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Posted: 10/25/2015 4:25:55 PM EDT
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What brand/kit would you guys recommend for a complete newbie wanting to get into reloading. Main objective is to start with cheap plinking rounds then as I learn get into developing hand loads. Budget is 600-1000. Assume I know very little. Calibers I own: 9 40 45 .22 5.56 .308 .300bo And if I ever find a 6.5 cm barrel for my LMT then that. |
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Quoted:
Calibers I own: .22 If you meant LR, this is really not reloadable, but you can save the brass to swage into projectiles. Lee classic cast turret press is a good starting off point. It is a semi-automatic progressive in that you can use it slowly for more precision rounds, or to crank out a lot of rounds depending on your comfort level. If you need more volume then go Dillon. |
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Time to dig this one out again, |
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I mentioned budget in the op. 600-1000. I have been browsing through the tacked threads. Sometimes it gets overwhelming just reading through stuff without having anything in front of you to visualize with. I have built several ar' and worked on 1911's so I'm fairly familiar with gun operation/ slight smithing. Reloading is another world entirely though... |
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Quoted: Time to dig this one out again, http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/263380_Everything_You_Wanted_to_Know_About_Reloading_But_Was_Afraid_to_Ask.html For some reason I completely missed this one, thanks! Don't mean to be that guy starting the same threads over and over. |
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Quoted: For some reason I completely missed this one, thanks! Don't mean to be that guy starting the same threads over and over. Quoted: Quoted: Time to dig this one out again, http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/263380_Everything_You_Wanted_to_Know_About_Reloading_But_Was_Afraid_to_Ask.html For some reason I completely missed this one, thanks! Don't mean to be that guy starting the same threads over and over. This is a 'toggled" thread that has been kept out of the archives for threads just like this as it will answer a lot of questions. Didn't mean to come off as a snide remark. Missed your budget, sorry. I suggest a RCBS or Hornady reloading kit. I have the RCBS.
Has most of the tools you will need. For rifle bottlenecked cases you will also need a trimmer.  Will look something like this set up on a bench. Using a Hornady powder measure in this pic, the blue presses are Dillon progressives in storage position. |
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I'm still new.I've been reloading for a little over three years. I know very well how you feel right now. Here is my suggestion for what I WISH I HAD DONE. It doesn't mean it is what you should do, just what would've worked best for me. I knew no one who reloaded and I wasted time and money on stuff that wasn't right for me.
Here is what I would do if I had it to do over: 1) I would buy a Dillon 550b. New or slightly used. There won't be much price difference. You can load single stage or semi-progressive. It can grow as you grow in reloading. 2) I would search out slightly used Dillon dies. Nothing but Carbide for pistols. 3) Search out a new or slightly used beam scale. 4) Get a case prep center from Lyman, RCBS, etc.- you can trim, swage, debur, etc. on these. You could upgrade to WFT trimmers or a super swage later,if need be. 5)Buy a slightly used hand primer. I probably forgot something essential, but that pretty much covers what I would do, if I knew then what I know now. I started on rifle. I have everything to load pistol in .40 and 9mm, just haven't done it. Starting on rifle is no big deal, in my opinion. |
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Starting with bottleneck cases (rifle) adds trimming, deburring and possibly primer crimp removal. Since straight wall cases (pistol) need less case prep, most of us advise new reloaders to start there. If you buy a "kit" (they have most of what you need, not everything you need) it will be geared for pistol reloading. |
| I started out with a Lee Turret press and it worked just fine for over 12 years. I had some severe back problems and had to drop out of competitive shooting for 15 years. The turret press will allow you to make very good ammo while you learn the basics.Then when you're ready you can upgrade to a another press, manual or progressive press, for more production requirements. The cheaper cost of the Lee press will give you more money to spend on quality loading accessories. When you go to upgrade the press you'll already have the accessories that you need and will know how to use them. There are other turret presses on the market but I have no first hand experience with them. |
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OP, in your price range you may be able to end up with a progressive, but I'm going to recommend a Single Stage. The Rock Chucker kit that Dryfalsh posted is the one I would purchase. With your budget you will be able to buy the kit, along with everything else you will need, and start stocking up on components without breaking the bank. You will be able to buy good (RCBS, Hornady, Redding) dies, and a good trimmer. Those three brands should do you well in just about anything you need reloading wise. To top it all off I would buy an RCBS Case Prep station. I can't believe it took me as long as it did to buy one, it makes chamfering/deburring, cleaning primer pockets and uniforming primer pockets (not required) so much easier. Even if you end up going to a progressive you will find uses for the single stage. |
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as a guy who has made plenty of stupid reloading purchases and learned the hard way here we go:
1. buy a good set of dies. lee dies work well for pistol. for rifle i prefer rcbs due to the adjustment of the seating depth 2. buy hornady lock rings, seriously way worth the money 3. abc's of reloading is a must read it 2-3 times 4. buy a decent reloading manual. i prefer hornady due to all the different loads 5. skip a progressive press: here is where i went over board and i would suggest you not do the same as i. buy a lee turret press. i have a lyman tmag and it is way over kill. or even the lee single stage is great. saves you a ton of cash 6. here is the expensive part you will choke on and just buy it up front and don't dick around like i did. buy a rcbs charge master and you will save yourself so much heart ache and time it is unbelievable. it has saved me hours of frustration. well well worth the money. i am paranoid about powder drops. 7. if needing to trim brass do not do it by hand you will want to hang yourself in about 20 pieces: if doing 223 just buy the worlds finest trimmer and get it over with. it uses a standard drill chuck size and a drill you already own. i would highly suggest a dewalt corded drill for long term use. about $60.00 batteries will not hold up. i have the rcbs prep station well worth the dough. your hands will thank me |
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RCBS Rock Chucker kit. ABC's to reloading manual, and a few others... then get started slowly. Once you get the basics down, and are capable of reloading safely, look into a progressive (Dillon 650 at least  ), you will still use the RCBS.
My 2 cents! I couldn't agree more. Even if you move on to progressives later you'll be happy that you started with the Rock Chucker. If you do your shopping you can usually find the"Rock Chucker Supreme Kit" on sale somewhere. Motor |
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My advice...and it comes basically in two parts:
1. Find a local source for primers and powders, FIRST, that is hopefully cheap enough, BEFORE buying any reloading equipment. I have never shipped in powders or primers, but the HAZMAT fee sounds like total BS, to me. Then run the math to see if buying the reloading equipment and all the paraphenalia would be worth it compared to just having factory ammo shipped to your door. 2. Knowing what I know now, I wish I I had started out with a Dillon 650...skipping over the Rock Chucker kit and a Dillon 550. |
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Quoted:
I couldn't agree more. Even if you move on to progressives later you'll be happy that you started with the Rock Chucker. If you do your shopping you can usually find the"Rock Chucker Supreme Kit" on sale somewhere. Motor Quoted:
Quoted:
RCBS Rock Chucker kit. ABC's to reloading manual, and a few others... then get started slowly. Once you get the basics down, and are capable of reloading safely, look into a progressive (Dillon 650 at least ), you will still use the RCBS.
My 2 cents! I couldn't agree more. Even if you move on to progressives later you'll be happy that you started with the Rock Chucker. If you do your shopping you can usually find the"Rock Chucker Supreme Kit" on sale somewhere. Motor I still reload only with a Rock Chucker after 25+ years. Same one my Dad used. Start with a pistol round as mentioned. I found gun shows are a good place to pick up powder and primers at a decent price with no hazmat fees. Bullets and brass get online. With a single stage press a reloading block is a must have. |
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