I just ordered my first batch of reloading stuff.

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ny32182

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I'm sure the list isn't complete, and I will need followup orders and lots of time to read about all of it and try to get an operation up and running... Anyhow, below is the list I worked up during the course of my initial research, and I just ordered it all from Midway. A couple of the items were backordered, so who knows when I will get those, but, I've got nothing but time. I've been looking forward to getting into this for a while now, and think it will be a great way to spend some time, expand my horizons, and all that stuff. I still expect it to be months before I can load my first round, but, I've got some preliminary ideas about trying to do some work on some crap Paki .308 surplus that I have.

Press - Redding model T-7 Turret press - $212.99
Hand priming tool - RCBS Universal hand priming tool - $39.99
Digital scale - RCBS Rangemaster 750 Electronic powder scale - $94.99
Digital caliper - Frankford Arsenal Electronic Caliper 6" stainless steel - $32.99
Dies -
Sizer and seater .223 - Hornady custom grade new dimension 2-die set - $28.99
Hornady sizer and seater .308 - Hornady custom grade new dimension 2-die set - $28.99
Lee factory crimp die .223 - $8.49
Lee factory crimp die .308 - $8.49
Case trimmer - Forster Original case trimmer kit - $67.99
Chamfer tool - Forster chamfer and deburring tool - $12.99
Case tumbler - Frankford Arsenal Case Tumbler Master kit w/media separator - $59.99
Bullet puller - Hornady cam-lock bullet puller - $15.99
collets for the puller - Hornady #2 (.224) and #7 (.308) - $6.99 each
Die locking rings - Hornady Sure-loc Die Locking Ring - 4 @ $3.69 each
Locking ring wrench - Hornady die locking ring wrench - $7.19
Case lube - Hornady One shot case lube - $6.99
Shell holders - Redding #1 (.308) and Redding #10 (.223) - $7.19 each
Powder trickler - RCBS powder trickler - $11.99
Reloading trays - Frankford Arsenal #5 (.308), Frankford Arsenal #2 (.223) $6.89 each
Powder funnel - Lee Powder funnel .22 to .45 - $1.99
Manuals - ABC's of reloading - $14.49
- Lyman 48th edition - $17.99
- Loadbooks USA .223 Remington - $6.99
- Loadbooks USA .308 Winchester - $6.99
 
Impressive! Just for fun you could order a lee classic loader for about 20$ and be producing ( slowly, noisily ) rounds a few minutes after unpacking it :) Just while you are waiting for the stuff on backorder of course :)
 
Ah, I'm out of the country till Christmas anyway, so, I won't get to even unpack the stuff for quite a while. :(

After that, I've got to learn about whatever special considerations there are for processing military brass (since thats what I've got), order all the tools for that I didn't get the first time around; then learn about powder and primers.... decide what sort of workbench I need, then assemble that whole thing; set up the dies in the press, and who knows what all else...

If I've got a single round loaded by mid March, I'll be impressed with myself.
 
Spinning that manual trimmer is going to get old, quick

Get one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=644779&t=11082005

Presumably you have an electric hand drill, and it supplying the power makes things go much faster.

I bought a Forster some 25 years ago. I was impressed by the quality of the piece, but they used the crappiest Allen head screws. I immediately had to replace all of them with screws from my hardware store.

Eventually, I got tired of doing all the adjustments, and got additional cutter shafts and lock rings for all the calibers I trim frequently. Midway has the cutter shafts, but only Forster has the lock rings.

CDD
 
That's the way to spend!!! The only real issue I'd have with that list is that you paid waaaay too much for that caliper. Harbor Freight sells them for 17.99, figure $23 or so with shipping.

Also, I hope you put the back-ordered stuff on a separate shipment, or you're going to be waiting on all of it.
 
Sounds like a good list. I would suggest trying Imperial sizing wax as a case lube on your next order. Hornady one shot is good stuff, but it goes pretty quick. Imperial works really well for me.

I really like the looks of that Redding press. Redding is top drawer equipment, good choice!
 
Wow.

Nothing like buying quality from the get go.

Just looking at the list, I think you may have spent more in one shot, getting started, than I've spent since I started 10 years ago.
 
Get one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...779&t=11082005

Presumably you have an electric hand drill, and it supplying the power makes things go much faster
Click to expand...

I do like the looks of that. Maybe once I'm up and running, I will take a good look at that thing.

That's the way to spend!!! The only real issue I'd have with that list is that you paid waaaay too much for that caliper. Harbor Freight sells them for 17.99, figure $23 or so with shipping.

Also, I hope you put the back-ordered stuff on a separate shipment, or you're going to be waiting on all of it.
Click to expand...

Actually I added those prices on there while I was shopping midway a couple weeks ago, and some of the prices changed by the time I ordered last night. The biggest change was in the cost of the caliper; it was on sale for $20 :D So I didn't get ripped off as bad as it looks. The scale did go up in price by $5. Overall the total was almost exactly what I projected it to be.

The backorderd stuff is coming in a separate shipment, though I think it was just the .223 Hornady dies, and maybe one other small item that was backordered.

Sounds like a good list. I would suggest trying Imperial sizing wax as a case lube on your next order. Hornady one shot is good stuff, but it goes pretty quick. Imperial works really well for me.

I really like the looks of that Redding press. Redding is top drawer equipment, good choice!
Click to expand...

I have heard the Imperial stuff recommended several times, and will probably get some on the next order, along with tumbler media, powder thrower, and/or whatever else is discovered to be missing.

Wow.

Nothing like buying quality from the get go.

Just looking at the list, I think you may have spent more in one shot, getting started, than I've spent since I started 10 years ago.
Click to expand...

Well, everthing there and more is basically an absolute requirement, right? There are a couple places where I could have cut costs:

1) The press: I'm sure there are presses out there that will do equal or better work for half the cost or less. The reason I got that Redding is that I like the idea of the 7-station turret. I can envision setting up sizing, seating, and crimp dies for two calibers, plus have a bullet puller on there all at the same time. That is what attracted me to it.

2) The scale: I know I'd wind up with a digital one eventually, so... why not.

I look at it this way; the total cost of the initial setup is equal to that of about 2 cases of factory ammo, *or*, say, one nice pistol.

I figure I'll learn a lot more, and get a lot more actual use out of this stuff than I will from a couple more orders of factory ammo, or from another pistol that does essentially the same thing as the ones I've already got. If this stuff really lasts for decades, I think its a great deal. Its never gonna be cheaper than it is right now. :)

Unfortnately, all the .308 surplus I have on hand is berdian primed/non reloadable. :( I guess I'll just have to buy some US-made .308 to get me started on a brass collection there. That sure isn't going to be as cheap as it used to be. I figure just a couple hundred rounds will do to get me started. I don't think I'll be a "high volume" reloader for quite a while anyway.

My initial goals will be to get more accuracy out of my ARs and FALs than I currently get with surplus. Then after that I would like to load some affordable 10mm plinking ammo. Luckily I've saved a little 10mm brass over the years. Always knew in the back of my head that one day, I would need it, even though I had no reloading plans at the time.
 
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