Amassing the required tools to start reloading Do I have everything I need?

[Rescue6]

So I want to start reloading. I will be finishing my bench today. I have been amassing all of the tools I think I "must" have. Please let me know if there is anything I have missed. The following is a list of what I have so far.
Thank you for your help

2 - new reloading manuals Hornady 9th, and Lyman
3 - older manuals Hornady, Lyman, Speer
Lyman case trimmer set with power drill adapter and hand crank
Lyman multi case prep tool
Lyman case length gauge
Frankford arsenal kinetic bullet puller
Frankford arsenal sonic cleaner
Hornady Lock n load ap press
Hornady 10 pack lock n load die bushings
Hornady micrometer powder measure inserts for both pistol and rifle sizes
Hornady shell plates for .45, 9mm and .223
Hornady powder funnel
Hornady powder cop die
Hornady .45 auto dies taper crimp
Hornady .45 Auto/Ar/WIN die set - oops!
Hornady 9mm dies taper crimp
Hornady one-shot dry lube x2
Hornady led light strip for press
Hornady bullet tray
Calipers x2 one dial and one digital
Inline fabrication ERGO roller handle
Inline Fabrication strong mount for Lock n Load
RCBS 505 beam scale
RCBS .223 die set - oops!
RCBS .223 AR die set
RCBS primer flipper tray
RCBS case lube kit (pad, lube and brushes)
RCBS .45-70 dies
RCBS .450 marlin dies
RCBS .44 magnum dies
Lee universal de-capping die
Lee hand primer and shell holders
Lee classic turret press
Lee turrets x3
Lee Mounting block kit
Lee shell holders various calibers
6# of various powders
Small pistol, large pistol and small rifle primers
Various projectiles for the calibers to be reloaded
Once fired brass from my own shooting and a little bit picked up at the range. All sorted by head stamps.

 

[joecil]

Only two items I didn't see a scale and micrometer.

 

[Rescue6]

Thanks Joecil,
I have the RCBS 505 beam scale on the list.
I forgot to add the micrometer to the list but I do have two of them actually one digital and one dial. Just added to the above list
Thanks for looking it over for me

 

[Conservidave]

Pretty good assortment of hardware for a beginner. I didn't see a primer pocket brush or swaging tool. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner you may not need a brush but they're still handy to have.
One little tool that I find that I am always reaching for is a dental pick, they're good for flipping primers, grabbing the rims of shells and other tasks that my fingers just cant do anymore.

Don't for get Safety glasses!

 

[Rescue6]

Good call on the safety glasses I will have to get a set dedicated to the reloading bench. Primer pocket brush is part of the Lyman case prep multi-tool. I have some dental picks so thanks for the heads up I will ad one to the bench tool set. I will have to look into what a swaging tool is.

 

[Rescue6]

Ok Conservidave, Just read about swaging tools. Looks like there are two camps on this one. Some like the Dillon super swager method of crimp removal with the press type tool and others like cutting it out. Which one is best?

Just realized I still need a powder trickler also

 

[TBH]

I am not a big fan of one shot, but I'm sure it will be fine for handgun cal.
I have had great results with Dillon lube, but would recommend case lube with a pad, RCBS or Redding and some imperial sizing wax.

My experience, you will never have everything you need (want) for your reloading room.

 

[nevadabob]

You have "Micrometers...", is that a caliper for measuring COL?

 

[Rescue6]

Yes calipers, sorry wrong terminology fixed on the list.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

That's a pretty good list of tools for someone who's never reloaded before. Definitely more than I started out with.

You don't "need" a swaging tool. It's only use is to remove primer crimps after you've sized/deprimed brass with crimps on the primer pockets. You have the motorized case prep tool correct? You can use the chamfer tool to remove primer crimps just as easily with that as you could using a swaging tool. You just have to carefully learn to remove as little brass as necessary from the pockets. Some people say that doing that will give you loose pockets but I think those people always chamfered them too much or have never done it.

