Which dies for reloading?

[ChisumTK]

Before I start, I promise I searched this question and read a whole bunch of threads but didn't find exactly what I was looking for so I gave up.
Anyway, a friend of mine is going to let me use his reloading press to load some custom stuff up for my Remington 700 .308 but I have to buy the dies, projectiles, powder, and primer. I am pretty ignorant on the subject of reloading and have been researching it for days now. The only thing I haven't figured out is what die(s) do I actually need just to load a round? He has a Lee set up so these are the options I have found:

Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die
Lee Factory Crimp Die
Dead Length Bullet Seating Die
Full Length Sizing Die

I know the sizing dies are for sizing the cases but do they also seat the projectile? Gander Mountain has the Lee Factory Crimp Die and the Collet Neck Sizing Die and I have had a gift card from that place for almost a year so if either of those will work, that would work out just perfectly. To put it in the most clear and simple words, I'm just looking for whatever die puts the bullet in the case so that it stays there and then I shoot it and it isn't there anymore.
Thanks in advance for the help everybody!

 

[Telekinesis]

I would go with a full length sizing die and the bullet seating die. Reloading is usually (in the basic form) a 2 die equation. One die (sizing) resizes the casing and pops the primer out, then after you've primed and filled the casing with the appropriate amount of powder, the bullet seating die lets you seat the bullet.

Without resizing your case, you'll have a hard time getting the bullet to seat properly, not to mention you'll still have a dead primer in there. You can use a neck sizer (only resizes the top part of the casing where the bullet actually touches the case) but I would stick with the full length sizing myself.

 

[ROCKFISH]

I would recommend the Lee pacesetter 3 die set. You will also need the caliber specific trimmer, all available from cabelas for about 30 bucks. The 3rd die will give you a factory crimp.

 

[T Bran]

See if Gandermountain has a copy of the ABC's of reloading this should be your first purchase. After a bit of reading you will know exactly what is involved and what is needed to get a safe and proper start.
You will spend a lot more money guessing than the price of the book.
Welcome to the club.
Luck
T

 

[ChisumTK]

Thanks a lot! That summation just made my life much easier. What does that Factory Crimp Die do? Would it also seat the bullet?

 

[kingmt]

For a bolt action I would buy the deluxe set. There is no need to crimp. You shouldn't have to trim for several shoots if you are neck sizeing only.

This is for your brass only. If you use brass from another rifle & it doesn't fit your chamber you will have to full length size that brass.

 

[T Bran]

No the crimp die is the last step in the process and not neccesary in most cases.
Sizing dies do exactly that they resize the case after firing as well as removing the old primer.
Seating dies press the new bullet into the sized case to the proper depth.where it is held in place by neck tension.
Crimp dies squeeze the rim of the case down tight against the bullet but the seating die can perform the crimp for you at the same time as the bullet is seated.
Hope this helps
T

 

[kingmt]

The crimp die crimps only. You don't need it.

 

[ChisumTK]

Okay so If I buy the deluxe set, it comes with the full length sizing die, the collet die, and the dead length seating die. From what I've gathered, as long as I use the brass from MY gun, I only use the collet die and then the seating die. If I buy once fired brass from somebody, I should use the full length sizing die and then the seating die. Is that all correct?

 

[T Bran]

Yes if you shoot the cases in your gun you can get away with neck sizing only but will eventually need to full legnth size even those cases after a few loadings due to difficult chambering of these cases. This does not apply to autoloaders which should be full legnth sized each time they are reloaded to ensure proper feeding in these rifles.
T

 

[ChisumTK]

Thanks for the help everybody. I think I have it figured out now.

 

[kingmt]

You figured it out. For having to FL after a few fireings I have yet to find that point even after over 20 fireings on some cases. It depends how you load them.

 

[Hondo 60]

+1 on getting a good manual!
Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook is the best one IMHO.
It has a GREAT "How-To" section & 1,000s of load data.

IMHO it is absolute stupidity to reload without one.
How are you supposed to know the steps & safety precautions?
How are you supposed to know what bullets & powder & primers to use?

Please stay safe & Welcome to the High Road!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's nice of your friend to let you use his press. I have to warn you about one thing. Once you start reloading it's infectious and you will end up buying your own press. Just a warning! LOL

When you do buy a press for rifle ammo reloading I would suggest a RCBS Rockchucker or if you want to keep the price down buy the Lee Classic Cast press. (RCBS is usually ~$149 and the Lee is usually ~$99 without a sale) IMO the Lee Cast Iron single stage press is a very good buy at just under $100. Both will last a lifetime...

 

[gamestalker]

I like to use a neck sizing die up to the poin the brass starts getting too tight. At that point I use a FL die to bump or push the shoulders back just enough to allow for proper chamber fit. A collet die is actually even better becuase your brass doesn't get worked as much and it eliminates the need for the FL resizing die. But they are a lot more expensive than a FL die which if adjusted properly will keep the shoulder's maintained.

Get couple of good reloading books. The process is as follows for standard reloading.
Lube the necks and body, not the shoulders.
Resize, trim, ream and chamfer, prime, charge, and seat the bullet. I find it necessary to tumble my brass as well and not just to give me good looking brass. Tumbling allows you to easily spot brass that is no longer capable of reloading and is exibiting signs of head separation.

 

[kingmt]

That reminds me of 2 more reasons I neck size. I don't have to lube or tumble.

 

[Nutbustd]

ChismTK, like you, my son and I started to reload on somebody elses press. We were brand new and a little nervous. Our buddy Mike with his son, Matt were excellent instructors. Mike had 30+ years experience and shared it freely. Both of us learned a great deal. After a couple of months we started to buy our gear. I bought a RCBS press off Ebay made in 1967. With a little clean-up and lube it still works great. We now have very well stocked set-up. Reloading is infectious. I really enjoy it. You will meet some of the nicest people when you reload. At the range, you can after a while, kinda laugh at the prices some of the non-reloaders pay. We do reloading for about 1/4 of what they pay. This is a great hobby enjoy