Reloading questions

[Zeede]

Going to be getting a M1 Garand (my dream gun!!!) and possibly a pistol. Maybe .45 ACP, but I haven't found a pistol in that caliber that I find comfortable to shoot. At any rate, a few questions:

1) Reloading books? Lyman's Shotshell reloading manual is top notch, and it's fairly universally praised, but not so with metallic reloading.
2) Lee Classic Turret Press? Should this suffice for relatively low volume loading? Can it do both 30-06 and centerfire pistols?
3) Tumbler recommendations?

Cameron

 

[SASS#23149]

myself and others praise the Lyman' book to high heaven quite often,don't know where you've been getting negs on it. ?

yes,the press will load any centerfire ammo.

my rcbs has been going for over 15 years,although not all that often.Ya pays yer money and ya takes ur chances on tumblers.

 

[ReloaderFred]

You'll like the Garand. I'm down to five of them at this time, and they are a fun rifle to shoot and play with.

The Lyman 48th Edition Reloading Handbood is one of the better loading manuals. I'm not sure where you got the idea that it wasn't, but in my humble opinion, it is.

As for the Lee Press, I can't help you there, since I use a Hollywood, RCBS Rockchucker and Hornady Pro-Jector presses. I do use a very few Lee dies, and they're ok.

For Tumblers, the UltraVibe is top of the line, and I have two of them. For general use, you won't go wrong with a Berry's tumbler. I also use one of those and it's faster than the UV-18's, but a bit smaller in size.

For a .45 pistol, you might want to look at the Springfield XD. I have them in 9mm, 357 Sig and .45 acp. They point naturally and fit most hands very well. I also own other brands of pistols and revolvers, but the XD is the one I carry everyday.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I agree with Fred on The Lyman 48th Edition Reloading Handbook. I especially like the different bullet manufactures for most calibers.

As for presses I like RCBS as I have a Jr. and a Rockchucker, I use RCBS dies for the most part with a few lyman and Lee's thrown in.

 

[1911NM]

I have the Lyman 48th, an old Lee, and a bunch of pages scrounged of the internet such as Hodgdon.

the .45acp question, well a 1911 of course. Your choice of flavor.

 

[ForneyRider]

1) I have the Lee book and a Nosler book. You can get several free pamplets from handloading supply houses. The pamphlets have lots of load data. Also check the manfacturer websites of the components for load data.

2) I recommend a single stage. Lee Breech Lock for $100 or the RCBS for $200. The kits are very good. Just need a caliper, a trickler, a tumbler and components.

3) I have Lyman for about $50, it works great for me. I run rice in it, but am getting some walnut and pecan shell for it for free. Some people like corn cob, or a mixture of corn cob and walnut shell.

For .45 ACP, I am big fan of Springfield and Sig Sauer. XD is a great polymer high-cap 45. Springfield 1911's are top notch, and plenty of models to choose from. Sig Sauer has SA/DA 45's. I am big fan of SA/DA and striker fired(XD) for carry weapons. H&K or S&W would be other choices.

My dad liked shooting the Garand in army. He said they would hit targets at 300 and 500 yards with peep sights.

 

[closetgunnut]

I love shooting my, well actually my Dad's, Garands. Like FRED said, they are really fun to shoot!

Hornady's 7th edition has Garand specific data. I think another reloading book has one also but I can't remember which.

 

[Steve C]

A side note on reloading for the Garand. Make sure you use medium burn powders like IMR 4064 and 150 to 165gr bullets. Use data specific for the Garand in the manuals. Heavier bullets and slower powders can result in a bent op-rod as the Garand's gas port is not self regulating or adjustable. There's good information from the NRA on loading for the Grand.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Cameron,

I've cut and pasted your questions below and answered them in red.

a few questions:

1) Reloading books? Lyman's Shotshell reloading manual is top notch, and it's fairly universally praised, but not so with metallic reloading.There's a sticky at the top of the forum for new reloaders. I have most of them and find them all useful. About metallic cartridge reloading: There's a description in there for tuning your cartridge length to your chamber/rifle. I found that description extremely useful for tuning 30.06 load for my M1 Garand when I started shooting High Power Rifle many years ago. Allowed me to get some extremely nice groups out of my Hook Boutin tuned Garand. A good start would be the ABC's of reloading and the Speer manual followed by the Lee book.

2) Lee Classic Turret Press? Should this suffice for relatively low volume loading? Yes, but I would suggest getting an RCBS Uniflow powder measureand a Hornady case activated powder drop to go with it, as you'll likely want to use IMR4895 as your powder. I have this press and while I like the Pro Auto Disk measures, extruded rifle powders are not it's forte, so I use the Uniflow and Hornady CAPD for rifle reloading.

Can it do both 30-06 and centerfire pistols? Yes, it absolutely can. I suggest the Lee deluxe pistol die set and for rifle in a semi auto, get the Lee set that has the factory crimp die unless you plan on buying a bolt action in 30.06. If you do, get the Lee rifle die set with the neck sizer.

3) Tumbler recommendations?
Unless you're going to do extremely massive volumes, the Midwayusa tumbler set that comes with the bucket/strainer is about the best way to go. I've had one for years and have been extremely happy with it. Wouldn't trade it for the smaller Dillon tumbler nor the Dillon strainer.

If you are going to do massive quantites, you'll need a bigger tumbler. Two that come to mind are the Thumbler Tumbler and the larger Dillon. Even then, the Midway bucket strainer (without the tumbler) is the way I'd go.

Hope this helps,

Dave

 

[RustyFN]

I bought the Cabela's tunbler for $45 and am very happy with it.

I haven't had it very long but I know somebody that has had his for five years and he said it still runs like new, that's why I bought one. It is quiet and is a large capacity, will hold 650 38 spcl cases. You can also buy it in a kit for $57.
Rusty

 

[rcmodel]

I highly recommend the Lyman book! It's a "must have" in my opinion.

But for M-1, the Hornady #6 set or the #7 manual has a whole chapter devoted to M1 Garand data.

rcmodel