Reloading Set-Up - What next?

[Triumph]

Thanks to all the help on this forum I have the following on order, or back order.

4 Reloading Manuals - Yes I will study these first
Lee Classic Turret (still 5-6 weeks out)
Lee deluxe Die Sets, 45 ACP & 9mm
Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure
Disk Riser
Lee Safety Primer
RCBS 10-10 Scale
Calipers

I'm clearing out workbench space in the garage for the reloading, probably end up with 3-4 feet linear. I live in Houston which equals high humidity & rust so I'm looking at options to close up the space & de-humidify when not in use. I have no other option but the garage.

My Aunt & Uncle said they would order the remaining equipment so I can get started. They will probably order additional die sets & disks for more calibers.
Aunt & Uncle willing to buy quality for the remaining components.

So, here is the question. Aunt & Uncle want a list of "what to buy next". How does this sound?

Brass Cleaner -
1. Vibratory tumbler (Cabelas 400 or Thumbler's Tumbler Ultra-Vibe 18). The Thumbler's is expensive but US made & very quite.
Or
2. Thumbler's Tumbler Model 2B - the one that looks like a heavy duty rock polisher & uses Stainless Steel Media

Single Stage press -
RCBS RockChuker - since my Lee Classic may not get here until Summer

A Case Prep Center
Need Suggestions

Anything Else?

 

[Fire_Moose]

Media seperator is nice to have...



Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[GT1]

How much do you shoot in a month?

Wet tumbling is slow and expensive for start up. Dry tumbling is noisy and can be dusty.
How sparkly does range ammo need to be? A gallon bucket and hot water, dawn dish soap and lemishine powder works fine too, if you only need to clean a couple three hundred every two weeks.

Not a lot of case prep center things going on with pistol brass, either.

The rock chucker would be a huge waste of money, in my opinion. There is some old timer love for the things because they were the first mainstream press a guy could have in 1960(Still the same press, for the most part, and they still spit used primers all over the floor just like back then.).

If you want to have something to do in the mean time buy a Lee hand press for $30, you can decap, size and prime all your saved up brass. It will even load decently if you get your components dies and scale/calipers.

 

[holdencm9]

My guess is your turret press will only include 1 turret, so you should buy spare(s) so that you can swap out .45 and 9mm real fast, and then have them handy anytime you buy dies for a new cartridge. If your aunt and uncle are willing to pay, I would honestly just have them buy as many components as you can find, and wait on the rest of the reloading stuff until you know what you need/want. I thought I would be set for awhile with my 2 lbs of W231 that I bought and am amazed at how fast it went. Ran out of bullets even faster.

You probably won't need much for case conditioning for handgun ammo. Primer pocket cleaner maybe, that's optional. If some of those "other calibers" you referred to are rifle rounds, then that changes things. If you want to do rifle down the road, you will need case lube and the double disk kit for the pro auto disk. And rifle charging die, which does not come with the standard rifle die sets.

I agree with GT1 that you can probably get by without a tumbler or anything for awhile. I have only made a couple thousand rounds of various cartridges so far, and just use a water mix to clean the brass. One thing I have found useful is a universal decapping die, so that you can decap the dirty brass before trying to wash them, and not muck up your resizing dies. The reason is that they will dry much faster with the primers popped out beforehand. Of course, you could probably be fine to reload dirty brass, but clean brass is easier to inspect, and there is an OCD/pride value there.

The single stage is a nice addition, I have been tempted to get one for the aforementioned decapping die, you will always have a use for it.

Get a little book light to clip to the press so you can very easily see inside the cases to verify powder dropped in before seating the bullet.

My $0.02 good luck

 

[Triumph]

Fire_Moose Media seperator is nice to have...

I see this Berry 400 is the same as Cabelas and has a Media Separator with it. Not sure how this tumbler compares with the Thumbler's Ultra Vibe 18 - probably just not as quite.

 

[Triumph]

Wet tumbling is slow and expensive for start up. Dry tumbling is noisy and can be dusty.
How sparkly does range ammo need to be? A gallon bucket and hot water, dawn dish soap and lemishine powder works fine too, if you only need to clean a couple three hundred every two weeks.

Good point! And yes - probably 2-300 per month for starters.

Not a lot of case prep center things going on with pistol brass, either.

