Go Time! Purchasing First Press

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lee adj.charge bar great for ball-powder, BAD for flake powder, thats just the way it is ,

Lee scale..., mine reads the same as my Lyman, my Redding, and my Lyman DPS1200 nothing wrong with that cheap little Lee scale , you should have at least 2 scales anyway, to check from one to the other, you can buy a weight check set or make your own , copper wire works great , hammer it flat scratch the weight on them after checking the weight on 2 scales,

Dies.... I have Lee, Honandy, Lyman, Redding, CH., and Pacific, had some RCBS but found I like all others better, some day I will have only Lee for handgun and Redding for rifle , for your 9mm you should be very happy with your Lee dies ,I have a set on my Lee loadMaster , and have been useing them on that press for over 7 years and I have a friend that has a set of lee 9mm dies on his LoadMaster for close to 20 years and that is all he loads , in all fairness I do use a Rcbs de-cap only die in stage #1 , the Lee LoadMaster has 5 stages, In my 15+ years of reloading I can't say I have found any real junk , just some brand have stuff than others , and no one brand has the best of everything

Prep tools , someone else said go with Lyman , .. YEP my prep tools are all Lyman or hand made by me on my own lath,

don't forget a good set of calipers and at least 2 good books

WARNING !!!!!!!! you may become a RELOADING JUNKING!!! like me ,
 
My Lyman Pro 500 scale is very accurate and repeatable.
 
Maybe I'm just grumpy and upset that no new reloaders have given up yet and sold me all of their components?
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Thats pretty funny. Don't lose patience to soon.
 
If one's resizing die is leaving brass shavings on the press something is seriously wrong. I have two 9mm Lee deluxe sets and Lee die sets for all calibers I load and the dies don't scratch the brass nor leave any shavings.

Lee dies are some of the best deals around, I really like the deluxe pistol sets. Includes a taper crimp die, a shell holder and even a powder dipper. You can pay a lot more and you will not get any better rounds made.
 
GT1 said:
If one's resizing die is leaving brass shavings on the press something is seriously wrong. I have two 9mm Lee deluxe sets and Lee die sets for all calibers I load and the dies don't scratch the brass nor leave any shavings.

Lee dies are some of the best deals around, I really like the deluxe pistol sets. Includes a taper crimp die, a shell holder and even a powder dipper. You can pay a lot more and you will not get any better rounds made.
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Agreed. The bang for buck with Lee products is unmatched in the reloading industry. That's why I get worked up when people start bashing their products and lodge complaints against them (most likely due to user error in the first place).

I have loaded using dies from most of the major companies (Lee, RCBS, Hornady, and Redding). Most of the dies that I now use are Hornady, but only for a few "features" that they have over other dies (bullet alignment sleeve and micrometer seating stem, to name the biggest 2). However, I still have presses set up with Lee dies and they serve their functions just as well.
 
I use Lee Carbide dies for my handgun ammo and mostly RCBS dies for rifle ammo. I did buy a used set of Hornady dies for the 45-70 and I'm very happy with those too.
 
Thats encouraging.

I wish I could update this thread with news that my press is here but she hasn't shipped yet:( Thats probably ok, as I have no idea how long it will take my dad's brother to get over here to help me set up and walk me through the process of loading something...

I have rec'd the stand and some various tools, bullet puller, case guage, and such. I hope the stand (for those who haven't seen one, it has a concrete block hanging from the lowest shelf to weigh it down) doesn't rock back and forth or anything. Seems a little iffy. I've never so much as seen a press in real life, so Im not sure how much wrestling with the press goes on when using it.
 
I used to mount my press on a board which I belted to an end table (weighed less than 20 lbs) I steadied the press with my left hand while operating the handle with my right. No problems. Now, if you are loading 458 Wnchester or other huge cartridges instead of .357 Mag like I was, you might appreciate having a little extra weight.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep
 
Ill admit, I skimmed through the first page. but at fsreloading or titanreloading, you are going to get signifcant savings over "amazon" prices. The press alone is almost a jackson cheaper at titan and looks to be in stock.

otherwise, I have the cheapo pot metal turret(might have done the cast had I known about THR) and after a year and a halfs use and ~20,000 rounds, I can say that I love it and really see no need to over complicate things and "upgrade" Its a fun way to compliment my 1,000+ round a month habbit.

Edit: well, a lincoln shy of a jackson...
 
Have you started collecting components? Might be a bit hard right now with the shortages due to new reloaders (LOL).

But I would recommend Win-231 for powder and 124 grain Remington Jacketed Hollow Points for bullets. For primers Winchester small pistol primers or CCI SP will work well. Brass, you should be collecting your fired brass from range trips by now.

Good Luck and welcome to the hobby of reloading.
Jim
 
Yessir. Been collecting. The press is all I need. I would like any comments on the powder I have: Herco, HP-38, and American Select, if anyone has any comments on those (thats like asking a duck if it can swim).


UPDATE: Email this morning, my press has shipped. I'm darned excited, feel like breakdancing, feel like moon walking, jumping for joy, elated....now.... if I can only figure out how do it....
 
Reefinmike said:
Ill admit, I skimmed through the first page. but at fsreloading or titanreloading, you are going to get signifcant savings over "amazon" prices. The press alone is almost a jackson cheaper at titan and looks to be in stock.

otherwise, I have the cheapo pot metal turret(might have done the cast had I known about THR) and after a year and a halfs use and ~20,000 rounds, I can say that I love it and really see no need to over complicate things and "upgrade" Its a fun way to compliment my 1,000+ round a month habbit.

Edit: well, a lincoln shy of a jackson...
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Yea, had to take advantage of Amazons 1 year same as cash deal they got goin on. Could've def gotten it cheaper
 
Press getting here today or tmrw and I've got to go to Nashville for our anniversary. You think it'll go over well if I cancel to set up my press? :D
 
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Potatohead said:
Yessir. Been collecting. The press is all I need. I would like any comments on the powder I have: Herco, HP-38, and American Select, if anyone has any comments on those (thats like asking a duck if it can swim).
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HP-38 = W231 and is a GREAT choice for building 9mm ammo. It meters very well, is fairly clean and it produces accurate ammo for me. I use it for most of my 9mm ammo.
 
Great, i have 3 lbs hitting today from Third Gen. I guess I should mention, Im loading 9s and 380s.
 
Have fun potatohead....


Re-Loading is a BLAST for sure.... take yer Time... ask questions, be safe, and HAVE FUN
 
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