So anyway, I'm going to start reloading...

[Draven32]

I need to decide on what kind of setup.

I need to spend a minimum of money.

Need to reload .30 Carbine and .357 Magnum immediately, and in the future add 7.62x54R and 7.62 NATO.

I have nowhere to set up a press. Period. Nowhere to put up a bench, even.

So, use a hand press ( a friend swears by em) or get the FA bench and set up a single stage press... or hope i can find enough used stuff to use a turret press?

 

[dmftoy1]

Do a search on this forum for "reloading bench" and then sit down with a cold one and read for a couple of hours. There are quite a few guys in your situation and they've come up with some very creative approaches. (using a closet, a board that clamps to the coffee table, kitchen table or whatever).

When I was living in an apartment and had zero room I built a small bench out of some old countertop and scrap lumber and put it in one of my closets. Worked fine for me.

Have a good one,
Dave

PS - if you want to get started for a minimum amount of money then my recommendation would be to talk to your local volume reloader (or find one at a gun show) and ask them if they've taken in any equipment on trade. The two guys I know locally take stuff in all the time from people who thought they'd like it and decided they'd rather be shooting. 2 years ago I picked up a used single stage press from him for $30 (RCBS) and he let me go through boxes of old dies from estate sales and grab whatever I wanted. (3 sets). They had a bit of surface rust on them but they cleaned up really well)

 

[Draven32]

My local volume reloaders sell all their trade stuff at gun shows...

are hand presses really that bad?

 

[Grumulkin]

Hand Presses

I started reloading with no press at all; just a "Lee Loader" to load for a 7 X 57 Mauser on the kitchen table when I was a teenager. You can even get case trimmers that don't have to be bolted or screwed to anything. A Lee Loader or hand press is quite slow though it should work for 30 Carbine and 357 Magnum. If the case is too long, quite a bit of effort will be required to size larger cases with a hand press; on the other hand, you will develop strong arms.

I used a single stage RCBS clamped to a wooden table for some time. It is a step up from a hand press.

 

[MNgoldenbear]

I started on an RCBS Rockchucker. Still use it, usually under a Piggyback II -- not the greatest of progressives, but it gets the job done. (Just put out about 1200 each .357 Mag and .45 ACP target loads last week.) I've got a real place to put the equipment now, but when living in an apartment, I improvised. Put a Black & Decker Workmate (one of those folding bench/sawhorse kind of set-ups) in the closet that was meant for a stacked washer/dryer. They're a little springy, but worked fine. Had the press already mounted to some wood blocks (used to clamp it to a thick, old wooden kitchen table) and just C-clamped the block to the bench. It was convenient and I could close the door on it whenever I wanted to put things out of sight. I loaded for just about everything I have on that set-up: .357/.38, .44 mag, .45 ACP, .223 Rem, 6.5x55, 7.62x39 (waste of time, for an SKS) .308 Win, .30-06. If you went with something like this, you could still have the press mounted on something, not worry about damaging any nicer furniture, and break it down after a session and toss it all in a closet somewhere. Just a warning though. You WILL want have a real place to load some time -- loading your own is too addictive not to have the equipment ready to go at all times.

Not sure about the various types of presses, as I've only got that set-up, a Redding turret, and a Ponsness-Warren shotshell loader. If you can get quality used equipment, it would probably be the best bet, since it'll do everything you want, do it well, and hold value if you decide to either quit loading or move on to other equipment.

 

[Rem700SD]

I've got my RCBS rockchucker bolted to a 2x6 board. You could then C-clamp it to a sturdy table, counter, etc. Get some kind of box to store your supplies as you get them, and you are in business!

 

[Mr Mario]

I got a LEE Ananiversary reloading kit with manual from Natchez shooters suppliesfor 74.65 less dies, die kits range from $18.00 to$28.00 www.natchezss.com. I like it it seems to be a good press outfit it has alot of stuff you will need. Here is a pic of my setup the bench is an old bed stand the guy next door was throwing away it's rather small 24"Hx18"Wx14"D. Happy Loading!!!!!!!

 

[Matt Dillon]

These are things that I think are essential to any reloader. I often deprime in my living room with the Lee hand press, though I have the Lee classic press attached to my reloading bench out in the garage. I would recommend that you purchase an accurate scale, an Ohaus 10/10 should satisfy most of your needs and is pretty economical if you purchase it off of eBay.

Load information
Scale
Check weights
Dippers
Loading trays
Calipers
Magnifying glass
Funnel
Dies
Lee Hand press
Bullet hammer
Powder trickler
Primers
Cases
Bullets
Powder
Cartridge boxes
Lee Autoprime tool and shellholders
Lee Trimmer and trimming gauges
Drill, if working on a lot of brass
Primer pocket uniformers
Primer flash hole reamer for rifle brass

 

[P-32]

When I was in the Navy we moved a lot so the reloading press had to stay mobile. Thank goodness for wing nuts or "C" clamps! I stored the press, scales, yada, yada, yada in their org. boxes. No room, a folding bench from Sears might fit the ticket. It can be stored in a closet. A buddy had a stand, can't remember who makes it which was made to mount a single stage press on. It took up about the same amount of room as standing lamp.

