1st Time reloader with question

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While you wait for your ABC's of reloading

I have compiled a few web sites that seem to have some good information (only some of which came from me).

Go get a large mug of whatever you sip when you read and think and visit these sites.

Sticky-contains much general information.
thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214

Sticky-contains much general information.
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

New guy considering if/how to get started reloading
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=678589

On the fence
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=678626

"Newby needs help." (A typical new reloader thread). My posts are 11 and 13
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391

"Just bought my first press. Needs some info tho." (A typical new reloader thread)
thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=659358
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=659358

"I am looking at getting into reloading for the first time" (A typical new reloader thread)
thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=658971
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=658971

"Considering reloading" (A typical new reloader thread)
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488115
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488115

"Interested in reloading" (A typical new reloader thread)
rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543
http://rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543

"Is the lee classic loader a good starter loader?" A thread from someone considering the Mallet-driven Lee Classic Loader.
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497313
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497313

"Lee Classic Loader Kit" My post, Minimalist minimal is the seventh post down.
rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=107332
http://rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=107332

"45 Colt question-Lee loader" Another Lee Classic Loader thread
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=498638
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=498638

"Best starter kit?"
rugerforum.net/reloading/33252-best-starter-kit-beginners.html
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/33252-best-starter-kit-beginners.html

"To kit or not to kit?" That is the question. My thread. Hard to read apparently
rugerforum.net/reloading/33660-kit-not-kit.html
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/33660-kit-not-kit.html

Informed by my 2010 repopulation of my loading bench (If I knew in '75 what I know now)
rugerforum.net/reloading/29385-budget-beginning-bench-you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/293...you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html

Thoughts on The Lee Classic Turret Press
rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=135951
http://rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=135951


Use what type of scale? (poll)
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448410
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448410

Good luck

Lost Sheep
 
All great advice. I hear you and generally follow the buy the best and only cry once when concerning tools...but since my initial experiences will be 9mm only,
I figured the Lee press will do for my first loads.

As I progress, the "side tools" will be improved, and no doubt eventually the press. The Lee with the 4 turrets looks like the one, otherwise the simpler version w/o turrets.

I need to go slow and I have no interest in High power loads while learning, would just like to replicate factory 9mm ammo. These first batches I calculate
will cost about 45 cents....not that great a deal. But a bunch of my brass is new remmington which should reload several times and those batches will be much more reasonable!

Thank for all the info, at least I am beginning to feel more comfortable with all this.

Russellc
 
Russell, The Lee Challenger Breechlock kit will do you very well for your first reloads and many more. However, any Lee Classic series (single-stage or turret) will last you a lifetime. There is no "upgrading" from this press, though some would argue that the Forster Co-Ax might be an upgrade. "You get what you pay for" does not apply to Lee's Classic series. The only thing you don;t get is an insurance policy. Lee sells reloading equipment, not insurance.

I also believe, for your brass preparation tools, that you are not "less" when you buy Lee. You'll find they meet your needs with room left over. Their little Safety Scale I'll use in this example (I still use mine, refusing to pay $75 plus for a different brand for less accuracy): a guy in a thread posted that he operated with a Safety Scale for years. His heart yearned for a more expensive scale (brand is unimportant). When he got it, he found he liked his Lee better. Don;t let Lee's prices fool you. They are a Great American company and are leaders in the reloading world.
 
I started with the Lee Challenger Kit. No regrets. Buy the Lee Loading Manual, bullet puller, and GOOD dial calipers.
 
Thank you everyone for helping with this great info. What a resource this forum is. Special thanks to Lost Sheep, your info will keep me reading for some time!
This is exactly what I needed. Now I know which press and dies I want, and looks like more business for Natchez! What nice people they are. Lowest prices I have found on items they have. Plus, as an added bonus I discovered they have factory Glock mags for reasonable prices! These are factory and the 33 rnd is 1/2 the going price in these parts.

The past 2 days have left me with more reloading knowledge than ever before.
While most folks here have likely forgotten more than I will ever know, I have found a resource to learn reloading and for that, Thanks!!!

Russellc
 
RussellC said:
Thank you everyone for helping with this great info. What a resource this forum is. Special thanks to Lost Sheep, your info will keep me reading for some time!
This is exactly what I needed. Now I know which press and dies I want, and looks like more business for Natchez! What nice people they are. Lowest prices I have found on items they have. Plus, as an added bonus I discovered they have factory Glock mags for reasonable prices! These are factory and the 33 rnd is 1/2 the going price in these parts.