Forget about using Hornady One Shot case lube. RCBS Case Slick will work much better if you're planning to resize a lot of rifle brass in big batches. Unique or Imperial wax lube are great for resizing small batches. You don't have to lube straight wall pistol brass if you have carbide dies but it definitely makes resizing "smoother" if you lube every 10th piece or so. Always lube all rifle brass. I tend to lube about 50-100 pistol cases in a small tub when I'm doing large batches of pistol calibers, and put one on the shellplate every now and then. Gives the press a better feel.

Hornady One Shot Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube is great for cleaning dies and press and powder measure parts. It's necessary to do this before using them.

A grease gun is also a good tool to have. Grease the LNL when the ram is up.

Get yourself a few "cans of air." It helps get powder out of the primer slide channel and off of the shellplate. A small detailing brush (looks like a tiny paint brush) is nice too, some guys steal a makeup brush from their wife.

Don't forget your "bullet rebates" from Hornady and RCBS if you haven't already sent them in.

 

[Rescue6]

Thanks for the reply,
No I don't have the RCBS motorized case prep center yet but it is looking like the best way to go to me. Yeah I bought the Hornady One shot just to clean up the press and powder measure once I un-box it. The RCBS case lube kit for everything else. I have a grease gun and will lube the press. I will have to get the canned air from the computer store next time I am in there. And I will acquire a small detail brush from the wife's makeup drawer. thanks for all the tips everyone. I am making a list as I go.

Yep the bullet rebates have been good to me so far. I have received 900 various bullets so far.

 

[Conservidave]

Kansas is correct, a swager might only be useful if you were doing a ton of AR brass otherwise a simple reamer will do the trick.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Thanks for the reply,
No I don't have the RCBS motorized case prep center yet but it is looking like the best way to go to me. Yeah I bought the Hornady One shot just to clean up the press and powder measure once I un-box it. The RCBS case lube kit for everything else. I have a grease gun and will lube the press. I will have to get the canned air from the computer store next time I am in there. And I will acquire a small detail brush from the wife's makeup drawer. thanks for all the tips everyone. I am making a list as I go.

Yep the bullet rebates have been good to me so far. I have received 900 various bullets so far.

I see. I read your list wrong. I was thinking you had this http://www.midwayusa.com/product/135615/lyman-case-prep-multi-tool Lyman tool. But now I'm guessing you have this http://www.midwayusa.com/product/135615/lyman-case-prep-multi-tool instead. Or do you have a different case prep tool? What I do to knock out primer crimps is take the chamfer bit from the 2nd link, wrap the threads in tape, chuck it in a drill, tape the drill trigger to be on a medium speed, and put the drill in a vise. Then you just barely hit the primer pockets to knock off the crimp. I ruined about 10 pieces of .223 to get it right, considering I had roughly 1000 to start I think that's an acceptable loss.

 

[Rescue6]

Yes that second one is the one I have. Hand held. Good to know I will give it a try

 

[aka108]

Some of the plasticware that comes in frozen pre prepared food items and lots of plastic jars that salsa and stuff comes in. Also some of the plastic stuff that keeps 45 acp rounds from rattling around in thier boxes. Make great loading blocks. Some gummed labels and some ball point pens. You will also discover that a lot of stuff that looks good and you buy it but will maye use once and never again. Didn't see any mention of a tumbler or walnut/corncob media. For sure you will want these.

 

[Rescue6]

Yes I am getting some great info. Thanks guys
I need to decide what type of storage containers I am going to go with for sure. For now it will be some extra ammo cans and Zip lock containers I have laying around. I do have some labels and markers in my pile already. Keep the info coming it is appreciated.

 

[NELSONs02]

If you didn't reload before the shooting/shortage do me a favor and don't start.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I'm not necessarily suggesting your order from here http://www.uline.com/Grp_326/Bin-Organizers but it may give you some organizing ideas. There are "knock-offs" of Akro bins/organizers, I own such a knock-off, but you get what you pay for. Akro bins seem to be much higher quality and more durable. A variety of bin sizes is nice to have. If you're like me you'll have a ton of pistol and .223-5.56 brass because its cheap/free and you might go through more of it, so bigger bins are nice to have. But I don't have a whole lot of high powered rifle brass so I get by with small bins for that. These http://m.target.com/p/sterilite-clipbox-set-of-6-green-small/-/A-13487672 or something similar with a lid also work well for brass storage if your reloading area might be suseptable to getting dusty. Good sturdy shelves are a necessity for component storage, especially if you buy bullets in bulk. I have a few shelves to keep dies and other tools on and a 84"x36"x24" metal cabinet with lockable doors (keeps kids out) to store bullets, powder, and primers (primers are in ammo cans on bottom, powder towards top). These cabinets are fairly expensive if you buy new but I found a hell of a deal on an old beat up one that just needed a little work. You just have to figure out what works for the space and money you have.

