Getting Setup for Reloading

M

missloumudcat

Guest
Fellas,

Over the years I have accummulated dies, brass, and some bullets with package deals I have come across. I shoot about 1000-1500 rouds per year and think it is about time to start reloading.

What would be recommended to get started? I see Hornady offers a progressive press "lock-n-load AP" and I can get 1000 bullets free.

Any recomendations?

Thanks,

Jim
 
missloumudcat,

Our website has a Product Reviews section that recomends specific reloading equipment. I don't sell any of those items, and I don't advertise for anyone. After 40 years of trying all brands off reloading equipment (and almost every widget made), I've discovered some favorite reloading tools that are hard to beat, and I use all of the items that you'll find there. My goal here is to help fellow shooters save money, and get the best reloading equipment the first time. (just my opinion on that different items ....)

Hornady has some great bullets and several quality reloading tools. However, make sure that you really like the particular bullets in their "special deal" or it could be a very bad decision.

Our website also has a Tech Tips section that shows several articles that can help you make the best handloads possible. Visit www.larrywillis.com

Also, you'll find that Benchrest.com has a lot of serious shooters that are a great resource for answering your reloading questions. Good luck getting started in reloading.

- Innovative
 
Jim, Larry's website has a lot of good information and is worth spending time on.

My experience has been that a solid, well made, single stage press (I like the RCBS Rockchucker but there are many) is an indispensable tool. Even if you eventually get something progressive (and I've never felt the need to) the single stage will be a useful tool every day.

Mount your press to a sturdy bench. Brace the bench well, then bolt it to the wall. Rigidity helps the process (or so she said...). Make a little shelf at eye level for your powder measure and scale, it helps a lot too - you won't end an evening of reloading with a strained neck!

Pick 50 or so cases of the same headstamp, then put all your other brass away. You might make a few mistakes at first, why ruin all your brass. Get some good lube (Imperial), the press, a shellholder, a hand priming tool, a case trimmer, a powder measure and a scale. None of that has to be high dollar equipment, but look for quality. Green boxes are generally better than red boxes...

I'm quickly seeing that I could write all night on this topic and my fingers don't really work that well. If you can't find a good, experienced reloader who has a good track record with accuracy reloading, send me an email through the profile and I'll send you my phone number and we can talk reloading till the cows come home. Talking is a lot less tiring than typing!
 
Excellent advice. I'll check the website and I think the single press is the way to go also.
 
A strong single stage press, a very strong bench with a metal plate to fasten the press to, the best beam scale you can afford, some of the electronic scales with auto feed will save you time but check them with a beam scale about every 20 rounds. I use a case trimmer made by lee http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...on/search/search-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=19&Go.y=6 Midway also sells them, I have a couple of others made by RCBS, and Hornaday but you cant mess a case up even if you tried with the lee, I can watch tv and trim cases to the correct length, plus they are cheap. For most loading RCBS dies will work but their are good precision dies by Wilson, Foster, Sinclare and many others, I would have the press line bored if you are going to do match ammo it does make a difference. I have over 170 dies many are the same caliber but they are set up for one gun only, its much easer and faster to set up that way. Lots of case holders, several marker pens to mark the cases, I keep tract of the number of times the case is shot by the color of the case head. I recomend a wax lube and clean the dies after each use so you don't get a build up of lub inside of the case.
 
opinions

since you dont have any equipment, i would invest in the best from the git-go. that way one only has to cry once. instead of getting run of the mill and then upgrading your equipment.
for precision loads most times the simplest makes the best.
wilson is an excelent choice for case trimmer and dies.
harrells for a powder dropper.
beam scales are the most reliable, RCBS 10-10.
i only use an electric scale for weighing new brass.
K&M for expanding and turning necks. also for primer pocket uniformer and press for wilson dies.
RCBS primer pocket brushes for removing residue.
midway USA for brass tumbler, media, brass polish, reloading blocks, reloading manuals ect...
as always free advise is worth every penny spent.

Fred
 
I was lucky

I have no idea how I ended up with really good reloading equipment from the start, but I did and have never had to up grade.

Two Redding presses: Ultra Mag and a Boss

Redding Competition Seating Dies

Lee Collet Dies for neck sizing only. These really work!

Redding Competition Bushing Dies as needed

Redding Full Length dies as needed.

Note: Nothing wrong with the Forster Bench Rest Seater dies.

PACT Electronic Scale

Lee Auto-Prime

Wilson Case Trimmer - - Forster Case Trimmer also works good.

Sinclair Primer Pocket cleaner/uniformer

Midway Calipers

Midway Tumbler

Case mouth deburring tool Forster, Redding, Wilson all work the same

Sinclair poly loading blocks

Hornady One Shot case lube

Shell holders for different cartridges.

Most of all a Sinclair cataloge, a Precision Shooting Reloading Guide and a Sierra Reloading manual.

All with a goal of making more accurate ammo.

Best wishes
 
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