Very new to reloading

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jimsiggy

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I received a Hornady 007 LNL for Christmas, and im compiling all the additional tools and and equipment. I want to load .223, 9mm and .45 to start, .44 Mag, .243 and .270 to follow. my pistol reloading desire is 100% for economic reasons. The rifle reloads are 50% economic and 50% for accuracy reasons. I know i need the dies for each, what i don't know is what brand dies to use, are they interchangeable? Do i need a 2 or 3 die set, or will one die be sufficient for each cal? Do I need seperate shell holders for each cal? Should I hand prime or use the presses priming function? I am currently ordering a shell tumbler, and calipers. what is the best (economically reasonable) powder measuring/charging system? I guess i need a case trimmer, loading manual and and case lube too.
what else?

TY James
 
Make sure you buy a good reloading manual plus the ABC's of reloading and read them. It will help. You can use any brand of dies you like and yes they are interchangeable. The least expensive are Lee and they produce good quality reloads. Sufficient for most anyone's needs. I have Lee, Dillon, Reddding, and RCBS dies. The Lee's are fine but the Reddings are exceptional. For pistols you can use either a 3 or 4 die set. Many folks like to crimp in the fourth station but you can judge for yourself.

What powder measure came with your press? Use that one. There is no reason not to prime on your press if a priming system is included. Some people prefer the feel of hand priming but I prime both Rifle and pistol on my RCBS Pro2000 progressive press.

Off the top of my head I don't know if your press is single stage or progressive. Shellholders are for single stage and shell plates are for progressives. You will need either a shellplate or shell holder for each caliber but many of shellholders/ shellplates work with a few different calibers.

You will need calipers. I like dial calipers because no need for a battery. You will also need an accurate scale (I like a beam scale) and a kinetic puller to fix mistakes. I like Dillon case lube. It is very easy and fast.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to ask more questions either through this forum or PM me if you need any clarification.

Welcome to reloading!
 
read the manuals, then read them again....

I prefer RCBS and Redding dies - they've been around a long time and are very well made.

Get a QUALITY scale.

You will need a shell holder for each caliber.

Straight-wall pistol calibers use 3 die sets, bottle-neck rifle use 2. I prefer to neck size my rifle calibers, (good for bolt-actions, NOT pumps/semi-auto rifles), so that's a different die - help with brass life and accuracy, as long as you are shooting the rounds in the same rifle.

For your pistol calibers, get the carbide dies and then you won't need lube.

Along with your trimmer, you'll need a de-burrer if not included.

I would add some caliber-specific loading blocks, (usually hold 50) so you can keep them orderly.

Did I already say, get a manual and read it??...VERY important to follow the procedures exactly from a safety standpoint; otherwise reloading is fun and economical.

Good luck
 
Buy an extra LNL bushing kit ASAP. Economy of time will quickly factor in any LNL outfit. I love mine. As for what brand dies, start with any brand you like, evaluate and go from there. I'm still just using RCBS for everything and have been quite happy. I can produce 1/2 group ammo without so much as reloading and finding the right combination of powder and bullet.

Start with a single set, start loading and see what you think. As many calibers as you want to load, I'd mix it up and try some different brands to compare them, let your vendor loyalties come out of that experience to get what you want out of your reloading hobby.

Enjoy and welcome to the club.
 
Lee dies are pretty good for the money. I like the fact they comes with a shell holder. You can get a set that has Full length sizer, neck sizer and bullet seater. Their lock stud trimmer is pretty good also. Cheap & effective.

I just oversaw reloading 500 .223 for my nephew. He had a little trouble on using the press to pime. A hand tool has more feel and you can prime anywhere. On the .223 get some good brass to start with. Get a bag of 100 new if needed.

A set of loading blocks is nice to have or at least ues a substitute. A pwder trickler & funnels can come in handy.
 
You really need a manual first. It will answer a lot of the questions you have here. I think most people agree that the Lyman manual is one of the best to start with. Speer and Hornady will also tell you all about reloading, but they will tell you using only their equipment.

For dies, there really is no major brand that is bad. I have Lee, RCBS, and Redding. There is no difference in the quality between them, and though they have minor manufacturing differences, they will all fit regular presses. Lee dies cost less, and almost all Lee die sets include a shell holder for that particular die set. Other brands do not. (I'm not hawking for Lee. The last set of dies I bought was RCBS, but I usually go for Lee.)

By all means, get carbide dies for your pistol reloading, no matter what brand you choose. It will save you having to lube any pistol cases, and that is usually what people load most.
Rifle dies mainly only come in steel.

