getting re-started hand loading

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labnoti

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I'm looking for advice about hand loading. I formerly hand loaded rifle and shotshell 20-something years ago, but have been out of it for that long. I used a single-stage RCBS press for rifle, and a Hornady progressive press for shotshell. I had a lot of equipment, but I sold it all many years ago. I do have a vibratory tumbler. Now I want to load handgun cartridges. I have a lot of questions but a few answers first:

* I'll start with .38 special/.357 magnum. Nothing else for a couple years.
* I want to make light loads for training with a J frame.
* I want to reload my training cartridges to save expense.
* I will use lead bullets but will not cast my own.
* I will reload about 150 cartridges per week

Now my questions:

Should I buy a kit or components?
RCBS, Hornady, Dillon?
Progressive, and if so to what extent?
What have I not thought of to ask?
 
I would most likely go with a Lee classic turret or Challenger kit.
I bought an anniversary kit when I started loading again, and that was plenty, but now I'd probably opt for the turret just so I can leave all my dies attached and just change heads.

For the stated quantity of ammo your looking at I don't think a progressive is worth the cost. Ive only used my loadmaster (which stays set up for 9mm) 3 or 4 times in the last year and a half or so I've owned it. I buy 500 bullets and cases then process all of them, shoot most of that up and do it again.

I'll shoot 50-100rounds from a revolver in an afternoon (more from the Rossi 92 I had). It always seemed easier to just load on my single stage kit than get the second shell plate, tool head, and powder measure for the load master.
 
My $.02

Lee Classic Turret is hard to beat for the money and functionality. I would personally get this kit from Kempf WITH the auto disc or auto drum powder measure upgrades.

https://kempfgunshop.com/Kempf_Kit_w/_Lee_Classic_Turret_Press_-90064Kit-6575.html

Turret press is very simple and easy to set up and use. You can remove the index rod and use it like a single stage if you like, but with the benefit of a rotating turret head. I personally would (and have) get a separate set of .357 dies and a spare turret plate so you can keep one set for .38 and one for .357. You can easily load 200 rounds an hour on the LCT. You can actually load 300, but it takes some doing. ;)

You don't need to trim handgun brass IME.

That kit plus your tumbler and components should get you up and running. Oh, buy some cheap digital calipers from harbor freight or frankford arsenal, though you don't really need calipers to load .38-.357 if your bullets have crimp grooves. Also you will need a powder scale; I prefer the balance type over digital.
 
Welcome back

Since you’ve reloaded before you know the processes. That said, you’re probably a bit rusty on them. I’d suggest you get a manual and read it especially the part on the processes. Also watch some videos. If they’re still there Youtube had some that were decent.

A kit or piecing things together is a personal decision. Personally I like the latter as I was able to get better tools at better prices. But I also won’t pass up a sale, so if you see a sale on a good kit then jump on it if it meets your needs.

For your needs I’d highly recommend the Lee Classic Turret press. You’ll be able to knock off 150 rounds a week quickly but not pay much more than a single stage. In fact it’s cheaper than some single stage presses.
It’ll also make it easy to add other calibers when your plans change.

If you don’t want to go with the Lee LCT, I’m not sure what would make sense as IMHO a progressive seems like overkill and a lot of expense for the volume you listed.

There are tons of questions and you’ll think of them as you get responses.

Looks like a few folks posted while I was writing this. It seems like we’re three for three on the LCT recommendation
 
Looks like there's some consensus about the Lee. I'll definitely check it out. A turret press is probably right for me and my intended volume. I'd be comfortable batch-processing with a single stage, but the turret makes change-over at the end of each stage easier.

It's a good point that I don't need to be concerned with case trimming at the moment. I used to trim non-belted, shouldered cartridges in a rotary trimmer so they would headspace properly and consistently. But with a rimmed cartridge in a revolver cylinder, it just doesn't matter, especially considering the .38 Special case in the longer .357 magnum chamber.

