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Posted: 4/8/2009 12:21:57 PM EDT
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Hello guys, I am a complete reloading newbie. I am currently waiting for my ABC's of Reloading book and various recipe books to arrive and have been watching all the videos and tutorials I can get my hands on. I am looking to get a Dillon 550, and plan to use it more like a single stage until I really get the hang of everything. I have seen "100% Processed" unprimed .223 LC brass advertised. Would this serve as a decent starting point for a reloading newbie? This way the cases have been cleaned and trimmed, which would help me save on the initial investment of also purchasing tumblers and trimming equipment. I understand I should still measure the cases to be positive. Then, once I have loaded and shot my beginner loads, I would have the brass saved and could then purchase the tumblers and other cleaning/prep equipment.
Let me know if my thinking is completely off track. My goal is to load mainly .223 and 9mm. I obviously want to purchase equipment now while I can afford it, and not have to upgrade later. Unfortunately I have plenty of .308 and 30-06 lying around, but no .223 or 9mm brass. I am still in the researching phase, so I am open to suggestions. Thanks in advance! Andrew |
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How will you learn to reload by buying processed brass? This constitutes a fair bit of what you need to master for success.
I am doubly suspicious of 100% processed brass. Take a stroll through this thread: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=276418 |
IMO Go to your local gun store and see if you can pickup a used single stage press like an RCBS ROCK Chucker, Redding Boss, Hornady etc. make sure it is cast iron and has a smooth mechanism. I would run that press fo ra full year and make sure you have all the basics down BEFORE you even think of purchasing a progressive press. Not only will this give you time to save $ but also to learn how to reload which does not come overnight but slowly and with experience. I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but take it from a guy that has been reloading since the early 90's-You have alot to learn about reloading. Take your time and you'll learn everything you need to know. Keep in mind the two things that cause more accidents as a result of reloading are inexperience and reloading under time pressure and fatigue-avoid both and live longer. 
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I bought processed brass from Top Brass, sized and primed and everything. By a stroke of sheer luck, I dropped one peice of brass, and upon picking it up, noticed that primer was 50% out of the pocket! The primer pocket was apparently, loose as heck! Does anyone know what would've happened if I had loaded and fired this round? Now, i've got 999 loaded rounds I need to re-inspect carefully, haha ETA: I've also already loaded and fired 1000 peices of processed brass from top brass. I'd say there were about 10 peices total where there were issues... such as the brass in the neck area being all fucked up, and that 1 peice of FC brass where the primer was dangling around. No other issues. |
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Thanks for the advice guys. I know I have a lot to learn. That's why I was hoping this might have helped me out a little, so I would be able to tackle such a large process a little bit easier. I need brass either way, so I thought the processed brass might help me in my starting stages. I had already seen that link provided above. I wasn't intending to buy processed brass and assume everything was good to go. Either way I plan to learn to reload, I just thought maybe starting with the processed stuff might help me out a little. Just to clarify, I do plan to start on s single stage. I just mentioned the Dillon, meaning that even when I get to that point I am not in a rush to kick out rounds. Right now I just want to learn.
Andrew |
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Quoted:
I bought processed brass from Top Brass, sized and primed and everything. By a stroke of sheer luck, I dropped one peice of brass, and upon picking it up, noticed that primer was 50% out of the pocket! The primer pocket was apparently, loose as heck! Does anyone know what would've happened if I had loaded and fired this round? Now, i've got 999 loaded rounds I need to re-inspect carefully, haha The primer would most likely have ended up in the trigger of an AR. Not a real good outcome in an emergency. |
The only thing that got done properly was the primer pocket swaging.
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I would advise you buy new brass.
I would size them, trim, debur and load. You have to learn to do case prep anyway. Don't get in a hurry, you don't want to learn the hard way. First couple of times, load no more than 50 at a time. If something is wrong and you have to pull the bullets, and dump powder, you will thank me. |
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I just bought a rockchucker and all the gear to reload. a close friend gave me some lc once fired brass. Being a new reloader I would check every piece of brass I got even if my friend did it for me. With my gun and loading my own, I trust no one and double check every thing I do. I never want to lose a friendship by blaming someone for taking something for granted that should have been do ne right but was not. Like above guy stated thats the best way to learn also. Thie guys on here are really smart and most give good advice. But alway always look up what some one gives you. Getting second hand load data is also A big no no to a new reloader. Find the loads in the books and stick to what is printed for now.that way you know what you are doing
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