My Reloading Project....

[Outlawmws]

"If you have to ask, you can't afford it!"

You knew it was coming!

It depends on what you want to load, and if you buy it all new, or can find a deal on a used setup.

It also depends on if you want progressive and semi or near fully automatic gear... simple single presses are not expensive, The top of the line progressives are expensive, but if you shoot a lot or load for friends, it can pay off.

Personally I don't use much in the way of progressive gear, but I go for precision and do each step in batches.

Size and de-prime,
Clean the primer pocket
Tumble the brass
Prime the cases, (lee primer tool)
measure AND weigh each charge
Seat the bullets.

I also spend quite a bit of time working up a load for a gun that is as accurate as possible. Both my main deer rifles shoot sub minute of angle.

So does my Thonpson contender for the deer barrel and the .223 barrel

Even my 44 mag (revolver) will print 12 rds inside of 3-1/2" at 100 yards.


Until you sate what you want to load and if you was a lot of ammo (Handgun or Shotgun competition shooters shoot a lot more than rifle shooters generally..), the question is indeterminant.

You didn't even say if it was for shotguns or rifle/pistol.

 

[Shootingblanks]

You can go as little as $100 for a Lee a Press (Craftsmen of reloading) to $1900 for Dillon 1025 progressive press. My press was $265 on sale at midwayusa.com. I was torn between the Forester co ax or t 7.

I went out for good scale and powder measure. RCBS IS running a rebate promotion entire 2016 year.

 

[Shootingblanks]

Ready to install the rest of the components when they get delivered tomorrow after work and children go to bed.

 

[kxlexus]

I have a Hornady L-N-L AP progressive. Just started about 16 months ago. I handload for 9mm, 38/357 mag, .380 and 45 in handguns. Load for 5.56 and .308 in rifle. Lot more to rifle than pistol. Getting into long range shooting now with a Ruger Precision Rifle I bought this week. Fun hobby

 

[Shootingblanks]

Despite being shown by my friend how to reload, I was in at Kames Sports, a local outdoor sporting goods store, firearms etc, they had a sign for free reloading seminars for a rifle and pistol class presented by a certified reloading instructor. I have signed up for both classes.

 

[radrush]

That's cool red Craftsman toolbox; what is that circa 1998?

 

[Shootingblanks]

That's cool red Craftsman toolbox; what is that circa 1998?

Lol, it was one that I had left over from putting the other ones into that workbench I built last year. With the 56" HF bottom and top box, HF rollcart and the ones in garage, there is only a little storage room left. Can never have enough tool storage and now with this hobby, see how it grows.

 

[radrush]

That's cool red Craftsman toolbox; what is that circa 1998?

Lol, it was one that I had left over from putting the other ones into that workbench I built last year. With the 56" HF bottom and top box, HF rollcart and the ones in garage, there is only a little storage room left. Can never have enough tool storage and now with this hobby, see how it grows.

I think there were only a couple of years with the badge and that little ball-bearing thingy on it.

 

[Shootingblanks]

I think there were only a couple of years with the badge and that little ball-bearing thingy on it.

Believe so. Your attention to detail is remarkable.

 

[velillen01]

I'm thinking about getting into reloads myself. The thing that scares me at this point is inadvertently doing a double charge.
A book I'm reading about reloads tells a story of a union soldier at the battle of Gettysburg who had loaded 9 charges into his rifle without firing a shot. Thankfully he didn't actually shoot the gun!

Double charging is often pretty hard. Most cases just wont hold two charges. Of course that doesn't always apply as you can do light lights or light loads with certain powders can leave enough room for double charges. But for the majority of loading its not that big of a risk. Its also why you will hear a lot of people tell new people to start with 9mm or 45acp as they are small charges in a small case so double charges are quite obvious.

Depending how you are reloading can effect it too. If reloading rifle and charging a bunch on a block its easy to charge them all, then inspect with a flash light and make sure all the charges appear the same.

When using a press, the best way Ive found is to just have a routine. I use a Dillon 550b for a lot of calibers. I have my routine on how I do it which is different than other people. For rifle (which are already sized and ready) I have a different routine than pistol (which aren't sized and belled yet). Rifle I prime, then turn (so slot 1 is empty), then charge, then place a case and prime it, then turn it. basically so slot 1 is always empty. it works for me. And trust me soon as I have a case in slot 1 for whatever reason I screw things up and double charge! Pistol I place the case, then run it up (to size) and then prime it. Then turn it and place the new case.

As for finding a load....you can get good starting points by googling and then comparing to load data (to make sure its a safe load). You will find a lot of guns will like certain loads with powders (like for 308 a common load is 44.5gr of Varget).

