Reloading Newbie

[10mmGlock]

New forum member and first post... Hello everyone!

I have never reloaded before and am looking for a little advise on what equipment is best to get me started. In this economy, I do not want to spend more than necessary, yet I want to make sure I am buying equipment that will suit my needs for years to come. My goal would be to make reloading my primary source of ammo. At a guess, I would probably like to be able to reload somewhere in the 200-400 rounds/week range once I get proficient without spending every free hour on it.

I want to reload for all my existing calibers so I need equipment suitable to reload all the following plus have room for new toys in both pistol and long-guns:
1. 32APC
2. 380 auto
3. 9mm
4. 40S&W
5. 45APC
6. 10mm
7. 357 mag
8. 50 AE
9. 500 SW Mag
10. 223
11. 308
12. 30-30
13. 7mm Mag

Looking on the web I see what are advertised as complete kits (ex dies) with prices ranging from <$100 for Lee to $800 for RCBS. Should I go with a kit? If so, which one? Am I better off to pick individual components vs the kits?

Any advise is greatly appreciated

Totally confued Newbie

 

[jmortimer]

For myself and many others the Lee Classic Turret press is ideal. If you start with a progressive most recommend Hornady Lock-N-Load or Dillion. What I suggest is to read reviews on Midway USA and Cabelas from actual owners to see if a particular piece of equipment is worthwhile. Get Lyman's reloading manual and if you end up buying Lee Precision equipment get "Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee. I like to prime by hand and use the Lee Precision Auto Prime (check out owner reviews) and use powder dippers to charge. I use my Lee turret press in single stage mode but you can crank out about 200 rounds an hour with the auto-index activated. All brands work - just read the reviews and see for yourself. This whole area is much like the Ford v Chevy debate - they both have good points. You will see how good the Lee Precision Classic Turret is when you read the owner reviews and a number of the reviews will be written by people who have had a number of presses. The points made here will largely be the Ford v Chevy type so take them all - including mine - with a grain of salt.

 

[Legionnaire]

jmortimer beat me to it. A turret press will--most importantly--allow you to easily change a full set of dies to another caliber simply by changing out the turret. I'm still relatively new to reloading myself, and reload for far fewer cartridges than you plan to (five, at this point), and the turret is already proving very helpful.

There's a "sticky" at the top of this forum on basic reloading equipment. Good info there.

Welcome aboard.

 

[loadedround]

I would suggest that you beg, borrow, or steal,(or even buy) SEVERAL good reloading manuals such as the Lyman, Speer, Nosler and others and read and reread the reloading sections until you are basically familiar with the terminology and the basic types of presses available. I would then consider what cartridge I would like to load first and check out both kits and single presses. Your basic purchases will be a press, dies, powder measure, scale, digital calipers, powder, primers and bullets. I would suggest starting with a straight wall pistol case like the 38 special. Also buy tungsten carbide dies so that you do do need to lube cases. Pesonally I would consider a quality single station press like the RCBS or Lyman. I am not too fond of the cheaper Lee press(just my opinion, and others will differ.) Reserve another 100.00 for extra accessories you will need like loading blocks, funnels, chamfering tools etc. All of us here on THR will be glad to help you...I know I will.

 

[10mmGlock]

Thanks everyone!

Good advise so far.

jmortimer:
I had looked at the Lee Classic Turret but as a complete novice the low price compared to some of the other equipment had me worried.

Legionnaire:
I had read the reloading starter sticky at the top of the page before posting, but I still had concerns about the low price.

Loadedround:
I have ordered the ABC's of reloading from Cabela's and am waiting on delivery. Unfortunately the 38 is one of the calibers I do not currently own. Out of the list in my opening post, which pistol caliber would you recommend as my guinea pig?


It appears that pricing is a question of functionality/speed rather than a question of reliability/durability. An hour or two a week reloading is perfect so I'll be ordering the Lee and eagerly look forward to pumping out my first round.

Thanks again!

 

[Steve C]

I'd suggest you start out with a single stage press since a progressive will not accommodate all the calibers you have on your list. The single stage will familiarize you with the process and really isn't that time consuming. A heavy duty press like the RCBS Rock Chucker with its compound leverage is a useful tool for large case sizing, small batch load development, case forming, and small lots even if you where to buy the best progressive press available.

The dies you buy will fit both types of presses so there's not down side to starting with a simpler press.

The Kit gives you all the essentials except a case cleaner and a measuring caliper. If you don't go the full kit route you will need at least a reloading manual, scale, chamfering tool, loading block, appropriate die set(s), appropriate shell holder(s), and powder funnel. If you want to load at a reasonable speed you will need a powder measure and a digital, dial or vernier caliper is useful.

