Where to start?

[farm23]

I want to start reloading and am getting confused. I will start reloading 44spl & 44 mag. Later 45 lc and 454 and 38 but for now 44spl will keep me busy. I see all types of kits, but is that the best way to go?

 

[Potatohead]

Probably depends...I went piece by piece. I'm pretty sure I would've come out a good bit cheaper if I would've went the kit route...

 

[RealGun]

A Lee Classic Cast Turret would be my suggestion. I have a number of options and I load revolver ammo on the turret.

Note that the .44 Special and Magnum use the same die set. Some settings will be different between calibers, so eventually you may want to have duplicates rather than continually doing setups back and forth.

I wouldn't get a kit, because there are items you won't use for handgun or which you will want to upgrade soon. It would be better to get help with a shopping list.

Establish whether you want full power loads for the Magnum or something much softer. It will make a difference in both powder and bullet choices. You can start simple with a powder and some bullets that will serve both calibers.

 

[Eldraque]

i started with a 550b, best $$ ive ever spent. It reloads nearly any caliber faster than i can buy components for it, its sturdy and reliable.


An American voting for obama is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders

 

[warhwkbb]

You won't go wrong starting with a single stage, or a turret for a bit more moolah. If you know you are going to load rifle in the future, find a press with compound leverage I upgraded to a Progressive many years ago, but I still keep my single stage ready. I couldn't live without it. Not really much difference in die's either. They all do the same thing. I'm still using a LEE carbide 45ACP die I bought in 1987. I must have loaded 100,000 45's with it by now. I would concentrate on a GOOD scale and Powder Measure. Personally, I like the RCBS UniFlo and their 1010 scale.

 

[Potatohead]

warhawkbb,
Have you used the Lee Pro Auto Disk Measure? Just wondering how you think it stacks up against the Uniflow.

 

[gamestalker]

A lot of it really depends on what your needs consist of. If like me, you don't shoot thousands of rounds per session, or have a need to load hundreds per session, a single stage will do just fine. I've been working with single stage presses for several deacades, and they serve my needs just fine. But if I were a competitive shooter, or someone who shoots more than several hundred rounds per week, I would be looking for a faster set up. But I will say this much, you will always find a need for a single stage when working with bottle neck cases, so in my opinion it's never a bad investment to have one on hand. And during the learning curve, a single stage will allow you to better comprehend the over all function and process involved in reloading.

I generally load 100 or so straight wall cases per session, and a single stage serves me well for that. And for bottle necks, I will also do about 100 per session, which isn't all that combersome. But I also enjoy reloading, and the ability to load with the precision that a single stage offers in this respect.

GS

 

[TfflHndn]

I've found the Hornady Lock N Load kit to be quite suitable for a starter kit. Electronic scale, manual and all the stuff you need other than dies. Single stage, but I don't need more at this point. You'll want a few extra bushings when you add a caliber so you can leave the bushing on the die when you switch. I'm sure other kits are worthy as well, but the Hornady one works well for me.
Stay safe, have fun.

 

[Potatohead]

If you'll be shootin' a lot someone might tell you that you want to skip SS and go to turret or progressive since you will probably graduate to that anyway, and that is fine, but i've found that I don't really want to go to fast. I kind of enjoy it, and it's a bit safer to take your time I think. (me especially)

I don't want to run out of stuff to load, that would suck-

I guess your question was kit or piece though, which I didn't answer. My bad.

 

[Tolkachi Robotnik]

If the plan is to load for several rounds...

You will probably like the turrets if you are going to get into it with several calibers as listed above. A six hole turret will hold two pistol calibers ready and set to go. A single stage would be slow but like Potatohead above I do not mind slow as long as all is steady.

I did not buy a kit of any kind. I do not have much money in the entire endeavor even now. Even so, with what you plan to do, I do not believe you should get a Lee C press and use that alone from here on. Even if that might be my modest means and style, you have lots higher potential involvement. If you have a 454 you can afford a turret of some kind.

Almost everything I bought has worked well. RCBS seems like very nice materials and workmanship, as well the service cannot be compared. Lee is very good, especially their handheld priming device. Lee is the least expense generally. If you are going to buy a bunch of things from one company you should consider their kits, you may save money, compare the prices.

