[Revolver Ocelot]

I'm getting ready to start reloading and am having a little trouble where to start (i read the basics sticky hear just need more on specifics).

to start I don't plan to reuse old cases but rather start out with new brass (I may work my way into reusing the old stuff but I rather get the hang of one thing at a time).

I want to reload 357 and have looked at some of the different presses available and have had my eye on a dillion 650 but could always use suggestions if there is something better out there.

I'm very much lost so please fill me in on anything you may feel is helpful or that I am over looking, and please give me suggestions as to "favorite" 357 loads you guys may have come up with.

[rcmodel]

I would always suggest you get a good single-stage press and learn to reload with it before moving up to a high-speed low-drag Dillon.

There are many things to learn, one step at a time, and the Dillon will overwhelm you if you don't already have a good working knowledge of each step of the process.

And even if you do buy a Dillon, a single-stage press is always a very useful thing to have on the bench.

But thats just me.

"Best loads" for your gun are found by working up a load from a reloading manual.

rc

[dat2]

I've been reloading for about 20 years and still use a single stage press, the rock chucker does everything I need even though it's on the slow side

[Historian]

+1 on the single stage press. I still like my Rockchucker. Before you ever pull the handle on your press, read "The ABCs of Reloading" and buy at least two or three good manuals. Lyman #49 seems to be a favoritie around here. I STRONGLY recommend against the Dillon. Reloading is not something you should just jump into. You need to learn and master each step before you start cranking out rounds on a progressive. If you do not know what is happening at every strep in the process, you will become a danger to yourself and the guys next to you at the range. This is a fun hobby but it can also be very dangerous. If you look through the posts here you will notice that the guys who have posted the most and have been reloading the longest emphasize safety over all else. You need to study and read and find someone who knows how and get with them. There is always something new to learn and you can never know enough. Final word of caution. Do not trust everything you read on this forum. Get the books and videos and study them. My .02.

Historian

[kestak]

Greetings,

Also, I suggest STRONGLY that you begin with a single stage press (Lee classic cast is a cheap solution to begin).

I began with a Dillon 550B, but I am an engineer and I have not much issues with mechanical devices. When I got my press, I used it like a single stage (i.e.: one case a a time and index it) for a little while. And even with my mechanical positive tendency, I had quite a hard time to get a good hand of everything.

The Dillon 660 is wayyyyyyy more complex than a 550B in the eyes of a newbie (Even if in fact it is not so much complex...but it will look like.)

Another point I would like to emphasize: read read read...Buy books, read on Internet the articles.

One last point: I started with used cases. My own ammo I fired. It worked fine...:)

Thank you

[rdhood]

I strongly suggest you start with a Turret press like the Lee Classic with an automatic powder drop like the Lee auto disc powder measure. For only a few bucks more, you can use it in "single stage" mode if you want, but I think you will QUICKLY... like in one day... move to index mode when you get ready to powder/seat bullet and crimp. I never loaded on a single stage press and can't say that I would want to.

And... by all means... start with used cases! Nothing wrong with that and it will save you a ton of $$$$, especially if you can get them for free. The only thing special you have to do with once fired is wash them (you dont NEED a tumbler. I have done 10s of thousands of cases just by washing), air dry them, size/decap/prime. The size/decap/prime is all done in one stroke on your press.

[bobotech]

I have 2 dillons and one Hornady Lock and Load AP but I also have a Honrady Lock and Load Classic press.

Lately, I have been using my single stage a LOT more than my progressives. There is something almost zen like about sitting there and prepping and doing everything on a single stage.

Even if you end up with a progressive, you must have a single stage press as well. I use mine for lots of duties besides sizing/belling/seating/crimping. I use it for pulling bullets with a collet puller. I use it for swaging primer pockets with the RCBS pocket swager.

A turrent press is a great idea as well. I would use a turrent press but Hornday doesn't make one, if they did I would be all over it.

[rcmodel]

like the Lee Classic with an automatic powder drop like the Lee auto disc powder measure
I don't agree.

An auto powder-drop is one of the first things that will get a new reloader in trouble.

Use a scale, powder measure, and loading blocks if you want to really know what is in your shells when you get done.

rc

[TexasRifleman]

Yep. Not "cool" but get the single stage, measure each powder charge, and go for quality not speed.

After you are really comfortable with the whole process then maybe move up to a progressive if you are really shooting high volume.

You will be surprised how much you can load with even a single stage once you get a system going. I've been reloading for 25+ years and my progressive loader sits there unused most of the time.

It was great when I was shooing IPSC and 10,000 rounds a year but it's just too much trouble for smaller quantities.