Powder scales can be a love/hate thing. I have a Lee scale that is more sensitive than my RCBS scale was. Some people hate the Lee. I like mine. The RCBS looks better, but I don't know if it IS better. Lyman and a couple other companies make scales too. No experience with those.
 
The .45 ACP, .243 and .270 all use the same size shell holder.

The other calibers you mentioned are all different and caliber specific.

rcmodel
 
I have Lee everything and their dies are great. I have the collet dies for rifle and no lube is needed so you'll be happy their as well.

Good luck.
 
I have the collet dies for rifle and no lube is needed so you'll be happy their as well.
Click to expand...
unless he plans to shoot .223 in an auto, and in that case he will need to full length size his brass. The Lee collet dies work well, but they only neck size of course.
 
Great thought here.

But I agree with all of the books, videos, vendr sales, ect. But start with your 223 or 270. Get about a 1000 or so of those done then move to the 9mm, 45, 44 ect. (Your 270 best for learning in my opnion).

Do get a case trimmer. My lyman has been a good one. Case lube, I use lyman on a cookie tray.
 
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You guys are great, here is my midway wish list to this point:

I believe powder bullets and primers are all that is left(after i look over my manual), am I right?

Hornady Shellholder #8 (30 Luger, 38 Super, 9mm Luger)
Product #: 119811 $6.79

Frankford Arsenal Case Lube 8 oz Pump
Product #: 204960 $7.39

Lee Deluxe Handgun 4-Die Set 45 ACP
Product #: 242098 $30.99

Hornady Shellholder #31 (45 ACP)
Product #: 286893 $6.79

Hornady Lock-N-Load Powder Measure
Product #: 290524 $65.99

Hornady Cam-Lock Case Trimmer
Product #: 315831 $65.99

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit with Quick-N-EZ Rotary Media Separator 110 Volt
Product #: 414369 $54.99

Lee "Modern Reloading Second Edition" Reloading Manual
Product #: 484416 $13.99

Lee RGB 2-Die Set 223 Remington
Product #: 554943 $12.99

Hornady Shellholder #16 (17 Remington, 204 Ruger, 223 Remington)
Product #: 598627 $6.79

Frankford Arsenal Electronic Caliper 6" Stainless Steel
Product #: 604242 $19.99

Frankford Arsenal Micro Reloading Electronic Powder Scale 750 Grain Capacity
Product #: 713372 $29.99

Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press Automatic Primer Feed
Product #: 717515 $29.49

Lee Deluxe Handgun 4-Die Set 9mm Luger
Product #: 885350 $30.99


TY James
 
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Jimsiggy,
The other thing to get is a case gauges for each caliber. More so for semi-auto but I can say that even on a bolt gun it is useful.
Later,
WNTFW
 
Why are getting shell holders if the dies come with them?

Good call on the media separator. I bought 1 used with some case guages. Both are great to have.

I think pistol cartridges would easier to start with. I find .223 to be harder because the lube is more critical and some have crimps, berdan primers or small flashholes. Trimming and debur/chamfer is tedious. The .270 was very gratifying to load because the accuracy is easy to see.
 
Hornady has 1000 bullets for free promotion

I bought an LNL, and sent shipping money for my free .44 bullets. I believe the promotion is on until the end of this year, so do not dilly dalley.

The press can very cheaply this way.
 
Jim .45 auto rim will be a challenge as the only manufacturer of auto rim brass is Remington and it is way to thin ,you'll only get one or two loads before you lose case mouth tension(the casing won't hold the bullet tight enough).I experianced this 20 yrs. ago so maybe by now someone else is making auto rim brass,if so buy it not the Rem.
 
A thought.....

Frankford Arsenal Micro Reloading Electronic Powder Scale 750 Grain Capacity
Product #: 713372 $29.99

Hornady Lock-N-Load Powder Measure
Product #: 290524 $65.99

I know you stated that you want economically reasonable. You might think about a electronic power dispenser. That will allow you to scratch off your scale and powder measure.
 
jimsiggy "new to reloading"

In the early 90's when I started reloading I bought a book advertised either by a NRA publication or some catalog I don't really remember. But the book is really informative about all aspects of reloading and takes you through it step by step with illustrations also. Contact the NRA or do a search. The title of the book is "The Handbook of Metallic Cartridge Reloading" by Edward Matunas. He is well known in the shooting community and has written a lot about our sport. Publisher is Winchester Press, PO Box 1260, 1421 South Sheridan Tulsa, Ok. 74101. It even has some loading data in the back. But you still need to get at least 2 manuals also. Good luck, reloading is fun and gets you out to the range and you never have to worry about going to the store at the last minute only to find your load all sold out.
 
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