Kamicosmos
Member
There have been many Help Me Start Reloading topics lately, so I thought I'd write up a bit of a catch-all thread for new reloaders.
First off, read! Here and www.thefiringline.com both have very good reloading forums. The ABCs of Reloading, The Reloader's Bible, and several of the Reloading Manuals have good How-To-Reload chapters. Some of the better reloading manuals: Speer, Lyman 48th, Lee 2nd edition, Hodgdon. Read read read read, and then read some more. Reloading is all about knowledge. One of those 'A good reloader is always learning' sort of deals.
Then you obviously need the hardware. Many different ways to go about this, but getting one of the 'kits' is the best, most economical way to get everything you need.
The Lee Single Stage Kit
This is a good cheap way to get into reloading, especially if you're not sure you'll like it. Not alot of cash outlay, but if you don't like reloading, not a big loss. If you do, well, you can always upgrade and use this stuff for spares, or pass along to a friend.
RCBS Special 5 Single Stage Kit
This is the kit I got to start out. For another 50 bucks or so, you can get the same kit, but with the stronger Rockchucker press and a couple extra tools. (Like you'll ever break or wear out the Special 5!) A bit more than the Lee kit, but the equipment is much better, RCBS service is second to none (along with Dillon) and the equipment will retain value a bit better if you decide to sell it all.
There are also Turret and Progressive presses. Turrets would be fine for a beginner, but a Progressive might be a bit much. A beginner needs to learn the basics of EACH step in reloading. You won't have the experience and feel of what a proper bell is, for example, so setting up and running a progressive is a bit more challenging. Hard to know if its messing up, or you are when you don't know what should be right in the first place! Not saying it can't/shouldn't be done, but. Every reloader can use a single stage for something!
Once you have a couple loading manuals and the hardware from one of the kits, and a bench of course, about all you'll need then are Dies and Components (powder, bullets, cases, primers). That is pretty much up to you and what you're loading. All the dies are pretty much a safe bet. I prefer RCBS, but even the Lee dies are fine. You can spend much more on fancy dies, but unless you're doing bench rest shooting, or just like to spend money, or are really uptight about your loads, normal dies will be fine. With the exception of Dillon's Square Deal B Progressive, most any die will fit in any press, regardless of the brand of either.
Once you get going, take your time and read the manual(s) a couple times before you even start to setup the press. Keep the beer away, and other distractions like loud music, TV, wife/kids/dogs/cats etc till you get the hang of it. You will crunch cases! You will mis-seat primers! But hey, we all had to start at the beginning, so don't sweat it. Just watch your powder charge, and enjoy your new hobby!
First off, read! Here and www.thefiringline.com both have very good reloading forums. The ABCs of Reloading, The Reloader's Bible, and several of the Reloading Manuals have good How-To-Reload chapters. Some of the better reloading manuals: Speer, Lyman 48th, Lee 2nd edition, Hodgdon. Read read read read, and then read some more. Reloading is all about knowledge. One of those 'A good reloader is always learning' sort of deals.
Then you obviously need the hardware. Many different ways to go about this, but getting one of the 'kits' is the best, most economical way to get everything you need.
The Lee Single Stage Kit
This is a good cheap way to get into reloading, especially if you're not sure you'll like it. Not alot of cash outlay, but if you don't like reloading, not a big loss. If you do, well, you can always upgrade and use this stuff for spares, or pass along to a friend.
RCBS Special 5 Single Stage Kit
This is the kit I got to start out. For another 50 bucks or so, you can get the same kit, but with the stronger Rockchucker press and a couple extra tools. (Like you'll ever break or wear out the Special 5!) A bit more than the Lee kit, but the equipment is much better, RCBS service is second to none (along with Dillon) and the equipment will retain value a bit better if you decide to sell it all.
There are also Turret and Progressive presses. Turrets would be fine for a beginner, but a Progressive might be a bit much. A beginner needs to learn the basics of EACH step in reloading. You won't have the experience and feel of what a proper bell is, for example, so setting up and running a progressive is a bit more challenging. Hard to know if its messing up, or you are when you don't know what should be right in the first place! Not saying it can't/shouldn't be done, but. Every reloader can use a single stage for something!
Once you have a couple loading manuals and the hardware from one of the kits, and a bench of course, about all you'll need then are Dies and Components (powder, bullets, cases, primers). That is pretty much up to you and what you're loading. All the dies are pretty much a safe bet. I prefer RCBS, but even the Lee dies are fine. You can spend much more on fancy dies, but unless you're doing bench rest shooting, or just like to spend money, or are really uptight about your loads, normal dies will be fine. With the exception of Dillon's Square Deal B Progressive, most any die will fit in any press, regardless of the brand of either.
Once you get going, take your time and read the manual(s) a couple times before you even start to setup the press. Keep the beer away, and other distractions like loud music, TV, wife/kids/dogs/cats etc till you get the hang of it. You will crunch cases! You will mis-seat primers! But hey, we all had to start at the beginning, so don't sweat it. Just watch your powder charge, and enjoy your new hobby!