Need a shopping list for 45ACP + rifle

[jmilliron]

I've spent the afternoon reading this forum and various guides but am still a little overwhelmed. I'd love it if I could get a "shopping list" of what's needed from more experienced people as I have nothing other then a 1911 and a bunch of WWB .45 ACP shells.

requirements:
- Total less then $500 unless it's really necessary
- Like to be able to comfortably do several hundred rounds in an hour
- Right now I want it to hand load 45 but will want to reload 30'06 in the future

This press looks pretty cool:
http://dillonprecision.com/template/p.cfm?maj=12&dyn=1&cookieClean=1
At $350+ it's a bit expensive. Or is it just a good investment? What are some others I should be looking at?

I assume I should get a tumbler and scale... recommendations?

What are good powder, primers and bullets to start out with for target practice? Cheaper is better as long as it's reliable enough.

What are the reliable, fairly priced vendors that I should patronise? The list in the FAQ is pretty big.

What else am I missing? Links are always welcomed.

thanks!
-jason m

EDIT: RCBS stuff looks interesting but I'm even more confused by it. Why can't I just buy a damn kit and get to it?

 

[P0832177]

Your first purchase should be ABC's of Reloading! Amazon Has It Oh yeah read the book not let it gather dust!

Then from Midway here is list of stuff you should get!

Recommended Products for the Beginning Reloader from Midway Web site
(Rifle & Pistol)

Reloading Manual: Accurate Arms, A-Square, Barnes, Hodgdon, Hornady, Lapua, Lee, Lyman, Nosler, Sierra, SPG, Speer and Vihtavouri. Have at least fullsize ones and get all the freebie ones you can snag. Or down load from the web sites of the powder mfg.

Press: Single Stage, Turret or Progressive I think a single stage press is the way to learn on. Then go to a Dillon! You will always need a single stage press! This way you learn the steps of reloading prior to accomplishing them in one stroke with a Dillon

Dies You want to buy good stuff. If you do go the route of a Dillon you will be wasting money by getting other mfg die sets for the pistol rounds. What I mean is that you will end up with useless dies and having to buy a Lee FCD or the appropriate roll or crimp dies if you don't get Dillon dies for a Dillon press! Redding makes a Professional Series of dies meant for progressive presses. Otherwise any die set will do! Just remember you can not seat the bullet and crimp at the same time! Not going to happen in a million years, they are two seperate and distinct operations! A regular Pistol die set comes with a Sizer die, Expander die (not needed with a Dillon), and seater / crimp die. Auto cases get taper crimps and revolver cases get roll crimps. The Lee Factory crimp dies is what some use to crimp with, and get good results! Rifle Dies are the Sizer and seater die! Again here the seater is a crimp die too!

Shell holders (if the die set doesn't have them) They are universal for the most part, just different stock # with each mfg. Some can be used with more then one caliber ie 45ACP works with 308 3006 270 260 243

Tumbler: Media, Polish, Sifter, Bucket and Clear Lid Not necessary at first but a good idea to clean your brass before sticking them into your dies!

Loading Block (caliber specific) MTM makes a nice one that covers many cartridges
Case Lube (you won't need if using carbide dies)

Case Neck Brush Can use a worn out bore brush, too

Dial Calipers: Stainless Steel or Electronic Either as they are a must for reloading!

Case Trimmer Lee makes individual ones for each cartridge that work okay, Possom Hollow makes a nice unit, too! Of the lathe trimmers the Wilson is the best, of the powered trimmers Giruad is the Rolls Royce!

Deburring Tool Some are combo tools debur and chamfer

Primer Pocket Cleaner Some are brushes or scrapers, and other use the primer pocket uniforming tool to clean out the primer pockets. A must for rifle cartridges. I have never done this to 45ACP's

Primer Tray Only necessary if loading pick up tubes ie Dillon or some press mounted tools!

Priming Tool (if the press doesn't come with a primer attachment) I like the RCBS tool that does not use APS strips. Sinclair makes the best, and do not bother with Lee one it breaks! And, you pay to fix it! RCBS is the deal!

Powder Scale Balance Beam or Electronic it is your budget that guides you! RCBS has there manual stuff made by Ohaus and Pact makes the electronic ones.

Powder Funnel Careful which one you get some are universal and others are caliber specific.

Powder Trickler A good deal for trickling up loads on the scale!
Powder Measure (nice for faster powder charges) Lee has good rep with stick powders is low cost. The best is a Harrell! Redding makes a darn nice one with a micrometer stem!
Bullet Puller This is a must! The kninetic is cheaper, whereas it is messy. If pulling a lot of rounds the collet type is the way to do it!

Ammo boxes and labels

Case lube This is more for any bottle necked cartridge, in pistol cartridges you can get carbide sizer dies. But, there is a reason on a progressive to use a spray lube on pistol cartridges it makes things way smoother! Some like the Dillon spray lube others like Hornady One Shot.

Most of all you need to get notebook to record your results! No need to go over the same trail twice!

A chronograph is great for working up loads. But, the #'s game can be a bit distracting!

Be safe! And enjoy your new hobby!

 

[SASS#23149]

If you have some self control...

The dillon 550b is a good way to go.By 'self control" I mean you need to use it as a non-progressive for the first couple hundred rounds until you have a good feel for the process.Anyone who tries for top speed on a progressive is just going to make mistakes faster.You do NOT want mistakes in reloading.!!
By the time you get the press and dies and conversion kits and all else ya need the budget will be blown,but you will only buy the equipment once and it will be paid for the first year most likely,by the savings in ammo.
I too urge you to seat and crimp in 2 operations.Other wise you shave lead or brass and gum up the die with it.In a progressive press the time difference is zip.
I love Hornady dies becuase of how easy it is to adjust bulle depth.No tools required.
Crap happens even at a loading bench,so speed is not desirable,but it will come with just a few weeks practice.WEAR EYE PROTECTION,and ear plugs ain't a bad idea either.Don't be distracted,and IF you think you screwed up,pullem all out and start over.Period.
It's a great hobby,and the startup costs are soon forgotten.

