Looking to become a reloader. Don't know where to start.

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Virg1L

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Good morning gentlemen.
I'd appreciate some input on your craft. As of right now I am just an avid shooter with about 50 lbs of brass but am hoping that in time I will have the know-how and equipment to load my own cartridges. What I hope to gain from this thread are links to instruction manuals, threads, and videos that can clearly and concisely teach me how to reload and help putting together a shopping list for this investment.

I have no doubt that this request has been made before and if you feel there is a thread that can answer the following adequately then send me the link and I will act accordingly. Also, this being my first post in this section, I made sure to read the stickies, rules, etc.. Believe me when I say I know that the questions I'm asking will lead to a difference of opinion, but I honestly would not post here if I felt that I was among people that couldn't hold a civil discussion. That said, I really doubt it will be an issue. Well, I came here to learn and hope to have a lively discussion. Let's start with what I've learned so far and what I think I'm looking for.

My dream setup is to have a reloading station that can handle pistol, rifle and 12 gauge shells. I'm hoping to find the balance between simple and efficient. Most importantly I'm going to want one that will thrive in a SHTF environment, specifically that the important pieces necessary to produce an effective, safe round without a power supply and that the equipment itself has a durable design with as few sensitive and breakable parts as possible. Portability isn't necessarily a must but certainly a bonus as is the ease in which I can purchase extra/replacement parts at a reasonable price.

I plan to load
.38 special +P
.357 mag
.9mm
.40 sw
.223 & 5.56
.308 & 7.62x51
.30-30
.12 gauge bird/buck in 2 3/4" and 3"
I imagine I'll have both a single-stage and a progressive press plus whatever it takes to load a shotshell. As of right now I have no idea what brand I'm interested in, though quite a few have said the RCBS rockchucker is a good start. I know I need dies, but I really don't know how they work in the press and what each one does. I know I need something trim cases and some specialty equipment more military brass, as well as lubricants for the dies. I haven't even gotten to bullets, powder and primers yet. Though I want to be able to make ammo without a power source should I have to, I'll also be looking at a few "luxury" items, such as tumblers, electronic scales and other little things like primer tubes and the like to make it easier, but all that's down the line.

In short, I have a long way to go. Before I even add anything to a cart I need to learn what it is I'm doing. In addition to figuring out what equipment to buy, I really need someone to point me to some videos that break it all down clearly. Thank you all for your time and patience, and thank you even more for the help.
 
For reloading equipment, check out craigslist for your area. There are always shotshell reloaders on the one in my area.

As far as links, check out some of the powder manufacturers.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx
http://www.hodgdon.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html
http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/

These should get you started.

Also:

http://www.amazon.com/The-ABCs-Of-R...3968/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1338205109&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-49Th-Ed...EU0E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338205109&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Lee-2nd-Editi...AU/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1338205109&sr=8-10

http://www.amazon.com/Reloading-Han...0X/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1338205109&sr=8-12

These are all good books to help you get started. Some you may find in your local library. Make sure to ask about inter-library loans.
 
I agree with what the previous poster suggested. I do suggest for a first press I would suggest a turret type over a progressive or even a single stage press. I wouldn't invest a lot to start until you know how it all works. Most can use a single stage press regardless of what others one might own. If you get a good Turret you very well might be the last press you buy too as they work really well and though not as fast as a progressive they can be used as both single stage or similar to a progressive. I would also shop around for some good used equipment as was suggested. I started with a pair of Lee Pro 1000 progressive presses and sold one to by the Lee Classic Turret. Once I understood that the Progress started to work right for me.
 
The LEE Load-All is a great shotgun press for around $50 new. I don't know how much you shoot, but a person can reasonably load 100 rounds per hour with that setup even though it is a "single stage" press. In 12 gauge, it handles 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells. The buck shot pellets must be loaded in layers of 3 and you can use a broom stick or other short wooden dowel to press them in there.

If you are starting out reloading rifle ammo, I recommend a single stage press. I learned on a SS press and still use it today for all of my rifle ammo. I have never operated a turret press but I hear that many people like them over the single stage, especially for pistol ammo. That decision will have to be yours.

I think the first thing to do is buy a reloading manual. You can buy a new one from a store or online, or a used one on Ebay pretty cheap. Even if it is an older manual, the reloading section in the front is pretty much the same as today. I wouldn't use the load data in an older manual without first researching to find out if those loads were similar today as they were yesteryear.