 

[Infidel]

If the cost is a major consideration, then add a vote for the Lee Anniversary Kit. It has most of the stuff that you will need, including press, powder measure, and scale. Add Lee dies, case trimmer, and various other tools, like primer pocket cleaner and uniformer, and flash hole deburrer, from Foster or Lyman or whatever, and you're set.

I've done the 2x6 c-clamped to a desk bit, and it worked, but last year, against a lot of advice, I bought one of the little "reloading stand"s from Midway, with a little plastic top and it comes apart to store. It has worked quite well. It tells me when I have not used enough lube; I get signs of distress from the stand before the cases get stuck in the dies.

 

[Berek]

I got started on a Lee and stull use it for my rifle and .44Mag. For 9mm, .45ACP and .357/38 I use a Dillon SDB that I picked up cheap. My bench is just a 2x4 frame with parts of a broken Sauder cabinet. Works just fine. It holds both presses, a Lee Perfect measure and 2 utility drawer things. I used a Majestic roof tile (plastic, anti-static) flipped upside down for a smooth work surface.

But, if starting capital is an issue, Lee Anniversary kit is the way to go. Cheap does not always equal crap...

 

[YellowLab]

The Lee anniversary kit is a GREAT start. It includes everything you need except dies.

.30 Carbine dies are gonna cost the most because Lee does not make them. I use RCBS .30 Carbine dies and they work with any press.

The Lee scale is excellent, just keep it level.

Most 'O' frame presses do not have a primer catch, Lee's do. That is a HUGE +1 for convienance.

Add powder (a manual comes with the kit) and you are done for less than $100.

Many people will suggest at least 2 manuals.... I don't see why, all loads are nowhere near max and what good will two manuals that give you 2 seperate charges prove? Nothing.

 

[jaimeshawn]

The Lee Loader is a good way to start and you can't get any cheaper or smaller than that - you can usually find one for less than $10 on eBay. Start with that, and use your money for components until you have the cash and the space for a press.

If you can scrape up enough room to mount a small press, here's another vote for the Lee anniversary kit through www.midwayusa.com The Lee loading manual is excellent and teaches about reloading history, casting, and everything you need to know to make some pretty decent ammo. The kit itself has everything you need except components and dies. Good dies are often found cheap on eBay...

After you pass that level of resources and space, you can decide what your next step should be. Some people start turning out beaucoup the ammo so get a progressive press... Some like me do moderate volumes of rifle ammo and like the Lee Classic Cast press... Some do moderate ammounts of pistol ammo and like the turret press... but by then you will have a good idea of what YOU want.

 

[Infidel]

Many people will suggest at least 2 manuals.... I don't see why, all loads are nowhere near max and what good will two manuals that give you 2 seperate charges prove? Nothing.

I'm sort of the opposite on this. I like the "Loadbooks" for each cartridge. They have just the load data from as many sources as possible, copied and bound. No step-by-step tutorials or the like, just load data. I like to see how the various sources provide different data, sometimes surprisingly different. For instance, if a person had only the Sierra manual, then that person might wind up loading some pretty wimpy ammo.

 

[The Bushmaster]

And on the other hand...I don't paricularly care for the "Load Books" as they are a direct copy of the original larger and more comprehensive load manuals...If you have two or three load manuals you have all the information and more then the individual calibre "Load Books" I have Lyman's 48 edition, Sierra's Addition V Second Printing and several powder manufacturer's manuals. More then covers the "Load Books"...

 

[Draven32]

I've already got Lyman .30 Carbine dies (Lee used to make them, at least...), Hogdon and Hornady reloading manuals, enough brass to kep me shooting for months (Been saving brass since oh, July...)

I hadn't thought about a collapsible workbench from Sears... sounds like a better item than the Frankford Arsenal reloading bench. (and sounds like its usable for stuff other than reloading) Unfortunately, can't locate one on Sears' web site.

 

[The Bushmaster]

www.midwayusa.com also has a stand just for loading presses. It might be worth looking at...

 

[armoredman]

I used an old TV stand...works well, shelves on all sides and underneath for storage of everything!

 

[Draven32]

Nice... too bad I wouldn't have somewhere to put it.

 

[TooTaxed]

I use one of the small Black and Decker folding work benches with a piece of 3/4" plywood bolted to the top, and a single stage press and powder measure bolted on. My beam scale goes on a separate adjacent flat surface to protect it from jarring. That setup will handle all pistol reloading operations, and all rifle except full-length case resizing which I will do on a more sturdy surface.