The past 2 days have left me with more reloading knowledge than ever before.
While most folks here have likely forgotten more than I will ever know, I have found a resource to learn reloading and for that, Thanks!!!

Russellc
Click to expand...
You're welcome.

Be sure to check Kempf's Gun Shop online for their Lee Classic Turret kit. It is, I think, the only one that includes a set of dies and does not force you to take their choice of powder scale. That, of course, means you have to add one, but at least you get your choice.

Sue Kempf was VERY nice to me, even while preoccupied with problems of her own. A truly caring person, in my opinion.

Most kits force choices on you that you wind up trading off at a loss eventually. I hate that.

Lost Sheep
 
Before I read a second or third post in this thread, I'm willing to bet that the Lee Classic 4 hole turret press will dominate the thread. Outfitted with Auto prime and powder change, it is a snap to use.
 
There is nothing wrong with starting off using Lee reloading gear.
Click to expand...

Not only is there nothing wrong with starting off on Lee. There's nothing wrong with it for the advanced reloader either.
We started off with very good equipment, and RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit. It was very good and we never had a single complaint. It got stolen, and of course insurance didn't pay enough to totally replace everything. So we picked up a couple of used presses. One was a Lee Challenger single stage. The linkage broke and for $15 we upgraded it to the Breechlock system.
I keep looking for an excuse to buy another Rockchucker, but there is really no valid reason. The press works great. I use it for all my rifle stuff.
I also bought a Lee Turret and couldn't be happier. I personally would recommend that one for 9mm stuff. I have the plain Lee Turret press but the Classic Turret is better if you can swing a few extra $. I believe the difference is $77/$110 or something like that.
You won't go wrong with either.
The turret presses prime as well, so you could save a few $ on a hand primer for now.
 
No need to trim 9mm at all. The brass will split before its ever out of whack. I don't event measure it, someone out there probably has time to uniform pistol brass, or just really enjoys trimming, but it isn't me :D

Expect to make mistakes, and learn to trust your equipment. When I first started I measured every round I turned out. As I learned about tolerances and what my set up was capable of I learned to trust my equipment and speed up my operation.

Also, a GOOD scale is worth it's weight in gold. If you're hand weighing all powder charges as I do, do not and I repeat do not skimp on your scale.
 
Also, before you make the real thing. Try some dry runs without powder and primer to get a feel for the process. Make some dummy rounds to the same spec as what you plan on churning out.

yqaqebyd.jpg

This is me a year and a half ago learning to use my .38/.357 seater die. Imagine if those were live rounds.

PS. The one on the far left is going to be patented as the .357 gas seal! :D
 
Lee Breech Lock Hand Press, Pelican Case

I just started reloading 9mm, myself. Here's a photo of my equipment setup:

IMG_0264.jpg

Here's a list of what's in the picture:

- Digital calipers
- Digital scale (with 0.1gr resolution)
- Scale calibration weight
- Lee Breech Lock Hand Press
- Lee powder funnel
- Bullet puller
- Powder pan
- Allen wrench (for Lee Lock Ring Eliminators)
- Screwdriver (for digital caliper battery compartment)
- Printout of Accurate powder load data v3.5
- Lee deprimer and resizer die, with Lock Ring Eliminator bushing
- Lee Ram Prime, with standard Breech Lock bushing
- Lee case flaring die, with Lock Ring Eliminator bushing
- Lee bullet seating die, with Lock Ring Eliminator bushing
- Lee Factory Crimp Die, with Lock Ring Eliminator bushing
- Lee #19 shell holder

Everything fits inside a Pelican 1470 case. I'm actually happy that I didn't get a bench-mounted press. But, there are many who like them.

Happy reloading.
 
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platypusfriend, just out of curiosity, how many rounds an hour do you figure you can load with that setup? I have no experience with a hand press, but wouldn't mind having one to take to the range in case I want to roll a few of a certain load or do some experimenting on the spot.
 
Manual, I like the Hornady since I use lots of their bullets.
Press and a bench to mount it on
Shell Holder
Dies for your caliber
Powder scale (You can use dippers, but for me I really like to know how much is going in them.)
Powder funnel
De-burr, chamfer tool

That is a bare minimum.

