Where to get started?

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Shep546

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Hey guys,

I'm looking into starting to reload (primarily to save money on target shooting).

And would like to be able to reload pistol as well as rifle calibres.

Can anybody point me into the right direction online where I can find info on how to get started?

As in what I need etc.

Thanks.
 
Best idea is to get a few manuals first and get familiar with the proper procedure on reloading. Hornady is the best for this in my opinion..I believe the most current edition is the 8th edition. Very descriptive step-by-step instructions as far as beginner reloading goes. They even sell a whole start up kit with everything you need to get going and you can upgrade individual components as you wish in the future if you so choose. You can buy them from Sinclairs out of the US but I'm not aware of any Canadian distributors. I find ordering from them direct is easiest and fastest. Get a few manuals though...Hornady (as you can probably tell I'm a bit bias) Nosler, Sierra, etc they all have very good info. Be weary of what you read on the interwebs...there's some good info out there but you have to sift through a lot of BS and take most of it with a grain of salt.

Pay attention and be safe.

Good luck!
 
DasJager said:
Best idea is to get a few manuals first and get familiar with the proper procedure on reloading. Hornady is the best for this in my opinion..I believe the most current edition is the 8th edition. Very descriptive step-by-step instructions as far as beginner reloading goes. They even sell a whole start up kit with everything you need to get going and you can upgrade individual components as you wish in the future if you so choose. You can buy them from Sinclairs out of the US but I'm not aware of any Canadian distributors. I find ordering from them direct is easiest and fastest. Get a few manuals though...Hornady (as you can probably tell I'm a bit bias) Nosler, Sierra, etc they all have very good info. Be weary of what you read on the interwebs...there's some good info out there but you have to sift through a lot of BS and take most of it with a grain of salt.

Pay attention and be safe.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

So you order all of your bullets from the US?

I'm in Halifax and was looking for a more local approach to save on shipping costs...
 
You can get everything you need here in Canada through various outlets etc. The first step is a good manual for you to sit down and read over a few times. This will let you be comfortable in deciding what you need and to be able to ask reasonable questions if you are unsure about something.
 
I would suggest that the first thing to do is buy ABCs of Reloading. It's available at most places selling reloading components and online. It is one of the best introductions to reloading and will give you a basic idea of the different types of equipment and such. Read it - carefully. There may be some bits in there that don't apply to you, for instance, reloading shotgun shells, casting bullets, etc, but most of it is germane.

Once you do that, you'll be in a much better position to decide which way to go.

I would suggest that you will also need to get a reloading manual. Hornady is good, but there are a bunch of others - Speer, Sierra, Lyman and so forth. Non of them are bad. They will give you the 'recipes' you will need to reload safely and effectively. Until you get a feel for what you are doing, I would not take any load data from anywhere on the net; some is very good, others are accidents waiting to happen.

Welcome to the dark side.

There are, BTW, lots of places in Canada selling components and equipment.
 
The best part of buying and reading manuals is when you come back and post questions they will be meaningful questions and they won't irritate grumpy old reloaders.....;):D
 
I bought the Lyman Reloading handbook 49th edition ...I want to get the Lee classic turret press ...here are the best prices I found and they ship to Canada with no problems.


h ttps://factorysales.com/
 
I will post my wish list and you can use it for referance .....If I ever slow down on buying firerarms I will send an order off to Lee factory sales for the following

Lee classic turret press $84.48 #90064
Extra turrets $12.99 #TF3564

Pacesetter dies $22.48
308 90507
30.06 90508
.223 90871

Carbide pistol dies $33.28 (4 die set)
45 ACP 90968
9mm Luger 90963

Powder funnel $2.30
Safety primer feed $20.98 90997
- bracket $3.25 TP2699
Lee pro auto disc powder measure $33.98 #90429
Lee auto disk riser ( if using auto disk with an auto primer ) $7.60 #90041
Double disc kit $10.98 #90195
Replacement square ratchet $0 .50 T53567
Decapping pin
Lee digital scale $29.98 #USABSOLUTE
Powder funnel $2.30 # 90190
Square ratchet $0.50 #T53567

I will still need to purchase these items after I place my order

Case trimmer
Case deburring tool
Lube pads
Loading blocks
Ammo storage boxes
Primer pocket cleaning tool
Bullet puller
 
chalkriver said:
I will post my wish list and you can use it for referance .....If I ever slow down on buying firerarms I will send an order off to Lee factory sales for the following