Sorry - forgot to mention the expanded set up will be for rifle too. My Aunt/Uncle want me to load 30-06, 308, 243 & 223

The rock chucker would be a huge waste of money, in my opinion. There is some old timer love for the things because they were the first mainstream press a guy could have in 1960(Still the same press, for the most part, and they still spit used primers all over the floor just like back then.).

Better idea for a second press (single stage) to accompany the LCS?

 

[Triumph]

My guess is your turret press will only include 1 turret, so you should buy spare(s) so that you can swap out .45 and 9mm real fast, and then have them handy anytime you buy dies for a new cartridge.

Good point - I plan to get a disk for each caliber.

 

[jb27]

You may want to consider a hand priming tool. I currently use the RCBS universal priming tool and am pretty happy with it. I prefer this to using the primer seater on my rock chucker and lee classic turret. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319794/rcbs-universal-hand-priming-tool

Also, if rifle reloading is on the horizon, you may want to pick up another lee pro auto disk powder measure (with double disk kit). Having one set up for pistol and one set up for rifle will save you some time when you switch out. By no means a necessity, but considering their relatively low cost, it's worth it in my opinion for the convenience.

You should also consider picking up some case gauges for the calibers you are going to load. These will help check your loads to make sure they will chamber in your gun. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/888465/le-wilson-max-cartridge-gage-9mm-luger

A bullet puller would be something to consider as well. You can either get the impact (hammer) type or get a collet type the will go in your press. I have both and prefer the collet type.

I don't disagree with getting a single stage press. There are some tasks that would be easier to do on it. If money isn't an issue and you plan on eventually getting into precision loading, most folks rave about the Forster Co-Ax press. I have a Rock Chucker and have no complaints. If precision isn't your thing, I think the Lee Classic Cast would be a good option. Their primer collection system is awesome.

 

[GT1]

The classic turret does single stage reloading fine and converts in about 5 seconds.

It will reload all those rifle rounds you mention. I use mine in auto turret mode for cranking out .223 as fast as pistol rounds.

You have a 3-4 foot bench, once you get the turret any rock chucker or single stage will be in the way and you will put it in a box under the bench or in a corner( for $140 or whatever.).

It is why I mentioned the hand press. You'd be surprised at what it can do.

Rifle case prep, you'll need at minimum a good debur chamfer tool, a neck brush, and pocket cleaning tool. Hand tools are fine if you are loading up two 20 boxes for hunting, but if you are plinking 223 at the range, you might want to save your hands.
Case prep centers are large and pricey for the most part and take up room on the bench.
I recently picked up a Hornady Case Prep Trio, it is compact(About the size of a soda can on its side), plenty powerful, and boy does it save my hands from the pain.

 

[Jessie James 58]

I recommend that before you start reloading find a person in your aria that is a GOOD RELOADER. have him look at your set up, watch you do some reloading and listen to the recommendations that they give you!!!!
Reloading is a lot of fun and you can save money. But one mistake can be very expensive, painful and life threatening.
I do not want to discourage you, but I have seen the results when others do careless or distracted reloading.

 

[Triumph]

Jessie James 58 I recommend that before you start reloading find a person in your aria that is a GOOD RELOADER. have him look at your set up, watch you do some reloading and listen to the recommendations that they give you!!!!
Reloading is a lot of fun and you can save money. But one mistake can be very expensive, painful and life threatening.
I do not want to discourage you, but I have seen the results when others do careless or distracted reloading.

Point taken. I'll have 3-4 books in me and be totally set up and then plan to have a experienced reloaded tutor me on my equipment and bench.

Thanks Much!

 

[Centurian22]

Brass cleaner: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=692818
Ultrasonic Cleaning.

Single stage press: the Turret works great (definitely get extra turrets $8-$10 each for each caliber) and as mentioned is easily used as a single stage. If your point is that you can't or don't want to wait for the turret to come in and/or want to have a back up look at the lee cast single stage. Another popular addition to the turret is the lee hand press kit ($25-$30), slower but plenty functional, accurate, and PORTABLE. Great to bring to the range for your load development.

Case prep: Lyman 6in1 tool, lee lock stud and cutter (to use in cordless drill), case guage and shell holder.

As mentioned a hand priming tool is nice. I have the lee ergo prime and love it.