You will soon want to add a powder measure. Its a pain to dip and weigh each load.
Calipers are nice, but again not necessary to get started.
You may get by without a tumbler. I know I did without one for many years.
 
James2 said:
Manual, I like the Hornady since I use lots of their bullets.
Press and a bench to mount it on
Shell Holder
Dies for your caliber
Powder scale (You can use dippers, but for me I really like to know how much is going in them.)
Powder funnel
De-burr, chamfer tool

That is a bare minimum.

You will soon want to add a powder measure. Its a pain to dip and weigh each load.
Calipers are nice, but again not necessary to get started.
You may get by without a tumbler. I know I did without one for many years.
Click to expand...

Trivia:

The 0.5cc Lee dipper gives me 6.9gr - 7.5gr (usually 7.1gr - 7.3gr) of AA#7, per "full" scoop. Never seen lower or higher.

I don't deburr, or clean primer pockets.

I disagree about the calipers. Avoiding a short overall length is important for 9mm, in my opinion. So is taper crimp not being too tight, especially if your overall length is long. Get a set of calipers!
 
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Calipers are a great investment. Too inexpensive vs the usefulness to overlook.
 
Paul,

I just tried to simulate your conditions (a few test loads), and loaded five rounds in 10:05, deprime to factory crimp.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I don't think I would want it to be my primary setup, but I definitely can see the advantages of having one.
 
You definitely want a set of calipers. 9mm is very length sensitive, push a bullet a hundredth too deep into a case and you're already entering the realm of dangerous pressures. Can you eyeball a hundredth of an inch? 9mm is one of the more dangerous calibers to reload for, don't believe me tell that to the guy who came into my buddy's shop who blew his Glock apart with a short round.

You can get into reloading cheaply yes, but don't skimp when it comes to safety. Would you rather buy a new 50 dollar caliper set or a new Glock + stitches?
 
James2 said:
Powder scale (You can use dippers, but for me I really like to know how much is going in them.)
Click to expand...
I have no problem, conflict or issue with anything else in your post but that one line.

With that, I have two issues:

Some loaders (of the 1,000 yard match persuasion) swear by dippers.

All (non-electronic) powder measures mete powder by volume. Dippers mete by volume. My opinion: If your technique is consistent with a measure you can get consistent charges. If you technique is consistent with dippers, you can get consistent charges. With either, a scale to verify what you are getting is essential. One caveat: It MAY be more difficult to achieve satisfactorily consistent results with dippers than with a measure.

Please do not denigrate dippers as a powder meting method/tool. They do work.

Full disclosure: I do use a measure. Because it is more convenient and faster, but not because it is more accurate. Fuller disclosure: I verify the weight supplied by ANY method. That's just smart.

Lost Sheep
 
I'm basically brand new to reloading, and I agree that, for the right powder-to-dipper match, dippers do work.

If you don't know what a dipper is, it's a little scoop that is designed to hold a specific amount of powder (say, 0.5cc). You dip the dipper into your powder, then empty the dipper into your funnel, and the funnel just sends it straight into your case. Some people do this without using a scale.

As I mentioned (or meant to imply) in a previous post, I use a dipper; however, I measure every charge to 0.1gr resolution. With AA#7 (Accurate No. 7) powder, a full scoop with my 0.5cc dipper will give a low of 6.9gr and a high of 7.5gr, with an average range of 7.1gr - 7.3gr. This entire range is within the SAAMI specs for 9mm, when using RAN or BRY 124gr RN plated bullets, according to Accurate's v3.5 loading data.

I don't have the impatience (or full rangetime calendar, ammo business, etc.) to demand a less-meticulous-but-faster method of measuring gunpowder.

Most of the time, the dipper throws 7.1gr - 7.3gr of AA#7 powder into the powder pan, like clockwork. They do work. But be careful if you aren't using a scale. And please be extremely careful if you are using a faster powder with 9x19mm.
 
Walkalong said:
A powder measure is a mechanically repeatable dipper.
Click to expand...
Of course, a dipper has certain advantages over mechanical measures.

A dipper does not grind powder granules against one another as hard as a mechanical measure does.

A dipper is absolutely incapable of cutting ipowder granules
And
Very low cost.


The disadvantages are well known. The principal one being the difficulty of being consistent.
and
Speed.

Lost Sheep
 
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