Reloading questions

Which company websites are so horrible? I have found everything needed at EVERY company websites. Please be more specific. Perhaps you might want to read the sticky at the top of this forum

Welcome to reloading !

There are several kits by Lee, Hornady, RCBS, and Lyman. Look for them on the reseller web sites like MidSouth Shooters, Midway, Graf & Sons, Calbellas, etc.

You'll find something you like in your price range.

I am just starting reloading myself. Most manufactures offer a kit. I recieved a Lee Challenger kit for christmas after showing interest in reloading. I have found that the kits do not include everything you need. I have been working on list of extras that I need and want to get started. I am told that RCBS rock chucker is better but its preferences. All the kits are close to same as for what they include.

Most companies I dealt with are usually helpful if you give them a call.

If you are going to be reloading for accuracy, I think you could quickly out grow your reloading kit. But it is a good place to start and you save a little money by buying a kit. Natchez used to sell the RCBS kit for less than most people, I believe it was about $329 - there will still be somethings that you might want to buy extra.

Actually it's the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit and it sells for $279.95 on sale.

Here' a link:

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=RC09357

The Lee kit costs around $100. Dies are around $25-$30 per set. My press came from Cabelas. A lot of gun shops carry equipment and can help you get what you need to get started. Most shops have someone that reloads. I found it more helpful to talk to people face to face.

kempfs has a pretty good lee turret press kit. https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&vmcchk=1&Itemid=41 get both upgrades and you're in business. good press too.

or you could buy all the parts separately from midway or midsouth and maybe use a coupon code and save a couple bucks.

Whatever you decide buy a really good scale.I would recommend Hornady,RCBS,and Lyman.I would also recommend buying a good dial caliper because OAL is so important.

In addition to what has beeen said above, you'll need a tumbler to clean your dirty brass.

Basically, you need the following:

The press
dies
reloading blocks
powder measure
calipers (my preference is analog)
powder scale (my preference is balance)
tumbler & tumbling media
ammo boxes
2-3 reloading manuals with currrent data
primer seating system (some presses have it built in, but, while mine does, I prefer the hand priming systems)
primer tray

If you are going to reload rifler, you'll need a case trimmer

I had both a digital caliper and scale, and now use exclusively analog and balance, fwiw.

Presses can be single stage, turret or progressive. I recommend single stage or turret for a beginner (I have a turret).

I have kept away from brands, to focus on what you need. You really can't go wrong with Lyman, RCBS, Hornady, Dillon or Lee. They all work.

I just got started reloading, Santa brought me the RCBS kit from Cabelas http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Reloading/Presses-Dies|/pc/104792580/c/104761080/sc/104516280/RCBS-RC-Supreme-Master-Reloading-Kit/728426.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-reloading-presses-dies%2F_%2FN-1100195%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104516280%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%3BMMcat104792580%3Bcat104761080&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104761080;cat104516280 (was only $269 before Xmas) Have had great results with my first few batches of reloads using it. Also had to purchase the die set and shell holder for the caliber of course. Got the Cabela's brand stainless steel analog calipers. Being a cheapskate at heart I use a $5 tupperware container spun by a low-speed drill for the brass tumbling duties. Much much more equipment and supplies to accumulate but I think I've got a good start. Enjoy

like others have mentioned, any of the shooting/reloading websites can direct you to starter kits once you look under the reloading section. i got the Lee challenger kit. along with all the other essentials to get started.

it is a fun hobby and gives you more pride in your shooting!

What is your primary reason for reloading? What are you reloading for? How much money do you have to spend on startup? I just got into reloading in May, so I've been down this road (recently). Hope I'll be able to help.

really on OAL and tumbled brass? I've never found OAL to be that critical in anything handgun I've reloaded (as long as you are pretty close and that can be eyeballed) and went years without a tumbler. They're nice to have, but buying all the accessories, parts and doo dads all up front can be a daunting amount of $$. If you are reloading rifle, spend the extra 10 bucks or so and get a lee case trimmer. there are better trimmers, but it works fine and is cheap. don't bother with handgun brass, it doesn't grow much.

Duplicate post

duplicate post due to server jam-up

Welcome to reloading and thanks for asking our advice.

Welcome to reloading and thanks for asking our advice.

svtruth said:

I'm trying to get into reloading. But the company web sites are terrible. Does anyone offer a starter kit?
Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Everyone offers a starter kit. (Well, almost everyone.)

