Reloading - how to start?

[czechsonofagun]

I got plenty to do to pickup another hobby, but looks like it makes sense to start reloading my own ammo. I am inclining to get the Lee Anniversary Kit to get started, anybody feels the need to talk me out of it?

 

[RobertN]

I have reloaded for years. I find I like it, because it can save some money on ammo, it might make more accurate rounds, and I enjoy "cooking" up a recipe for a particular cartridge.

A good single stage "O" press is a great way to start; you can load pretty much anything with it. If you really get in to it, you may want a progressive press later on. But, it is always nice to have the single stage. I've reloaded a lot of rounds on a single stage over the years; 9mm, 38spl, .357mag, 44mag, 223rem, 30-06, .308Win in particular.

I found it is nice to have more than one reloading book too; I tend to use the Sierra book, Speer book, and have found the "Pet Loads" books by Ken Waters very helpful. Kinda like cookbooks and beer books; I have multiple reference copies

I have a RCBS Rockchucker and related equipment; I do not know how the LEE press compares. The press you're looking at is probably similar to the RCBS "Partner" press.

 

[chevyfan]

Go to this site and get yourself a Dillon XL650 with all the bells and never look back......

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

 

[LMTC]

I reloaded for 20 years and shot competitively for part of that time. Start with the basics until you have enough experience to spend your money wisely. Obviously I don't know your budget (nor current prices....my last purchase was powder ten years ago before I stopped reloading), but you will not go wrong buying a good single stage "O" press (as opposed to "C", the "O" is stronger for bigger catridges). RCBS and Dillon are both excellent names in presses. I used several of the relatively inexpensive Lee shotshell loaders for many years, and loved them, but was never as impressed with their other loaders. Precision is REALLY important in reloading and in the equipment, so wait till you can afford good stuff on any piece you plan to buy. I used to cast a lot of pistol bullets too. Just plain fun.

If you can find someone locally who reloads, odds are he'll be happy to show you his stuff, maybe even let you work with him a few times as he reloads. This will really pay off for you when making equipment decisions.

 

[RobertN]

Way Cool But, for load development, small quantities etc,
it is still hard to beat a basic single stage press. And, a single stage setup is still less than 1/2 the cost of the big progressives.

Go to this site and get yourself a Dillon XL650 with all the bells and never look back......

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

 

[RedRocker]

I used to build some stuff for these guys.
Welcome to PACT Inc.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

I bought a Dillion 550 about 15 years ago and it has been great.

Yes, I agree that a single stage press is great for starting out and developing loads. But you can use your progressive press like a single stage if you want to. Once I figured out a few handgun loads, 9mm, .45ACP, and .357. That Dillion press could really crank them out. Now I run through a bunch loading 223 Rem.

When I load my 30-06 or my dads .270 hunting loads, I use my Dillion as a single stage.

If you are going to be loading mostly rifle rounds and will be using the longer strands of powder I would not use a progressive loader. Once you have figured everything out, rifle loads with a ball powder or handgun loads, a progressive is the way to go. IMHO

steve

 

[gsganzer]

It really depends what you're reloading and what kind of quantities you're doing. I use a Dillon 650 progressive for all handgun ammo. I'll usually set the Dillon up for 9mm and do a complete run of 500- 2000 rounds. If you're primarily loading handgun rounds for plinking, then don't skimp, and go ahead and drop the extra money for the Dillon 650. You don't need the case feeder right away (you can add it later) but DO buy the automatic powder checker. If you do a run of a couple hundred rounds, the piece of mind is very handy, if you become lax and you somehow throw the wrong powder charge.

For rifle rounds I use a single stage RCBS rock chucker. When it comes to loading rifle rounds, I want to be intimately involved in every phase to ensure consistentcy and safety. You can get yourself in a real dangerous situation if you over-fill or under-fill a rifle cartridge.

For shotgun I use an old MEC 650.

 

[weldingisfun]

Been reloading for about 30+ years now. Best advise I can give is read a book on reloading first. I'm partial to the books from Speer. Then when you finish it, read it again.
Lee makes good equipment. They got a bad "rap" for years but their stuff is good.
My first press was the Lyman O-Mag. Still have it but use it for rifle cartridges only now. I use a Lyman Turret press for pistol cartridges.
Once you get the book read, twice and get your equipment, have a ball. But remember, think safety and always check twice.

 

[RobertN]

Good advice. I mentioned I have multiple books; I like to check similar loads from the different books to see if one is way different. Also like the way that Ken Waters worked up his loads.

It is good to read about your powders, as you might find things you did not realize. Some powders like to be compressed, while others hardly look like there is any powder in the case(have to beware of double or triple charges with these).

And, the best loads are not necessarily hot loads. I found on many I give up a little velocity, but gain big in accuracy by staying away from max loads.

Been reloading for about 30+ years now. Best advise I can give is read a book on reloading first. I'm partial to the books from Speer. Then when you finish it, read it again.