Getting Started: Ordered stuff, Need anything esle?

[RugerOldArmy]

Well..I'm diving into reloading headfirst. I'm going to start loading pistol calibers. (9mm and .45acp) I wanted a decent setup, enough to do things right, but not overkill. I've already ordered:

- Dillon RL 550B in 45 acp
- 550B - As it Should BE - be.com Upgrade
- 550B Maint & Spare Parts Kit
- 550B Deluxe Quick Change Kit
- RL 550B Caliber conv. 9mm/38 super
- Dillon 9mm 3-die carbide set
- Dillon .45ACP 3-die carbide set
- 2 Sm & 2 Lg Primer Pickup tubes
- 550B Video Manual
- Low Powder sensor
- Primer flip tray
- One in. Bench Wrench w/Five 1 in. Lock Rings
- Case Polish & Lube deal
- D-Terminator electronic scale
- Digital Calipers
- Reloading Manual - Lyman #48
- Reloading Manual - Speer #13
- Dillon 45 acp stainless case gage
- Dillon 9mm stainless case gage

I know I need a case tumbler and powder/primers/bullets (I have brass).

What else is 'essential' to get started?

Thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like a good outfit. I loaded some ammo today and I can't think of anything I used that is not on your list.

I would want to have a bullet puller to take care of bullets seated too deep and other doubtful rounds. Proper procedure will avoid nearly all such, but there is always the chance. You can just drop the uh-ohs in a box, no need to wait on another tool to come in.

Be advised that you can run a D550B in single round mode. Put in one case and cycle it all the way around til loaded. The machine will not spill powder or scatter primers. That way you can see what each stage does without interference or distraction. Load that way for a while and you will be more confident and experienced when you go progressive. Some adjustment to powder charge and maybe bullet seating will be needed then but it won't be much.

 

[HSMITH]

WOW!! You aren't playing around are you? That is an OUTSTANDING setup you have outlined, one that it took most of us years to aquire as we dinked around with slow and/or inferior equipment. Offhand I can't think of anything other than the bullet puller Jim mentioned that you will want on hand.

A suggestion would be to look at Midway for the Frankford Arsenal vibratory primer tube filler, mine works pretty well and is a real time saver on extended loading sessions. I also have the vibratory case cleaner (tumbler) from them and it works pretty well, considering it was only $40 I think it was a great value. Be SURE to get a media seperator with or in addition to your tumbler, I did it the hard way for a long time and it just isn't worth it. I highly recommend the seperator be the type that has a rotating basket inside of an enclosure, they work fast and well with no spilled media. Mine just happens to be an RCBS, and I like it a lot.

Hope this helps.

 

[griz]

Sounds like you have done your homework. Glad to see you got two manuals. The only thing I would add is a deburring tool to clean up the mouth of cases. Pistol brass doesn't require much trimming but some new cases can have a little edge on them.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Thanks very much for the feedback. It is also nice to know I didn't end up selecting crap that will need to be replaced over time. (That is usually my karma!)

Some very good suggestions. I need to get:

- A case tumbler (are the Lyman ones decent? They're reasonable.)
- A case/media seperator. I think I'll go with the RCBS one HSMITH recommended. I'm a working single dad, so the timesavings count.
- Tumbler media/polish...Corncobs better than ground walnut?
- Bullet-puller. In the natchez catalog, I see some that look like hammers. Do these suckers really work well, just by inertia?
- Deburring tool (haven't spotted one yet...will look)
- Primer pocket cleaner.

Anybody weigh their bullets? I'd like to find a good (and hopefully cheap) source of FMJs for 9mm (para/luger) and .45ACP. What is better (more uniform)? National Bullets, Zero, Ranier, others? As my account name/handle implies, I've spent 20+ years strictly in the BP world, and never reloaded smokeless. I'll hold off on powder/primers till I read the Lyman/Speer manuals but I suspect I'll focus on 124gr 9mm FMJ's for my CZ75 and 230gr .451 FMJs for TRP & Milspec 1911.

As a newbie, I'd appreciate favorite powder recomendations. I suspect ball powders are best with the volume measures. Any Fav's from those who tried a few? Bullseye? Win231?

Smokeless powder still scares the hell outta me. And the idea of air in the case. (In the BPCR world, you fill the empty space with corn-meal or some other filler.) I've heard a little bullseye goes a LONG way, and my biggest reload fear is a double charge of this stuff...I'm gonna go real...real..slow at first. I think I'll have a more conservative approach (and goals) than 'Clark' seems too! (...no offense Clark..see the smiley?)

Many thanks. And yes, the feedback helps. Off to build a bench...

 

[HSMITH]

I use treated corncob media only, it works well but so does walnut. Walnut cleans faster, but it doesn't give the lustre that corncob does, either way you will have clean cases.

