New to reloading. Getting setup.

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sr1971

sr1971

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Mar 26, 2020
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Good afternoon all,

I thought I'd drop in here and start off by saying thank you to all of you. I've found a wealth of knowledge here that's helped me on my reloading venture. I'll post my incoming tools and equipment momentarily. Yes I have been using the search function, Ha!

A short about my goals and some background too:

- Looking to reload straight-wall handgun cartridges in 357, 9, and 40. They're in my carry rotation daily.

- I'm awaiting my Speer and Lyman hardback book to come before I physically set-up shop.

- Want to stay in factory ammunition territory for practice at the range.

- I have plenty of hand and power tools at my residence and looking for substitutes for off the shelf case prep stations.

- I'm looking for consistency in accuracy and repeatability out of most firearms I own, other than scattergun territory.

- I'm a stickler for numbers and am not new to reading a micrometer, dial indicator, or dial caliper. (Starrett and a host of other brands reside in my basement and garage)

About me:

- Industrial Mechanic/Millwright and Veteran: Gas, Steam, Solar and Nuclear power generation (5 generations strong) numbers are mostly my thing.

- Father of 4 plus the 2 Huskies (Sir Fintan and R2D2).

- Spend time with all the immediate family camping and chucking lead downrange when the season permits.

- I'm teaching the Millwright Craft/Trade now after 21+ years in the field and on the tools. (Enjoy paying it forward)

- I remain open-minded and teachable, so as not to be left in the past.

- Lastly I believe in Quality, Budget and Proper application of tools. Always use the right tool for the right job.

On to the tools I've ordered or are in my possession and I'm sure I'll miss a few items:

- ABC's of Reloading
- Lee Classic Turret Press w/ Safety Prime
- Dies for 3 calibers: .38/.357, 9mm, 40 S&W all Carbide 3 pc sets
- Flipper trays
- Pair of reloading blocks
- Berry's 500 tumbler w/ spare bowl & lid
- Lyman/Ohaus M5 scale (fleaBay)
- Brass & media separator nothing fancy
- Brass for 3 calibers
- Berry's plated for 3 calibers
- Kinetic puller
- Lee Deluxe powder measure w/ stand
- Lee Auto drum w/ 4 pc drums and risers

Any comments and insight would be appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

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Yes sir. Welcome to the forums. I use that Lee Press also but don’t use the primer system. First rule of reloading. Safety first.
 
Hokie_PhD said:
Welcome.
Start with the basics.
Don’t get caught up on buying gadgets. Get what you need then figure out what are nice things to make it nicer.

save your brass.
Get people to give you your brass.
Load twice what you shoot.
Buy in bulk once you figure out what you like.
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more Hokie. I'm a proponent of doing it right the first time and gadgets aren't even in my vocabulary. I don't have any new brass as I've not thrown any away since I was stationed on the coast. (I've got a backlog of empty cases). I hope to bring my children along on this too so we can broaden the time spent together and learn.
 
Now is a bad time for components but I get bullets from rmr and Everglades. If Rmr produced any jacketed 357 it would be a one stop shop. If you plan to use lead just cast it yourself and powdercoat. The lee sizer for for press is a cheap option, as wax, gas checks and a lubrasizer all costs a pile.
 
Yes sir, Welcome aboard. Pretty good group of people that stay well rounded and grounded. As with anything you will run into those that have very firm opinions though they are very much reasonable opinions.

So far your materials list very good for your intended purpose. The Lee Turret press should serve you well for many years, even if you advance to the point of needing a full on progressive press. That beam scale is an oldie but a gem. I have a Lyman D5 on my bench that was also an ebay find.

Also if you are planning on using a lot of Berry's bullets then check out Western Powders website and their load data. They have the greatest amount of published load data for Barry's bullets that I've seen anywhere.
 
AJC1 said:
Now is a bad time for components but I get bullets from rmr and Everglades. If Rmr produced any jacketed 357 it would be a one stop shop. If you plan to use lead just cast it yourself and powdercoat. The lee sizer for for press is a cheap option, as wax, gas checks and a lubrasizer all costs a pile.
Click to expand...
I've got supplies to get started and I've been buying since the fiasco in '08 in a preparedness to support my hobby. All my supply purchases are based on some close friends, varying in age, who have been reloading some 30+ years when I was just a little guy. RMR is a good tip as is the other and I'll put it on my list. Casting, now that sounds like fun! Thanks for the information.
 
kmw1954 said:
Yes sir, Welcome aboard. Pretty good group of people that stay well rounded and grounded. As with anything you will run into those that have very firm opinions though they are very much reasonable opinions.

So far your materials list very good for your intended purpose. The Lee Turret press should serve you well for many years, even if you advance to the point of needing a full on progressive press. That beam scale is an oldie but a gem. I have a Lyman D5 on my bench that was also an ebay find.