[rdhood]

I don't agree.

An auto powder-drop is one of the first things that will get a new reloader in trouble.

Use a scale, powder measure, and loading blocks if you want to really know what is in your shells when you get done.


... and I dont agree with that. By all means, throw the first 5...10...50... 100.... 1000 powder drops on a scale and measure them to satisfy yourself exactly what you are dropping into your cartridges. Nothing wrong with that. But powder measures are there for a reason.... to speed things up. Once you are satisfied that you can trust your powder measure, use it. It will NOT get a new loader in trouble if used correctly, and will... in fact.. reduce errors by making the charge/seat bullet/crimp go 1-2-3 in a turret press. No chance of high/low/double charges.

And, BTW, I mean that the newbie should do just that. It's what I did starting out, and I discovered that the first couple of drops are usually light. That the Lee auto disc powder measure does not throw accurate loads until at least the third or fourth time its accessed. So I toss the first three loads back iin the hopper and start loading on the fourth.

[Revolver Ocelot]

one of the major things I liked about the turret type presses was that it measured the powder for you, measuring powder myself just brings so many pictures of exploded revolvers to mind (I'm forgetful at times =/).

I had been thinking I'd be double checking everything even on the turret set until it was loading powder to my likeing and so on.

even if I do get a single stage set one thing is certain, I'd like something that can pre measure powder acurately, is ther anything I can get that would do that in such a set?

[NCsmitty]

Revolver Ocelot, I know nearly everyone has harped on the notion of starting with a basic setup for reloading.
That is the exact recommendation that I offer. You absolutely have to learn the basics to proceed to the next level. You need to learn the repetitions necessary to produce safe, accurate reloads.
There are a few good powder measures that throw accurate charges with most powders. The Lee auto disc is pretty good for some powders, and not so good with others. A good balance scale properly zeroed is also very important.
After 45+ years of reloading, I still weigh every rifle charge to .1gr accuracy. That is the discipline that I require of myself. It's important to me to eliminate as much error in my loads as possible.
Other people feel +or- .3-.5gr is close enough, and that's fine for them.
Like everything in life, you get out of it what you put into it.

NCsmitty

[Doug b]

If you are "forgetful at times" maybe you need to stick to factory ammo.

[AirplaneDoc]

I started with the Lee Turret, then moved to a Dillon 550 after awhile. The Old Turret is now used for universal decapping, Case trimming etc. My presses are mounted side by side. For hige volume stuff, I use the Dillon, but the old Lee still gets plenty of use.

My .02 Decide what brand of dies you ultimately want to use. Buy them, It sounds like you are interested in Dillon, sop get some Dillon 357 dies. Learn to set them with the Lee Turret, learn how to load. Then once you understand what you are doing, learn a few tricks and so on. Get yourself the Dillon. Slide the old Lee over and Use them both. I would bet that mose all of us with progressives have a old single stage that still sees plenty of use.

[Revolver Ocelot]

lee? I haven't heard of that one yet, I'll be sure to give that a look, now just to clarify I can set up a single stage press to reshape trim etc an old case right? so once I have the hang of it and have moved to reloading old ammo I can just set it aside for that and move in a turret? as that what you would suggest I do?

[kestak]

Greetings,

Revolver Ocelot: Short answer is yes.

I have a Lee classic cast and a Dillon 550B. I do not know which one, but I think Lee (maybe Hornady or RCBS, I am not sure) makes a press that you can convert from single stage to progressive.

My advice if you have the money: Get a true single stage (Lee classic cast is a great cheap one) then get a progressive. You will use both.

Thank you

[Walkalong]

A huge percentage of folks who have reloaded for a long time started on a single stage, myself included.

Double check each step. See every powder charge you seat a bullet over.

[Revolver Ocelot]

i think what I'm gonna do is get a lee turret press and just add the bells and whistles as i progress, sound like a good idea??

[Walkalong]

That was my second step in presses. Sounds like a great way to start. It will keep up with most ammo needs.

[Revolver Ocelot]

I just found the single step press (I hadn't seen it earlier) I'll weight the 2 until I decide, gonna watch some videos and see what I may need as I don't plan on reloading used cases yet, just loading new ammo.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

A huge percentage of folks who have reloaded for a long time started on a single stage, myself included.

Double check each step. See every powder charge you seat a bullet over.