I have some good Brown and Sharp calipers. I have a high quality digital scale, 0.01g. It's accurate and I have a high-precision weight to calibrate it. It was not marketed for reloading in particular, but I believe I'd only be using it to calibrate a drum/disc powder measure so its workflow characteristics aren't that important.

At the moment, it looks like I could reload .38's for about $0.15. From what I've seen, lead bullets are $0.10, primers are $0.03 and powder is about a penny or two. Brass-cased, brand-name, factory loads look to be no less than $0.25 to $0.30.

If I spent up to $500 on reloading equipment, I figure I could:

- break-even within 6 months of savings in cartridge expenses
- make light loads for training with a j frame (it's new to me)
- have equipment that will serve me when I load other much costlier cartridges in the future (I realize the savings on .38 is comparatively marginal, but I'll be shooting a volume of large centerfire rifle cartridges again in a few years)

I appreciate nice tools and although I am trying to save on the expense of ammunition, I don't care for cheap tools. I may very well get going for only $250, but considering the long-term savings, I don't want to make the mistake of being cheap.
 
With a $500 budget you can easily get good gear. In fact I did a post last year showing how you could do it for less than half of that.

Since you already have calipers and a scale, It seems you need:
Loading manuals and PDFs from the powder manufacturers
A press
Dies
A powder drop
Blocks and boxes to hold your ammo
A means to clean your brass
A notebook and writing device to keep notes

After that everything else is just going to make things easier and/or faster. And while you get back up to speed faster shouldn’t be a priority!

Btw I got my brass initially by firing new factory ammo. That also gave me plastic blocks I used to hold the brass. So all I needed was MTM or Berry’s boxes for the completed rounds.
 
that kempf kit up there is $204. Best deal on most versatile system IMO.

I can see the benefit of batch loading but once you use the "semi-progressive" auto-index turret you'll be sold.
 
LEE has a new press do out this month that bridges the Turret to Progressive gap.
The LEE Auto Breech Lock Pro is showing up for $107-125 on web sites.
You have to buy dies, shell plate & a powder measure separately.

I have the LEE Classic Cast Turret press with the Inline Fabrication case ejector. I have no real complaints. The press will do 200+ per hour easy with (800) pulls per hour. That same number of pulls will produce (800) completed cartridges on the Auto Breech Lock Pro. The new press looks very simple to use. It is like a turret or a Dillon 550.

https://leeprecision.com/auto-breech-lock-pro.html
 
One more voice to the LCT choir. If you're starting out with one cartridge it is about perfect for 150 rounds per week, for once you have it set up you will be able to turn out 150 rounds in an hour or less at a very comfortable pace. When you expand your cartridge selection you will only need add another turret and die set to rock and roll those.
I also recommend the Lee Auto Drum powder measure added to this setup for consistent throws and easy changes to powder charge choices.
 
labnoti said:
Looks like there's some consensus about the Lee. I'll definitely check it out. A turret press is probably right for me and my intended volume. I'd be comfortable batch-processing with a single stage, but the turret makes change-over at the end of each stage easier.

It's a good point that I don't need to be concerned with case trimming at the moment. I used to trim non-belted, shouldered cartridges in a rotary trimmer so they would headspace properly and consistently. But with a rimmed cartridge in a revolver cylinder, it just doesn't matter, especially considering the .38 Special case in the longer .357 magnum chamber.

I have some good Brown and Sharp calipers. I have a high quality digital scale, 0.01g. It's accurate and I have a high-precision weight to calibrate it. It was not marketed for reloading in particular, but I believe I'd only be using it to calibrate a drum/disc powder measure so its workflow characteristics aren't that important.

At the moment, it looks like I could reload .38's for about $0.15. From what I've seen, lead bullets are $0.10, primers are $0.03 and powder is about a penny or two. Brass-cased, brand-name, factory loads look to be no less than $0.25 to $0.30.

