I don't know where to start

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younggun619

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Hi this is my first time posting an actual thread so go easy on me guys. I'm looking into reloading as a hobby and if my dad gets his ffl then maybe we can sell a little, but lets save the ffl for another time. I'm sold on the hornady lock-n-load AP press for my platform and from there I'm lost. I know i need to buy a die set but does it have to be hornady? are there better ones that are compatible? what kind of scales should i buy? should i spend a lot on a micrometer or should i just buy a harbor freight one? what else do i need to completely start and around how much? any help would be useful :confused:

the calibers i want to reload are
9mm, 38 special, 357 mag, 45acp, 223, 308, and 30-06
 
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Further down the page, there is a Reloading/?Handloading Subforum.

Here's a link from that subforum that should help you: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214

Starting there, and asking questions would be my suggestion. I did buy the book ABC's to Reloading, and found it most useful. Haven't started yet though, maybe next year.
 
Hi this is my first time posting an actual thread so go easy on me guys. I'm looking into reloading as a hobby and if my dad gets his ffl then maybe we can sell a little, but lets save the ffl for another time. I'm sold on the hornady lock-n-load AP press for my platform and from there I'm lost. I know i need to buy a die set but does it have to be hornady? are there better ones that are compatible? what kind of scales should i buy? should i spend a lot on a micrometer or should i just buy a harbor freight one? what else do i need to completely start and around how much? any help would be useful

the calibers i want to reload are
9mm, 38 special, 357 mag, 45acp, 223, 308, and 30-06
 
The best place to start is to buy reloading manuals and read them before ordering anything. Once you understand what to do, you'll have a better idea of what is needed.
 
I am still relatively new and only have experience with RCBS products - but ita my understanding most brands' dies are interchangeable in terms of compatibility.
 
Yup, check out the Handloading sub-forum. Check out the stickies - lots of your questions will be answered there.

Welcome to THR.
 
I would recommend starting with an inexpensive single stage, reloading either the 357 or 38. Just so you can learn the basics and figure out how everything works. you can get an inexpensive single stage for less than $50 ( http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=176078 )

For a scale, I'd recommend the RCBS 5-0-5 or 1010. The cheaper ones kind of scare me, but I have heard some good things about the LEE scales.

Get a few reloading books, Lyman and Speer both have pretty decent manuals, as well as the ABC's of reloading.

I'm pretty sure you can get any dyes for the LnL press, you just might have to buy the quick change collets or something like that.

One thing you should check on is can the LnL AP handle a 30-06? I know a lot of progressives can only go up to .223.

Another thing you will need is a case trimmer for the rifle rounds.

oh, and the most important thing you will need is patients and time. Don't be in a rush, and don't even think about selling your reloads anytime soon..
 
When i first started reloading I read a couple books just to get an idea of the process. The ABC's of reloading vol II and the Nosler 6th edition (since I liked there bullets and thats what i was going to load most of the time)were very helpful to me. remember when it comes to your accessories that just because something is expensive doesn't mean it works better.
 
Quote: I'm looking into reloading as a hobby and if my dad gets his ffl then maybe we can sell a little

I'm not absolutely certain, but I don't believe an FFL allows you to sell ammunition you load. I believe that for handloaded ammunition to be legally sold, it must be reloaded (traceable to) by someone with an ammunition manufacturer's license. Perhaps someone else can ring in on this one?

In any case, the liability involved if any user were to get injured or killed will make you wish you never got involved in commercial reloading, and the cost of liability insurance for this activity would likely change your mind.
 
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I believe that for handloaded ammunition to be legally sold, it must be reloaded (traceable to) by someone with an ammunition manufacturer's license.
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Ammunition isn't "tracable" to anyone.

However, to manufacture ammo for sale you must hold a type 006, type 007, or type 010 FFL. A type 001 dealer's ffl can't make ammo for sale.
 
Young gun trust me, at this point in your reloading experience you shouldn't even think of selling reloads.
 
The best thing to do right now is to read everything the guys have suggested and anything else you can find. That way you'll make less mistakes and spend far less money when you do begin to load.
Also, I agree whole heartedly with ranger335v.
 
younggun619, welcome to THR.

As to manufacturing ammunition for sale, there are state/federal regulations that mandate permits.

If you are serious about reloading, I recommend that you focus on learning the basics and safety practices of reloading first. Although a lot of reloading procedures can be learned by hands-on "trial and error" method (school of hard knocks) with a lot of cussing, it will really help you to start with some good reloading manuals (check your local libraries or buy some). Once you have a solid foundation laid to safely and consistently reload ammunition, you can move on from there - sky's the limit.

You could probably spend a few weeks reading all the THR sticky threads and search for topics you are interested. For videos, check out Youtube.

Of course, if you got burning questions and want some clarifications/recommendations, post them here on THR. There are some really knowledgable and experienced members here who will blow your mind - I have learned a TON reading THR for years as reloading newbie.

Be safe and welcome to this fun hobby and potentially addictive passion.
 
As far as dies go, Hornady makes great dies, and they are made to work with the L-N-L AP. With the excellent powder measure included, you will want to buy Hornady's "powder through expanders" for the calibers you will reload (I don't think they are included with the press).
You can save money by buying the Lee 4-die sets, but you will still want the powder-through expanders from Hornady to use the powder measure.
With the Hornady, the bullet seating is at station 4 which is right under your nose so you have no excuse not to look at the powder level. However, I highly recommend that you get the RCBS Lock-Out die.
 
Re: Starting with a single-stage

I did that 30+ years ago. Didn't like it and when the first 5-station progressive came out, I bought it (Hornady Pro-7, or something like that).
I have tried to tell a couple of friends to get the Hornady, but they heard from their friends at the range that Dillon was the only way to go. Both ending up making huge investments in 650s and case feeders, where a Hornady would have been all they needed.
With any progressive, you can simply cycle one case around to learn all the functions. In fact, if you make up a couple of inert dummy rounds, you will learn 95% of everything you need to know just getting the dies set-up and cycling those two cases, one at a time, through the loading cycle including bullet seating and checking COL (OAL) with your gun's barrel or a case gage (You will need your gun to verify that the inert rounds fit in your magazine or cylinder and will feed and chamber in your gun. Simply don't even start to work as a progressive press until you feel confident.
I gave my son my Hornady (he told Mom that he wanted to start reloading and Mom decided that since I have a couple of 1050s that I didn't really need my Hornady any more. I just go along with SWMBO and visited with my son and taught him how to reload on the Hornady.
The press is just so simple and clearly laid out that he went through two changing calibers cycles and re-setting the dies and he was ready to go. Watched him load .380Auto and .45Win Mag. Went out the next day and emptied the rounds. .380s are awful little.
 
Starting with the reloading manuals is ABSOLUTELY the right way to go.
Books like Lyman's 49th, Modern Reloading by Richard Lee & the ABC's of Reloading are some of the best.

Others will say Hornady, Speer or Sierra manuals are best, but they only help if you use Hornady, Speer or Sierra bullets in your reloading process.

Start there & then come back with more pointed questions. We'll be glad to help.
 
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