The Lyman tumblers are fine.

The inertial bullet pullers work well. This is another Frankford Arsenal product I have, $15 and it works like a champ.

The deburring tool can be as simple as a Uni-bit you already might have, or a 90* chamfer bit. You can get them in the 'case care kit' from just about any maker.

Don't waste your time with a primer pocket cleaner. I have loaded 38's and 45's 40+ times without ever cleaning a primer pocket. It just isn't worth the time or effort.

231 would be a good choice, as would Universal, Power Pistol, Unique, SR4756, Super Field, and about 40 other powders. 231 will do a great job for 9mm and 45, it is also pretty economical.

Zero bullets are the best of what you mention, but any decent bullet will be fine. The guns you list are lead bullet friendly too, and that will save a lot of money.

 

[Edward429451]

Only two things I can add..

Digital Calipers are neato, for sure, but don't be decieved into thinking that they are more accurate than the no batteries required analog sets. Adding an extra digit don't mean squat in terms of accuracy. (A machinist told me never close them all the way except for zeroing purposes, btw.)

The Dillon case gauge got me into a problem area and I do not use it anymore. The Dillon gauge is manufactured to Minimum SAAMI specs and a lot of 45 barrels on the market are more toward Maximum specs. I crimped until my rounds would fall in n out of the case gauge and had a headspace problem in my Colt and Glock pistols, rounds slipping past the headspace stop to create jams. Best to use the barrel from the gun you use to gauge the rounds. Disassembled and out of the gun of course. I haven't had a problem since I began doing it this way.

Happy loading.

 

[Valkman]

I'm glad you got the video - I got pretty much the same set-up last year and watching the video really helps.

I've never used a primer pocket cleaner except for single stage loading - not on the Dillon.

I'd suggest "The ABC's of Reloading" as it helped me, but other than that load some up and go try them!

 

[Bronson7]

Safety Glasses!
Bronson7

 

[griz]

DOH! I forgot the safety glasses!

The air space is just something you will have to become used to. The only danger is a double charge, and it sounds like you are familiar with that serious problem. For what it's worth, the few times I use the smelly old fashioned powder , it makes me nervous. I keep thinking lightning will strike the can and make a big noise.

If I was going to use one powder for 9 and 45, it would probably be Universal. But as HSMITH said, there are a huge number of well suited powders for the job.

And for that deburring tool, Lee makes and inexpensive one that will do the inside and outside of the case. Hope I didn't make it sound like a big deal, for pistol rounds you will not use it often.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

(In Homer Simpson voice) Woo Hoo

Well, bench completed, 550 set up, first 100 rounds of .45 ACP created! This is so cool! First load:

Winchester cases
1.272" OAL
5.4 Gr Win231
230 gr TMJ
WLP

Can't wait to punch paper!

Thanks...

 

[45auto]

One Shot lube really makes reloading much easier...much!

The seperator with the cage inside an enclosure is wise. IMHO, that cloud of "dust" you see when pouring and rotating is laden with lead in most cases. I would even do that part outside if possible.

 

[Tony Mig]

The seperator with the cage inside an enclosure is wise. IMHO, that cloud of "dust" you see when pouring and rotating is laden with lead in most cases. I would even do that part outside if possible.

I use corncob media well treated with polish, the polish seems to help trap the lead dust.

RugerOldArmy....you did it right brother, the Dillon equipment is some of the best in the reloading world, the two manuals are also a good move, plus your selection of powders, and primers are an excellent choice too.
I prefer Winchester primers, but will substitute CCI's if the Win's aren't availible. Another powder you may want to try is Allient's Unique...(if you decide you don't like the W231, or can't get it)

I'm still loading with a Lee single stage, but I will eventually move up to a progressive as I just shoot too much to keep up with this single stage press. I'll probably go with one of the Dillon's as most of my shooting / reloading buddies around here use Dillon, and I can always pick their brains when I need help with something.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Thanks again

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I'm getting comfortable with this. First rounds shot nice. I did pick up Hornady's 2 volume reloading manual, and 1lb of Power Pistol, and 1lb of Blue Dot to experiment a bit with using some of the recipies I saw in Speer/Lyman/Hornady manuals.

Damn...this is a hobby in and of itself.

I'm very happy with my 2 evening loading bench. Pic below...

All said and done, I dropped maybe a grand in the setup, but I can really experiment w/9mm and 45ACP loads...I'll move on to rifle later.

I missed the reloading aspect of blackpowder starting into this IPSC/IDPA stuff. ...and then I found it seems quite doable!

Again, Thanks Jim W, HSMITH, Ed, Griz, Bronson, Tony, 45auto and Valkman