Don't forget that there are many good videos out there to help learn the craft. Sierra bullets has a few DVD's for instance that really get into detail what you will do during the reloading process.

Of course, there are many great people here on THR that are willing to help. Good luck.
 
Get a good reloading manual and read. Then start with a single stage press and learn the basic steps.
 
There are tons of online resources for beginning reloaders but here are some "old school" alternatives.

The NRA offers introduction to reloading courses, both metallic (pistol and rifle ammo) and shotshell reloading. The NRA website will help you locate a course in your area. Interestingly there are none within 100 miles of my home at present.

I agree with Skyshot: Purchase a reloading manual (you might find one at your local library). The major ammo and component companies publish manuals. Most of the content is loading data (the "recipes" for ammo) but there is also a large instructional section that describes the steps of the process and the tools employed. Safety information is also provided along with technical information like case length and overall length. Even though load data is also published online, every handloader should have at least one current, quality reloading manual on the bench.

Nothing like a mentor. Remember Master Po and "Grasshopper"? Look around locally for an experienced handloader who can show you the process and answer questions. If you are involved in a shooting discipline (for example, cowboy action shooting, high power rifle competitions, skeet, or IDPA), look for someone in the group who handloads. That way you get someone who is loading the type (and volume) of ammo that you will be using. The basics of handloading are a constant but some types of equipment are better suited for different disciplines. For example, a precision benchrest rifle shooter wants hair-splitting precision in his ammo. An IDPA competitor needs equipment that produces a larger volume of "service quality" ammo.

The "old saw" about handloading is that you will NOT save money. You will, however, be able to shoot much more on the same budget.
 
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As far as presses go, I'm one of those that started with a progressive. If you have a decent amount of mechanical aptitude and a healthy dose of patience, it can be done. That said, I purchased a single-stage press a couple of months later as I found that there are certain tasks which are better suited for a single-stage. Having both is ideal in my opinion, but if you can only afford one press I would lean toward a turret or single-stage.

ILikeSA's resource links above are excellent, I have the first three of the four and can say they are a gold mine of information. My suggestion would be to purchase both "The ABC's of Reloading" and Lyman's 49th Edition simultaneously.

I'll stop there. Welcome to a fun (and addicting!) hobby. Really glad to see you're looking ahead to a possibility of a SHTF scenario and preparing for it.
 
Reloading Start

Hey guys!

I agree with Joecil. I started from scratch 20 years ago with a Lee SS starter kit they still make. The kit includes an "O" SS (versus a "C" shape), case lube plus everything else you need to get started. I believe you get to choose the first caliber which determines the case holders you get. I still have that kit and I have gotten ridiculously good accuracy from it. That being said, I have a progressive as well, BUT start with the single stage press to learn the ins and outs of reloading. Starting with a progressive is a mistake because of all the added variables, plus start with the inexpensive kit because you may or may not stick with reloading over the long haul; saving money is good but it's still a labor of love to tinker with this stuff (anyone else agree?). Dies: Just go get Lee carbide dies for the pistol cases (no lube). There are nicer dies but again the Lee dies are certainly acceptable quality and they are inexpensive. Lastly, start with 38s or whatever pistol you shoot the most to get the largest savings and learn the fastest. Get good at the first caliber then add calibers. It's a great deal of fun and very satisfying when you build your own rounds that are as good or better than factory loads. Best of luck.
 
I recommend that you start out with one of those RCBS master reloading kits & use Redding dies. As time goes on you'll probably add a second progressive press & later a shot shell press, but this will get you started. Also, pick up a few mauals so you can get good ideas for starting loads- they're all a little different. You'll have plenty of time to fill in the cracks with the nickel & dime stuff you'll need.
 
Buy or borrow a copy of "ABCs of Reloading". Good basic information. Other manuals are good a s well. The books and manuals will fill in lots of the details.

While you can get one press to load metallic cartridges and shotshells, it would be best to get a dedicated shotshell loaded. The entry level shotshell loaders would cost no more than the change parts for the metallic press and you would not have to change over the press.

Otherwise, you will get more opinions on how to get started than you have blades of grass in your lawn. Welcome to the hobby.
 