 

[jmortimer]

You can spend more if you choose just make sure it is $$$ well spent. The owner reviews I mentioned should reassure you. In spite of a comment above, many think the Lee Precision Classic Cast single stage is the best single stage bar none. Owner reviews support this contention. If you have extra $$$ to spend then other brands make great products and are worth considering. I'm not one to run down other products. One consideration is how many calibers you shoot - the dies and multiple caliber set up for some presses cost a bundle.

 

[Legionnaire]

While single stages are great, I still think a Lee turret is the best bang for the buck (and I think the Lee Classic Cast is the best single stage for the money).

Out of the list in my opening post, which pistol caliber would you recommend as my guinea pig?

.357 mag. Don't be concerned about the low price. In reloading, it is still true that you can do a lot with good quality but still relatively inexpensive equipment.

 

[Wildbillz]

I started out on a RCBS RockChucker in the mid 70s. I reloaded exclusivly on that press till my 40th birthday. I got a Dillon 550B as a birthday gift. I now have two of them and still use the RockChucker for some stuff.

A single stage press (Like the RC) will alow you to learn the process and check (with luck Catch) for mistakes you might make. But its slow to use. I use to do 9mm and be able to knock out 100 to 150 (maybe a little more) in an hour. With the Dillon I can do close to 500 in an hour if everything is working right and I have the primers in tubes. But I would still say start out on a single stage. You might luck out and find a used one on Craigs list or E-bay for a decent price. It use to be you could buy used equipment at a fair price. But right now the demand is up and so is cost. Read a lot and see if you can't find some one local that loads to show you the ropes.

Know up fron that if you plan on buying dies for all thouse calibers listed your going to put down a couple of hundred just for dies. If you havent save your brass you may run into a snag trying to buy some of the calibers listed (10mm and 380acp for sure) The other supplys are still a bit hard to get right now. Primers are getting a bit easyer to find. Some of the powders are still out of stock and the prices is way up. I guess what I am saying is take a look around and see what you have and what you can get before you jump in to deep.

Just my randam thoughts on it.
WB

 

[10mmGlock]

Know up fron that if you plan on buying dies for all thouse calibers listed your going to put down a couple of hundred just for dies.

Yes, I understand that in my case dies may be my most expensive equipment purchase. I just love to shoot and have lots of different guns in the collection,

If you havent save your brass you may run into a snag trying to buy some of the calibers listed (10mm and 380acp for sure) The other supplys are still a bit hard to get right now. Primers are getting a bit easyer to find.

I have been saving brass for years and have thousands or in some cases 10X cases of most sizes saved up. In general terms how many times can I expect to reload a case before it is streatched out of spec?

 

[Wildbillz]

I have been saving brass for years and have thousands or in some cases 10X cases of most sizes saved up. In general terms how many times can I expect to reload a case before it is streatched out of spec?

With my pistol ammo I reload it till it cracks or won't hold a bullet in place any longer. The rifle cases I guess about four or five reloads depending on how hot you load them. I loose more to the bushes on the range then wearout.

As for the equipment? You only have to buy quality one time. Cheap you may pay for over and over. Each brand has good points and its supporters. I like the RCBS and Dillon stuff. I only have two sets of Lee dies and used one of there hand press once. I don't like there press (and thats just my biase) But I have been hearing good things about there new Cast Iron O frame press. If you can find a store or someone that has one that your interested in, go and play with it for a while. Try changing calibers and running it through its stages. See what you like and don't.

WB

 

[loadedround]

10mmGlock:

"I have ordered the ABC's of reloading from Cabela's and am waiting on delivery. Unfortunately the 38 is one of the calibers I do not currently own. Out of the list in my opening post, which pistol caliber would you recommend as my guinea pig?"

You have the 357 mag on your list. You do know that the 38 Spl is interchangable withe the 357 in the magnum revolver and 38 Spl dies will reload both rounds. What I was implying, and probably wasn't to clear, that you should start with the 38 to gain experience before loading magnum loads. That round would be the easiest and cheapest to learn. That was the caliber that I was first taught to reload.

 

[Wildbillz]

Same thing with the 10mm and 40s&w One die set will do both cartridges. Just need to adjust the bullet seating die to the corect lenth for which ever your loading at the time.

I just thougth of this also. I wouldn't wast my time with standard dies on the pistol stuff. Get the Carbide steel ones. You will save time not having to lube the cases and then clean them off prior to loading. The only time I use the standards is if its a bottle neck pistol case or I have no other choise.

WB