Handloading: Beginner.

[Birdmang]

My grandfather wants me to reload 9mm, .38 special and Mauser 7mm for him. I want to reload .223 for myself. I recently bought this hand loader. I have the brass, powder, bullets and primers. I also recently signed up to receive a free reloading handbook from a website that I found on here from a thread. I also have dies.

QUESTION: Other than what I got with the hand loader, and dies, what else do I need to purchase?

*I am planning on reloading very VERY slowly and mostly for performance, not for quantity, so the handloader seemed adequate.

 

[rcmodel]

*Lyman #49 reloading manual.
*Powder scale.
*Chamfer/deburring tool.
*Loading blocks to set your cases in while powder charging, etc.
*Dial caliper for setting OAL.
*Lots of Wheaties to resize 7mm & .223 cases with a Lee hand tool.

rc

 

[hillbillydelux]

Well... There are several things you will still need to get. #1 is get a reloading manual for the type of bullet you intend on reloading. Speer or Nosler manuals are very good and have just about all the information you will need. Most reloaders have several different manuals. Read them thouroughly. I have been reloading many years and I still read mine over and over.

 

[Tim the student]

I bet you will hear this a few more times: more books.

More time devoted to reading said books.

I think that you might want a brass trimmer and a tumbler in the near future too. I personally would not reload anything without a scale too.

 

[NuJudge]

A good vernier caliper, a scale, powder measure or group of Lee dippers, a powder trickler, a better reloading handbook than you can get on-line (I've always liked Lyman's books), a trimming mechanism for .223 and 7x57, several loading blocks to hold brass during the various stages of reloading (you can make them out of 2x6 with a drill press), and a lube pad for the brass to be put through steel dies.

You will need to clean brass before loading, and for brass loaded using steel size dies you will need to clean lube off after loading. I like tumbling brass in walnut shells, but once upon a time I rubbed dirt off each one by hand before and rubbed lube off each one after loading.

Try not to buy new stuff. There's an incredible amount of good used stuff out there.

 

[Birdmang]

Would I be better off buying a Lee reloading kit that comes with a press, or is the hand loader adequate?

 

[bigione]

My Speer manual has all the directions, but if you can find someone who reloads, ask for a little handson befor buying anything. After seeing the operation, then the manual is alot eaiser to understand. It's fun but you don't want to make a big mistake!!!!!

 

[jcwit]

Would I be better off buying a Lee reloading kit that comes with a press, or is the hand loader adequate?

Bench mounted press is much easier to operate than a hand press, IMO.
Especially with rifle calibers.
The small open press made by Lee can get you going, plus you'll learn all the steps ect. in a slow way helping to prevent mistakes.

 

[hillbillydelux]

Would I be better off buying a Lee reloading kit that comes with a press, or is the hand loader adequate?

Short answer, Yes. The handloader setup will work if you plan on loading very small amounts say for a hunting rifle. You mentioned several calibers and I believe you will be much happier with a solid mounted setup. The handloader will most likley leave you frustrated and with sore arms.

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

Puller

You have one skipped item. Probably one of the least expensive but you'll need a bullet puller. Trust me on this.

 

[oneounceload]

RC pretty much said it for your getting started....

 

[Birdmang]

Thanks for the help. If anyone in Illinois wants to show me how to reload it would be a great help. I am a 21 year old college senior and fairly sane.

 

[Martyk]

go to youtube and search out "ammosmith" This guy puts out a number of informative reloading videos. Or go to his site www.ammosmith.com

 

[Maj Dad]

Start At The Beginning

I started with a Lee Loader in 308 in 1969, bought more gear (press, scale, powder measure etc etc) in 1970 and went on from there. I learned a lot from the Lee Loader, which I still have (and 30-06) and use from time to time, and it laid a good foundation. Not that you should/have to do that, but incremental learning is superior to a data-dump all at once. The key is to start out deliberately, with a single-stage press (or turret, but not a progressive!) and most especially a powder scale. The scale is the most important thing you can get and use. All the other stuff is to faciliate and accelerate volume/rate of loading. The scale will save your butt from bad outcomes. I learned that too much powder from sloppy measuring (Lee measure scoops) can cause you to have to beat the bolt on your Mauser 308 open with a piece of 2x4 and make the primers one with the brass of the head. Don't skimp there; get a beam balance from Lee, RCBS, whomever, but get one and use it. I'm lucky to have all my limbs and eyes...

 

[Six]

*Loading blocks to set your cases in while powder charging, etc.

At first I didn't use a loading block, I felt safer charging one case, and immediately seating a bullet. No way I could screw up and double charge, right? But, that also means that you cannot visually inspect the cases to ensure the powder level is uniform.

Now I charge 50 cases, grab a flashlight and look over them and compare them all to make sure there aren't any obvious low/high charges.

Safety glasses

Some boxes for your ammo, write down what's in each. $1.99 at Sportsman's warehouse and other stores.

I'll add another vote for a tumbler. Even if you're planning to reload small quantities, it's so much easier to inspect the brass when it's shiny and clean as cracks and bulges clearly stand out.