Best starter equipment

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Finally did it.. Ordered the Lee Classic Turret press from Kempf's. Got a bullet puller, caliper, electronic powder scale and Lee loading manual 2nd edition...

Going to start off with .45 apc...

Wish me luck..

Do have one question. Looking at a powder loading chart I found online and one of the specs is C.O.I? What is C.O.I..??
 
Congrats...but before you start, I highly recommend you read the threads here about using that press...specifically how not to break the square ratchet!!!
 
Wolfe -
45ACP is an excellent cartridge to start with. It's low pressure and has a wide margin for error.

Make sure before your start that you have an accurate way to measure the powder and the physical dimensions. Good measurements are the key to safety in this hobby. This usually means obtaining a scale and a 6" caliper if they were not included in your kit.

Secondly, stick exactly to the recipes in your reloading manual. If it says Speer bullet ABC and Hodgdon power XYZ, then get those exact components. No improvisation on your first compositions.

Thirdly, write down every load you build, and after shooting it write down the results. Never rely on your memory for load info.

Hope this helps!
 
Caliper and scale were not part of the kit but I bought one of each, plus a bullet puller and the Lee reloading manual 2nd edition..

Kind of excited..

Wife not so much.... :)

Is the starline brass any good? See it gets 5 star reviews on midway.com. Also suggestions inexpensive bullets? I am only planning on loading plicking shells..
 
1) Starline brass is some of the best you can get. However, used brass should be just fine, generally. I have some used brass I bought twenty years ago, and I suppose some of it has been reloaded fifty times--granted, a low-pressure target load--about 820 fps with a 200 LSWC.

2) Order some lower BHN (11?) bullets--230, 200--to try them out--from Missouri Bullet. Get some 231, and large pistol primers. You'll be good to go. I assume you did get a powder measure--e.g., the Lee (Pro) Auto disk, and the related riser, swivel, and maybe an adjustable charge bar?

Jim H.
 
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for 45 you need large pistol primers. I use unique powder, but there are many choices. I have used oregon trail cast bullets and barrys bullets. Both worked fine, and both are relatively inexpensive.
 
Great that you went with the Lee Classic Turret! Get a case gauge for each caliber you load for. It will save you allot of headaches! The case gauge measures head space of the cartridge to make sure it will fit in the chamber.
 
way to go wolfe.... lee is a great co as far as standing behind their products too... if your wife is not so excited see if she will learn to reload with you..... put your bench together,get a cd player, some cds you both like, and have her help.................... oh and be sure to tell her how much money you are saveing by loading your own ammo...............


life is short.....
 
The wife comment was more of a joke. She just rolled her eyes at me....

I did switch the dies from 45 acp to 9mm as I enjoy shooting my 9mm more..

Case gauge? OK... I'll look into it.. Thanks..

Got the stuff UPS today (ordered it saturday) :)

Only complaint I have so far is that LEE didn't include the mounting bolts so I couldn't set it up tonight.. I'll have to do it tomorrow evening after I make a trip to the hardware store. :)

Now all I need is some brass, bullets and primers.....
 
Congrats - I'm 2 weeks into my setup, the same you got from Kempfs (nice people there). I've loaded some 9mm and 30-06 so far, took a couple hrs for the first rounds and no time for the next ones! The only real problem I had with setup was getting the Safety Prime working right, it's kind of finicky. Also the ball on the lever fell off immediately (epoxy fixed that). I've been to Cabelas twice for more stuff, including a bunch of plastic shell boxes, a Lee Perfect Powder Measure (for rifle loads), a powder trickler, lube pad, etc. Gets expensive trying to save money!
 
Congratulations,
You've now stepped out onto the slippery slope.

I've only been reloading for a relatively few years and now I don't consider a trip to the range worthwhile unless I have 250 rounds of .45 ACP with me to burn - and thats just for the 45!

Good luck
and you may as well order more bullets, primers and powder now.

B
 
As of today the only complaint I have is the directions for installation of the primer add on and auto disk powder are terrible. Lee desperately needs someone to write them some decent installation instructions.
 
As of today the only complaint I have is the directions for installation of the primer add on and auto disk powder are terrible. Lee desperately needs someone to write them some decent installation instructions.
Click to expand...
Lee has some videos on their website that are good. If you can't find what you need there try searching YouTube.
 
Well ladies and gentlemen I FINALLY got all the components I needed. Brass and bullets were easy but those damn primers were tough to find.

Loaded 20 the other night and shot those today without incident. So I loaded a 100 tonight..

I LOVE the classic turret thanks for all the good advice. One shell done before I start another one, etc Very easy.

The hardest thing was getting the bullet seating (sp) correct. After about 10 monstorously disasterous looking cartridges I got one with .002 of the OAL in the book.

Using 9mm brass
CCI small pistol primers
124 Grain FMJ bullet
4.3 grains of 700x powder (IMR) - same stuff I use for my shot shells...

Thanks again for all the help..

Already thinking about buying a couple more dies...
 
I did switch the dies from 45 acp to 9mm as I enjoy shooting my 9mm more...
Click to expand...

Awe.... C'mon now!!!....

Just kiddin'... well, okay not completely. What can I say... I'm addicted to 1911's, chambered in 45 ACP, of course.

LGB
 
Wolfe... I got into this so I could afford to shoot. My goal was to spend the money I had saved for a 1911 on reloading gear, and then start saving again but with the dream of being able to actually shoot the 1911....

Well... no one warned me of this. I have spent (Obsessively every penny I have on reloading and casting equipment!!) :)

I guess the good thing is, I now have every mold, die, powder, primers, etc to load for every gun I own and that means one thing... I need to buy another gun so I can get more reloading stuff!!
 
That is some funny stuff....

Thanks for all the help.

Now I need to know what caliber to load next.... :)
 
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It looks to me like you made a good choice in reloading equipment.

I went with the Lee Anniversary Kit setup, as a cost-efficient way of slooooowly becoming a competent reloader. Once you spend the time to *really* figure things out, it becomes much easier with every round you crank out.

I absolutely LOVE spending an hour or two at the bench, paying attention to nothing other than what I am doing with my hands (and my brain). Great way to escape...

What caliber to load next? Easy.

Whatever caliber the next gun is that you are wanting. See? All this reloading stuff makes it SO much easier to convince the wife ("but honey, I'm sort of recycling things by reloading. MUCH cheaper. We're saving money!")

Works every time. ;)
 
Now I need to know what caliber to load next....
Click to expand...

after almost 20 calibers of metallic cartridge and 12 g. shot shell (not to mention all the casting, getting set up to make my own gas checks, lubes and solvents.) I still ask myself the same damn question.

6? 22-250? trapdoor? 7.62x39? 22 Hornet? Dangit.

LGB
 
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