These links should help get you started with the reading portion:

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19

http://www.reloadersnest.com/

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=13

http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

http://www.dillonprecision.com/

Also if you can pick up a copy of The ABC's of Reloading, it will help you out quite a bit. I use the Nosler reloading guide for my centerfire rifle cartridges and the Lee and Speer reloading guides for pistol. The rock chucker master reloading kit is a great place to start. It gives you high quality basic components to get started with. I have added many upgrades to my setup over the years and it continues to be a work in progress. If you are planning on having a decent setup during a shortage, you will want to pick up enough primers and powder to have on hand. Bullets are usually easier to find but it doesn't hurt to have those on hand either. You mentioned that you have lots of brass so I left that out.

I use RCBS steel dies for rifle and LEE carbide dies for pistol. I purchased the RCBS powder measure stand and mounted my rock chucker press to a solid metal office desk from the 1960's. I used an aluminum reinforcing plate under the desk top to bolt the press to so it stays solid during resizing. I highly recommend imperial sizing wax for case resizing (its cheap and a tin lasts a very long time). Stay away from the spray lubes. You will want to look at getting a case trimmer of some sort for rifle eventually. I ended up with a drill press adapter setup from Forster so my drill press can do double duty. If you want to do it without electricity, get a hand powered trimmer. They are much more difficult. For the powder measure, I installed a powder baffle inside the tube. It makes your charges much more consistent since it takes most of the weight off the gravity fed dispenser system. Find yourself a quality case tumbler to clean your brass after shooting. Don't remove the primers until after tumbling. Last, I recommend a quality bullet puller. You will probably use it quite a bit in the beginning. It will pay for itself over time. Hope that helps.
 
Start with

The ABC's of Reloading by C. Rodney James, lots of good info. Then pick up a reloading manual or two or ten. :D

Then start buying equipment. The RCBS kit would be a great place to start.

ID
 
► Start with the stickies at the top of this page.

► Then go to the local library and see if they have the ABC's of Reloading, or similar.

► Then post a note on local range and gun club bulletin boards looking for a reloading mentor. Maybe even ask here. I see you're in Texas; lots of Texans here. You'll need a mentor no matter what.

► Through a mentor you'll come across a very good deal on some used equipment.
 
There are stickies regarding the basics at the top. The manuals mentioned like the ABC's and Lymans are also good.

Shotgun shell reloading requires a different set up than metallic - in that realm, MEC makes their Jr. press that will work wonderfully. These can be found used on Craigs List and similar places for about 50-75 dollars and are FAR superior to the Lee load-All.

The RCBS Rockchucker is a great single stage press for both rifle and pistol, especially when learning the basics. If you see that you re shooting a lot of pistol, you will eventually want to add a progressive press for making larger quantities in the same amount of time - Dillon, Hornady, RCBS and others make good equipment in that regard.

The issue with some of the videos I have seen on You Tube is that the person doing the reloading is doing things incorrectly or unsafe at times - you are better off getting an idea first from the published reloading companies whose liability is on the line.

Realize that reloading is not really rocket science, merely a repetitious manufacturing process - but you DO need to pay attention to the details or a level of danger can creep in that you do not want

Start slow, read the books, pick a few similar things to start with (maybe pistol), and then add and increase as your skill and confidence level allows

Good luck
 
Read a manual like:
ABCs of Reloading
Lyman's 49th Reloading Manual
Modern Reloading by Richard Lee

That's the best place to start.

Do you have a national chain sporting goods store like
Cabela's or Gander Mt near by?
I know Cabela's used to have free Basic Reloading classes.

Good Luck!
 
Thank you all so much

First off, thank you Walkalong for merging the two. Sorry for that.

OK. ABC's of reloading is in the mail.

From what I've read it would seem a turret is the way to go for metallic. It would be nice to be able to have the option to speed up once I figure out what I'm doing.

Looked on craigslist etc. for any type of press but came up empty. I'll be there frequently though.

I'm sure it will be covered in manual. But which parts on a press wear down the quickest? Which brands seem to be built to last?

Does anyone know if there's a company that sells a turret starter kit?

Thanks to everyone again.
 
Lyman does sell a T-Mag II kit, around $360 +/-. I can't vouch for the component quality but it's pretty hard to wrong IMO with Lyman, RCBS or Redding for turret presses. Hornady doesn't make a turret and I'm not too familiar with Lee but they might. No doubt there are many folks here who can speak about the positive and negative aspects of these (whether they will be objective in nature I can't say :)

As long as the major parts are kept well-oiled/greased, the press will probably outlive you. They are mighty hard to wear out unless you are cranking out an insane number of rounds per hour for a very extended period of time.
 
