Future reloader.

[jmorris]

Due to the ammo shortage i have decided to start reloading.

If that’s the main reason, I’d start by finding primers, powder and such for what you want first.

Would be less than ideal to dump a bunch of money into a project and come to find out you won’t be able to complete it until after you can just go buy factory ammunition again.

 

[Toprudder]

For a scale, I bought one of these a long time ago and find it works very well.

https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Weigh-...&qid=1599910240&sprefix=Gem20,aps,1059&sr=8-4

 

[Erief0g]

Haven't read all the responses but this fits your budget.

Older Manuals that you can learn from. Advances in powder and testing may make the load data not as good as newer material available but is great for the beginner to read up on.

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading Manuals/

 

[gifbohane]

Just to back up. Reloading, to me, is my hobby... and right now my only hobby. No more wine, women and song. When I was doing other things as a hobby I was not trying to save money. I spent whatever I could on that hobby and that is the way I treat reloading.

More importantly, when I looked into the possibilities of reloading, the guys here and elsewhere told me right off the bat that I would not save any money by reloading, I would just shoot more. They were correct.

 

[BLACKFIN]

Just to back up. Reloading, to me, is my hobby... and right now my only hobby. No more wine, women and song. When I was doing other things as a hobby I was not trying to save money. I spent whatever I could on that hobby and that is the way I treat reloading.

More importantly, when I looked into the possibilities of reloading, the guys here and elsewhere told me right off the bat that I would not save any money by reloading, I would just shoot more. They were correct.

That’s how i used to do things to. However i still feel that by reloading i can save some because i can recycle my own brass and that of my friend who does not reload hahaha... plus i think I’ll learn a lot more about firearms and ammo.

 

[BLACKFIN]

This is the press i got for $25.00 brand new from Lee Precision



And a digital caliper for $9 from amazon

 

[BLACKFIN]

Haven't read all the responses but this fits your budget.

Older Manuals that you can learn from. Advances in powder and testing may make the load data not as good as newer material available but is great for the beginner to read up on.

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading Manuals/

that’s very helpful information and it does fit my budget very well.
Thank you

 

[readyeddy]

The biggest headache when reloading 5.56 is the primer crimp. Google “primer crimp removal” and watch the videos.

Then buy a reamer you can use with your cordless drill or use the right sized drill bit. You can do it by hand but my hand starts cramping after doing 50 cases.

But be aware of loose primer pockets due to over reaming. A blown primer wedging itself into the action can jam an AR stuck.

 

[kmw1954]

Oh I agree with you that $150 is silly....UNLESS he finds a flea market or garage sale of knows a widow looking to get rid of her ate hubby's stuff; THEN he might luck into all sorts of cool stuff for less.

You and cardinalorange were debating this and I will add this. When I restarted load again a few years ago I already had an idea of what was needed to do what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. On ebay I found a complete Lee Pro1000 that was set up for 38/357, that was press, powder measure, dies and the priming system that cost me exactly $96.81 and that included shipping. I then found a Lyman D5 scale also on ebay, total cost including shipping $30.51... Total cost $127.32 added a Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook @ $13.08 and had everything I needed to reload 38/357 for under $150.00 All found in nothing special ebay and I still use that equipment today.

I eventually added a set of used 9mm dies $26.50 and a 9mm shellplate and carrier @$37.83 so I could then load 9mm. I could have saved some money on the shellplate/carrier by just buying a shellplate but I wanted the extra carrier because I knew I would at some point be adding 45acp which requires large primers and I could then set up the carrier with the large primer feed.

Caliper. already had one so didn't need to buy another. When I started loading the first time in 1980 there were no FART's.

 

[kmw1954]

Some of the replies are "XXX on clearance" "YYY 20 years ago." Which is great, it gives you perspective, but in the current market you won't be finding a clearance deal unless you're willing to do (a lot) of online and local scavenging, and I wouldn't expect to see any this calendar year.

Yes in current market. Just about everywhere you look that press is OUT of STOCK, meaning unavailable at any price. Also that same press if in stock is $5.00 cheaper if purchased at Titan Reloading rather than Bass Pro Shop. Then as long as we are adding personal opinion/feelings/viewpoint I would not recommend an electronic scale to any new reloader. Especially a new person that is not familiar with using any type of scale meant to measure a combustible.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

that’s very helpful information and it does fit my budget very well.
Thank you

Good to know you're going to make use of the info at that link.

This might be helpful for the shoestring budget. Not necessarily the latest editions, nor load data for CFE 223 (which can be found on the Hodgdon website at no additional cost), but full of fundamentals spoken about in this thread.

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading Manuals/

There's more in other directories there.

 

[BLACKFIN]

Yes in current market. Just about everywhere you look that press is OUT of STOCK, meaning unavailable at any price. Also that same press if in stock is $5.00 cheaper if purchased at Titan Reloading rather than Bass Pro Shop. Then as long as we are adding personal opinion/feelings/viewpoint I would not recommend an electronic scale to any new reloader. Especially a new person that is not familiar with using any type of scale meant to measure a combustible.

