Absolutely newbie! Where to start?

[lgbloader]

Keep asking the questions, Mate. I don't blame you for getting confused. They all are great. I am a tool nut. I love tools and hand loading tools and presses are by far the most fun to use. My Snap On collection is great but making bullets is so much more fun than changing an intake manifold gasket.

Have fun.

LGB

 

[R00KIE]

I have sure changes my share of manifolds ha ha, Dad had us rebuilding our old yamaha two-strokes before we were in 4th grade! Then we moved onto old Ford trucks! and lots of em!

I just bought Handloader's Digest: The World's Greatest Handloading Book (Handloader's Digest) - Ken Ramage and Lee Precision Modern Reloading 2Nd Edition from Amazon just now. . . . Stoked to get started!!!

 

[benzuncle]

ROOKIE, I was exactly where you are last December. My wife stuck a gun magazine in my Christmas stocking; it had an article about reloading in it. I read it a gazillion times and realized that reloading is "do-able" and was also the answer to my 45acp shooting habit. I stumbled on a forum or two, read the stickys (I was embarrassed to ask questions that had been answered) and lurked, lurked, lurked. Then I began asking questions on the forums and was quickly rewarded with a lot more good info. Then I went to loading sites: Dillon and Brian Enos, Lee Precision, Lock-N-Load, etc. I really wanted a Dillon but realized it was out of reach financially. I tried to make it work, sort of like wanting a certain handgun that doesn't really fit your hand. I finally walked away from it. I ended up with a Lee Classic Turret Press. It was affordable, could build a decent amount of ammo in a semi-progressive fashion but could also be used as a single-stage loader. The lifetime warranty that Dillon carries appealed to me but the price of parts and dies for the Lee equipment negated that. I've been loading since mid-January and loaded almost enough 45acp alone to pay off the equipment. Nothing has broken. I've been loading 230gr brass round nose 45acp's for $8.15 per box of 50 and 230gr lead RN's for $6.41. Talk about savings. Good luck to you in your decision. I doubt that you will be disappointed with whichever "color" you choose. And wait 'til you launch your first round! If only you could get someone out in front to take a picture of the crap-eatin' grin that will materialize! Happy Thanksgiving!

PS. My Lee Classic Turret Press Kit for the 45acp including some of the upgrade goodies and a tumbler cost $330 from www.kempfgunshop.com I used them because they had everything in stock and shipped fast. Zero regrets.

 

[R00KIE]

Thanks guys. . . after looking over this forum for over a week, I now see how many newbie questions are so much like mine ha ha ha. . .

"Hi I'm new . . . which machine should I start out with?" ha ha ha

I am almost set on the L-N-L classic Kit and getting 500 free bullets.
I have my gun guy checkin his best price right now to see if he can beat Cabelas sale-price of $299
if not, an hour and a half drive will get me to my new press!

Thanks for the input.
And Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

 

[benzuncle]

Good luck to you ROOKIE! Let us know how it plays out, and also what you change your ROOKIE handle to when you have a few rounds behind you. I still remember that giddy feeling I got after my first successful round found its way down range.

 

[RustyFN]

OK now be honest. How many here besides me aimed your gun and then turned your head when you pulled the trigger on your first round.
Rusty

 

[jfh]

"How many here besides me aimed your gun and then turned your head...."​

I didn't. I already knew my forehead was thicker than my temple, and I wear glasses with shatterproof lenses.

Jim H.

 

[Wedge]

I was definitely a little concerned over my first round of loads...which were no pussy cats either (.45 colt 300gr over 10gr Unique courtesy of grandpa Butch, safe in my Blackhawk, don't try in your SAA). Stood the gun straight up after a shot, but they were very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. Now I like 255gr LSWC over 9gr Unique as my go to .45 Colt load.

I like my Lee single stage. Slow? Yes. repeatable? yes. Inexpensive? Absolutely. I shoot maybe 100-150 centerfire a month and 500+ rimfire so a single stage is fine.

 

[DissonantEscapist]

I just got a LnL Classic Kit from Cabelas a week ago. It has the 7th edition book and an electronic scale that is a pocket size and goes up to 1500 gr. If you are doing much pistol reloading, you may want to get a pistol rotor metering assembly for the powder measure - check Midway or Grafs. I am VERY happy with this setup - switching out dies is a piece of cake once they are set.

And +1 on ABCs of Reloading as well.

 

[R00KIE]

I ordered my Hornady L-N-L classic Kit this morning . . . . can't wait to get it in the mail!