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Posted: 11/24/2010 8:44:08 PM EDT
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About a month ago, I got this sudden urge to get into reloading. I started researching tutorials, component pricing, equipment, etc. I borrowed one book and asking for the ABC's of reloading book for
x-mas. I live in a small 1 BR apartment so limited on a bench. Here's some questions..... I want to start slow, one step at a time. Would this be a dumb way to start reloading? I want to get a hand loader and dies for .223 and 45 auto and just prep the brass. Basically cleaning, depriming and trimmimg(for .223 if needed). Then once I get a house or a press with a small table, I can move on to powder charges and bullets, etc. Is it OK to clean, deprime, trim, reprime and store it as is? So when I have enough prepped brass saved I can add the powder and bullet. Is brass that is buried in snow at an outdoor range OK to use when collected in spring? |
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.223 brass will have to be trimmed after a few firings. It's a really good idea to trim your .45 ACP brass at least once to uniform it...after that, if it's all the same brand and has the same number of firings, don't worry about trimming. I've done lots of brass exactly as you describe. It doesn't hurt a thing. The Lee hand press will work for what you want to do, but sizing .223 cases will require some effort. Huntingtons.com sells a similar press that can also be bench mounted. I haven't used it, so I don't know about the quality. I would suggest buying a quality bench mount press, such as the RCBS Rockchucker or similar. If the brass is corroded, throw it in a recycle bucket, otherwise tumble until clean/load/shoot. |
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I recomend a single stage bench mouted press, I tried the hand loader style and was not at all happy with it clean, deprime and resize and trim and store ( I store mine in ziplock freezer bags ) do not prime untill you are ready to load ( the brass may have become tarnished in storage and you will want to reclean it before you load it) trying to save any brass that is severly tarnished (coroded) may not be a good idea, depends on how badly it is tarnished (coroded) brass is not that expensive, and safety should be your first rule to follow if you are trying to save money, purchase once fired brass, there are many companies on the internet that sell it at a very good price |
| have you look at the lee turret press this can be a single stage or you can make make it a turret press to speed up when you are ready. it dosnt need much room to be mounted and it will be easy on you hands. and at 100 bucks isnt a bad deal look around you may be albe to find one used. |
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Don't discount assembling loads with a LEE nutcracker press. I'm still shooting .30-06 ammo I loaded in the kitchen over a decade ago on an ultra cold day back when my reloading stuff was in the garage. They're also handy for taking to the range.
You'll need to size brass before trimming. Once you're at that point, most of the work is done, so you might as well load primers, powder, and bullets. |
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Sounds like a plan stan. However if you're anything like me, you won't be able to resist that urge to finish up what you started, and go buy the other tools needed to produce a loaded round. But yes you'll need to buy the sizer die if you want to trim.
Brass is usually fine in snow, just make sure it's not corroded. 223 brass especially is easy to find and cheap to buy, so don't sweat trying to salvage every last piece. |
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I think that your plan is great. In that you have a lot of brass and want to do a lot of prep work to get a nice stockpile before you start reloading.
However, I would skip the hand loader deal and just go ahead and get a single stage press. You will always want the single stage press for doing something. I have no doubt that the handloaders do a good job, but there is so much more that a single stage can do. Once you do step your operation up, the handloader will most likely sit in the corner. But you will always have that single stage for precision work, decapping, sizing and things like that. I have a RCBS single stage and have thought about stepping up to a Dillon. But I know I will always use that RCBS. I am not sure I could say the same if I had bought a hand loader first. Above all else, be careful and have fun! |
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By all means start prepping your brass now.
The very best way to store brass is prepped (cleaned, sized, trimmed,deburred, and primed.) Collect all free brass you can find, the stains can be removed. Take a peak at the reloading bench thread, I'll be back with the link. eta, here is the link, 100% Official reloading bench Thread |
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I bought the Lee Breach Lock anniversary loading kit. It comes with the basics that you need to get started. I mounted the press to a 1X6 pine board that is probably a foot long. I use 2 clamps and attach it to the kitchen table when I am using it. I store the press attached to the board on a shelf when it is not in use. I do this with my Shot gun loaders as well. I am getting ready to upgrade to a Dillon and that will be mounted on my bench in the gun room. I will use the single stage for load development and small batches.
MAHA |
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