Some 25 years of reloading under my belt.. I start everyone that wants me to teach them to reload, on a single stage press. A turret press will speed things up just a bit, but I suggest that you use it as a single stage press as you learn the ropes. (only use one die/station/process, on a selection of brass, then move on to the next step of case preparation at that same station by changing the die) As you master each phase of prep and charge and seat, then incorporate doing multiple processes at the same time. Yes, weigh your charges after dropping from a powder measure. Some measures are better than others. Some powders meter better than others. If you don't want to blow your guns up, weigh the charges. -Also, when you can, choose a powder that measures to fill more than half the case for a given recipe, That way a double charge is quite noticable.

-Steve

[wyocarp]

I'm a little surprised that no one has said anything about him starting out reloading the .357. Personally, I think that would be a tough cartridge to start out with if you have no experience. The tall thin cases deform easily.

[Walkalong]

I disagree, the .357 is pretty straight forward to load. Not as simple as .38 or .45 ACP, but not complicated at all.

I buggered up a .357 case last night. No big deal. :)

I have been putting dies in the LNL bushings since I got mt LNL the other week. I had the .38 and .357 dies out. (Not in their boxes like they should be, and only one box out, like it should be.:o)

I grabbed the .38 expander by mistake. I put a bell on the first case an elephant could step into. :eek:

[Revolver Ocelot]

really? 357 is hard? keep in mind I don't intend to reload used brass (if that makes a difference)

[kestak]

Greetings,

The first round I reloaded was .357 magnums with Blue Dot.

The only issue I had was the powder dispenser was damaging the case. It did not take me long to figure out that my shellplate was not snug enough on the ram on my 550B.

New or fired case won't do much difference...

Thank you

[wyocarp]

Okay, it isn't that it is harder than any other, but the cases are tall and thin. That makes them easy to deform, as walkalong said he did just the other night. And, the OP is going to be in the learning curve.

[Revolver Ocelot]

ok so what my understanding is get the turret and just do one step to all the rounds I plan on doing (and weigh them) before moving to the next step, so my thinking is to get the deluxe turret press kit (namely to save myself cost in the future) and just operate it as a single stage press, one thing I am uncertain about though is if I were to buy the 357 die set which would I be best off with (I assume carbide as I would need no lubrication), would the 3 piece set or the 4 piece better for someone not reloading old brass?

[Walkalong]

New brass, old brass, it doesn't matter. It is a little easier to adjust the seater die and crimp die if you crimp in a 4th step. I crimp in a 4th step for most all my pistol loads, but in the beginning I just used the built in crimper on the seaters. A little more time consuming to set up is all.

Carbide is the way to go. Much easier than fooling with lube. Of course you can still use a touch of lube and they will glide through the carbide die totally effortlessly.

[wyocarp]

Yes, carbide and lube. You'll love it. You will kick yourself for not buying the carbide dies.

[dmazur]

I'm not sure of the concern of new brass vs. "used" brass. The new brass should be resized anyway. You never know what the factory did, and running it through the resizing die makes sure it is the correct size.

You should also check for length uniformity as this can cause you quite a few headaches when you try to do a nice roll crimp.

A turret press is not a progressive press, but sort of a "middle ground" between single stage and progressive. AFAIK, turret presses have a single shell holder and the turret revolves as you select which die you're going to use. These still do one operation per pull of the lever. Progressive presses have a fixed toolhead and a rotary shell plate that indexes under the various dies. These do multiple operations per pull of the lever.

I'd like something that can pre measure powder acurately, is ther anything I can get that would do that in such a set?

As far as powder measures go, (if you're not using a progressive), I've seen most benches set up with a separate powder measure. These are usually mounted on an elevated arm so you can pass your loading block (with brass neatly lined up) under the drop tube. As long as you are extremely consistent with your L-R or serpentine pattern, you should be OK.

Here's one (Hornady) -

Hornady powder measure (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=290524&t=11082005)

Note that the stand isn't shown and is sold separately. You adjust these until your scale shows you are throwing the correct charge, then check once in a while to make sure it is throwing them uniformly.

I'm sure the manuals discuss loading blocks and technique, so I won't try to duplicate all that here.

[Walkalong]

Powder measure? Hard to beat RCBS or Redding.....although the Hornady has been getting a good rep too.

[AirplaneDoc]

Just to clarify

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/turretpress.html

This is the press I was refering to. Mine is the 3 hole, because that is waht was on the market at the time. I see no reason for you not to go with the 4 hole press.

Today mine is set up with various odd dies, for calibers that I don't shoot. I also have a "default" turret with case trimmer, universal decapping, and so on.

If you think you are going to move to a true progressive, Say a Dillon get Dillon dies and other accessories as you accumulate items. Most all dies will work in any press.

Best of Luck

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