Want to start reloading-what do I need?
I want to get into reloading, but I have absolutely no idea what machines and materials are needed. Ive only heard terms like tumblers, presses, dies, but have no idea what is needed to get started.
I am also interested in any literature titles that would be helpful for a reloading novice.
I am getting together with someone who reloads in a couple of months, and I just wanted to get an idea what machines and materials I will need to get started.
Thanks for any replies.
"Sometimes the people have to give up some individual rights for the safety of society."
-Bill Clinton(MTV interview)
I am also interested in any literature titles that would be helpful for a reloading novice.
I am getting together with someone who reloads in a couple of months, and I just wanted to get an idea what machines and materials I will need to get started.
Thanks for any replies.
"Sometimes the people have to give up some individual rights for the safety of society."
-Bill Clinton(MTV interview)
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Salzo you certainly have the right idea by asking about good books & meeting with a person who reloads. I would recommend that you get your hands on as many different reloading books as you can. You'll need them anyway so getting them up front is a great idea. I like Sierra's the best but there are a bunch of good ones out there. All of them have a section in them for basic reloading. This will cover all of the necessary items required for the reloading process. After you read up a bit & meet with your reloading buddy you should then be prepared to select the best equipment for the particular types of reloading that you'll be doing. Most guys that reload can tell you what equipment they use but not everyones the same. Be safe & have fun!!!! rg 0 -
Also, go to www.dillonprecision.com and sign up for the free Blue Press catalog. You will find all kinds of good reloading goodies and other shooting supplies. You can also get step-by-step instructional videos for each of their reloading presses. 0 -
Working with someone that already reloads is the best way to learn. You also need to read lots of books. You may want to see if your friend will let you barrow his till you see what ones you want to have on hand. The Dillon catalog is also a good place to look.
I rush in where others flee.0 -
You will need a press, dies, powder measure, powder scale, priming tool and a sturdy bench to start with. 0 -
www.wideners.com
www.midwayusa.com
If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.
The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !0 -
Get a catalog from Midway or just surf their website to get an idea. A lot depends on how much you shoot and what you shoot.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
i recomend you buy a lee pro 1000 press, once you learn basic reloading you will find a single stage press to be annoying.
pros:cheap 120.00-150.00, with caliber dies included(about the price of a caliber change for most other presses), simple to use, and caliber change is about 50.00 complete.
cons: very sensitive press, must keep clean in order to function properly.
for more on lee presses go here http://www.geocities.com/leereloading/[url][/url]
and get a good book, i use the speer manual
also buy a loaddata book from midwayusa.com for the caliber that you are going to load.
i am fairly new at reloading myself, so this is my perspective as a newbie
a man's got to know his limitations-d.harry0 -
www.loadyourown.com has useful stuff too.
Chuck
If man thinks for one minute he understands women, he's timed it about right0 -
This is just my opinion. But this is what I'd get.
If ur into shooting uspsa or IDPA pistol competition, you need a progressive loader. I'd highly recomment the Dillion Square Deal B. Get a loadbook for you cartridge from midway USA. Buy brand new brass to start, a good high quantity of bullets, powder and primers from widener's. Also, I recommend buying a tumber with two bowels, some treated corn cob media, some treated walnut media, some add in liquid polish such as white lightning, and a media seperator. This setup is very simple to use, lasts a long time, and u'll be able to enjoy reloading cranking out several hundred rounds a day to shoot.
On the other hand, if your shooting NRA or CMP Rifle competition, I'd recomment getting a single stage press setup. Single stage pressers are easy and cheaper to change from cartridge to cartridge than progressive presses. And since you don't fire as many rounds a match as compared to alot of the action pistol matches, you don't necessarily need a high speed progressive press, and you may want to pay closer attention to each individual cartridge loaded for more precision.
Now if your really serious and shoot both rifle and pistol matches, I'd recommend getting a progressive press that doesn't have automatic indexing, for more control over each individual cartridge such as the Dillon 550.
If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.
The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !0 -
Thank to all. I will probably get a single stage press to start with.I MIGHT shoot 100 rounds total a month through all my guns combined. I was looking at the catologues and saw some presses that were for pistol or rifle only. I would want to get one that will do both pistol and rifle cartridges
"Sometimes the people have to give up some individual rights for the safety of society."
-Bill Clinton(MTV interview)0 -
I recommend NRA GUIDE TO RELOADING. It is available from their website: www.nrafoundation.org. 0 -
Unless you are absolutely *certain* you will load an enormous amount of handgun ammo, there is no need to invest in a progressive loader. I loaded 100s of K rounds of pistol / rifle ammo on two RCBS single stage presses over the past 30 +/- years - I wore one of them out, in fact, but it took 20+ years to do it. A single stage press is simple, easy, and once you are familiar with the process, you can load 100+ rounds an hour outside of time spent cleaning brass &/or trimming it if needed. My vehement opinion is that there are only two companies worth considering: RCBS for single stage equipment and Dillon for progressives. Their products are absolutely top shelf, their customer service even better. You can load virtually *any* metallic cartridge on the single stage press - even a .50 BMG with special adaptor tooling. You can form brass from caliber A to obsolete (or very expensive) caliber B. Personally, I don't find I gain very much trying to load rifle ammo on a progressive, but straight wall pistol ammo . . . 500 to 1000 an hour, for sure.
You will need auxiliary equipment such as a powder scale, etc. RCBS puts together a basic package deal which is a good starting point. At some point, you may decide you want a digital scale & other more sophisticated items, but don't invest until you actually feel the need.
Two best references: NRA Guide to Reloading and the Lyman Metallic Cartridge Reloading Manual. I have many others, but I find I *always* consult the Lyman *first* and then, sometimes, look elsewhere. The great thing about Lyman is that they are not beholden to a particular line of bullets or powder as are the publishers of other manuals, so there are a variety of combinations, including lead bullet loads, across the entire spectrum of possibilities for most all 'normal' calibers - obviously, loads for .600 Nitro Express and the like are not covered.
Absolutely essential - IMCO - are a good set of calipers and, ideally, a good 0 - 1.000" micrometer. But the calipers for sure. Don't go cheap on this. Good measuring tools will pay for themselves many times over and properly maintained will last practically forever. I still have the verniers I bought when I started and the mic I bought a few years later. I'm sure I've used both 20,000 times ('Course, I measure a lot of collector ammo, also). Note - you can often find quality used tools; both of mine came from machinists moving up to even higher quality tools, both had been used for a good five years in machine shops before I bought them and, like I said, they are still going strong. If you are in the bifocal generation, I'd invest in digital tools; I will have to do that soon myself.
Good luck - have fun - and if there's ever anything I can do to help you, please drop me a direct eml or post here.0
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