Help me out for Christmas!

[Eightball]

So my parents want me to make a list of firearm-related stuff for Christmas ideas (yeah, it's kinda late in the year for it, big deal). Seeing how I only recently acquired my reloading bench, the only dies I have that I use are those for .38. I have an M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, and AR15 to feed, but none of the dies, and my folks set a $200 for "everything" I want for Christmas, so this can only be a small part of it. My scale broke, so when I reload I borrow a friend's RCBS 1010, and like it, but no way am I planning on buying one of those brand new (ebay or whatnot would be spiffy, unless one of y'all wanna sell me one). So, I'm thinking that a full-size .223 RCBS set of dies, and maybe a .30 Carbine Carbide set of dies would be a nice "gift" from them to me. That being said, I'm also thinking that, if I got into that whole deal, I'd need some spray lube for the .223 or .30 Carbine (some advice on that would be handy), and could use some help on that. And then theres this, and that, and the other thing, etc......

The cartridges I use are:
.38/.357 (covered already)
.30 Carbine (not covered, got some brass, though, frequently used rifle)
.223 (not covered, got lots of brass and bullets, though, and frequently used rifle)
.30-06 (only out of my Garand, have some brass handy)
.308 (only two rifles that I don't shoot too often, no brass or anything for it)

Any ideas to help me out, or would around $75 for those two dies work? I'm getting my rough ideas of die prices from Midway, and only RCBS dies (no, I won't use another brand, don't try to convince me). Help deciding on reloading-based gifts?

 

[Ol` Joe]

Have get a gift certificate for MidWayUSA. You can then watch the monthly sales and pick up what you need as you go.

 

[fmnnc]

Ol' Joe makes a good point. I too make a wish list and Midway will actually let me know via email when it is on sale. Sometimes they will run a promotion on your entire order.

If you really want it for Christmas, go in and create a wish list on their site and then e-mail it to family and friends. They have a provision for that as these cats are marketing gurus.

Once you get the dies, will you be able to load? Surely you will need some bullets and etc. The money in this hobby goes quick but is sure is fun!

Hope you and your family have a great holiday!

P.S.

(no, I won't use another brand, don't try to convince me)

I won't but just curious....brand loyalty, all of your other stuff is RCBS?

 

[Eightball]

All my other components are RCBS, but that's not my only reason. It works for me.

 

[Grumulkin]

I would go with a scale and dies for the 30 Carbine and 223 Remington.

As for lube, don't go with the gooey RCBS stuff or spray lube. Imperial Sizing Wax is the best there is.

You should be able to get this stuff easily for $200.

 

[jeepmor]

I'd go with the gift certificate and wait for sales to stretch that dollar as far as you can.

 

[strat81]

For lube, get Imperal Sizing Wax. VERY easy to use.

As for dies, I'd get .223 X-Dies from RCBS and the .30 Carbine. For the Garand, it's cheaper right now to buy the Greek HXP surplus from CMP than it is to reload.

 

[Eightball]

So, what's with the x-dies vs. regular ones? And, the Imperial Sizing wax....is that aerosol, goop that needs a pad to use, applied directly to casing?

Sorry, I'm not all knowing about reloading, still relatively new.

And my problem with asking for a scale is that the one I've come to find the most useful is the 1010, and those are......kinda pricey.

 

[Grumulkin]

So, what's with the x-dies vs. regular ones? And, the Imperial Sizing wax....is that aerosol, goop that needs a pad to use, applied directly to casing?

I tried x-dies and didn't particularly like them so got rid of them. I'm sure some people love them. I have quite a few of the regular RCBS dies and like them.

Imperial Sizing Wax comes in a little can. It's a wax just like the name implies. You put a LITTLE bit on your fingers and apply it to the case. I generally only have to put a little more on my fingers every 5 or 10 cases depending on the case size. A little bit goes a long ways. It's not a bad hand conditioner, wipes off the cases and washes off hands easily and the little can lasts a long time.

 

[RustyFN]

I would ask for a AR 15, that's gun related.
Rusty

 

[Eightball]

The folks say they aren't going to buy me a firearm. Besides, I already have an AR.

What is the difference between the x-dies and regular ones? And, so far as the wax, a coworker of mine demonstrated to me how easy it is to use, and I think that, for the amount of reloading I do on a regular basis (which is directly dependent upon how much I shoot), I think a spray-on would work better for me than hand-applied stuff. Any suggestions along that realm?

 

[KaiserBen]

The X die reduces the need for trimming (in my experience, on .223, you need to trim *once*, on initial load, then the die keeps the length in spec).

 

[Master Blaster]

Lyman 48, Speer 14, i would recommend the two manuals listed here, so you have a good reloading manual, then you read them thoroughly.

What kind of press do you have? Do you have a good powder measure?

RCBS dies are fine, Redding dies are also very good.
When I reload .223 I like the RCBS micrometer seating Die, the one that has a drop in window, it makes it very easy to handle and seat those .223 bullets without having to ride them into the die with your fingers. you raise the ram part way, drop them in the window and the sleeve aligns them perfectly every time. Its about $80 though, but well worth it if you load alot of .223.

 

[Eightball]

Already have one or two reloading manuals--old stuff that gives "true" max values, rather than the "lawyerized" max values in some modern books. Follow 'em to the T, too.

Press: Single-stage RCBS.
Powder Measure: the powder drop accompaniment, name unknown, also RCBS.
Scale: currently on the fritz, I borrow a buddie's 1010 and like it, but is too expensive for a new one for my folk's criteria, and I look for a used one on auction sites every so often.

I haven't actually got into bottlenecked cases, but loaded a bunch of .22-250 to help out a co-worker; he supervised, and it was my "hands on" learning of reloading, but I don't remember there being problems seating the bullet correctly in his single stage press.....why would there be an alignment problem for .223? Educate me. Also, *just* how important is trimming the case on calibres that headspace on the mouth rather than the rim (since, to date, I've primarily loaded .38 special rounds for use out of a .357, for lack of .357 brass, which obviously headspaces on the rim; taking this all one notch at a time, I'm still relatively new to it all).

 

[Ol` Joe]

Already have one or two reloading manuals--old stuff that gives "true" max values, rather than the "lawyerized" max values in some modern books. Follow 'em to the T, too

You mean those old manuals with data worked up in real firearms and pressures simply guessed at by bolt lift, extraction, and primer apearance? The ones they found were too warm in some loads once they added test equipment to back up their load data that was built to SAAMI std and not a off the shelf rifle?
I`m sure none of the manufactures today would care that the competion is getting better velocity or lower pressure with their stuff then them. I mean why list the "true" top pressure loads and show theirs is the equal or better component? We`ll just list the safe stuff and let brand X list the questionable stuff with eratic or high pressures and claim their components are better.
Of course the idea the manufactures might change jacket material, powder blends, bullet core hardness, ect isn`t possible either...................:banghead:

 

[strat81]

X-dies eliminate the need for constant trimming. You trim your brass once to a specified length (I think it's 1.74" for .223) and then set the X-die. It has a mandrel that eliminates the stretching from traditional sizing.

If you enjoy trimming .223 brass, don't buy one.

Imperial Wax has the consistency of Chap Stick. You get a little on your fingers and roll the case between your fingers to apply it. It's not messy and wipes off your hands quickly with just a rag.