My brother and I have been talking about getting into reloading for awhile and finally ordered a Hornady Lock N Load AP Monday. I helped my dad load 12 gauge shells back 20 years ago or so and that is the only knowledge we have, which is another way of saying we don't have a clue what we are doing. We're getting some books (like ABCs of Reloading), some DVDs and of course a couple of reloading manuals but I thought I would ask a few questions here as well.
We are not trying to do any actual loading right now. We're just trying to get all our equipment needs lined up and accumulate all the stuff we need. We are planning on starting off loading 223 Rem and 45 ACP since we shoot more of that than anything else (and we have alot of once fired 223 and 45 brass). We'll branch out later when we feel more comfortable and ultimately want to do some custom loads for the 500 S&W but that is way down the road.
I have a few questions and would like confirmation on a few things. I apologize if these are stupid questions or have been answered elsewhere.
1) Shell plates and shell holders confused me but after reading through this forum I think I know the answer. Shell plates are for the progressive presses and shell holders are for single stage presses and tools like the hand-held priming tool. Is that correct?
2) Looking at the Hornady Custom-Grade New Dimension dies, does one "set" satisfy all the needs for that caliber, say 45 ACP? I think it does but I wanted to be sure. I know I need the Hornady bushings for each set of dies.
3) Dies really seem to confuse me. I see Hornady offers a taper crimp die that is suggested for semi-auto loads. Since we are going to load 45 ACP for our 1911s we really want this. Why do they offer it for revolver calibers like 460 & 500 S&W?
4) The press comes with the case activated powder measure. Do we need another "die" (like a PTX) or anything else to get the powder out of the hopper and into the case?
5) I see alot of talk online about Lee factory crimp dies and I think I have seen where guys are using one in their Hornady press. Do we need to get some of those and not crimp with the Hornady dies?
In my reading on the internet this seems to be a common setup for the 5 station LNL AP:
Station 1 resizes and deprimes (1 1/2 seats new primer)
Station 2 bells the case
Station 3 drops the powder
Station 4 seats the bullet
Station 5 crimps
We want a Powder Cop or something similar in the mix somewhere. Is there something that would seat and crimp in one station and free up a spot for the Powder Cop?
Here is what we are looking at buying right now:
Shell plate for 223 Rem
Shell Plate for 45 ACP
Custom-Grade New Dimension 223 Rem full-length die set (includes full-length size die, seating die and expander assembly)
Custom-Grade New Dimension 45 ACP full-length die set (includes full-length size die, seating die and expander assembly)
Caliper
Micrometer
Digital scale
Powder Cop
Case tumbler
Case tumbler media
Chronograph
Primer flip tray
Bullet Puller
Do we need a case trimmer or anything else related to working the brass?
Anything we're overlooking. Any advice?
Thanks!!!
We are not trying to do any actual loading right now. We're just trying to get all our equipment needs lined up and accumulate all the stuff we need. We are planning on starting off loading 223 Rem and 45 ACP since we shoot more of that than anything else (and we have alot of once fired 223 and 45 brass). We'll branch out later when we feel more comfortable and ultimately want to do some custom loads for the 500 S&W but that is way down the road.
I have a few questions and would like confirmation on a few things. I apologize if these are stupid questions or have been answered elsewhere.
1) Shell plates and shell holders confused me but after reading through this forum I think I know the answer. Shell plates are for the progressive presses and shell holders are for single stage presses and tools like the hand-held priming tool. Is that correct?
2) Looking at the Hornady Custom-Grade New Dimension dies, does one "set" satisfy all the needs for that caliber, say 45 ACP? I think it does but I wanted to be sure. I know I need the Hornady bushings for each set of dies.
3) Dies really seem to confuse me. I see Hornady offers a taper crimp die that is suggested for semi-auto loads. Since we are going to load 45 ACP for our 1911s we really want this. Why do they offer it for revolver calibers like 460 & 500 S&W?
4) The press comes with the case activated powder measure. Do we need another "die" (like a PTX) or anything else to get the powder out of the hopper and into the case?
5) I see alot of talk online about Lee factory crimp dies and I think I have seen where guys are using one in their Hornady press. Do we need to get some of those and not crimp with the Hornady dies?
In my reading on the internet this seems to be a common setup for the 5 station LNL AP:
Station 1 resizes and deprimes (1 1/2 seats new primer)
Station 2 bells the case
Station 3 drops the powder
Station 4 seats the bullet
Station 5 crimps
We want a Powder Cop or something similar in the mix somewhere. Is there something that would seat and crimp in one station and free up a spot for the Powder Cop?
Here is what we are looking at buying right now:
Shell plate for 223 Rem
Shell Plate for 45 ACP
Custom-Grade New Dimension 223 Rem full-length die set (includes full-length size die, seating die and expander assembly)
Custom-Grade New Dimension 45 ACP full-length die set (includes full-length size die, seating die and expander assembly)
Caliper
Micrometer
Digital scale
Powder Cop
Case tumbler
Case tumbler media
Chronograph
Primer flip tray
Bullet Puller
Do we need a case trimmer or anything else related to working the brass?
Anything we're overlooking. Any advice?
Thanks!!!