Reloading rookie

Status
Not open for further replies.
DocCharlie said:
That looks nice but I’m really trying to minimize the stuff I would need because of all of my hunting/fishing/ black powder hobbies. I’ve really run out of room. Once kids go to college then I can make room in the garage for a whole station!
Click to expand...
I bought a Tupperware bread box to store the hand press. I can take it anywhere or store it on a bookshelf.
 
Straight wall cases are easy. I'd go with the Lee Manuel, as it lists many different powders. My favorite Manuel is " Metallic cartridge reloading" but ML McPherson. The data section is basically all the commercial data in one place.
 
Reloading is a relaxing, enjoyable hobby that fills the hours and provides a sense of accomplishment.
But even the smallest mistake can have disastrous consequences, so extreme caution should be taken.
Before you attempt any of the steps of reloading you need to read a good reloading book & thoroughly understand the process.
 
AK Hunter said:
Reloading is a relaxing, enjoyable hobby that fills the hours and provides a sense of accomplishment.
But even the smallest mistake can have disastrous consequences, so extreme caution should be taken.
Before you attempt any of the steps of reloading you need to read a good reloading book & thoroughly understand the process.
Click to expand...
Can I get an “Amen”?
 
I started with Lee Loaders in 1969 and now have 8, along with 3 presses, 5 powder measures, 4 beam, 2 digital scales, 13 die sets and 1.87 metric toms of assorted reloading tools. There is nothing wrong with Lee Loaders. They are only as slow as the user, and produce accurate handloads if the user does his part. Rifle kits neck size and straight sided cases are full length sized. I successfully used my 38 Special kit, producing several hundred safe and accurate handloads for about 14 months before I got a bench press (Lee Challenger). After a few years I got a Lee Hand Press, sorta out of curiosity. I have reloaded all my handgun cartridges (9) and some of my rifle rounds (4). Sizing rifle rounds took a bit more pressure and I wouldn't want to sit down and reload 75-100 rounds, but 25-30 was no big deal. You do not need all the equipment suggested on forums to reload a reasonable number of rounds, and K.I.S.S. is an excellent concept for reloading, and keeping new reloader cranking out rounds and keeping out of trouble.

When I feel retro I dig out on of my Lee Loaders and pound out a few rounds. One big positive for using a Lee Loader is they re excellent learning tools, doing one step at a time. simply. For those that claim Lee Loaders are slow;

I normally recommend The ABCs of Reloading for new reloader reading. The text explains each step of reloading, equipment, components and are easy to read...
 
I paid $35 for my hand press many years ago. Still use it on load testing range trips. In case I screw up or Labradar somehow miss a shot.

Today I have 2 750, Lee loadmaster, Lee Classic, and Forster Co-Ax. With that said; the Lee Hand Press is great. A quick spray of hornady one shot lube on the cases and start cranking away. It’s not any slower than a Lee classic (imo). You can deprime, size, and all. For 38 spl and 45 lc it should be a breeze.

for priming I would suggest just getting an inexpensive hand primer like Lee or any used for $35 or ao if you don’t want to spend $60-80. Invest in an auto charge scale and you should have no problem cracking out a decent volume.

Totally recommend it in your case. Just my personal opinion.
 
DocCharlie said:
I would love to start with a real setup but I don’t have the space for it. While looking at those on YouTube I came across the lee hand press.
Click to expand...
The hand press is usable for your chosen cartridges but a press mounted on something stable (rather than just hand-held) is SOoo much easier to use and not that much more space required to store.

So you can better evaluate my words, here is a summary of my experience. I load for handguns (44 Mag, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 9mm, 357 Mag, 480 Ruger) a couple hundred per sitting and go through 100 to 500 centerfire rounds per month. I don't cast....yet.

I believe in a minimalist approach and and try to keep my inventory of tools low. I do not keep my loading gear set up when not in use, either, but pack it away in small toolboxes until the next loading session. I can set up and be loading almost anywhere in 10-15 minutes.

My entire loading bench fits in three toolboxes, the largest of which is . (Plus a folding workbench) and that includes 7 sets of dies.

One is 23" x 10"x10" and contains my press (Lee Classic Turret), mounting system (a 2"x6" board that I clamp onto the portable workbench or anything handy) a small 4"X8"X1.5" fishing tackle box to contain all the small parts & tools and the primer feeding system. There's room for a couple of manuals in there, too, but I store them on my bookshelf.

The second (15"x8"x8") contains all the gunpowder handling parts. Scale, funnel, 2 Powder measure/dispensers and a set of Lee's measuring scoops/dippers and my loading safety glasses (as opposed to my shooting glasses).

The third (15"x7"x7") contains seven sets of reloading dies, mounted in their turrets inside their plastic storage cylinders, ready to plug into the press and use.

