briankolakowski
Member
Thinkn about getting into reloading my own ammo.. i currently own a 30-06, 38 spl., and an 8mm.. whats some things i should know and some decent reloading kits
gettning into reloading
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dmazur
Member
There's this link (sticky) at the top of this page -
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=649184
and one of the links contained therein is a recommended equipment list.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=649184
and one of the links contained therein is a recommended equipment list.
JLDickmon
Member
prepare to be addicted...
first thing, get a book.
actually, get a couple books and read them
RCmodel or of the super-whammy-experienced guys will be along and suggest some titles..
I read the Lyman manual cover to cover before I did anything else
first thing, get a book.
actually, get a couple books and read them
RCmodel or of the super-whammy-experienced guys will be along and suggest some titles..
I read the Lyman manual cover to cover before I did anything else
briankolakowski
Member
Thanks guys!! I have always heard about reloading and thought it was expencive but my boss told me he could reload 50 44 magnum shells for like 8 bucks so its deff sumthin i want to get into
Blue68f100
Member
The Lyman 49th Edition Reloading Handbook is a good one to get you started with. The ABC of reloading is another one but some report it not near as good as the Lyman.
With equipment it all comes down to your budget and needs. Shooting handgun (autos) go through a lot of rounds quickly. Progressives are the way to go if you have limited time and need lots of ammo. Single stage presses are best for starting out on, but not a requirement. SS are easier to learn on since there is not a lot of thing going on at once.
With equipment it all comes down to your budget and needs. Shooting handgun (autos) go through a lot of rounds quickly. Progressives are the way to go if you have limited time and need lots of ammo. Single stage presses are best for starting out on, but not a requirement. SS are easier to learn on since there is not a lot of thing going on at once.
jack44
Member
midway or cabales has entry kits from Lee,RCBS Hornady the prices are low also.
briankolakowski
Member
Lyman is on its way thanks guys
bubbacrabb
Member
I found it best to get with an actual person on reloading. I also watched hundreds of YouTube videos on it. Some are better than others. Hickok45 has a few very basic videos but explains the processes, and I like him. San Francisco liberal with a gun "that's his yt name has pretty in depth vids that learned from. Learn as much as you can. I weighed a lot of options before buying a press. I read lot on here as well. That Lyman book is pretty good, you can learn a lot reading it. I almost forgot. YouTube ammosmith he's really good.
Jonzer77
Member
You don't exactly save money but you are able to shoot A LOT more 
oneounceload
member
You NEED:
manuals
press
dies
scale
components - that's a minimum
You'll want:
calipers
tumbler
trimmer
bullet puller
and more stuff than any big box store could ever carry
Just look at Midway's catalog to get an idea of the bazillion things someone invented because you NEED it for reloading...
Go slow and add as you go only what YOU need
manuals
press
dies
scale
components - that's a minimum
You'll want:
calipers
tumbler
trimmer
bullet puller
and more stuff than any big box store could ever carry
Just look at Midway's catalog to get an idea of the bazillion things someone invented because you NEED it for reloading...
Go slow and add as you go only what YOU need
howlnmad
Member
One thing that you mentioned was that your boss reloads. That can be very helpful if he would be willing to show you the process and mentor you a bit.
A lot depends on how much you shoot.
If you are going through boxes of ammo every week, reloading saves.
Boxes every month? Longer to 'earn back' the setup costs.
A box a year? Keep buying loaded ammo.
If you get into old guns it can be the only way to even get ammo.
There are MANY cartridges that are no longer commercially loaded, and a lot that are very small volume.
.50-70 Govt. runs at least $5 each, and some of the 'express' rounds are over $20 each if you can find them.
crracer_712
Member
I started with the Lee Challenger kit, as it was offered from midway before the 2006 breech lock models. Came with the Lee 2nd edition loading manual (I really liked that manual, very clear and easy to follow), the Lee scale, Lee PPM, and the challenger press. It was a little over a hundred bucks.
I've since purchased the Classic Turret press. Also aquired a Cabela's digital scale. I had concerns about the accuracy of the lee scale, its only a 25 dollar scale! Can't be that good! My concerns started when I went to load pistol rounds with little tolerance in powder measure. My Cabela's scale confirmed that my Lee scale was measure accurately. However, the Cabela's scale is quicker to use. But if you want to get in to it cheap, Lee stuff is hard to beat for the price.
Don't freak out with powder measure. If the scale on the powder measure says its putting out 5.0 grain of powder, and you find your scale says it's less than 4.0 grain of powder, trust the scale. There is so much variance in powders that none of them will drop the same amount of grain through the same dispencer on a given setting. Unique powder is a powder that will show this more than most, in my experience anyway.
I've since purchased the Classic Turret press. Also aquired a Cabela's digital scale. I had concerns about the accuracy of the lee scale, its only a 25 dollar scale! Can't be that good! My concerns started when I went to load pistol rounds with little tolerance in powder measure. My Cabela's scale confirmed that my Lee scale was measure accurately. However, the Cabela's scale is quicker to use. But if you want to get in to it cheap, Lee stuff is hard to beat for the price.