Why won’t you recommend a digital scale to a new reloader? It seems simple enough

 

[kmw1954]

Why won’t you recommend a digital scale to a new reloader? It seems simple enough

Because they tend to drift off ZERO very easily and need to be reset frequently. A mechanical beam scale does not do that. Yes they are slower but they hold their Zero very well unless they keep getting bumped around.

If you are loading something like Titegroup into a 380 or 9mm .4/.5gr can be a big mistake.

 

[BLACKFIN]

Because they tend to drift off ZERO very easily and need to be reset frequently. A mechanical beam scale does not do that. Yes they are slower but they hold their Zero very well unless they keep getting bumped around.

If you are loading something like Titegroup into a 380 or 9mm .4/.5gr can be a big mistake.

What about having both, set the bean scale and confirm the weight on a digital?

 

[ballman6711]

If you are loading something like Titegroup into a 380 or 9mm .4/.5gr can be a big mistake.

I have found this to be true with other calibers and powders as well.

I also don't care for the digital scale that came with my kit, it does drift and needs to be re-zeroed quite often, which is why I now have a beam scale.

And now you have a press and calipers for $34. Well done, but you still need a set of dies, shell holder, and a scale. You also still need a way to prime your brass. Lee has a "ram prime" available for this press that will do the job. And even though the data can be found online, I still highly recommend buying at least one good book. Most books have a lot of good info as well as load data.

For dies, something like this may be a good choice. You may find it cheaper elsewhere though.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011201072

So that would add another $34 bringing your total up to $68, still well under your budget. And with this set you get a shell holder, a dipper (for scooping powder), and a data sheet for that caliber. That leaves you $82 to purchase a scale, a way to prime your brass, and a book.

Lee sells this which allows you to prime on the press you bought.

https://leeprecision.com/ram-prime.html

$15 through Lee, leaving you with $67 left in your budget for a scale and a book.

Here's a scale.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019558826?pid=691348

This brings you down to $42 left in your original $150 budget which could be used for a reloading manual.

And I would also recommend a powder funnel for pouring powder into the case.

You can add other items as needed or allowed by your budget later.

chris

 

[ballman6711]

I should have added this.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012842828?pid=712103

$30 for a beam scale instead of $25 for a cheap digital.

Still leaves $37.

chris

 

[BLACKFIN]

Lee sells this which allows you to prime on the press you bought.

https://leeprecision.com/ram-prime.html

$15 through Lee, leaving you with $67 left in your budget for a scale and a book.

chris

is this the same thing/ram?

 

[ballman6711]

Yes it is.

chris

 

[entropy]

What about having both, set the bean scale and confirm the weight on a digital?

I did that for a few years, then got rid of the 505 beam scale, because the PACT digital (designed for reloading) was working well. Until it didn't. I was resetting it every five rounds because I lost confidence in it. I bought another 505 and got rid of the PACT. (Kinda had to; lost the power cord in the move. Advantage beam scale; no power requirement. It was probably a subconscious effort on my part, resetting it all the time ate into my reloading time.)

 

[BLACKFIN]

Surely with all the information given to me by you guys this is becoming a very good experience.

i went to check on some 9mm dies locally for the press and almost everything is out of stock or overpriced but this is what a found, a set of 3-dies Pacesetter rifle in 223, some reloading data, Shell holder, sample case lube and powder scoop for $35

I’ll keep the original post updated with the things i have purchased and the prices.

 

[entropy]

One scoop of BL-C(2) with that 1.6 scoop gets you a decent 55 gr. load, at about 2900-3000 fps. Get a scale, and use it plus enough to get zeroed on 25.8 gr. and you will have a great 55 gr. load.

 

[splattergun]

What about having both, set the bean scale and confirm the weight on a digital?

you can have both, but you won't confirm the beam scale with the digital. The digital can vary depending on battery voltage etc, and must be calibrated often, as mentioned above. You use check weights to verify any scale.
A digital scale is generally faster to use and when properly maintained is plenty accurate for our purpose, but a beam scale uses gravity, which is constant, and provides consistency that is difficult to achieve with a digi scale unless you spend a lot of money. The biggest downside of a beam scale is that it's slower to use.

 

[Average Joe]

Wow ! I've been reloading for over 50 years now, But if I was just starting out now, after reading all these comments, I would be running for the hills.........

 

[BLACKFIN]

Wow ! I've been reloading for over 50 years now, But if I was just starting out now, after reading all these comments, I would be running for the hills.........

Hahaha how so? Too much info?

 

[BLACKFIN]

When it comes to powder measure, do you check/ weight every single one or can i set the powder dispenser for a set amount, verify/correct then recheck every 5 to 10 rounds?