With my folding workbench, I can set up my reloading room anywhere in just a few minutes.

Here's the detailed inventory of gear so packaged:
Lee Classic Turret Press, 2x6 x 18" board and three carriage bolts with wing nuts
Lee Safey Primer Feeders for both Large and Small Primers
miscellaneous tweezers, screwdrivers, magnifying glass, toothpicks etc.(in the fishing tackle box)
Balance beam scale RCBS 10-10
2 Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measures
Lee Powder Scoops
Powder funnel
Safety Glasses
Seven sets of dies 38/357, 9mm, 45ACP, 45/454, 44/44mag, 41mag, 480 Rugerers
 
If you really don't have the space for a small bench mountable press, then I'd highly recommend the hand press over the "whack-a-mole" type for handgun reloading. If you use carbide dies and a little lube, they are not bad at all for loading a box or so at a time.

I'm not up on current prices, but a used Lyman 310 tong tool is also a viable choice if you've got strong, arthritis free hands and wrists.
Mark_Mark said:
Most reloading manual will make zero sense to you. I recommend youtube reloading before picking up a manual.
Click to expand...
It may be somewhat mitigated by your later recommendation of specific videos, but as a standalone post that might just be the most unintelligent sounding thing I've ever read on THR.
 
Swampman said:
If you really don't have the space for a small bench mountable press, then I'd highly recommend the hand press over the "whack-a-mole" type for handgun reloading. If you use carbide dies and a little lube, they are not bad at all for loading a box or so at a time.

I'm not up on current prices, but a used Lyman 310 tong tool is also a viable choice if you've got strong, arthritis free hands and wrists.

It may be somewhat mitigated by your later recommendation of specific videos, but as a standalone post that might just be the most unintelligent sounding thing I've ever read on THR.
Click to expand...
Some people can’t read, thank goodness for videos
 
Utube videos are great!!! They have helped me so much on working on autos, cooking pork shoulder, putting together kit stuff.

But for reloading, I strongly believe the very first purchase should be a reloading manual.

I don’t have any I rate above any other but personally I like the Lyman 50th edition. A manual may save you money to the point you say “this game isn’t for me.”

But I always look at several books when starting a new load, new powder, new projectile.

I load handgun to go bang and make the pistol function.

For rifle the game changes and accuracy is my foremost concern.

I’m not familiar with the hand held tools, so my opinion is biased.

But a decent press will last you a lifetime. Name one other thing, except a gun, you can say that about?

And, currently, there is a great resale of used presses.
 
Wow! This is all great! Thank you fellas! Spoke to a buddy at work and he recommended a single press as well. And he also said read some manuals first. He said he will bring me in a few. as one of you said, I just want to reload some pistol cartridges just so they go bang. It has been very hard to find .38 special, .357 magnum, .45 colt. The other day For the first time in two years I found .357 but was a two box limit. At this time I don’t need to load any rifle loads but the option down the road would be nice but not necessary. You guys are full of great info thank you!!!!
 
twarr1 said:
A Lee “C” frame press isn’t much bigger. and You can bolt it to a strong board and clamp it down somewhere. Plenty strong for straight wall pistol cartridges.
Click to expand...
Ok so I think you’ve convinced me with the lee c press! Been watching some videos and reading about it. My buddy lent me a loading book today and I am going to pick up some more to read. Do you guys have any preference between the lee 3 die carbide set or the rcbs carbide set?
 
DocCharlie said:
I liked that hickcock45 video along with this guys using the lee c press!
Click to expand...

a press is a press and it will get the job done! Reloaders are picky and if it didn’t pass the mustard, it would have been long gone. I don’t know of any single stage press I wouldn’t nit trust, they are all that good
 
Your buddy and a good manual will be very helpful...your buddy can walk you through with hands on instruction..videos are great..but they do not have a question and answer section...as far as de-capping.....a lee universal de-capping die works for just about anything you wanted to load for. A lee hand primer kit works very well also, and breaks down so it does not take up a lot of room. There are powder scoops that some find accurate enough to use and put into their travel kits..plenty way's to skin this cat...
Buy your buddy lunch...
Pray you and yours' are well
 
I use that press hickock uses in the video. I have used them for years and at one time had 3 setup side by side for production work. I always have one mounted and it is my main press, I usually get 75-80k rounds before having to replace them, and I keep a spare in the bench. The Reloader is one of the best deals going and if you are not sizing lots of 308 or 30-06 matching gun brass they last a good long time. With good lube and good technique loose 30 cal works just fine on the press.

