Future reloader.

[cardinalorange]

Update:

All right guys I think I have everything that I need to get started with the budget i had to work with. I may add a few things here and there as money allows.

Budget: $150.00

Lee single stage press: $25
Lee Safety balance $30
Lee Ram prime unit small & Large $12
Lee Perfect powder measure $26
Caliper: $10
Case lube/wax: Free samples

Lee 3-Die Carbide Sets 9mm Luger $34
Shell holder 9mm: Free (included with dies set)
Powder scoop: Free (included with dies set)

Total = $137.00

And since i wanted to reload both 9mm & 223, i picked another set of dies and a case trimmer

Lee Pacesetter Rifle Dies .223: $35
Shell holder 223: Free (included with dies set)
Powder scoop: Free (included with dies set)
Lee Deluxe Quick trim case trimmer: $20

TOTAL for both calibers: 192


I want to thank each of everyone of you for the amazing help that you guys provide

Good on you for sticking to a budget. A lot of us (myself definitely included) thought it not feasible (and I'm still flabbergasted you managed to find a press for 25$). Keep us updated when you have your first round finished. Would be interesting to hear a completely new reloaders "memoirs" of their trials and tribulations getting everything set up. Do you have a steady workspace to mount it all on?

 

[BLACKFIN]

Good on you for sticking to a budget. A lot of us (myself definitely included) thought it not feasible (and I'm still flabbergasted you managed to find a press for 25$). Keep us updated when you have your first round finished. Would be interesting to hear a completely new reloaders "memoirs" of their trials and tribulations getting everything set up. Do you have a steady workspace to mount it all on?

Yes, i have a workspace available for it, i just need to drill the holes for the press.

 

[Horskinator]

Awesome!

 

[mstreddy]

OP, If you haven't ordered the scale yet. I may have one of those Lee scales hanging around. I'll check, and if I do, it's yours for shipping. Hopefully shipping should be around $10.

 

[splattergun]

Your samples of case lube ain't lasting forever. But a $10 tin of Imperial wax lube will last almost forever and is top notch stuff.
I bought my tin of Imperial at $6.50 and it's hardly used.

 

[Dead Eye Duck]

Go to your local library and see if they have books on reloading. If so check them out and read. Go to Facebook market and look for reloading items. Sad but when folks pass away you can find things pretty cheap. These two ideas can save you a bunch of money. Don't be discouraged but find a manual first and read it. "Do Not!" I repeat "Do Not" follow what some one tells you to do unless you first understand what a manual teaches or shows. If you cant find a certain load for a certain bullet, try the powder and bullet manufacture and you can find load data there. As a new reloader Do not try to follow a load a person gives you to try, unless you can find data that gives you the min and max load that's printed. There are deals out there and you can even find bullets brass and powder some one is selling, just keep looking. Happy Loading

 

[BLACKFIN]

Go to your local library and see if they have books on reloading. If so check them out and read. Go to Facebook market and look for reloading items. Sad but when folks pass away you can find things pretty cheap. These two ideas can save you a bunch of money. Don't be discouraged but find a manual first and read it. "Do Not!" I repeat "Do Not" follow what some one tells you to do unless you first understand what a manual teaches or shows. If you cant find a certain load for a certain bullet, try the powder and bullet manufacture and you can find load data there. As a new reloader Do not try to follow a load a person gives you to try, unless you can find data that gives you the min and max load that's printed. There are deals out there and you can even find bullets brass and powder some one is selling, just keep looking. Happy Loading

Yes, I’ll definitely be looking for deals out there, that’s how I managed to get tooling to reload 9mm for under $150. Once everything arrives I’ll set it up. In the meantime I’ll be looking for bullets, primers and powder for 9mm and 556/223

 

[Erief0g]

Yes, I’ll definitely be looking for deals out there, that’s how I managed to get tooling to reload 9mm for under $150. Once everything arrives I’ll set it up. In the meantime I’ll be looking for bullets, primers and powder for 9mm and 556/223

Might want to get 1000 rmr bullets off the flavor you prefer on backorder now. Probably looking at 8 week lead time before shipping but that gives you time to source other materials. Tough time to get into the game.

 

[FROGO207]

OP Some of us that grew up with a slide rule will run that scale ok but younger users find that vernier adjustment a problem. The scale is a good one to have though as it is super accurate. It is just "fiddly" to some. You did well to keep in budget. Looking forward to your report of shooting first reloads.

 

[BLACKFIN]

Look what showed up in the mail today

 

[kmw1954]

You are on your way! Have a good time.