If I spent up to $500 on reloading equipment, I figure I could:

- break-even within 6 months of savings in cartridge expenses
- make light loads for training with a j frame (it's new to me)
- have equipment that will serve me when I load other much costlier cartridges in the future (I realize the savings on .38 is comparatively marginal, but I'll be shooting a volume of large centerfire rifle cartridges again in a few years)

I appreciate nice tools and although I am trying to save on the expense of ammunition, I don't care for cheap tools. I may very well get going for only $250, but considering the long-term savings, I don't want to make the mistake of being cheap.
Click to expand...
Plus you’ll need surgery to get the smile off your face mate :)

Thewelshm
 
labnoti said:
I have a high quality digital scale, 0.01g. It's accurate and I have a high-precision weight to calibrate it. It was not marketed for reloading in particular, but I believe I'd only be using it to calibrate a drum/disc powder measure so its workflow characteristics aren't that important.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you're aware but make sure you don't get mixed up between grams and grains using that thing. ;)
 
Reloading has not changed in the last 20 years.
Much of my reloading stuff is 40 to 50 years old.
 
labnoti said:
I appreciate nice tools and although I am trying to save on the expense of ammunition, I don't care for cheap tools. I may very well get going for only $250, but considering the long-term savings, I don't want to make the mistake of being cheap.
Click to expand...

For your consideration. If I had zero dollars worth of handloading stuff and were considering starting from scratch knowing what I know now and loading for handgun, I would give the Dillon Square Deal B a good long look. There are some compromises no doubt with this press, especially the proprietary dies. However, if you decided to move on later you can sell the machine with ease for almost what you pay for it. You will crank out the ammo much faster than any single stage turret press. And it will come in at less than $500.00. This is because you already have a lot of the goodies not press related.

I'm not a salesmen for anything firearms related and I don't own a Dillon. My bench is presently loaded with all kinds of stuff and I do a lot of revolver handloads and shoot my revolvers a lot. For my J-Frames it took a considerable amount of trial and error to find something that doesn't kick me in the butt and is still accurate. Consider also (Hi-TEK) coated bullets such as Bayou or Summers Enterprises.

I offer all of this as food for thought.
 
Last edited:
Livin_Cincy said:
LEE has a new press do out this month that bridges the Turret to Progressive gap.
The LEE Auto Breech Lock Pro is showing up for $107-125 on web sites.
You have to buy dies, shell plate & a powder measure separately.
Click to expand...

Have you even seen this press in person? Do you even know what it can or cannot do? Is it really the Fastest easiest most economical progressive press ever made?
 
Ireload2 said:
Reloading has not changed in the last 20 years.
Much of my reloading stuff is 40 to 50 years old.
Click to expand...

If you have reloaded in the past you will pick it up again pretty quickly. There are some newer powders available, but the old standbys still work fine. There are also more new bullet choices. Really, more choices in everything.

I won't recommend a brand but most of the manufactures offer a starter kit. There are some savings here. Some of the tools in kits are not the top of the line model, but more like mid level. They work as advertised. Or, you can buy individual pieces, choosing the "best" of everything. My only really strong suggestion is to buy a nice strong press. Something with an "O" frame and compound linkage. You won't really need this for pistol ammo but the strength and leverage will be appreciated if you ever load rifle ammo.
 
Choo choo, another getting on board the LeeClassicTurret train. A press that can't be beat for what it can do at that price point. You can spend a lot more and get much less press and versatility.

As always, buy a manual, or two, and refresh your mind on the process. You'll want them anyway, regardless (Can never have too much cross referencing material).
 
Not a fan of rockchuckers, I might be if it was 1972, though. The O frame SS press is rugged, it isn't versatile, nor much fun or rewarding to use, except in the case of big rifle/precision rifle. Can't think of a poorer choice for loading handgun/pistol ammo.
One can do so much better for less money it is insane. (see my previous post)
 
I have those Lee loaders in 9mm and 45 acp, in case of a rainy day, a really rainy day.
 
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