I fianlly did it (well sort of)

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

I finally did it and got me my first relaoding press, well sort of, got it. Right now It is in layaway up at the Local Gun Shop. I opted for the Lee Anniversary Kit w/ Manual to get started with. Once I "learn" the ropes I will be using my Federal and State Tax returns next year to get either a progressive Lee press, the RCBS Turret press, the RCBS Rock Chucker press, or a Redding press kit (not sure if I want to do a single stage or turret if i go the Redding route).

I should be getting the Lee Anniversary Kit out of Layaway on the 28th of this month and I have already ordered some 7.62x39mm brass and the Lee Dies. I will pick up a can of powder, primers and bullets (allong with the appropriate auto primer shellholder) the same time I get the press out of layaway.

 

[Bobshouse]

Ive been reloading for the past 5 years using the Lee turret press, not quite as fast as a progressive, but, hey, Ive got plenty of time. I would like to get a progressive, but I just dont trust them, to many horror stories of under/over charged rounds. I like to take my time and insure that my rounds are perfect.

Great choice, Im sure you will enjoy your new hobby!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Bobshouse...Welcome aboard...Now why would you want to start the "Turret/Progressive Wars" all over again??? And I'm on the turret side.

Eldorf_Dragonsbane. You are on the right track...Get a single stage of good quality and learn the basics. Then you will have a better idea of whether you want to go turret of progressive. Get more then one loading manual...

 

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

Bushmaster- Right now I currently have the Sierra Relaoding manual, the Hodgdon Powders Basic Reloading Manual, the IMR Smokeless Powder Reloading Guide (both the IMR and the Hodgdons books are the little pamphlets you can order through Hodgdon for free), Lee Shooters Program Ver 1.2 (it has the Alliant Powders, Accurate powders, IMR powders, Hogdons Powders, and the Vihtavouri Powders reloading guides), plus i plan on purchasing the Speer Reloading Manual, the Hornday Reloading manual (the two volume set), ABCs of Reloading, and the Loadbooks USA Reloading books for the calibers I plan on reloading, in addition to the Lee Relaoding manual which is in the Anniversary Kit that I have in Layaway, and I also am planning on subscribing to both Loaddata.com and ammoguide.com in the next couple weeks or so. I will probably be getting the tumbler (an RCBS Vibratory Tumbler) and a rotary case/media seperator right after Thanksgiving.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Buying a library are ya....

 

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

Bushmaster- LOL I just want to cover all the bases as much as possible. I figure if I buy the books one at a time (or in the case of the Loadbooks USA books a couple at a time since they are about $7 each at Midway) it will work out. I know its probably going overboard but to start out I figure better safe then sorry.

 

[Reed1911]

The loadbooks are a great resource, and if you only load a few calibers they are all you need in the way of data. They compile all the data from the major compaines in one book for each caliber.
Welcome to life of fun filled joy and shooting. Not to mention cost saving and better accuracy.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Eldorf...I hope you realize that I'm funnin' ya... I get laughed at by my friends as I have more load manuals then any other book in my library. Second is horses and horse care...

 

[Shear_stress]

Congratulations on your press. This hobby is a great way to kill time, save money (maybe!), and ensconce yourself even further in the shooting hobby.

I applaud your decision to read as much as you can before starting. It's far wiser than trying to wing it with stuff that can deprive you of fingers and stereoscopic vision.

 

[usp_fan]

Congrats,

I've been loading on that kit for 12 years. I'm about ready to upgrade to a progressive, but my Lee single stage is still going strong with no signs of wear.

--usp_fan

 

[rick_in_lb]

Da war !!!

Someone say war ... Ok! at least he bought a LEE
...........I just had to say something

 

[TooTaxed]

The reason you need several reloading manuals for load comparison is that you will find they don't agree with each other on velocity and pressure for a given load! Reason: they each use different makes and shapes of bullets, cases, and primers, lots of powder, and test guns, each of which provides a slight variation in the results. What you reload will very likely provide somewhat different velocities and pressures. Another good reason for staying below the max loads provided in the manuals!

 

[armoredman]

Well done, sir. I love my RCBS jr single stage, and have loaded many rounds on it for 9mm, 7.62x39mm and 7.62x54R. I don't care what people say about the time and such - this is a fun and productive hobby! Enjoy, and by the way, you don't save much money, but you do shoot more!

 

[Berek]

I find reloading to be very theraputic. I have a single stage Lee Classic and a Dillon SDB. When I'm really upset, I reload my 9mm on the Lee. The amount of focus it takes to do that many rounds without screwing up allows me to escape my problem until I calm down enough to deal with it with a level head.