Virg1L said:
Does anyone know if there's a company that sells a turret starter kit?

Thanks to everyone again.
Click to expand...

I got the Lee Classic Turret kit from Cabela's. It comes with almost everything you need. In addition you will be needing dies, bullet puller and a caliper.

Loading straight wall pistol calibers is far simpler than bottleneck rifle calibers. .45ACP is the most forgiving of minor errors, the .40 S&W can be a cruel, high pressure mistress. 9mm is sensitive to changes in OAL. Loading .38 Special to shoot in a .357 Magnum revolver is about as safe as it gets for learning.

Ideally you would find a flesh & blood mentor to help. Nothing like a person with experience actually holding something in his hands.
 
Virg1L said:
First off, thank you Walkalong for merging the two. Sorry for that.

OK. ABC's of reloading is in the mail.

From what I've read it would seem a turret is the way to go for metallic. It would be nice to be able to have the option to speed up once I figure out what I'm doing.

Looked on craigslist etc. for any type of press but came up empty. I'll be there frequently though.

I'm sure it will be covered in manual. But which parts on a press wear down the quickest? Which brands seem to be built to last?

Does anyone know if there's a company that sells a turret starter kit?

Thanks to everyone again.
Click to expand...
Kempf's Gun Shop is my first choice, as they are the first one to offer a decent kit built around the Lee Classic Turret (vs the Deluxe Turret offer by all the others in 2010). The offering from Kempf's is still the only one offering a basic kit that doesn't make you take stuff you don't need or might want to trade off right away. Only the essentials in that one (aside from the plastic ammo boxes).

Craigslist has a policy (still in effect, I believe) antithetical to firearms and firearms-related stuff. Sometimes stuff slips through.

Ebay is another source, but you have to be careful, as many buyers bid up the prices to levels that are just plain silly. I have gotten a few reloading items from ebay reasonable, though.

I believe in assembling one's own kit. Start with the bare minimum and add pieces as you find the need/use. It is more work than buying a kit assembled by the marketing department of some retailer, but I recognize that a ready-made kit will put you into production faster and this works for some people just as well.

But here are a few more web sites in case you haven't been drowned in text already.

I have compiled a few web sites that seem to have some good information (some of which came from me).

Go get a large mug of whatever you sip when you read and think and visit these sites.

For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214

I am looking at getting into reloading for the first time
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=658971

Just bought my first press. Needs some info tho.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=659358

Considering reloading
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488115

Budget Beginning Bench you will never outgrow, for the novice handloader.
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/293...you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html

Thoughts on The Lee Classic Turret Press
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=135951

Interested in reloading
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543

Newby needs help.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391

I hope you enjoy the reading. Thanks for asking our advice.

Lost Sheep
 
Lee does have a turret kit. Has most of the basic parts that you would need to start loading. Of course, You should check it before you order it to make sure all is there. There not bad presses at all. I cannot really speak for any brand of press as I only have the Lee press. The lever you pull down on will make the ram come up. These are the parts that should be kept clean and greased a little or oiled.

Since your going with the turret, You may want to oil/ grease a bit where the turret plate sits as well since those have little ball bearings in them. Craigslist may be a good place to look for stuff but you can also look on here or other forums that reload and see if anyone is selling something your interested in.

If your gonna buy new, Try FSreloading.com, Titanreloading.com, MidWayUSA.com, or Grafs.com. There all good outfits and good prices. You can also check one called Kempfs.
 
I reckon it should be mentioned that different brands of turret presses have different 'stations', or holes for your dies. Lee has four (I'm sure I knew in the past that Lee made a turret; being on vacation has given me some cerebral flatulence), Lyman and RCBS have six, and Redding has seven. In my opinion four would be the minimum for resizing, belling, seating and crimping, respectively, although one can seat/crimp in one operation (apparently Lee turret presses used to be three-holers with this assumption in mind). One can use the additional holes in the other turrets for dies with different crimp settings, et cetera.

One can also purchase extra heads for the turret press, enabling the user to have one for each caliber. This is a very good feature in my opinion.

Well, I've probably said enough.
 
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