my own reloads through them both from a economic point of view, and a pride point of view.

So, my main question, as stated above, is "is it worth it?" for the above link. And if you think not, what would be your suggestion? I
Thanks for all of your help, and take care.

-SSG John V.

EDIT: I also found this Hornady Lock and Load Kit on midway. Thoughts?

You need knowledge. About the process, about the load recipes that are safe and about the tools.

Start here: For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214

Come back to this post when you have perused that thread.


At a bare minimum, You need 3 tools, without which it is physically impossible to load, but unwise until you also have some good judgement. You know where good judgement comes from? Good judgement comes from bad experiences. You know where bad experience comes from? Bad judgement. The wise man learns from his experience. The TRULY wise man learns from the experiences of others. So, read manuals and threads and talk to experienced loaders wherever you can.

The three tools:

A press, because fingers are not strong enough to form metal.

Dies for 9mm because fingers are not accurate enough to form metal to fit.

You need a way to mete powder (most likely a scale, but some use calibrated dippers).

Other tools can wait until you discover the need for them. Except for certain things without which it is possible to load, but foolish. Eye protection. Calipers. Notebook. Dropcloth. Stuff like that.

Calipers, because not all components you buy are exactly the right size and when you load, you are changing some sizes and need to measure seating depth, cartridge overall length, etc.

Bullet puller because eventually you will assemble a cartridge you don't want to shoot for some reason.

Other tools as you find the need.

Manuals and instruction books. Lots of manuals. And web sites. Reliable ones, like the bullet manufacturers and powder manufacturers, not someone who doesn't have "skin in the game".

The early chapters of manuals are devoted to "how to load" information and the rest are load recipes. The bullet and powder manufacturers have lots of good advice and load recipes specific for their products. The excellent tome "ABC's of Reloading" has no load recipes, but excellent descriptions of the loading process, written by a selection of different authors.

Casual sources (like forums) are good sources of education and information, but you have to verify everything you find from casual sources.

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post. Maybe especially this post.

Do your own independent, confirming research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web.

Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere.

I have compiled a few web sites that seem to have some good information (some of which came from me).

Go get a large mug of whatever you sip when you read and think and visit these sites.

I am looking at getting into reloading for the first time
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=658971

Just bought my first press. Needs some info tho.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=659358

Considering reloading
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488115

Budget Beginning Bench you will never outgrow, for the novice handloader.
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/293...you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html

Thoughts on The Lee Classic Turret Press
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=135951

Interested in reloading
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543

Newby needs help.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391

I hope you enjoy the reading.

Lost Sheep

disclaimer:

I do not know you, so if my advice seems over-obvious, take into account my ignorance of your experience level. Also, other readers of all experience levels are reading.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

I suggest you get the RCBS RockChucker kit, it is one of the best presses you can buy, the 5-0-5 scale that comes with the kit is the standard by which others are judged, the powder measure is so good Hornady copied it. You will never out grow it even if you get a progressive later, you will have need for a single stage to do odd jobs and load development. You will not want to set a progressive to produce ten test rounds, or to deprime twenty or so brass. Good luck and welcome to the madness.

 

[Killermonkey21]

Lost Sheep, I appreciate your concern, and I hope I will be sufficiently cautious while working up my own loads (eventually) but I assure you I will do my research well, and well in advance, before firing anything I've cooked up myself.

Thank you for the information, and I think I've been influenced into considering a turret press, instead.

Thank you everyone for your advice thus far. Now to convince the wife that it's all worth it.

 

[dragon813gt]

Your volume may be "small" but I would not want to load that much on a single stage every month. I will second getting a Lee Classic Cast Turret. You can leisurely produce 100 rounds an hour. You'd have to be moving to do that on a single stage.

I know you said you don't mind it being slow. But that's because you haven't done it yet. You will get tired of how long it takes to load pistol cartridges on a single stage. That will make the hobby no fun. I know this because I went that route to begin with. You can easily load all those cartridges on the turret. And you can easily disable the auto index to make it a single stage.


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