 

[BLACKFIN]

I was looking for some powders for 9mm and everything is out of stock or for 50bmg, same with primers. The good news is that I manage to find 1lb of Hodgdon HS-6 in the back of the 50bmg powder for $29

 

[Mr. Zorg]

You may want to consider Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's with their free ship-to-store option if you have one near you. Using free ship-to-store you pay zero shipping and HazMat costs. Item availability fluctuates.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/pri...&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&

 

[BLACKFIN]

Hello guys, BLACKFIN here

just to bring you an update as to where i am in my reloading journey. As some of you know I’m new to the reloading, after getting the press i had a few options where to mount it but I opted to build a brand new workbench. Here’s the WIP.


nothing is bolted down yet, just toke the measurements for the leg height and support.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Beef it up!

 

[BLACKFIN]

Beef it up!

For sure, it’s missing the back and sides support as well as the reinforcements underneath for the press mount,!plus a bottom shelf for my tool box and reloading supplies and dies.

 

[Todd NE WY]

Not sure what you have in mind to attach the top but looking at what you have this is what I would do. Build 2 "boxes" with the 2x6's the same size. Then screw the legs to them with one box even with the top of the legs and the other at the level you want to put your shelf. Then screw the top to the top of the upper "box", trying to screw the top down to the ends of the 2x6's even with additional bracing is going to end up with some degree of wobble in it. An internal framework with the 2 "boxes" and plywood across the back at least down to the shelf level will make a very sturdy bench.

 

[fotheringill]

Welcome.

First- and even before you touch a die, get one or two manuals (Lyman and one other). Ignore the data except for the calibers you will be shooting. Ignore the folksy stuff about Uncle Ned's elk hunt and camping trip in 1956 but DO learn the "how-to's" for reloading no matter how many times you need to read the manuals. Powder and bullet manufacturers also have a wealth of knowledge on line. You don't need a lot of equipment at this stage of your handloading experience. Don't buy this or that special item on recommendations of people doing this for a million years. After a few years, you will be replacing everything you have initially purchased anyway. Is there a better and/or easier way to chamfer your necks other than the torpedo you will be picking up? Yes. Unless you have arthritis in your hands, the torpedo works just fine. Many have lost sight of doing it for a virgin hand loader stacked up against a competition shooter. Are there better presses and dies and ways to measure charges? Definitely. Will you be able to make a round that will go boom? Definitely. Can you spend north of $2000 to start? Also definitely. Keep to your budget and GO SLOWLY.

2. If you are stumped at a reloading step, ask here. EVERYONE here has been there at one time or another. I was so scared poopless in pulling the trigger on my first round, I tied a string around the trigger blade, stood a good fifteen feet off the the said and behind the rifle on a bench, cleared the line and pulled. I am still here and I did replace virtually everything (except the RCBS press I originally purchased.

3. Have fun.

4. Have fun.

 

[BLACKFIN]

Reloading bench 1.0 finish.

i toke some time after work and finished building the bench. I mounted the press but I’ll post the picture with everything mounted and ready to start.

in the meantime this is how it came out.

 

[748]

For 5.56 you will definitely need a stuck shell remover kit and you will want to screw the bench into the corner of a room for sizing 5.56.

If you have not bought 9mm dies get set with a carbide sizing die. Tool steel pistol dies suck.

HS-6 is one of the worst powders for 9mm. I have been loading 9mm and have had HS-6 and never put them together.
HS-6 is better for bigger straight walled pistol like 357 and 44 mag and magnum shot shells.
The only way I would use HS-6 on 9mm is near max and +P loads.

 

[Bat Rastard]

You could raise funds for components by doing carpentry work. Great looking bench!

 

[fotheringill]

Carpenter, hand loader What CAN'T you do???

 

[Jim Watson]

If you have not bought 9mm dies get set with a carbide sizing die. Tool steel pistol dies suck.

This is one of those recommendations that is almost obsolete. You would have to look hard to find a steel sizing die for a straight wall pistol cartridge.

HS-6 is one of the worst powders for 9mm. I have been loading 9mm and have had HS-6 and never put them together.
.

I happen to agree, but how do you know? HS6 is the only powder I have shot that would foul the gun to the point of malfunction in one session.

 

[kmw1954]

Great job on the bench. Not elaborate yet functional. I started on one smaller than that and would move it next to the kitchen table.

Us old boat restorers mix up some boiled linseed oil, mineral spirits and spar varnish for sealing plywood. Lay it on thick and a couple coats. The oil and spirits really helps the varnish soak into the wood.

 

[Toprudder]

I happen to agree, but how do you know? HS6 is the only powder I have shot that would foul the gun to the point of malfunction in one session.

That was my experience using HS6 in 45acp. Failure to go into battery after 5 mags. I used it all up in 357mag (where it worked well).