Just Getting Started

I like the Lyman manual it was very informative in helping me load my first rounds. As for case cleaning I’ve been using an inexpensive dry tumbler with corn cob media and a bit of NuFinish car polish.

Oh boy........you picked a bad time to get into reloading as primers, powder and even reloading equipment are hard to come by right now and maybe for awhile.

Good time to get some manuals and start reading/researching so you will be ready when you can get the supplies you need. Hornady, Lyman, Lee, and Speer are all manuals worth getting. You can also get a Hornady app that has good info. You only pay for the load data you need. For free, you can visit the powder manufacturers reloading sites. Here are a couple to get started:

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

I dry tumble my brass with a Lyman tumbler and have been very happy with it - walnut media, a cap of Nufinish every few loads and a dryer sheet to keep down the dust. There are other methods and I'm sure others here will weigh in.

You don’t need to trim 9mm or 45 acp.

The Lyman/Wilson type trimmer is probably the most versatile and easy to use. I use the RCBS trim pro with a 3-way cutter.

With a standard cutter you’ll need to get a chamfer/debur tool as well. They’re pretty inexpensive but get a good/sharp one.

I use a Lyman turbo 2400 vibratory tumbler for case cleaning. You can get a functional tumbler from Frankford Arsenal for about $50 but IMO get a better one. I use a dedicated plastic kitchen strainer and a 5 gallon bucket for media separation.

Oh, get some imperial sizing wax (IMO) for lubing the rifle cases. Sounds like you’re pretty well set up otherwise, other than primers which are unobtanium at the moment.

Oh. Digital calipers, and an impact bullet puller.

Tim Pierce said:

I'm embarrassed to say I have a never used RCBS Ammomaster progressive press I got brand new 25 years ago. I have a beam scale, all the attachments and dies for 45 ACP. As I near retirement, I have decided it's high time to start using the thing. I have never reloaded before so I need advice on the following:
Case cleaning equipment, case trimming, best manuals, and any other advice you can offer.
I plan to reload for 45 acp, 9mm, 223 rem, 270 win, 300 win mag, 300 aac blackout

Thanks for any tips you give me.

Click to expand...

If you're needing 9mm brass, I have well over 1000 pcs of de-primed and water tumbled various HS "culls" you can have for the flat rate shipping cost. I was looking for a new loader to give them to.

Bill

I forgot to say "Welcome to the reloading fraternity" above so welcome.

Read the case gage thread here. You will want some case gages.

hanno said:

I forgot to say "Welcome to the reloading fraternity" above so welcome.

Read the case gage thread here. You will want some case gages.

Click to expand...

IMO you need to get case gages if you're shooting semi-auto rifles. For bolt guns, they're potentially helpful but not vital.

I use the cheapo single drum Harbor Freight rock tumbler to wet tumble my brass. You can use it with or without stainless steel pins. The pins really get the insides and primer pockets clean, if you care about that. Use a dash of citric acid (Lemishine dishwasher detergent booster at Walmart) and a squirt of any cheap automotive wash & wax product (I use Armor All wash & Wax and have also used Zip wax with great results). The nice thing about wet tumbling is that there is no dust whatsoever.

I have both the Lyman and the Lee reloading manuals. I like the beginning of the Lee book better. The explanations are really down to earth. You just need to filter out all the Lee propaganda about how their tools are the greatest.

I use the Hornady case gauges. They seem to work just fine for me.

Also, a set of calipers is a must to measure things precisely.

Welcome to the addiction of reloading
Indeed just now is a tough time to start reloading. Primary reason is total unavailability of primers. It will be a while before they come back in stock so take that time to read, read, and read some more. Also there are many good you tube videos to watch. All the videos made by the manufacturers are good but some made by "Joe Sixpack" might be dangerous. The more you learn the easier it will be to spot the unsafe ones. At the top of this forum is a reloading wisdom thread. Good reading there. Remember to take all internet postings with a grain of salt untill you can back it up with reliable manufacturers data. Stay safe, have fun, and ask questions when something seems wrong.

Welcome to THR!

In addition to the above I would recommend a powder measure.

Go slow and double check everything, but most of all have fun and stay safe!

chris

Welcome Aboard !

RCBS notified us you had purchased the press. We had almost given up hope that you'd show up.

For those looking for components (who isn't) try the Gunbroker's website. I window shop it all the time for firearms and just looked up reloading components and found they have over 400 pages of goodies. Browsing them may help you find what you want/need.

Another good source is ammoseek.com . Go to the reloading icon and choose what you want and search. It has worked well for me.

Tim Pierce said:

I'm embarrassed to say I have a never used RCBS Ammomaster progressive press I got brand new 25 years ago. I have a beam scale, all the attachments and dies for 45 ACP. As I near retirement, I have decided it's high time to start using the thing. I have never reloaded before so I need advice on the following:
Case cleaning equipment, case trimming, best manuals, and any other advice you can offer.
I plan to reload for 45 acp, 9mm, 223 rem, 270 win, 300 win mag, 300 aac blackout

Thanks for any tips you give me.

Click to expand...

Brass is on the way Tim, enjoy.

Bill

The lyman casting manual is a wonderful partner to the 50th that you have on the way. Even if you never cast a single bullet the extra data for cast bullets can come in very handy... its also good reading while we wait for vista to play catch up.

I sure hope you have a primer pocket swager, over 90% of the brass is NATO stamped.

Bill

If you're just starting, I cannot strongly enough, GET A DECENT MANUAL.
Sorry for shouting.

My favorite all around manual is Lyman's 50th Reloading Handbook.
The 1st half will teach you lots & lots.
The 2nd half has bullet & powder combos for a whole host of calibers.
The powder manufacturers all have free data on their respective websites.
The bullet mfgs want you to buy their book.

It’s like riding a bike! but with gunpowder and guns.... now I think about it, it’s not like riding a bike at all

Imperial sizing wax for doing rifle. Rifle brass will need to be trimmed, chamfered, and deburred. Pistol does not need to be trimmed. Digital calipers are handy, a balance scale with check weights should be mandatory, and a notebook to keep loading notes in should also be mandatory. A good logbook will store records of what you have tried, how well(or not) it worked, and save you from wasting components down the road trying something that already didn’t work. It will also let you replicate good loads without having to work up something that has already proven to be a good load.

Of course it goes without saying..... we're going to need photos !!