Pistol Reloading Components

[Triumph]

I have some pistol reloading gear on the way. Here is what I have coming:

Lee Classic Turret
Lee Pro Auto disk powder measure
Lee Safety Primer Feed
Lee Deluxe 4 Die sets .45 ACP & 9mm
RCBS 1010 Scale

2 Questions:
1. What am I missing
2. What components should I buy?
Powder
Brass
Bullets
Primers
I don't know the brands or model #s for the components or where to buy. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Certaindeaf]

A reloading manual or three. They'll tell you what powders, primers, bullets and cases to use etc. If you don't already have some calipers or micrometers, you want to get that/those.

 

[mdi]

I'd sugest a copy of The ABCs of Reloading and Lyman's 49th Edition Reloading Handbook. Read them and you'll have an idea of what equipment will suit your reloading needs.

For loads I would suggest you start with tried and true, well proven loads like 230 gr. Round Nose bullets (lead or jacketed) and Bullseye or W231 powder for the 45 ACP and some 124 gr. round Nose bullets (jacketed) and the same powders for the 9mm. If you can find them.

Load data is available for these combos almost everywhere. If you purchase Hornady bullets use a Hornady manual, same with Sierra, Nosler, etc. Lead bullet load data is available in Lyman's 4th Edition Cast bullet Handbook.

 

[oneounceload]

Go to Alliant's and Hodgdon's website for reloading data and see what will work for you

 

[fallout mike]

I load 9mm and .45acp with unique with great results. Bullets will depend on what you want to shoot. Primers will probably be whatever you can get.

 

[fallout mike]

You can buy brass in the classifieds here. Sometimes bullets as well.

 

[BisleyBlackhawk45]

Amen on the calipers...you don't have to spend a fortune...a digital readout set from Lowes or Home Depot will suffice. It is important to measure over all length of the loaded round for feeding and pressures. Bullets, primers and most powders are at this time are in short supply and what you find are pricey. Hopefully this will improve sometime in the future...how far in the future is anybody's guess. Buy The ABCs of Reloading, LEE's Modern Reloading or any reloading manuals you may find...Speer is a good one. A good reloading manual is one of the most important pieces of reloading equipment you can own! Since you are going to use LEE equipment...again I suggest Richard LEE's Modern Reloading as well as the others.
www.ammosmith.com is a good website...they have a good forum and a good list of free videos on reloading.
If possible...find someone near you who reloads that would be willing to show you along the ins and out of reloading.
As for powders if you can find them...Unique or Hodgdon Universal Clays are two good powders to start with IMHO. Alliant and Hodgdon powders have good websites for data.
Primers...what ever brand you can find...I don't see that much difference in them.
Brass...go online to various forums and check classifieds...right now brass prices are high...sometimes www.gunbroker.com still has some once fired that is not too over the top price wise...shop around to see what is reasonable and what is not.

 

[trixter]

I have some pistol reloading gear on the way. Here is what I have coming:

Lee Classic Turret
Lee Pro Auto disk powder measure
Lee Safety Primer Feed
Lee Deluxe 4 Die sets .45 ACP & 9mm
RCBS 1010 Scale

I think you did real well on the above purchases. I have a couple of little tricks that I learned and will be glad to share them with you when you get ready to set up your press. Man I love this hobby!!

 

[Triumph]

Lee Classic Turret
Lee Pro Auto disk powder measure
Lee Safety Primer Feed
Lee Deluxe 4 Die sets .45 ACP & 9mm
RCBS 1010 Scale

I think you did real well on the above purchases. I have a couple of little tricks that I learned and will be glad to share them with you when you get ready to set up your press. Man I love this hobby!!

I think I would like it too - if I could find the damn press!! I have everything on the way except for the actual Lee Classic Turret. I think that may be 3-4 weeks off but can't find anyone who has one. I'm signed up for Natchez Shooting Supply notification but am waiting :banghead:

 

[Reefinmike]

dont forget the autodisk powder measure riser. without it, its a major pain setting up the dies and you'll hit the safetyprime every go around.

 

[Triumph]

dont forget the autodisk powder measure riser. without it, its a major pain setting up the dies and you'll hit the safetyprime every go around.

Got it - or at least it's one of the items I have a notification set up with Natchez Shooters Supply on.

Thanks

 

[mac tm]

I started reloading on nearly the same equipment a few months ago. I suggest a bullet puller. I have not needed it to fix a loaded error, but I use it a lot when setting up dies and building dummy rounds before I prime and charge. Once everything is good to go, I pull them and load.

 

[Chief 0652]

An extra turret.

You'll need an extra turret. You will need a total of two. One to set up your .45 dies, and one to set up your 9mm dies. The great benefit of the turret press is interchangeability. You won't have to set up and adjust every time you change calibers. I have a bunch of turrets, set up for 9, 357 sig, .38/357, .45 and .223 Rem.

 

[bobpcfl]

+ 1 on the extra turret. You might also want an extra powder measure for your extra turret. Not a necessity, just a convenience. I use digital calipers and they can be had very inexpensively. For handgun rounds a case gauge (mine bought years ago are Midway) are great. Just drop the round in. If it fits it will chamber 99.9% of the time.

