Finally going to try reloading

BigGameHunter

BigGameHunter

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Ok so my Lee 50th Anniversary Reloading kit came in and I plan on picking it up today. Now where the rubber hits the road where do I go next with this?

I know I need powder, dies, primers, bullets. I have been saving brass for a while so that I would have something to start out on.

My plan was to get one set of dies to start off. Possibly 22-250 as my buddy and myself are planning of doing a bit of yote hunting and both have a rifle in said calibre.

Is this a good idea? I have about 10 different calibers but I don't have the money to reload everything as of right now. It will definately be a process of building up my supplies

The thing is I don't want to go overboard right away and get frustrated. I figure after this maybe start reloading some handguns (I have 2000 9mm brass) I know its not really a great reloading round but handgun ammo is hard to come by shy of an hour drive so having a good cache on hand for the range would be nice. I was thinking of either buying dies in this as well as this would definately give me the repetition practice as I only have about 40 22-250 casings.

Right now I just have a lot of different ideas on what I should do. I also know a reloading book is a good idea.

So one question would be how many of you reload 9mm? I was watching on youtube that you can make them for around $10/box which isn't a huge savings but again like I said the convenience of not having to pick them up 50 r 100 at a time would be nice. I also notice the price for 9mm creeping up the scale as well.

What other items are good to have? It comes with a beam scale (I have a digital as well). I have micrometers/calipers. The kit also have the powder measure, press and case prepping tools.

Is a tumbler necessary or if the brass is pretty clean is it ok to use as it is? what are the benefits to a tumbler? If I found my old rock tumbler would I be able to use that?

Anyways these answers should get me started.
 
I'm pretty much in the same boat, so I have a couple of ideas for you.
Just figured out a good way to mount the press really solid on my "bench".
I'd recommend thinking that out thoroughly. I put an extra 2x6 down to the floor right underneath the press for support.
Starting with one rifle caliber is probably a good idea.
Spend some time getting a feel for how to set up the dies.
Maybe buy some extra lock bushings so it's easy to swap dies.
I'm starting with some blanks, no primers or powder just to get a feel for things, and figure out this ogive/seating depth stuff.
Going out today to look for a bullet puller. ;)

A fellow gunnut here had a few of us over to his place and had an informal introductory reloading workshop. Big shout out to James H. for that. So I'd recommend if there is anyone in your neighbourhood maybe you could hook up. Jim also had some great deals on some brass and bullets too.
 
BigGameHunter said:
Right now I just have a lot of different ideas on what I should do. I also know a reloading book is a good idea.
Click to expand...

I'm on the same page as you are. I read that a good book was "THE ABC'S of Reloading" but chapters said it is discontinued.

Guys, is this book worth pursueing, or are there better books avail? Would one need a basic book or are the factory reloading books good enough? (Ex, Lee or Hornady's latest reloading manual)
 
ABCs of Reloading is an excellent place to start. I just googled it and there are quite a few places selling it.
 
Don't forget to lube your brass before you try to size it. I have ruined two sizing dies in about 15 years of reloading. I use the spray on lube. It is much easier and less messy than the kind you do like an ink pad.

I recommend you get and read the lyman reloading manual. Try to get the latest copy.

Tumbling or vibrating cleaners are a good second stage purchase. If the brass is dirty then use alcohol and try to clean it. It sounds like you are only going to be loading 20-40 at a time so that won't add too much work. When you do get a brass cleaner let the brass stay in for hours not minutes. My brass gets 8 hours and always comes out looking like new.

Put the beam balance in a corner and forget about it. Stay with the digital scale if it measures down to at least .2 grains. For your third round of purchases, when you are reloading lots of rifle rounds, think about a powder dispenser/scale system. I cannot believe the time that my RCBS chargemaster saves me. But I load 50-200 a night depending what I am reloading.

Starting with one caliber is the right way to go. Settle on the projectile weight you want and try to decide on the powder to use. Currently I have over 20 different powders as I am always trying something new. I recommend the forster collet puller. It costs more than an inertia type, but I can generally pull a part any round, no matter how tightly crimped it is.

You don't need a bullet puller just yet. Put aside any bad rounds you create until you have established a good method for reloading. Everyone uses a slightly different method. Find one that you can do without forgetting steps.
 
bush1 said:
I'm on the same page as you are. I read that a good book was "THE ABC'S of Reloading" but chapters said it is discontinued.

Guys, is this book worth pursueing, or are there better books avail? Would one need a basic book or are the factory reloading books good enough? (Ex, Lee or Hornady's latest reloading manual)
Click to expand...

Got my copy of the abc's from amazon. It was an ok book but doing some reading online did the same for me. Read most of it once and havent looked at it since.
The hornady manual is good but the 223 data they have for what I'm using is loaded light. I would get a few different manuals.
Tumbling is something I should start doing but so far so good without doing it. Some of my brass is on the 3-4th loading and still is fine. Just looks a bit dirty.
 
If you dig out your old rock tumbler depending on what type it is you can use it with stainless media. Look down this forum, and you'll find a thread about it.

As was mentioned,"The ABC's Of Reloading" is a good book. All reloading manuals have a how to section in the front of them. Pick a bullet, and buy the corresponding book, takes the decision out of picking one.
 
Oh now you have done it, 10 calibers!! You are going to be reloading for a long time. Just kidding, I started out the same way you are.
A good place to start is to read a good refrence book to see how to set things up, they normally go over the stages and what you have to do.
If you don't have a couple of reloading manuals (so you can compare recipes, in case of mistakes.) grab them.
For your handgun rounds, grab a set of carbide dies, they make everything easier. where are you getting your 9mm ammo? ten bucks a box is cheap!
Keep checking here for ideas and you can't go wrong!
 
if you get a zip trim to go with the cutter scotch brite pads will polish a case quickly, and a bore brush can be used to clean the inside of the neck. A cheap and good case neck lube is a small container of small bird shot with a tube of lock graphite added, just dip the necks in the shot before resizing. I have never stuck a case in a die this way!! When you get to 9mm reloading the carbide dies are worth it!! Will not be long before you find casting will help with the expense.
 
chapters will say it's discounted as a matter of policy- they're STRICTLY ANTI -GUN - any form- it would sure help things if you guys that want to start reloading would GIVE YOUR LOCATIONS so us old hands at the stuff could MENTOR you-we may even have a reloading manual or just copy the pages you need off the net- if you look closely at a manual, once you get past the basic instruction, it's basically a cookbook- most of us only need 3 or recipes - the rest is FILLER and reference- the mentoring stuff applies mostly to the guys in the cities, but if you're close, etc

THIS TOPIC COMES UP EVERY WEEK
 
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