Also if you are planning on using a lot of Berry's bullets then check out Western Powders website and their load data. They have the greatest amount of published load data for Barry's bullets that I've seen anywhere.
Click to expand...
Fantastic and thank you for the note on Western. I'll give it a look after supper! I've got an eye out for a Lee factory second for a single stage unit or an old Pacific. I've got memories of when I was young watching my Great Grandfather reload in the cellar/shelter out in the backyard on a single brownish colored press and casting his own. Hoping to make memories and have some fun along the way. Oh that scale was $39 shipped and I just checked it after the postman dropped it off, accurate as can be! The original tag said $18.99 and I was astounded. Lucky I stumbled upon it in a search under kitchen utensils.
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As a single stage press guy for 10+ years, that does slow my pace down compared with some of you.

My number of charged rounds individually weighed (on a beam scale) for safety's sake is 25-33 percent in many of the batches. Quality combined with safety is paramount.
 
Welcome to THR and the new addiction! Looks like you’ve got the gear, make sure you get the process as well. Take it slow at first and build that muscle memory. If you stay within the lines of the published load data you’ll be fine. Don’t load 500 rounds and then test. Load 5-10 and make sure you’re sending lead down range safely.
Since you’re in to numbers, don’t forget to write them down in a good log book so you can refer to them later. Good luck and let us know how the first rounds turn out.
 
Welcome to THR!
Take your time, read the opening section on your manuals and by all means ask questions-there is thousands of years of combined knowledge here , free for the asking. No finer forum on the web for hand loaders. Good luck
 
read your ABCs of Reloading now, twice. IT's an informative book. Lee's instructions aren't the best, but you're not paying for a technical writer, either. It's a decent budget press, and the dies are very popular budget kit, as well.
I would recommend you go ahead and start setting up your bench. Learn your processes and familiarize yourself with your press and how to set up the dies, so to do that you need the press and tools right there. You might want to do it in a manner that will allow you to move things around to more convenient and ergonomic spots as you learn your process. Maybe start by making a few dummy rounds.
Reloading is a very simple process, with the complications in the details, so don't get consumed in meaningless minutiae. Follow your manuals and leave the experimentation for when you become a bona fide expert. The cartridges you're choosing to reload are also about the simplest to start with. .45acp especially is forgiving of beginners.
 
Straight walled pistol cases do not require a lot of case prep; clean them in a tumbler and go to town reloading. Once you decide what powders, primers and bullets you want to use, buy them in bulk - primers by the sleeve of 5000, powder in 8# jugs, bullets by the case (minimums of 1000).
 
We all were in your shoes once. Had to start somewhere. Your experience will provide you with a better than average idea of the reasoning for each step in the process and to troubleshoot errors as a result. Still ask questions when needed as this will keep you safe. I agree to start with the 357 as it will be a good cartridge to cut your teeth on. Both the 40 and 9 MM are not quite as forgiving so once you have an estaished method/process that works you can fold the other calibers into your repertoire more easily. The big difference will be 357 uses a roll crimp and the others use a taper crimp only. I prime off the press with a hand primer. Make sure the propellant is in each case before seating bullets. Use a flashlight if needed. Stop shooting and check things if things sound or feel diffetent than what you expect for safety sake. Especially when trying something new. Stay safe and above all have fun!:thumbup:
 
Another sweet deal about loading 38 357 is that your cylinder what act is a case gauge whereas in a semi auto the plunk test is a little bit harder to read
 
Your millwright skills and mindset will serve you very well in reloading. The manuals will make perfect sense to you and you will be turning out rounds that meet your expectations in no time.

One suggestion: powders like Bullseye, Unique and 2400 have been around forever because they work. I'd suggest you start with well-known and widely-available powders, and then add some of the newer options to your bench down the road.

Welcome to the THR community!
 
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Good start to your reloading library.
But if I'm thinking of the manual that you have, it doesn't include reloading data.

1 manual is good, but nowhere near enough.
You'll always find uses for other manuals.
Lee's Modern Reloading is 1 (just don't buy into all of Lee's hyperbole)
Lyman #50 is the most up to date
Then there's also the "1 Book, 1 Caliber" series from LoadBook USA.
https://www.midwayusa.com/loadbooks-usa/b?bid=1170

Happy Reloading! :)
 
You have everything you need to get started, although plated at full power .357 levels isn't the top choice (Even though the X-Treme 158 Gr SWC over 14.5 Grs of 2400 and a strong taper crimp works well), so I would recommend some coated 158 Gr SWCs with a crimp groove for full power .357 Mag from any reputable vendor.

Those are all easy to load, and your Millwright skills tell me you can do this easily with some focus on what you are doing.

Other goodies can help sometimes, or make things faster, or more pleasant, or are just cool to have, like a tumbler, but you have what you need for now.

Read the manual a couple of times, then start with .38 Spl and those plated bullets, brass is cheap and you can shoot them in your .357, as it is the easiest and most forgiving (low pressure), then come ask questions if need be.

Welcome to THR and the world of reloading, a very rewarding hobby.
 
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