Who wants to laugh?

[defcon]

Here I was, ready to start reloading and ordered every kind of stuff for for doing it just to make sure I was good to go. I ordered pistol 4 die sets, deluxe rifle die sets, factory crimp dies for the calibers I needed and so on. (Everything is Lee made) I am raging with fever to tear the boxes open to look at my treasures. OK.. everything is here, . I pried open the rifle die boxes checking out the dies and discovered that there was no "hole" on the top of any of the tree dies in there and the "hole" on the top of the factory crimp served other purpose than dumping powder into the brass. :banghead: Nobody ever told me needed a powder through die for rifles since it is not included in the DELUXE 3 DIE rifle set. What makes it deluxe then? Well, I thought I share this with you old timers to remind you when you started reloading what you went through. Maybe you want to share some of it that the rest of us may learn?

 

[defcon]

UH.. I forgot to ask: Is the rifle powder through die a "one size fits all?"

 

[Sin City Shootist]

Yes and if you are going to use an auto disk pro or the like, make sure you get the riser too.

 

[gacajun]

Yep, I asked that same question a few days ago about charging .223 shell and the knowledgable folks here helped me out with sage advice. I ordered the rifle charging die from Lee, hopefully I'll get it later this week so I can begin loading my .223. I also ordered the double disk riser kit as well. Good luck getting everything up and running...you'll have fun.

 

[defcon]

Yes and if you are going to use an auto disk pro or the like, make sure you get the riser too.

Thank you. I wish there were a PRACTICAL list of things a novice needs to start reloading.
BTW, I have 11x3 locking rings for Lee dies also. I think they are extras since every die has one on them. (one can never have enough of those, I guess.) If there were a practical guide I probably would not have 33 locking rings as a reserve... I mean just in case hehehe.

 

[RustyFN]

What makes it deluxe then?

It has a FL sizing die and a collet neck sizer. Great set for bolt guns, Pacesetter is a better set for everything else.

Yes and if you are going to use an auto disk pro or the like, make sure you get the riser too.

Yes and the double disk kit for rifle. Actually I bought a Lee PPM and an adapter and the adapter will let me hook up the PPM to a rifle charging die. Works a lot better than the double disk kit. The adapter is here, http://www.gun-guides.com/Perfect-Adapters_c_12.html

 

[defcon]

I will need lube pad and lube also I think. (I like to read this site. There is a lot of insight one cannot get anywhere else.)

The PPM will not work with the auto disk riser? i bought the PPm and the ..riser for it also.

 

[jinxer3006]

I wish there were a PRACTICAL list of things a novice needs to start reloading.

Maybe I'm missing some sarcasm here,
but.......

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Glad he asked....I didnt see it either.

Very nice list....thanks!

 

[LiveLife]

+1 for Equipment Basics sticky link. Also, if you had simply asked before you bought your equipment, I am sure many (including me) would have gladly provided a shopping list of various components you would have needed to order, like a Universal Decapping die to remove the primers from rifle cases so you can tumble and have clean cases/primer pockets before you resize them (this also prevents scratches on cases and keeps sizing dies cleaner).

I will need lube pad and lube also I think.

I use RCBS lube pad and really like it ($10).

Imperial sizing wax is on sale for $6.79.

 

[hogshead]

Good luck with your reloading. I started about 2 years ago with the Lee classic . Like lee better than all the rest.Few tips if you buy dies other than Lee, remember they dont come with shell holder. Buy a rcbs primer pocket cleaner and put it in cordless drill. Dont worry you will discover where all those spent primers went.hehe

 

[1911 Fan]

One think I can tell you is that if you are reloading necked down brass. ie 30-06, 30-30, 270... you need the lube. I also lube the inside of the neck just a tiny bit... brass will lock up in the die if you don't. You will then need a drill bit, tap, bolt,washers and spacers.

 

[Blackrock]

The powder thru rifle die and Lee Auto disc are fine for bulk loading midsize rifle cartridges but for truly accurate 'Handloading' individual weighing of powser charges is what I do. It does work well for .223 bulk loading though if staying under max loads and using a good metering powder.

 

[68wj]

The only cartridge that I actually use the powder-though option on a die is .40 sw. All others are either charged directly on the PPM, or the powder is trickled onto the scale then poured through that old fashioned implement called a funnel.

 

[lead slinger]

i did the samething dont feel bad. as others siad you will need the double disk and riser. as far as lube you can use hornady one case lube just put all your cases in a small box and spray and shake or you can get a ziplock frezzer bag and a few drops of gun oil and just shake it up

 

[snuffy]

Defcon, I guess I don't understand your predicament. I never use a powder die for loading rifle. I seldom use a funnel. The pan on the scale has always worked for pouring powder into the prepped case. Which is precisely what you could have done.

You'd need a double disc kit for a lee auto disc to load .223, and that might not be enough to load anything bigger.

If you have a PPM, just mount it to the bench with the supplied bracket, then dump into the scale pan to check the charge, or directly into the case if it is right on the charge weight.

 

[rodregier]

Case gauge per cartridge supported, esp bottleneck rifle. Permits checking die setup and ensuring all cases after resizing are correct. Particularly important when feeding a semi-auto rifle.

 

[788Ham]

A practical list? Dang, thats what I've been missing for the last 35 years of reloading............ no wonder I can't ever get more than one bullet thru the same hole! :banghead:

 

[Sin City Shootist]

defcon, what are caliber are you loading for?

 

[defcon]

Maybe I'm missing some sarcasm here,
but.......

Thank you for the link!
I meant under the "list" little things like needing a charging die separately for the deluxe rifle die set or the pro disk PM has not enough measuring capacity for an 06 or a Swedish etc. Small hints. Yes I read the book "The ABS-s of Reloading" and am reading "Modern Reloading" second edition. I also have an old Lyman reloading book I browsed through but will not use since the powders might be different.
Anyhow, everybody is so HELPFUL! Thank you!!!

 

[defcon]

defcon, what are caliber are you loading for?

I definitely will load .223 and some pistol and revolver, 06; 30/30.

 

[RustyFN]

The PPM will not work with the auto disk riser?

Correct, I have it set on the rifle charging die and cycle it by hand. Works very good for rifle. I prefer the pro auto disk for pistol.

 

[1911 Fan]

I have been loading for 30 years... I love this site for the insights. Is a charging die for progressives? Never used one, scale, trickle and funnel guy myself. Would like to see one in operation some day.

 

[Dr T]

I once got a Lee autodisk measure (still have it, in fact).

I used it to load a bunch of 44 Mag. and some rifle cartidges (forget the cartridge).

I decided that what it saved in time actually throwing the powder was eaten up by the constant re-adjustments.

I also decided that there was too much variation from cartridge to cartridge on the rifle shells since the accuracy was nowhere near as good with the measure as it was with the measure to get close then trickle in the scale then use the funnel method (2.5 moa versus 1.0 moa).

It now has an honored place in my cabinet to remind me of the folly of trying to save time while loading.

This is more a reflection on me than on Lee since I really do like a lot of Lee's stuff.

For a pure beginner loading moderate loads for handgun or light rifle loads, I would suggest the Lee Handpress starter kit. I have used it quite satisfactorily on some 30-30 cast bullet loads and 460 S&W loads (both with the dipper: Powder in cup, scoop out a dipper full, and level the top off with a business card).

BTW, my "Real" press for serious loading is a Forster CO-AX.

 

[Dr T]

One more item: The Hornady spray on lube is great. I use it for everything that I don't have carbide sizing dies for.