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Posted: 2/5/2012 3:00:54 PM EDT
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Im sure this has been covered a million times before but I am just getting into reloading and need some reassurance before I buy everything. Im reloading .223 for my ar 15 for now and then 9mm and .45 later.
I am looking at getting the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit?cm_cat=Cart&cm_pla=ProductDesc That kit includes everything but the case gauge to trim cases right? (Other than calipers) Will these dies work? And if not what dies do I need? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/776391/lee-deluxe-3-die-set-223-remington And of course I will pick up a reloading handbook while im at it. Is these anything else I will need to get started other than powder, primers, brass and projos? |
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get everything on one of the lists here http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=486 |
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Quoted:
Im sure this has been covered a million times before but I am just getting into reloading and need some reassurance before I buy everything. Im reloading .223 for my ar 15 for now and then 9mm and .45 later. I am looking at getting the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit?cm_cat=Cart&cm_pla=ProductDesc That kit includes everything but the case gauge to trim cases right? (Other than calipers) Will these dies work? And if not what dies do I need? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/776391/lee-deluxe-3-die-set-223-remington And of course I will pick up a reloading handbook while im at it. Is these anything else I will need to get started other than powder, primers, brass and projos? That die set is includes a neck sizing die and you don't use those for semi auto's. I would choose this one Also when you start reloading for pistol get a lee auto disk powder measure. So you can charge and flare at the same time. This will help speed up the reloading for pistol. |
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Quoted: Thats the list I was going by, mostly I just want to confirm that I also buy whats not included in the kit and that those dies will work. Per the link This kit does not include reloading dies, case length gages or shellholders for the Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press. So you need dies, shell holders, and the case length gage they refer to is the second part for their trimmer as shown here http://www.midwayusa.com/product/107333/lee-case-length-gage-and-shellholder-223-remington This part, Lee cutter and lock stud is included in the kit http://www.midwayusa.com/product/476992/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-and-lock-stud?cm_vc=S015ID107333 This is how you use the two http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=407 I never seen a kit yet that has everything you need. The kit doesn't list loading blocks, tumbler, tumbling media, stuck case remover (you wont need this if using Lee or Dillon dies), case gage for each caliber you plan to reload for (not the same as the Lee case length gage). I'd ditch the Lee lube and get a alcohol/lanolin based spray lube (not Hornady One Shot). You'll want a way to deal with primer pocket crimps and a bullet puller and calipers |
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Quoted: One more question about the primer crimp, Ive read that people just take there chamfer tool and ream the primer pocket a few turns and it takes care of the crimp. Is that a good way to do it or do i need a swaging die? I don't recommend that, too easy to remove too much metal from the primer pocket, the chamfer tool is meant for deburring and chamfering not reaming primer pockets. I suggest the RCBS Primer Pocket Swaging Combo http://www.midwayusa.com/product/447022/rcbs-primer-pocket-swager-combo and/or the Hornady primer pocket reamer http://www.midwayusa.com/product/501588/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-small If you get the RCBS Primer Pocket combo you can use the swaging bits a primer pocket reaming go/no go gage see step 8 here http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=452 |
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Down the road you might want to upgrade your trimmer, the next tier would be the Possum Hollow Trimmer around $50-$60 with the deburring tool holder, then then next tier is in the $250+ range (powered trimmer by Dillon, then the Giraud trimmer). Current thread on the Possum Hollow trimmer http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/362703_Possum_Hollow_Kwik_Trimmer.html For loading blocks for 223 you can use 9mm ammo trays like the red ones here  |
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Im planning on getting the "bare bones" for now but once I start loading more and more I will upgrade to better equipment such as an electric trimmer. From what ive read about the swaging tool you have to put a lot of force to pop the crimp out so a hornady pocket reamer in a drill sounds like a better option to me. Any other opinions on this?
ETA thanks for the tip about the 9mm trays, I have a bunch of those laying around somewhere. |
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Quoted:
Im planning on getting the "bare bones" for now but once I start loading more and more I will upgrade to better equipment such as an electric trimmer. From what ive read about the swaging tool you have to put a lot of force to pop the crimp out so a hornady pocket reamer in a drill sounds like a better option to me. Any other opinions on this? ETA thanks for the tip about the 9mm trays, I have a bunch of those laying around somewhere. I use the RCBS swagger and I sometimes have to also ream. |
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Well i just placed my order at midway, I got the lee single stage press kit, lee case length gauge, pacesetter dies, hornady pocket reamer, quick change bushings, frankford calipers, and some 55g projos!
Everything else I will buy locally while this is shipping. I cant wait to start reloading 
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Quoted: One more question about the primer crimp, Ive read that people just take there chamfer tool and ream the primer pocket a few turns and it takes care of the crimp. Is that a good way to do it or do i need a swaging die? That is the incorrect method not used by serious reloaders. Get a Hornady crimp remover reamer with a positive stop. About $10. A chamfer tool removes too much of the case and has no stop. The RCBS swage die would be much better than the makeshift chamfer tool.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
One more question about the primer crimp, Ive read that people just take there chamfer tool and ream the primer pocket a few turns and it takes care of the crimp. Is that a good way to do it or do i need a swaging die? That is the incorrect method not used by serious reloaders. Get a Hornady crimp remover reamer with a positive stop. About $10. A chamfer tool removes too much of the case and has no stop. The RCBS swage die would be much better than the makeshift chamfer tool. I ended up getting the hornady reamer for now |
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My package is scheduled to be delivered tomarow
I called and added a hornady gs-1500 scale to the order. I bought powder, primers, a reloading handbook and a Lyman turbo 1200 tumbler locally. I will be building my bench on Saturday so when I get it together I'll post pictures and what I think about everything. Thanks again to everybody that helped me get started |
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When you get you bench built and set up, post a pic in this thread, Build your bench strong, glue and screw it together. You can also check out this thread for bench building ideas. 30 something pages. My bench is on page 6, if you care to look. Have fun building your bench.
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I ended up getting impatient and building my bench today
It's nothing special but cost me a total of $24 so fuck it I made my first 5 rounds tonight with ae brass, cci #400 primers, hornady 55g fmj and 24g of imr 4064. The guy at the gun shop suggested the imr because he didn't have accurate 2230 but after reading about it I think this will be the only bottle I use, I'm going to get some 2230 next. I ganna test the 5 rounds tomarow. |
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