 

[Triumph]

You may want to consider a hand priming tool. I currently use the RCBS universal priming tool and am pretty happy with it. I prefer this to using the primer seater on my rock chucker and lee classic turret. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319...d-priming-tool

Also, if rifle reloading is on the horizon, you may want to pick up another lee pro auto disk powder measure (with double disk kit). Having one set up for pistol and one set up for rifle will save you some time when you switch out. By no means a necessity, but considering their relatively low cost, it's worth it in my opinion for the convenience.

You should also consider picking up some case gauges for the calibers you are going to load. These will help check your loads to make sure they will chamber in your gun. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/888...gage-9mm-luger

A bullet puller would be something to consider as well. You can either get the impact (hammer) type or get a collet type the will go in your press. I have both and prefer the collet type.

I don't disagree with getting a single stage press. There are some tasks that would be easier to do on it. If money isn't an issue and you plan on eventually getting into precision loading, most folks rave about the Forster Co-Ax press. I have a Rock Chucker and have no complaints. If precision isn't your thing, I think the Lee Classic Cast would be a good option. Their primer collection system is awesome.

Great info - thanks for all the tips

I think it would be nice to have a second press on the bench. I plan to get the hand press anyway.

So if I have my Aunt/Uncle buy the second press it's between the Lee Classic Cast, Forster Co-ax and RockChucker.

Does the Forster Co-Ax have a spent primer collection solution like the Lee?

 

[GT1]

I'm pretty sure the forster does have that kind of primer catching set-up.

I'd go for the classic cast, myself. Why? Because it has the same exact bolt pattern as the classic turret. Easy to set up a quick change press deal that way. It also uses the same safety priming system as the turret, another plus for me as I like priming with it.

 

[grubbylabs]

The rock chucker would be a huge waste of money, in my opinion. There is some old timer love for the things because they were the first mainstream press a guy could have in 1960(Still the same press, for the most part, and they still spit used primers all over the floor just like back then.).

The whole reason the Roch chucker has been around so long is because it works and works well. I really have no idea how old min is but it works great and my primers are not all over the floor, they make a catcher for them, it cost me somewhere under 10 bucks.

If the OP can find one and some one is willing to pay for it, why not, it will last him a life time.

Many reloaders wind up with multiple presses any way.

I would add to the hand primer, Lee's used to the best, but I am not sure of that now, I don't like the new one I have.

A good vibratory tumbler or a sonic cleaner would also be nice, the sonic cleaner requires more to run since you have buy the solution for it, but it saves on primer pocket cleaning.

The other item or items is stuff to store your cases and finished rounds in, almost any thing works for empty cases, but the plastic boxes are nice for finished ammo. Also some labels so you can keep track of what you have loaded. I also like the paint mixing buckets from your local Lowe's, Home Depot, or even Wall Mart. They are about 20 oz or so.
Ammo cans plastic or metal are also great storage containers for all kinds of supplies.
I find that marking the bottom of a case with a permanent marker is great for doing load development. I write down next to each color a charge weight and then color the bottom of the case that color.

 

[Centurian22]

"the sonic cleaner requires more to run since you have buy the solution for it, but it saves on primer pocket cleaning."

Not true about having to buy the solution. Very easy to make your own:

http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html

From above link:

CHEAP and CLEAN
24 minutes - 50% Vinegar + 1 Drop Dish Soap per 8 ounces water
480 seconds - Baking Soda (BS) in water (1 grain BS per ounce of water)
480 seconds - Hot Water
480 seconds - Distilled Water
Total: 48 minutes
Cost: Less than $2.00 per gallon

For my own results see thread link in my above post.

 

[beatledog7]

Sorry if I missed these above:

A case chamfering / deburring tool
A universal decapping die

 

[Triumph]

I'd go for the classic cast, myself. Why? Because it has the same exact bolt pattern as the classic turret. Easy to set up a quick change press deal that way. It also uses the same safety priming system as the turret, another plus for me as I like priming with it.

GT1 - is it the Lee Classic Cast Breechlock or jus Lee Classic Cast? Not sure I understand the difference.

 

[GT1]

Both of those you mention use the same bolt pattern. The plain old classic cast is the strong one to have in my opinion, though. It is the one with the good primer catch(through the ram) system like the classic turret, also.