 

[Rescue6]

Gee thanks for the help Nelsons02! I have been buying all of this stuff since last summer if you must know. But I am not made of money so it has taken me a year to get to this point. I figured I would just save all my brass from my shooting while getting the equipment I needed and I would be ready to go. I didn't expect it to take this long though. I have refused to pay the ridiculous prices of todays market. So that has slowed my progress also. I have no need to buy anything out from under you Nelsons02. I am all set with my guns and have more ammo than I know what to do with. I just want to start reloading for the benefit of learning something new and to have a new hobby since I am too broken to continue with my others. That and to make some really accurate loads for the rifles so I can stop paying the premium prices for my mach ammo eating rifles that I cant keep myself from shooting.

 

[4895]

Don't forget to get your head examined. Reloading is an addictive hobby that starts you down a dark path of OCD, brass hoarding, buying $4/gal gas to save $2 on powder driving all over town, and surfing websites to see what is in stock! It sure is fun ain't it.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice.

Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice.

I am a minimalist. You appear to believe in jumping into the deep end with both feet! I admire your commitment (and your budget)

I did not read your entire list in detail, but just looked at its length. I think you and I may be at the opposite end of the spectrum from me. I don't want to discourage you from your approach (I recognize that there is an infinite variety of styles and all are valid if they fit you), but just want to introduce another point of view.

Ignore my point of view as you will. This list was designed for the loader who wants to start slowly and "ease into" loading.

You only need three things (physically) to load good ammo. (Of course, you also need eye protection and manuals, but to PHYSICALLY assemble components, these three)

Press because fingers are not strong enough to form metal
Dies because fingers are neither strong enough nor accurate enough to form metal to SAAMI specs
Scale (or calibrated dippers) because eyeballs are not accurate enough to measure out gunpowder

Everything else can be done without, substituted for or improvised until the neophyte can afford to buy good quality gear.




What kind of quantities of your chosen calibers will you be loading? (Keep in mind that your shooting volume will probably double from what you are doing now.) Your answer here will determine if a single-stage, turret or progressive (or multiple) might be right for you. Also, What are your shooting goals? Cheap ammo? Ultimate long-range accuracy? Casual plinking, Serious competition - what kind? Cowboy Action Shooting? Strictly hunting? Personal defense? Skills development?

I noticed the RCBS 505. I believe it only goes up to 500 grains. If you think you might be shooting heavier bullets in your 450 Marlin or 45-70, you might think about the RCBS 10-10 which goes up to 1,000 grains (and has a micrometer drum for reading tenths of grains, which I find easier to read).

Lost Sheep

 

[rajbcpa]

..something to clean brass cases..tumbler and media

...a military crimp sweger too...

 

[Hondo 60]

Do I have everything I need?

LOL, that's a good one.

I probably had "everything I needed" hundreds or even over $1,000 ago.
I'm always finding the next tool I "need".

Welcome to the addict... oh, I mean hobby, ya that's it, hobby.

 

[rondog]

Helluva good list for starting out with! But you'll never have "everything" you'll need or want. That's like a woman having all the shoes she could need or want. How are you set for primers, powders, bullets and brass? That's the hard stuff to get these days.

 

[flipajig]

Your off to a good start. As menchiond above a case tumbler and I will also add Citric Acid. It will take dirty brass to new in seconds just make shoure it's hot when you use it and you can use it multiple times. I use old ice cream buckets to store it in they already come with a lid. Also you don't have to buy storage containers for brass and other items I use Ice cream buckets,pretzel jars,coffee cans,butter tubs,sour cream tubs just to name a few.
And one last thing Boolit molds,smelting pot,lube and sizers and a good supply of Lead. Just to start you in another direction.
Flip