Help me get everything I need

[bratch]

I think I'm going to place my Midway order once my C&R gets to them so I'm making a list of what I need.

I'm going to start off with just doing .45 ACP and 25-06 and add more as I feel the need.

Heres what I've got so far:

Kit:
Kit

Dies:
45 Dies
25-06 Dies

Primer, Powder, Bullets, and Brass I'm open to suggestions on.

Actually I'm open on everything these are jsut what I had picked out so far.

What else will I need that isn't in the kit or listed?

Thanks

 

[Art Eatman]

Browse through the other "newbie" and "beginner" threads.

I've never bothered to clean primer residue out of .45 brass, but I do so with all my rifles. They make primer pocket cleaners, but I've used a screwdriver for 40 forevers; a quick twirl and it's done.

Case neck chamfer tool for the .25-'06. Makes the bullets easier to seat. It doesn't take much of a cut to make the case neck righteous.

I weigh all my rifle charges. In loading the pan of the scale, I use a teaspoon I rescued from the mechanical pig in the sink. It's hickeyed just right to control dropping that last two or three granules of powder to get "just right", and it's actually faster than a powder trickler.

Red shop rags. Good for wiping down .45ACP with lead bullets. Gets the wax off.

Some sort of case tumbler and media, particularly for the pistol brass. Clean Is Good, for an autoloader. Less of a problem for bolt-action rifles--and I neck-size only with brass from my own rifle.

Best luck,

Art

 

[Kamicosmos]

You're good to go with that kit!

edited to add:

Oh, you want recommendations on stuff not in the kit! ah.

Uh, well powder and bullets is up to you, especially for .45 there are a bazillion choices.

Build a good reloading bench, good lights above it. Shelving on it, under it, next to it, etc. Build as big as a bench as you can afford and have space for! Much like a gun safe, in a few months you will wish you made the table this much larger, then that much larger, etc etc.

 

[Ol` Joe]

You might want to make sure your dies come with shell holders, most don`t. I`d also spring for a caliper, it`s needed to measure your COL, case lengh for trimming, and checking the taper crimp on your acps. You`ll find a few more things as you get started but this should be enough to get you running.

 

[bratch]

Thanks so far guys here is a list of everything I can think of that is needed with an x by what is in the kit.

Press-x
Dies
Shell holder
Powder Scale-x
Powder Measure-x
Powder Funnel-x
Loading Block-x
Caliper
Case Trimmer
Priming tool-x
Case Lube-x
Prep Tools

Powder
Primers
Bullets
Brass

Optional
Tumbler

Fill me in for anything I missed.

 

[Bullet]

Don't forget loading manuels.

 

[gobabygo]

Just wanted to add a couple more:

Bullet puller
Ammo boxes

Optional:
chronograph (i don't think it's really optional)
corncob or walnut media (to go with your tumbler)

 

[dmftoy1]

Sharpie Marker (for writing on ammo boxes)
Plastic Ammo boxes (if you don't have any old cardboard boxes laying around)
Labels for labeling ammo boxes.
Notebook for recording what you loaded and how it did.

Bench.

 

[TooTaxed]

Bullets: for range use, the Ranier plated and Bear Creek moly lead bullets work just fine, and are much cheaper than FMJ. I like the .452 200-gr SWC bullets also...cheapest obtained at your local gunshow. Midway prices are good, but shipping adds to the cost...on the other hand, you probably save the state tax!

I've found the Lyman Reloading Handbook #48 to be an excellent reference.

Your press kit and Lee die sets are excellent choices. The Lee die sets come with shellholders for single-stage presses, and will fit your RCBS just fine. The Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die in your .45 set is a "must have"...even if you went with another die set, you should get one.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Did you make your order yet? I have some extra stuff in the gun room that I'm not using. RCBS RS press, (never used), 5-10 scale, (still in the box), funnel, case lube, lube pad, loading block, and probably something else off your list. All for less than half of the Midway RCBS kit price. The rest you can grab from Ebay.

Other than that, I think you've written a pretty good list of things needed to get reloading. But get a complete shell holder set. I wish the hand primer kit shell holders were the same for the presses.

I lock the gun room door when I'm reloading. No interuptions. No phone. And I check things twice. A good note book.

Happy reloading.

-Steve

 

[cookiemonster]

If at all possible...try to find a local supplier of powder and primers...the hazmat charges will eat you up with smaller orders. Its more cost effective to get them locally until you get up to the larger amounts...I have 3 places I can get powder from here thats within 15 miles of me. If I drive 30-40 miles, that doubles. Even with the price of gas around here...its still cheaper to go the local route.

Lee makes a universal shell holder set that covers most of the calibers in circulation today. it costs approx. 15 bucks...nice to have.


MTCW

Darrell

 

[Sharps Shooter]

I sure like my Lee Powder Measure Kit. It only costs about ten bucks, comes with 15 different sizes of plastic powder dippers and a chart that lists 130 different powders. It's great for working up loads, and then once you settle on a particular load, you simply select the dipper that throws a slightly heavier charge of whatever powder your load calls for, pull out your pocket knife and trim the powder dipper down until it throws the exact charge you want. It's much easier than setting up a real powder measure when you only want to load 30 or 40 rounds on a single stage press.

 

[WayneConrad]

How about some max cartridge gauges?

I've just started doing this, and I make lots of out-of-spec cases still. Without the gauges, I'd have to wait until I tried to chamber them to find the bad ones. With the gauges, I get the satisfaction of being disappointed with my workmanship immediately instead of on the firing line

 

[brickeyee]

A dial caliper is pretty much a requirement. Cheap ones are less than $30. An accurate electronic runs about $80. A good one has an accuracy of 0.001 inch over the entire length (get a 6 inch). Many less expensive units are more like 0.001 inch per inch.
Some 'less expensive' dial calipers are also 0.200 per revolution. 0.100 per revolution is easier to read.