 

[tcanthonyii]

Extra turret. Caliper. Bullet puller. Did you get a safety prime for both lg and sm primers? Auto disk riser unless you pre prime. The lee manual is great. I hit it more than my Lyman. Unless its a hornady bullet then I hit that book.

You don't need it but you'll want it. A tumbler and a bag of Zilla.

Components. Get what you can grab. I've had great luckin gun broker and loal gun shows. The range often times has it locally for dirt cheap. Brass that is. My lgs and chain stores have been getting bullets and primers in. BotH local cabelas have had 45 bullets on hand all the time.

Welcome to the addiction.

 

[Hondo 60]

A reloading manual or three. They'll tell you what powders, primers, bullets and cases to use etc. If you don't already have some calipers or micrometers, you want to get that/those.

+1 to what Certaindeaf posted.

There should be no equipment more important to a good reloader than his/her reloading manuals.

 

[kingmt]

There is still stuff out there I don't see this lasting another month. If everyone would calm down or would go away allot sooner. The stores are still getting stuff in & actually more then they normally do. People are just grabbing it as soon as they see out whether they need it or not.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

2. What components should I buy?
Powder: I'm a huge fan of W231/HP-38 in both the 45 Auto and 9mm.
Brass : Any commercial brass from a name brand company is a good choice. Never A-Merc
Bullets I shoot Hard Case bullet because they are cheap. Missouri Bullets is a good company with a very good product.
Primers : I like CCI best followed closely by Winchester but there's nothing wrong with Remington and Federal either. Many reloaders are using foreign primers like MagTech, S&B, Wolf, Tula and a few others. I don't use them but reports say they are fine too.

BUT, good luck finding any components right now during this stupid panic!

 

[BYJO4]

You need several loading manuals (suggest Lyman 49th as one), case cleaner, bullet puller, calipers, several loading blocks, and an extra turret. There are other items you will get as time goes on. Componets are going to be difficult to come by at this time. At this time, you can't be very picky about brands. As long as the various componets work together per loading data in the manuals or manufactureres web sites, you are OK. Good luck.

 

[Matt Dillon]

A set of Lyman brass preparation tools, I.e. large and small primer pocket uniforming tools, an inside and outside chamfer tool, lee trim gauges for any rifle calibers you plan to load, and a lee auto prime and set of shell holders will all be very useful to you.

 

[mdi]

Wow! You sure got a lot of suggestions! And some isn't needed to start reloading.

I started reloading in '69 with a Lee Loader, 1 lb. of Bullseye, 100 CCI primers (I couldn't afford a brick at that time), a hundred or so generic lead bullets, and scrounged brass from the local range (lots of cops shot there and dropped their .38 Special brass), and of course a yellow mallet. I reloaded for several months quite successfully, making safe accurate ammo, before I expanded to a single stage press/dies. I haven't "reformed" a primer pocket ever, and haven't cleaned one in 20 years. I don't trim handgun brass (I load a lot of 9mm and 45 ACP semi-auto and several different revolver cartridges). Being a lifelong machinist/mechanic I had plenty of measuring tools and I used a plain old countersink (had several laying around in my tool box) to remove primer pocket crimps and champher case mouths. I reloaded mebbe 12 years before I got a tumbler (wasn't concerned with virgin appearing brass and nope, I didn't wear out any sizing dies or miss any defects when inspecting). A bullet puller will be handy, but a coffe can to hold "OOPS, cartridges to be pulled" will work too, later when "I know a little more" they can be disassembled (a pair of pliers and your press removes bullets from cases quite well). I added tools as I needed them and researched/read before I purchased.

You can buy a "super, includes everything plus the kitchen sink, brand new state-of-the-art equipment" kit, but you won't make any better, safer, more accurate ammo than I did with my Lee Loader and hammer...

I would highly suggest K.I.S.S....

 

[James2]

Right on mdi.

I started out with a manual, press, shell holder, reamer, dies, powder funnel and scale. You can add to your assortment of tools as you save some money on your ammo. You will also have a better idea just what you want to add.

I started loading in 1957. I have yet to buy a bullet puller. Some put that on the list of things to have starting up.......... go figure??? It is my goal to load ammo not tear it down. As noted, pliers and the press pull bullets just fine if you really need to. Watch what you are doing and work up loads properly and it is a rare thing to need to pull a bullet. The one time I ended pulling a bunch of bullets, I just bought someone else's load and loaded up 100. WOW! They were too hot. Lesson learned. Now when trying a new load I load 3 and go shoot them. I may even increase the load for 3 more and 3 more, then go shoot. At least I don't end up pulling 100 bullets.

 

[Speedster00]

Im in the exact same boat. Just ordered my lee turret kit yesterday from Kempfs. After calling, they are about 3 weeks behind on shipping.

Also, I ordered Alliant Power pistol from Natches and 200gr LRN from Missouri Bullet as well.