Lee classic turret press $84.48 #90064
Extra turrets $12.99 #TF3564

Pacesetter dies $22.48
308 90507
30.06 90508
.223 90871

Carbide pistol dies $33.28 (4 die set)
45 ACP 90968
9mm Luger 90963

Powder funnel $2.30
Safety primer feed $20.98 90997
- bracket $3.25 TP2699
Lee pro auto disc powder measure $33.98 #90429
Lee auto disk riser ( if using auto disk with an auto primer ) $7.60 #90041
Double disc kit $10.98 #90195
Replacement square ratchet $0 .50 T53567
Decapping pin
Lee digital scale $29.98 #USABSOLUTE
Powder funnel $2.30 # 90190
Square ratchet $0.50 #T53567

I will still need to purchase these items after I place my order

Case trimmer
Case deburring tool
Lube pads
Loading blocks
Ammo storage boxes
Primer pocket cleaning tool
Bullet puller
Click to expand...

Would that be everything required to start reloading .223 and pistol cartridges?

I'm trying to get an idea of how much this is all going to cost me and I just totalled that up and it seems way cheaper than any other press I have seen.
 
Shep546 said:
What do you guys suggest for a good first reloading press? Where should I purchase it?

I found this guy here:

http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/frame.cfm?ItemID=5&CategoryID=20

Is this a good start to reloading?
Click to expand...

It's not a bad start, but you need to consider your need.

If you are shooting a hockey-sock full of ammo each week, then a progressive makes sense. If you are shooting 50 rounds a week, then it may be overkill.

In any case (and I know some disagree with me), IMO, starting off with a single-stage press is a good idea. There's less happening all at once and you are more able to focus on what you are doing.

Again, before you buy any gear, read. You'll save yourself a lot of grief in the long run.
 
Shep546 said:
Would that be everything required to start reloading .223 and pistol cartridges?

I'm trying to get an idea of how much this is all going to cost me and I just totalled that up and it seems way cheaper than any other press I have seen.
Click to expand...



The list I made covers pretty much all that you will need except of course the bullets,primers,powder and empty casings......Oh ya I already bought a digital micrometer to measure the overall length and other dimensions of the round.
IMHO for the money spent the LEE gear will be more than adequate for me.
I am sure others will say certain brands of gear are better but they also cost quite a bit more $ .
If you could find someone nearby that reloads already it would be abenefeit to you if you could observe him for awhile...just dont pick up any bad habits !!
 
OP,
I just started the journey into reloading myself. I highly recommend you get the ABC's of reloading book and as many manuals as you desire.
For a press I went with the LEE turret press kit. It had most of what I needed to get going. After adding a few items to the kit I was into it for about $400. You really can't go wrong with that cost.

Even as a total newbie to reloading I was able to pump out about 100 rounds per hour of 9mm on this press.

Give it a look. I'm pretty sure reloader.ca has it in stock right now.
 
dont skimp out on the press get a good rcbs or other good name brand...
you can cut cost on stuff like dies and bullets if you just burning powder for fun.
your press will last forever if you take care of it and it will not lose value and you dont want to buy a cheap lee press now just to replace it with a good a press in a few years.
i have been rollin my own with a rock chucker for over twenty years now and i bought it used from an old guy who claimed he had got it around 1970
 
one other thing if you want to save money at this game dont stress your brass load em lite and they will last a long time. every time you save brass you save money and you should try to manage your brass in lots and keep track of the times you have fired them.
i have one lot of nosler 308 win brass that i have shot nine times and i have not cracked one yet.
 
I just tallied up that list on the american sight and the total was only $300 after shipping.

The canadian sites seem to be SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive, is this typically the case?
 
Shep546 said:
I just tallied up that list on the american sight and the total was only $300 after shipping.

The canadian sites seem to be SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive, is this typically the case?
Click to expand...

It is to your advantage to shop around and I'm most of our site sponsors would be more than willing to give you some quotes and suggestions, that is if you haven't already.... ;)
 
Shep546 said:
What do you guys suggest for a good first reloading press? Where should I purchase it?

I found this guy here:

http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/frame.cfm?ItemID=5&CategoryID=20

Is this a good start to reloading?
Click to expand...

I just placed an order for everything I need to get started from Henry at budgetshootersupply.

After weeks of research, his prices are the best I've seen in Canada, and his attitude and knowledge are about the best I've ever experienced from an online/telephone merchant. Compared to US prices, his are about 10%-15% higher, but his shipping charges are a fraction of what it would cost to get anything from the States.

Give him a call to discuss what you need.... my bet is you'll end up buying from him.
 
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