Advice for newbie?

[Scottmkiv]

I'm planning on getting into reloading, but the choices are a little overwhelming. I'd like some reccomendations on what to buy given my situation.

$500 absolute max for everything I need equipment wise.

Want to do things right the first time rather than buy cheap and end up spending more money.

Plan on loading 7.62 Nato for my FALs, and maybe 308 bolt gun later.

Also loading 223 ammo.

Pistol ammo eventually, but maybe not right now (9mm, 10mm, others)

High accuracy is very important to me.

Not scared of starting with more complicated set up.

Left handed if that matters.


Given all of this I have been thinking that the 550B or Hornady Lock-n-Load would be good, but I'm really not sure if this is the way to go.

I also don't know what gadgets I need beyond the basic kits. Do I need brass tumblers, media seperators, calipers, or things that I don't even know exist?

If you could point me towards any helpful links, I would ppreciate that too.

 

[flip]

try the search button on this forum and many others. there is a wealth of info on this subject.

if your are going for a 550, five hundred may be too small of a budget. i have a 650 set up for two calibers and if i remember correctly i went over 1000 with all of the extras. not sure of the price for lock-n-load.

you may want to get the lee mordern reloading handbook that come with a free press and build your reloading set up from there

flip

 

[Sunray]

Look into one of the RCBS Beginner's kits. Gives you everything you need less dies and shell holders. $315.10(Cabela's wants $259.99 for the same kit) for the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Kit or $145.40 for the Partner kit from these guys, but your local gun shop should be able to get one for you. The difference is the press and the powder measure. The Rockchucker is nice, but you don't need one to reload.
The Full Length die set you need for your FAL(semi's require full length resizing to ensure reliable feeding) runs $32.95. $6.95 for the No. 3 shell holder. You'll need a different die set and shell holder for the .223. Same press for handgun reloading.
http://www.huntingtons.com/Presses.html
http://www.cabelas.com/ It's under 'hunting and optics'.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'd recommend the Rock Chucker set up for your rifle calibers. If and when you decide to reload pistol then I would get a progressive. Lee makes good economy press's that will work fine without breaking the bank.

 

[Wedge]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=120998

In that thread I wrote all my Christmas presents. Total was well under $500 and I have loaded about 350 rounds so far.

 

[Bullet]

I agree with Lennyjoe Get a Rockchucker press and some Redding dies (get the seating die with the micrometer) but the micrometer is not necessary.

''Do I need brass tumblers, media seperators, calipers,'' YES. You will also need a powder drop (Redding) and I would recommend a electronic scale, a case trimmer. Maybe some loading blocks Too. I'm not sure you can do this for $500.00. If you really want accuracy check out Sinclair below.

"If you could point me towards any helpful links" -


http://www.midwayusa.com/

http://www.sinclairintl.com/

http://dillonprecision.com/default.cfm?

 

[WayneConrad]

Reloading on the Cheap

Did someone say "cheap?" Cheap is my middle name!

You can absolutely do this for less than $500. Don't try to stay with the Joneses on all the fancy stuff, but you won't have to settle for cheap junk, either.

eBay is your friend. You have to be patient... it may take a few months to find all the things you want for prices you're willing to pay, but it's really pretty simple. Try not to pay more than half price for anything, and don't accept anything not in great condition. And if you lose out, don't raise your bid! Just wait for the next thing.

Here's what I got from eBay to get me started. The prices include shipping:

• $19 RCBS 9mm carbide 3-die set w/ 3 stems
• $36 RCBS 38 special/357 mag carbide 3-die set w/ 2 stems and shell holder (expensive... I wasn't patient)
• $13 Caliper
• $76 Rock Chucker
• $29 Cartridge gages for 38 special, 357 mag, and 9mm luger. Lee shell holders and trimmer guides for all 3 calibers.
• $41 RCBS Uniflow powder measure w/ both large and small cylinders
• $86 Berry's Tumbler and media separator (expensive... I wasn't patient)

I built my bench for $70 in lumber.

Some parts I got from my local Sportsman's Warehouse:

• $5 Lee cutter and lock stud
• $6 RCBS shell holder for 9mm
• $5 RCBS primer tray
• $15 RCBS primer pocket cleaner
• $17 RCBS deburring & chamfering tool

The only thing you'll have to pay for that I didn't is a scale. I got mine for free (thanks, dad!). You won't have to pay much on eBay for a used 5-5 scale, though. As little as $15 if you are patient, but let's say $30.

(Digital scales seem neat, but analog scales work just fine, are much cheaper, and they don't need batteries).

That's a grand total of... lessee... $448 for two calibers, and that includes a $70 bench and some important extras like the cartridge gages. There are things you can do without, too, like the bench, or getting steel dies instead of carbide), so you can do this for even less.

Good luck!

 

[longtooth]

New at it too.

I started about 2 yr ago. Got the Rock Chucker Kit & had everything I needed except calipers & dies. Of coarse components. I can load all my family can shoot in my spare time. (Me, Mom, Wife, Son & Daughter-in-law, Son-in-law) I don't really have much spare time by most folks standards but I don't do TV. Biggest waste of time in America today. That is another thread under another heading though. Don't know where you live but there are always some real good deals on loading stuff in the local sale papers here. Guys starting without thinking through first & won't do it. I know of 2 in there now. Check your local papers & maybe bulliten boards at gunshops. There will probably be someone that will help you. That happened here about a yr ago. Young kid had a problem & asked for help. I called & told him I was just starting but would help if I could because someone helped me get set up. He said thanks, that he had several calls from old timers real close to where he lived. I find that Graf & Sons, or Midway are the best & most economical. www.grafs.com & www.midwayusa.com. Be careful & have fun.

 

[trickyasafox]

im loading for about 150 and i thought that was a decent chunk for a beginner

i bought the lee deal where you get a load book and a free press. the press isnt great, but it works just fine till i save up and get my LnL

i did all my ordering from midway, which i thought had some great prices.

i load for 223
i got a collet lee set and a full length RGB set
i also got a trimmer, deburring tool, hornady scale speer manuel so lets review

press / lee book 20 bucks
both sets of dies 32
scale 50
speer book 13
trimmers and such 10
load block 4
case lube 7
then shippin took up the rest

i might get a lee powder thrower just to make the job quicker but for right now it works.