Like anything the key is to go slow while learning. You will make mistakes and ruin cases. Its just part of learning. But go slow and make sure you have the correct charge and have fun!

and be prepared to spend more lol. I reload everything but the Russian calibers (762x39 and 54R) which is currently like 15 different calibers

 

[Shootingblanks]

Received these packages from UPS last night. Got everything unpacked and set up after children went to bed:


















Managed to tumble the brass, deprimed and size some 9mm and 45 ACP casings.







Ordered the Redding Slide Bar Automatic Primer Feeder System. It was back ordered and they had 10 available for sale today. Also ordered another reloading tray.

Next item to order will be 30-06 dies, shell holder and found a Forster Co-Ax Case and Cartridge Concentricity Gage with Dial from a private seller.

 

[pl_silverado]

Nice setup. I started a few months ago myself. It gets addictive quickly....

 

[elknturkey]

Anyone who reloads for precision should look into Forster products. Their Co-Ax press and case trimmer are the best. Redding and Forster make the best dies. If you want a progressive press then look no further than Dillon. I haven't been impressed with much of Hornady's products.

Was about to post the same thing. Forster and Redding are both top notch

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[CGT80]

Reloading is the only way to go. My 30-30 ammo costs me around 7 cents per round with my cast boolits. 9mm runs $110 per thousand with bearcreek bullets, and my max speed is 3 minutes per 100 rounds, but it usually takes me around 5 minutes per 100 for 9mm and 40 cal.

This is how I started out:
Hollywood Universal 12 position triple turret.

Here is what I use now:
1050 with Mr. Bulletfeeder in 9mm and 40 cal
650 in 223 (belongs to my brother)
550 with toolheads for 15 different calibers

 

[Dave455]

Great thread! Garage people tend to be reloading people too, in my experience!

Some random thoughts/answers, albeit from the other side of the Atlantic!


Brands - well, it's much like tools! Most folks have a favourite, but in my experience most US made reloading equipment is very well made. Even though some of the manufacturers are major concerns, most of the employees / managers that I've spoken to seem to be very decent people and often users of the product too!

I have to agree that Redding are absolutely top end. My late fathers friend Gillie Howe, former Royal Marine Commando, SBS NCO and latterly armourer, father of Long Range Pistol shooting in the U.K, and later a south coast gun dealer, went to great lengths to import their full range into the U.K. While I have occasionally found tools as good, I have never found better, and little has the quality feel of Redding!

RCBS are really good too, perhaps more 'mainstream' than Redding, but often more easily available. If there's an RCBS tool or press you like, have no hesitation in buying!

Hornady and Lyman have their adherents, and no doubt things they each do well, but I've only ever owned oddments! I have owned a lot of Lee however! While it's often regarded, indeed is, pretty much the cheapest of the major brands, many of their products are quite innovative! I used Lee carbide dies for loading high volume calibers for years! Great tools!

Dillon are superb progressive presses, but the reloading equivalent of Hazet - once experienced you just want 'more blue'! See above...!

Presses - I'm often asked which progressive press is best for a newcomer to reloading. The answer is 'none of them'! Sooner or later in your reloading, you WILL need a decent single stage press. You might want to reload a larger / longer round than usual, you might want just half a dozen .416 Grim Reaper, or you might want to use the press for just one operation. So... buy the single stage first, get used to using it, and adjusting the dies, get used to the process, then buy the progressive as well!

Double Charging - This is generally only a problem with rounds that were originally designed for bulky black powder - things like .38 Special. If you are really worried about the risk, then avoid these rounds, but if you use a good technique (see above) you won't have a problem!


Cost - reloading isn't about cost. You will however shoot better. You will adjust your loads for the best performance, and you will shoot more, so get better! Reloading is all about availability though. If you insist on shooting .338 Kengil Mammoth Improved you can be sure you will still be able to, despite what the manufacturers decide to make or drop! And if, heaven forbid, there was ever a shortage of ammo, you'd still be good!

But of course the latter's unlikely...

 

[CGT80]

We had a shortage of ammo, in the USA, a couple years ago. After the Sandy Hook shooting, people stocked up and manufacturers couldn't keep up. The ammo and components that were available were very expensive. Luckily, I started to stock up around 2010 and try to keep a decent supply of components, so I was able still able to shoot at my normal pace. Others, at the competitions, cut back on how often they came out and match directors made up lower round count stages.

Every re-loader should have a single stage press, even if it is a less expensive model. I really try to avoid using one, but they have come in handy when a friend needs to load and I don't have the conversion kit for the progressives or for sizing boolits with a lee sizing die.

Redding does make nice gear, and dillon is great, as well as RCBS. Lee is hit or miss. Reloading becomes a hobby all on it's own. Sometimes I like to load and other times it is a chore, but it still beats buying factory ammo.