Thinking about taking up reloading

[Porter]

I am thinking about taking up reloading, and I have decided on buying a kit from RCBS to get started.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599

Aside from dies and equipment to trim with, do any of you seasoned reloaders have any suggestions on additional starting equipment? I am thinking about using Lee dies, by the way.

 

[sharky47]

Hey there, I JUST bought this same kit locally last week. I bought a bunch of RCBS dies and started right off loading .40 SW for my HK USP - worked like a charm and my reloads functioned 100%. Do yourself a favor and get a case tumbler too, makes good brass great and allows you to clean up even some really nasty looking brass into perfectly serviceable stuff. You will also need the appropriate shell holders, get the big pack - you will save some money over buying them separately.

Just five minutes ago I finished loading up some .223 from once-fired Lake City brass and 55gr Hornady bullets. I am most certainly hooked on reloading! It helps that the range I go to does not do a thing with brass - I pick up all I can take home - throw it in the tumbler for a few hours and I have thousands of rounds of free brass, can't complain about that!

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

Cartridge case gauges are nice to have, especially for rifle cases to check specs on the completed round. Mine are all made by Wilson.
Get a copy of Lyman's Reloading Manual. Always nice to have another manual besides the one that came with the press.
I use a Forster case trimmer. Works well and easy to use.
I've used Lee, RCBS and Lyman dies. All work well and Lee certainly has the best price out there.
If you need tumbling media, check out Harbor Freight Tools for walnut shell media or your local pet store rather than Midway, etc. Prices are better and no shipping. A lot of guys use Nu-Finish car wax in their media. Seems to work okay and the local WalMart always has it.
Some guys buy check weights for their reloading scale, but you can use a bullet of known weight to check your scales zero, as well. All scales are not perfect; even my electronic acts up once in a while.

 

[Ranger60]

A great kit to start with! I reloaded on a rockchucker for several years b4 going to a Dillon 550. I still use the Rockchucker for rifle and use the Dillon for pistol.

Using a single stage is a great way to learn as much as possible about the mechanics of reloading.

I suse dto do batches, like one night I would size a bunch of cases, another I would prime, etc. I used a universal deprimer to deprime after cleaning.

On the Dillon I use it to deprime and prime.

 

[Kerbouchard]

What calibers are you planning on reloading? How much do you plan to reload?

Calipers and a quality digital scale are must haves, as well as a bullet-puller.

If you're reloading pistol, you'll probably never have to trim your brass. The cartridge will wear out before trimming is necessary. Also, I personally have never used a tumbler. Unless you just like the new brass shine, I don't believe they are at all necessary and can cause unneeded problems. If you do go with a tumbler, buy the media from petsmart...it's a lot cheaper and it's the same stuff as the gun sites sell. Just becareful with any tumbler that there is no media in the cartridge or in the primer pocket. I'll never use one and I pick up range brass all the time. A sink and some dawn do just fine if the cartridges have embedded dirt. If your other half will let you, brass in a sack in the washing machine also works well.

I know you have already decided on a kit, but for those with similiar needs, or if you aren't certain, you might want to check out Kemph's gunshop. https://shooters.securesites.net/kg...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41
I believe the quality is great, and you get a bit more bang for your buck, so to speak.

A single stage is great for learning, and you can always use one, especially when developing very specific rifle rounds, but you're probably going to want to upgrade, and the RCBS kit is a lot of money for something that you'll probably grow out of pretty quick(at least if you are reloading more than 100 rounds per month).

Just my .02.

 

[LHB1]

Hi Porter,
Good decision on reloading. Not only can it save you money but it is an enjoyable hobby in itself for me. If you live near The Woodlands or north Houston, you are welcome to stop by and take a tour thru my reloading workbench to get a better idea of tools, techniques, ideas, etc. Great choice on the RCBS reloading equipment. Some people use Lee dies and equipment but they are NOT on my recommended list. RCBS, Hornady, and Redding make very good dies and equipment. I have used RCBS dies exclusively for the last 44 years without problems.