If, by "terrible", you mean the web sites are hard to decipher, I agree. If the reader is not familiar with the terminology and concepts of reloading (or any esoteric activity) reading advertisements and the web sites is bound to be difficult. Pretty much no cure for that but study.

If, by "terrible", you mean unproductive, that does not bode well for your reloading future.

I have read a number of the threads you started and you have been around long enough to know which way is up. So, I will tell you what I think.

Opinion: You will not likely be happy with any kit. One assembled by a manufacturer (or even a well-meaning advisor, no matter how experienced) is not likely to be selected for just the right equipment for any given person. Hey, it is hard enough to pick out stuff for one's self, much less a stranger. Almost every kit buyer winds up replacing most of the gear once the reloader has doped out his/her personal style and preferences. Any kit will have some stuff you will never use, and be missing stuff about which you will think, "What idiot left THIS out of the kit?"

So, my advice is to assemble your own kit. Piece by piece. But that's just me. Others will say that a kit will get you started with the basic gear and allow you to be reloading soonest and upgrade at your leisure. This is true. But not to my taste.

Assembling your own kit will require you to do more research up front. If you are the impatient type, probably not for you. If you are the impatient type, reloading may not be for you, either.

But don't let me discourage you at this point (as if I could!).

Research presses. First question to answer is, "Do you want a single stage, turret or progressive?" The biggest factor in this selection will be the number or rounds you will be loading.

You have a lever gun and your SRH, both in 454 Casull. You also tend to favor revolvers in centerfire, at least, so I assume you will be loading .357, .44 and .454. You like the magnum rounds, I think, so I imagine less than 200 rounds a week. Imminently doable on a single stage press. Far too few to justify a progressive. So, I would recommend a single-stage or a turret press. If you will be loading several different calibers per reloading session, I would suggest a press that allows easy changing of dies. A breech-lock press or a turret (or the Forster Co-Ax) will give you that.

If you like my writing style, I suggest you check out a thread I started, entitled "Budget Beginning Bench you will never outgrow, for the novice handloader."
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/293...you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html

Basically, it is what I would buy today if I were starting out today as I did in 1975, but with the knowledge (of reloading and of myself) that I have now, and with a limited budget.

And then there is my "10 Advices for the novice reloader"

Post #24 on this thread
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/24357-new-reloading.html

Now, what altitude_19 said: What's your budget? How much will you be reloading (for a good estimate, take what you are shooting now and triple it)? How much space do you have for your reloading gear? Will you leave your loading bench set up permanently or pack it away after each loading session? How important is portability? How mechanically inclined are you? (from your previous threads, I think, pretty mechanical)

We can give you better advice, the better we know your style and needs.

Good luck. Always wear eye protection, especially when working with primers and be safe, always, all ways.

Lost Sheep

If you have the $$ ... I would do as Lost sheep said... build your own kit, you'll be much more satisfied with the end result.

I would start with the Forster CoAx press and build my setup around it. I started reloading 40+ years ago and have/had a bunch of different presses. After all the trading/swapping/upgrading I finally decided that the CoAx was the best single stage press out there, you won't find a press that will load more accurate ammo than the CoAx.

Jimmy K

I started reloading last Christmas, ordered a Lee Classic Turret kit from Cabela's. It had everything to get get started but dies, turrets (it came with one 3 hole turret), and components. The same kit is also offers by Grafs I belive. The LCT served me well until I upgraded recently.

What you need FIRST...

S. V. Truth--In reloading, as in any human activity, the first thing you need before starting (and the last thing most people think about before plunging ahead) is knowledge.

So, BEFORE you start spending your hard earned $$ on "stuff," may I earnestly suggest you get yourself a copy of the "standard textbook" of reloading and READ IT. This would be The ABC's of Reloading put out by Krause Publishing. Covers all aspects of reloading, from the very basics to 'way beyond. Get it at yr local sptg gds sto, gun sho, order over the I'net, or from the publisher, www.krause.com

Having digested The ABC's, you will be in a much better position to start acquiring the equipment you actually NEED to begin reloading, as opposed to blindly buying a kit that somebody else put together with their marketing needs, not your reloading needs, in mind. You will also know what you want in addition to your needs, and what you can put off buying until later.

Anyhow, study up first, buy quality equipment second. That way you can buy once, cry once.

Oh, and welcome to The Magnificent Obsession--Reloading!