How I started with limited space, a Reloader press bolted to a 2’ piece of 2x6 and c clamped to a table. Unbolt it and it all slides under the couch when not in use. A Lee safety scale, dippers, trimmers, hand primer, primers, and a pound of powder fit in a shoe box and went under the couch as well. Out of sight and out of the way. Add the current Lee bench primer and bolt it to the other end of the 2x6 and life is good. I use 1/4-20 bolts and wing nuts to make setup and takedown quick and easy. Drill a 1” hole under the press through the board and screw a small pickle jar or similar to the underside of the board to catch the spent primers( drill a 1” hole in the jar lid also).

Once you read a few manuals and get a better idea of what will be doing, you will have more questions. The most important thing to be aware of is this: you don’t know what you don’t know. There are and will be lots of questions to ask that you don’t even realize you need to ask because there are many things that you don’t know that you need to know.

Couple of important things to keep in mind when you get started.
*Good lighting is important.
*No distractions while loading(kids, wife, pets, phone).
*Log everything, which powder/how much/bullet weight and profile/primer/oal.
*Once a load is chosen only one powder out at a time.
*Keep a note card in view with powder/bullet/charge weight/oal to reference while loading.
*Use the barrel or cylinder to check your ammo before loading up a bunch. If it won’t drop in the chamber, seat fully, and spin freely, you need to stop and determine why.
*Always start 10% under max loads, never start at max loads.

There is more, much more, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, we all started this hobby with no clue what we were doing and had to go up from there.
 
At this stage of the game, your most important tool is the reloading manual. Whichever you get, read and learn the front part before you just pick out a receipe and begin.

It's important to know why you are doing a step, not just how to. The manual will also talk a out tools (presses and others). Everyone has a favorite manual; I prefer the Lyman then the ABC's of reloading. Hornady and Speer are good but have a lot technical info for advanced reloading. I've been doing it for 38 yrs and Lyman is my most used.
 
Lee Q. Loader said:
I have to respectfully disagree with the above. For straight wall pistol cases you can knock out some good ammo with the set up you are contemplating. Get the hand press, Lee 4 piece die sets, a good scale, a reloading block to hold the charged rounds. Get one the manuals listed above and you will be set to go.
I think you will enjoy it enough that when your situation permits you can buy a single stage or a turret press.
Click to expand...
Nobody said he couldnt.
 
FYI, Originally I was going to say that the Lee Hand press was a cheap but good way to get started.

Then I looked up prices at Titan and found that the hand and C press were both on sale with the C press only $3 more. If you are willing to get carbide dies (I recommend Lee), the C press should do fine for both of your stated uses.
 
Last edited:
bullseye308 said:
I use that press hickock uses in the video. I have used them for years and at one time had 3 setup side by side for production work. I always have one mounted and it is my main press, I usually get 75-80k rounds before having to replace them, and I keep a spare in the bench. The Reloader is one of the best deals going and if you are not sizing lots of 308 or 30-06 matching gun brass they last a good long time. With good lube and good technique loose 30 cal works just fine on the press.

How I started with limited space, a Reloader press bolted to a 2’ piece of 2x6 and c clamped to a table. Unbolt it and it all slides under the couch when not in use. A Lee safety scale, dippers, trimmers, hand primer, primers, and a pound of powder fit in a shoe box and went under the couch as well. Out of sight and out of the way. Add the current Lee bench primer and bolt it to the other end of the 2x6 and life is good. I use 1/4-20 bolts and wing nuts to make setup and takedown quick and easy. Drill a 1” hole under the press through the board and screw a small pickle jar or similar to the underside of the board to catch the spent primers( drill a 1” hole in the jar lid also).

Once you read a few manuals and get a better idea of what will be doing, you will have more questions. The most important thing to be aware of is this: you don’t know what you don’t know. There are and will be lots of questions to ask that you don’t even realize you need to ask because there are many things that you don’t know that you need to know.

Couple of important things to keep in mind when you get started.
*Good lighting is important.
*No distractions while loading(kids, wife, pets, phone).
*Log everything, which powder/how much/bullet weight and profile/primer/oal.
*Once a load is chosen only one powder out at a time.
*Keep a note card in view with powder/bullet/charge weight/oal to reference while loading.
*Use the barrel or cylinder to check your ammo before loading up a bunch. If it won’t drop in the chamber, seat fully, and spin freely, you need to stop and determine why.
*Always start 10% under max loads, never start at max loads.

There is more, much more, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, we all started this hobby with no clue what we were doing and had to go up from there.
Click to expand...
Awesome thank you!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

H
  • Locked
Lee Safety Primer issue
Replies
7
Views
923
Reefinmike
Reefinmike
J
  • Locked
.357 Reloading Nightmare
Replies
2
Views
533
Quoheleth
Quoheleth
V
  • Locked
Interested in reloading
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
BigJakeJ1s
B
N
  • Locked
Rookie question: How do I choose a proper reloading press?
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
Clark
Clark
A
  • Locked
Lee Classic Loader 38/357
Replies
7
Views
824
Steve C
S
Back
Top