Now this may be dangerous for some, so I don't recommend it as an alternative for anger management, but it works for me....

Berek

 

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

Well got the Lee Anniversary Kit out of Layaway yesterday. Winded up purchasing the Lee case Length Guage and the RCBS Kinetic Bullet Puller. Would have purchased the Autoprimer Shell holder for 7.62x39mm (shell holder #12, it doesnt come in the Auto Primer shellholder set that came in the kit) but they didnt have any there at the time.

Also picked up the MTM Handlaoders Logbook. Figured for $20 a three-ringed binder containing sheets for recording load data, shooting logs, firearm inventory sheets and 4 different target sheets, I might as well.

Still need to get primers, powder and bullets, will probly do that in a couple weeks

I should be reloading by Thanksgiving, if nothing comes up between now and then.

 

[Deavis]

but I just dont trust them, to many horror stories of under/over charged rounds. I like to take my time and insure that my rounds are perfect.

Don't let hyperbole like what is mentioned above turn you off from a true progressive press. Any of the top name presses will turn out match quality ammunition if the operator follows the proper steps and maintains the press. If you can chew gum and walk at the same time, you can safely load on a progressive press, it is that simple. Brian Enos has an entire video devoted to loading match ammo on a Dillon progressive. If he can't outshoot his ammo packed on a progressive, then most likely, neither can you.

I have yet to see my Dillon, which has a clunky old school powder measure compared to the Hornady or RCBS, throw a charge more than .2 gr off across 25 throws. I can't speak for the RCBS measure (never did a charge analysis) I had on my Pro2000 but I'm sure other users here will quickly back my claims that unless you are doing something wrong, your progressive will maintain a .1-.2 gr accuracy with most powders you will encounter.

 

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

I do have one question about the Lee autoprime shell holders. Lee says that the #12 is to be used for the 7.62x39mm Russian rounds, yet I was fooling around to see what shell holders might hold a 7.62x39mm round other then the #12 (which i dotn have yet) and the #2 seems to work, it isnt a super tight fit, nor is it super loose, the winchester rounds seem to have the most play, the rim on the winchester rounds are a tad narrower then the Wolf and the Military surplus rounds by about.04mm iirc (didnt write the measurements down and my calipers are in the other room) would it be safe to go ahead and use this shell holder when priming or is the #12 mandatory for this caliber?

Thanks in advance

Doug

 

[The Bushmaster]

I would be careful when using a non-subscribed shell holder as it might pull through and leave the stuck case in the die....Have patiants. You have come this far....

 

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

Bushmaster- The shell holder is the one for the hand held Lee Auto Prime. The Lee Anniversary Kit comes with 11 shell holders for the Autoprime (#'s 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,19), 7.62x39mm rounds are listed as needing shell holder #12 (I have the one you use on the reloading press, it came with the Lee Pacesetter die set I purchased). The fit of a 7.62x39mm in the #2 auto prime shell holder seems to be the same as the #12 shellholder that came in the die set. So would it be ok to use the #2 shell holder in my auto prime with the 7,62x39mm cases? If so who else has done this?

 

[1911user]

I'd use it if the shellholder grips the rim well and holds the primer pocket centered where it needs to be.

My other advice is to get into a good progressive press if you are doing much pistol shooting.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Yup...I looked it up on my shell holder set. #12 is used only for the 7.62 X 39. Do as 1911user said except the thing about the progressive press.

 

[CB900F]

Eldorf;

I'm glad you're reading first, then reloading, an excellent way to proceed. One note of caution, don't take the powder maker's free pamphlets as gospel. They have a vested interest in you using their powder. In other words, yes their info will propell the bullet & your gun shouldn't blow up, but. The loads are not always the best possible for a combination you may want to use.

Many of the bullets maker's will list load data in order of preference by powder/velocity/accuracy. However, they have the vested interest in you using their bullets. However, given the two choices, I'm more comfortable with the bullet maker's data than the powder maker's. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

900F

 

[eldorf_dragonsbane]

Bushmaster & 1911- The #2 shell holder looks to hold the cases primer pocket centered and grip it about the same as the #12 shellholder I recieved in my die set. I will probably prime one or two rounds using the #2 shell holder (or try to) and see if it works. If it doesnt i should be able to tell from the feel by what i have been told about the Lee Auto prime hand priming tool.

CB900- Yeah I was already informed about the powder company pamphlets. I will probably only use them to reference my load data is I am using that companies powder, though I will check both my Lee Reloading manual and my Sierra reloading manuals first and when I get the Loadbooks USA manual for the calibers I plan on reloading I will include that manual in the initial set of resources for load data.

 

[TooTaxed]

Eldorf...Congratulations! You're gonna have fun!