Components are a real difficult study lately. I would hesitate to suggest reloading to anyone unless they would lay up a supply of components as much as the kit. Your components can easily cost more by orders of magnitude even the first year you work on it. Most of my products of reloading seem more gratifying when I use components bought long ago and the price per finished round is extremely low. This would be a hard situation presently. For instance reloading shotgun shells does not seem a very good idea compared to the price they are in stores. The components are just too high in cost. You can really cut the cost for pistol loads right now though, if you can live with cast lead bullets.

 

[cwsample]

I started on a single stage solely for the purpose of getting to know how to reload. Working each stage over and over really gets you comfortable with the process. I like the speed of a progressive now, but I feel a lot more comfortable after working a single stage. Check Craigslist in your area. They pop up quite often for pretty cheap.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The best place to start is reading books. Many of the questions you have will be answered and probably better than we can. A book like the current edition of the ABC's of Reloading would be a good place to start.

I have found a good press for the money is the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret press for loading handgun ammo. Once you get the hang of it you can safely load between 180 and 200 rounds per hour.

Books first, spend money after that!

 

[warhwkbb]

Reply to Potatohead

warhawkbb,
Have you used the Lee Pro Auto Disk Measure? Just wondering how you think it stacks up against the Uniflow.

Potatohead, I demand full control over my powder drops; say if I want to find the sweet spot that requires 0.1g more or less powder on a small pistol load. Crunchy stick powders (extruded) may do better in disc system since the powder is not cut vs a drum system. But if use extruded powders with my UniFlow, I will usually measure and weigh each charge.

I started reloading waay back with a LEE loader and scoops. The lack of tune-abillity in loads steered me away from fixed cavity powder drops. I have nothing negative to say about the quality of fixed cavity powder measures. They may work perfect for many who are content to compromise with a pre-set powder, bullet, charge combination.

 

[SigFTW]

I stared with a single stage press back in the early 90s, now I use a Dillon 550 and don't look back.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Here is a thread here on THR that goes into a lot of depth regarding equipment, the different types and the advantages of each. Its worth the read if you're thinking about purchasing equipment.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214

 

[Ranger Roberts]

You can't really go wrong with a turret press since you can also use it as a single stage. As far as the kits go, I would probably buy it piece by piece. For example with the Lee Classic Turret kit, the scale that comes with it is pretty useless, so most likely you will want to upgrade that shortly after buying the kit. When buying piece by piece you can get components that you want, not the crappy components that you'll end up changing out a few weeks after you purchase them.

On the other hand I don't really know how easy it is to find components right now. I'm pretty well stocked so I haven't had a reason to look lately. A kit may be easiest because you get almost everything you need to start right up.

 

[rfwobbly]

The best place to start is reading books.

1. Read and learn about reloading first. Learn the terms. Learn the reloading process. Learn the components.

2. Try to identify local component vendors. You may have several; you may have none.

A lot of [your choice] really depends on what your needs consist of.

3. Think, really think about how much ammo you might actually afford to shoot each week. We all want to shoot 10,000 rounds, but we might only be able to actually afford 100 rounds.

4. We don't buy a dirt bike to go touring. We don't buy a Mercedes to haul concrete block.

Match the press output caability to your reloading volumes. All reloading outfits, properly matched to the user's needs, pay for themselves within 9 months. So the equipment cost is actually very insignificant. An inexpensive press that can not produce your volumes is a complete waste of your precious time. A big fancy press capable of 10,000 rounds per week is a total waste of money if you only need 100 rounds.

Once you accurately identify your volumes, the choice of a press becomes almost obvious.

 

[Potatohead]

but we might only be able to actually afford 100 rounds.

Also, how much time will you have..It seems I've got a whole lot less shooting time than I originally planned on.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Potatohead, I demand full control over my powder drops; say if I want to find the sweet spot that requires 0.1g more or less powder on a small pistol load. Crunchy stick powders (extruded) may do better in disc system since the powder is not cut vs a drum system. But if use extruded powders with my UniFlow, I will usually measure and weigh each charge.