 

[jmilliron]

Wow, thanks for all the information you guys! That book looks like a good idea, shame I just put in an Amazon order a few days ago. Didn't even think about reloading at the time.

I'll no doubt have some more questions later.

-jason m

 

[caz223]

read up...

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html
http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html#which

 

[CB900F]

Jmilliron;

Manuals: Speer #13, Hornady #6, & Nosler #5, the current editions in that order. I beg to differ about Dillon dies, I'm not loaded with money, but I find them to be worth the extra $.

Your the one paying the freight, so it's your choice, but here's a thought; Get a good RCBS Rockchucker and the Dillon SDB. Learn on the RCBS & set the SDB up for the .45. Then, if the reloading thing is what you really want to do, go for one of the upper end Dillon's. But those two will allow you to do everything you say you want to do, & provide you with first-class equipment with which to do it.

If either turns out to be not what you want, they are easy to sell for at or close to what you'll pay for either. The SDB does have to have it's own weird Alice dies, but selling one set up for .45 is no problem. If you get further into the pistol reloading, then a 550 makes sense & you may still want to keep the SDB dedicated to the .45.

Good scale, check weights, powder trickler, lube pad ( old fashioned but I like it. It's cleaner & makes you look at the brass again ), wood loading block(s) & a dial caliper, case beveling tool, bullets, primers, and powder. Then a case trimmer, primer pocket brushes, primer flip tray, powder measure & other gadgets till the nether depths become frozen.

You'll want the scale right away to check the charge throw on the SDB or 550. For single loading rifle cases, a cheap set of kitchen measuring spoons will do along with the powder trickler.

900F

 

[StrikeEagle]

Press: Single Stage, Turret or Progressive I think a single stage press is the way to learn on. Then go to a Dillon! You will always need a single stage press! This way you learn the steps of reloading prior to accomplishing them in one stroke with a Dillon

This is sooooooo true. I started with an RCBS starter kit over 30 years ago. 20-some years ago I moved to a Dillon, but I still use the RCBS single-stage a LOT. RCBS still makes a first-rate 'starter kit' and that's what I'd recommend to you. You never will outgrow it, no matter what else you may buy later. It's the BEST way to learn reloading, IMO. And also, let's face it, you need to really see if you ENJOY reloading. Not all shooters do.

Best to you!
StrikeEagle

 

[trickyasafox]

i disagree slightly with one of the above statements about dies. i use lee dies and they have always worked well for me. if you can afford more, by all means go for it, but dont think that a lee die will make sub-par ammo, they do function well. as for presses, i like the hornady lock and load ap. dillions have a lot of followers and rightfully so, they make a great product, but their are other choices. i also like the lee manual, i found it to be easier to read and understand than the speer #13. though i like the speer's load data a little better.

also on the list of things for an initial purchase, i dont knwo if anyone has mentioned a bullet puller yet? best 12 bucks you can spend in my opinion, cause eventually your gonna need to pull a couple rounds and they make your life so much easier.

i use a hornady scale i got for 40 bucks from midway, and it works wonders. it came in the kit with the trickler and the funnel. they are great investments that give accurate results.

if you want a single stage (im very cheap) i got the lee single stage they give away with their load manual. no its not great, but once again, it'll load safe accurate ammo, but its not as great as a lot of the others out there.

 

[P0832177]

Rules of Reloading

Rule #1 Reloading is a hobby! Hobbies cost money!

Rule #2 Buy once and Cry once! Remember that!

Rule #3 Reload only when you can devote your full attention to the matters at hand!

Rule #4 Do not try and guesstimate! What works in one gun and is safe sure as all hell may not be in yours. There is no excuse for not working up the loads in your guns using your components. We want you and yours to keep you around for a long time! Don't be the poster child for not following safe reloading practices

 

[1911 guy]

Welcome to the asylum!

If you hadn't noticed, most of us reloaders and fairly insane. Enjoy it! The first thing I would buy is three of four different reloading manuals. Most powder makers print one, some are out there for more than one powder manufacturer. Second, The RCBS and Dillon presses are nice, but it's my opinion that to start out, buy a Lee. Sure, it's cheaper, but you can get the basics down without putting out a ton of cash. Sell it and upgrade later. Another important thing you MUST have is a case trimmer. The .45 ACP headspaces off the case mouth, so it has to be consistent every time. So such thing as "close enough". I've got a Lyman Acculine set up to a specific length that would be great for you, others are as good.

 

[P0832177]

You are insane if you are trimming 45ACP brass. They shrink if anything! I have been loading the 45ACP for 25 years. NEVER HAVE I EVER TRIMMED A PIECE OF 45ACP BRASS! Not going to start! Not going to happen!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Aah...P0832177...One should never make such a brash statement like that. What if you run across one that IS too long (I never have either). But just suppose....Then how would you feel.

By the way jmilliron...read and heed what these guys say. Some are a bit on the costly Side and some are on the cheap Side, but they all are on your Side. You will have to decide what you need and can afford...Have fun. Building your loading bench and equipment is a joy.

Mike

 

[caz223]

Yeah, .45 tends to shorten in an auto, but in a .45 acp revolver, they DO stretch. Esp when roll crimped, loaded hot with slow powders in a long barrelled tight wheelgun.
Or pseudo-loaded like .45 colt, using .45 colt dies and generously sized heavy lead bullets.
So, the use of the word never was a bit strong.