 

[Porter]

Thanks for all of the input guys!

I'll try to answer some of the questions you guys have asked me now. My plans are to reload for everything I own where ammo is either too expensive to shot lots of, cheap stuff that isn't consistent enough, or plain difficult to find. So, the calibers I plan to start reloading ASAP are .45 ACP, .22 Savage, and 7.62x39. Hopefully, in the not to distant future, I'll be adding 5.56x45 to that list. I plan to reload as much as I can shoot, and then some. In part, I want to have something to do for a couple of hours each evening after working out other than watching TV or surfing the web.

I have zero interest in progressive or turret loaders. I know me, and I'll just end up with bad results. Slow, careful, and accurate are A-OK with me.

Calipers, case trimmers, a quiet tumbler (I live in a second floor apartment), case gauges, chamber gauges, an RCBS case prep center, several different reloading manuals (can't have too many right?), and a digital scale are all planned future purchases, as well as any piece of equipment in the kit that I find lacking.

I will definitely take a look at the other dies that have been recommended.

 

[beensniped]

I'm very new to this also and have came across the link below. I've heard good things about the Dillon presses but I've got no clue where to start. I'm looking to reload .45acp, .380, .223, and .308 which are my current firearms; but as I've said complete noob when it comes to this. Sorry to steal your thunder porter, you'll pay me back on the field.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Basic-Dillon-550B-Reloading-Press-NIB-NR_W0QQitemZ350071838851QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350071838851&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Porter]

Sorry to steal your thunder porter, you'll pay me back on the field.

Don't worry about it bro. Glad to see you signed up!

 

[beensniped]

Now this seems like a nice setup?. I think.

 

[ForneyRider]

Case trimmer by Lee is affordable for rifle. Redding makes nice stuff for bench rest shooters. I have yet to need to trim my 45ACP or 41 mag. I do trim my rifle cases.

I bought a Lyman tumbler for about 45$. Thumbler tumbler is a nice high end one. Tumbler media: walnut shell or corn cob is common. Some folks like adding Nu Finish car wax, or specific brass polish.

Books: Lyman, Hornady, Lee, Nosler, Speer, etc. I have Lee and Nosler. Lee book has a lot of load data and info on bullet casting and reloading. Nosler book has great info on history of each cartridge.

Calipers: Frankford Arsenal 24$, or Mituyo $$$.

Bullet puller: Frankford Arsenal 14$, or get a fancy RCBS collet puller.

Lots of containers. Berry's or MTM. Tupperware, etc. for storing brass.

Casting bullets is stage II of reloading. Molds, lead melter, bullet lube, bullet sizer, gas check seater, etc.

 

[CZ guy]

I just want to add a tidbit here: I really admire anyone that can reload their own stuff. I got into it a few years back and ... of course I had to have the best of everything! I spent waaaay too much money on the tools and goodies, only to discover I HATED reloading! I could not keep focused on the tasks in front of me long enough to do any good. I found you simply cannot watch TV, listen to the radio or eat popcorn while reloading ammo. You are gonna mess up something really big or create a dangerous situation if you don't PAY ATTENTION!

I ended up giving away all my stuff to an organization that will teach others to reload ammo (so maybe THEY won't spend hard earned bucks on a truck load of things they will despise in a few short weeks!)

There, I feel better. I said it out-loud. I HATE RELOADING.

 

[sharky47]

I have been reloading for a couple of months now and I really have no use for factory ammunition anymore! Some of us local guys shoot almost every week, and I always have plenty of ammo now.......

Lately I have been getting into the cast bullet stuff, been loading and shooting alot of it in my pistols. Now, I am collecting the tools to cast my own - I really have gone down the rabbit hole!

 

[mac79912]

I just started also.I got a Dillon Precission and a Lee press.It has saved me a lot of money.