making hunting loads and target loads. No long distance stuff, no chrono stuff, no competitive shooting. Just critters and paper/gongs.
Not a reloader yet ... what has me interested is the possibility that there may come a time when we'll have to reload ... governments are always looking for new restrictions. I think its worthwhile to know how to reload.
I know squat about reloading, so bear with me.
Ive been thinking or starting reload some rifle and handgun loads in recent past. Just sort of getting going again after life got in the way.
I google-foo'd reloading for dummies and got an American webpage, cali gunnerdotcom. with this : https://caligunner.com/reloading-for-beginners-step-by-step-guide/
Was a easy to read article
https://www.amazon.ca/Hornady-Lock-...qid=1655147425&sprefix=hornady,aps,179&sr=8-5
for $1000. wow. Is this rig a "caddilac" vs another "kia" $500 press that does the same thing?
I just can't figure out how reloading make financial sense. Im basing my opinion on somebody like me, getting into this from scratch, and buying decent equipment, somewhat new, or used but "as new".
Can I realistically get everything I need for example, .357/30-06/303 for $1500?
Is there a "kit" available with everything I need? or should I just fumble my through it, picking up stuff piece by piece as I need it? (by caliber)?
From what I've read here, powder and primers are scarce? That just adds to the PITA/price/round factor. So I buy everything I need/want for say $1500 and I cannot buy powder.
May as well buy factory loads.
Now that I've attempted to put my thought to keyboard, All I'd be doing is making hunting loads and target loads. No long distance stuff, no chrono stuff, no competitive shooting. Just critters and paper/gongs.
Cabelas has the LEE Classic Cast Turret kit for $400, and the single stage Lee Anniversary Reloading kit for $250. Both these kits have got tens of thousands of new reloaders started and might be all you ever need.
Here is the most basic equipment list to get started:
1. Press (single stage) O frame
2. Scale (beam scale) for weighing powder charges and bullets.
3. Priming tool (some presses come with a priming tool, LEE for example)
4. reloading die set for your chosen cartridge AND shell holder (LEE dies come with shell holder)
5. trimmer (not needed for most handgun cartridges) use the LEE handheld trimmers for about $15
6. powder funnel
7. loading block (easy to make it yourself with a piece of 2x4 and a drill)
8. case preparation tools (inside/outside neck chamfer, large and small primer pocket cleaners)
9. caliper (digital or dial)
10. bullet puller, because you will need one eventually
11. load data / reloading manual
This setup can make excellent quality ammunition if yyou use it correctly, and is all that many shooters will ever need. At some point you may want to add a powder measure and some kind of brass cleaning machine but you don't need it right away. An experienced reloader can make 50-100 cartridges per hour with that setup.
I started out loading 9mm and 30-06 on a Lee turret press. I have other presses now too, but I'm still using the Lee turret press regularly 40 years later.
I cleaned brass with 0000 steel wool for some years before I got a tumbler.This is perfect advice.
I would add in that the brass cleaner is probably a necessity, dirty brass is harder to check for splits, and is harder on the press and your chamber.
As well, I defer to online reloading sites, such as hodgdon, as they often have more modern powder loads than the handbooks (it takes a while for them to catch up, and you don't want to buy a new one every year).
Also, a powder drop of some sort can help you make much more concise loads. Check each drop with the beam scale until you are comfortable with the process, then check every 20th round.
(The hammer style bullet puller is better than the collet style one, I have both and the collet fails and wrecks bullets a lot more than the ole hammer)
I cleaned brass with 0000 steel wool for some years before I got a tumbler.
I'm guessing a guy who shoots 100,000s+ rounds wouldn't use a single stage press either.Oh for sure that would work...but I think of the 000,000s of rounds I've done over the years and yikes![]()
I use a wet tumbler, and have wanted to build a 5 gal pail version because it takes SO MANY loads to clean a range day's brass, and now that I'm on acreages and can shoot whenever, I'm filling pails each month now (and putting off the cleaning). I guess it depends on how many rounds we go through. My fingers ache just thinking of the steel wool...but I'll bet they looked fantastic![]()
I'm guessing a guy who shoots 100,000s+ rounds wouldn't use a single stage press either.But we all start some place.
I cleaned brass with 0000 steel wool for some years before I got a tumbler.
It's not rocket science. For most peoplekind a single stage and hand tools is all you need. Start shooting 1k rifle or serious pistol....soon to be kriptonite....think about upgrading.
surprising how shiny brass can get with an immersion into the old NRA case cleaner formula. while not up to the standard of the pins/wet tumble it will produce very good results for very little cost.
https://www.1911forum.com/threads/washing-brass-in-nra-case-cleaner.429315/