I started reloading waay back with a LEE loader and scoops. The lack of tune-abillity in loads steered me away from fixed cavity powder drops. I have nothing negative to say about the quality of fixed cavity powder measures. They may work perfect for many who are content to compromise with a pre-set powder, bullet, charge combination.

Adjusting a fixed-cavity measure (scoop or disk or even drum) is not all that hard.

Well, the drum might be a challenge, but dipper is dead simple and making an adjustable dipper is as simple as making a hole in the bottom of the dipper and threading a machine screw of appropriate diameter and length into it.

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

You can't really go wrong with a turret press since you can also use it as a single stage. As far as the kits go, I would probably buy it piece by piece. For example with the Lee Classic Turret kit, the scale that comes with it is pretty useless, so most likely you will want to upgrade that shortly after buying the kit. When buying piece by piece you can get components that you want, not the crappy components that you'll end up changing out a few weeks after you purchase them.

On the other hand I don't really know how easy it is to find components right now. I'm pretty well stocked so I haven't had a reason to look lately. A kit may be easiest because you get almost everything you need to start right up.

Absolutely yes. But if you put the effort into selecting and assembling your own kit, you will, perforce, have educated yourself deeper than if you had bought a kit. (In my opinion. There are exceptions, of course.)

But a kit will get you up and running quicker, no doubt in my mind. At the cost of finding out you want to swap some of the contents of the kit for other stuff.

So, you makes your choice and pays your money.

Lost Sheep

 

[IWAC]

Either way you go, it will be O.K. I started reloading with my brother-in-law's Original Lee reloader...the one that you banged on with a hammer. That got old fast, and soon I had a single-stage press and carbide dies, whch are a goodness. I have upgraded my press once, to a Hornady pre Lock N' Load, which I got at half price at a fire sale, (real fire) and still use.

I have thought that I should have bought a good turret press (expen$ive), and didn't have a rep for precision in the early days) for my rifles, with a progressive for pistols, but the progressives weren't that advanced either, except for the Dillon offerings, which, with 4 little kids, was out of my budget range.

I find I can load more than enough rifle or pistol ammo in one or two sessions to fill my modest needs, using my single stage press.

Go with quality, tho, because you will end up replacing all the cheap junk sooner rather than later.

Enjoy!

 

[GaryL]

i started with a 550b, best $$ ive ever spent. It reloads nearly any caliber faster than i can buy components for it, its sturdy and reliable.

I did the same thing. First handful of rounds I made were using the press as a multi-up single stage to get familiar with the process. Just pull the buttons and don't advance the shell plate - do it in a small batch like you would with any SS press. Easy-peasey.

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

In my experience, I use a challenger anniversary Lee Kit my dad got me for christmas.
Being new, I was glad to know everything or nearly everything was there for me, without me having to buy expensive crap I'd never use. Which in my opinion is a Pro to the kit. Once you start using the baseline materials, you get a feel for where you would prefer better quality stuff, and what works just fine for your needs.

A good example for me is this: I spent a bunch of time looking at powder measures that would measure certain powders better. I had the Lee PPM and while I liked it, I felt I wanted something better (more expensive).
Turns out I prefer using dippers, and better yet custom dippers I made from old brass cases to tailor my favorite loads.

I did however get an electronic frankford arsenal scale, where i put that 25 bucks toward something that was more useful for my purposes.

I reload about ~1.5k rounds a month on a single stage press, and also catch up on different stages of case prep for various calibers. There will more than likely be a use for a single stage press for you in the future, and it's an inexpensive starting point.

 

[wgaynor]

Since you are new at this, the first thing I would do is find a friend that reloads. Have them show you, teach you, and see if it's the hobby you really want. If it is, then by that time, you'll know what you need. Plus, he'll probably be able to help you out.

There's alot of equipment that you don't need versus what you really need. This will save you frustration.

 

[Walkalong]

I started with a kit, and I still use everything that came in it.

The Lee classic turret kit is a very cost efficient way to start and might be all you ever need. (except for a few small items like calipers.)

Naturally, the sky's the limit once you start. Self control is all that will stop you from buying 100's of dollars worth of stuff.