Don't freak out with powder measure. If the scale on the powder measure says its putting out 5.0 grain of powder, and you find your scale says it's less than 4.0 grain of powder, trust the scale. There is so much variance in powders that none of them will drop the same amount of grain through the same dispencer on a given setting. Unique powder is a powder that will show this more than most, in my experience anyway.
sean1129
Member
38 special would be the best from what you've listed to begin with (mostly because of the straight cases). Additionally, I would spring for a decent digital scale. The balance beam scales work fine, but when I began I tended to check my powder levels frequently--the digital scale made this a whole lot quicker.
I would recomend a charge-bar type of charging system. Whether it be the Lee pro auto disk or something more expensive (like a Dillon 550 thrower), I found these to be MUCH more consistent than the 'powder throwers' with a handle that gets rotated up and down.
Also, think long and hard about the amount you currently shoot and how much you foresee yourself shooting. I began with a Lee anniversary kit and was quite satisfied--it is a good thing. However, I was shooting every/every other weekend at least 200 rounds. In less than six months I've already upgraded to a progressive reloader (Dillon 550b). If you see yourself shooting this much or more, I'd save my money longer and go progressive from the beginning.
Lastly, one tip from someone who was paranoid about powder charging--if you start out doing batches (single stage press), get a case holding block, and when you have a batch charged, take the holding block to a light and visually inspect the powder level in each case to ensure they are all equally and not doulble-charged.
Hope this helps.
I would recomend a charge-bar type of charging system. Whether it be the Lee pro auto disk or something more expensive (like a Dillon 550 thrower), I found these to be MUCH more consistent than the 'powder throwers' with a handle that gets rotated up and down.
Also, think long and hard about the amount you currently shoot and how much you foresee yourself shooting. I began with a Lee anniversary kit and was quite satisfied--it is a good thing. However, I was shooting every/every other weekend at least 200 rounds. In less than six months I've already upgraded to a progressive reloader (Dillon 550b). If you see yourself shooting this much or more, I'd save my money longer and go progressive from the beginning.
Lastly, one tip from someone who was paranoid about powder charging--if you start out doing batches (single stage press), get a case holding block, and when you have a batch charged, take the holding block to a light and visually inspect the powder level in each case to ensure they are all equally and not doulble-charged.
Hope this helps.
JLDickmon
Member
I began with http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/presses-and-kits/LyC_RPK_Expert_Tmag.php and I added a Lee O-frame later, but don't use it hardly..
altitude_19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2008
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- 650
A Lyman what? Single stage? Turret? Press or kit?
briankolakowski
Member
@ altitude..... lyman 49th edition reloading handbook
rfwobbly
Member
Brian -
Welcome to THR and reloading.
• First... read, read, read. Even checking your local library can save you some money. I bet your boss has some books he'll loan you too.
• Realize that your shooting volumes must support buying bullets and primers in volume. By that I mean 100+. As was said above, if you shoot 20 a year it's probably not worth it.
• OTOH, if you shoot a local pistol competition, then running through 200+ per week is no problem. Even if you had to buy another pistol, say a used 9mm, all your other calibers can "piggyback" off the press paid for by the 9mm.
• Reloaders also enjoy much greater accuracy, so maybe the cost is justified by that added element alone.
• Most reloaders are happy to let you see the process and let you use their equipment under their watchful eye, just to make sure "you get off on the right foot".
• Using your boss for the "mentor" function above could be career enhancing or career limiting.
• The second thing, with all the above being understood, then is to have a goal in mind. "I want to join the bulls eye competition on Wednesday nights." "I want to join the IPSC competitions on Saturdays." "I want to join the monthly long distance rifle competitions." This because reloading is most usually a means to a goal, not an end in itself. No one simply wants to reload simply to fill their basement with loaded ammo.
• Lastly... if reloading is anywhere near your radar screen, then you want to start picking up every single piece of cartridge brass you see from now on. You can't reload without having plenty of empty brass. It's nothing to have 500 to 5000 pieces of empty brass. And those pieces of brass you find that you don't reload can be swapped for those that you do.
Hope this helps!
Welcome to THR and reloading.
• First... read, read, read. Even checking your local library can save you some money. I bet your boss has some books he'll loan you too.
• Realize that your shooting volumes must support buying bullets and primers in volume. By that I mean 100+. As was said above, if you shoot 20 a year it's probably not worth it.
• OTOH, if you shoot a local pistol competition, then running through 200+ per week is no problem. Even if you had to buy another pistol, say a used 9mm, all your other calibers can "piggyback" off the press paid for by the 9mm.
• Reloaders also enjoy much greater accuracy, so maybe the cost is justified by that added element alone.
• Most reloaders are happy to let you see the process and let you use their equipment under their watchful eye, just to make sure "you get off on the right foot".
• Using your boss for the "mentor" function above could be career enhancing or career limiting.
• The second thing, with all the above being understood, then is to have a goal in mind. "I want to join the bulls eye competition on Wednesday nights." "I want to join the IPSC competitions on Saturdays." "I want to join the monthly long distance rifle competitions." This because reloading is most usually a means to a goal, not an end in itself. No one simply wants to reload simply to fill their basement with loaded ammo.
• Lastly... if reloading is anywhere near your radar screen, then you want to start picking up every single piece of cartridge brass you see from now on. You can't reload without having plenty of empty brass. It's nothing to have 500 to 5000 pieces of empty brass. And those pieces of brass you find that you don't reload can be swapped for those that you do.
Hope this helps!
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