45 ACP where do I start
- Thread starter 22lr
- Start date
Start by reading a manual such as the Speer reloading manual.
If you buy a press I would start with a single stage RCBS press, such as the Rock Chucker Supreme Press
https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/,D...creenlabel=index&productId=2842&route=C04J146
get the kit, you need all the extra stuff, scales etc. Which you will realize after step one, (reading a manual)
I would start with a single stage press because it forces you to concentrate on each "step", also if you load rifle ammo you should have a single stage press, so you will have to get one anyway.
I would try Titegroup as your powder for handgun loads.
The reference below is from before Titegroup was invented.
http://www.reloadammo.com/45loads.htm
Here is a Titegroup recipe.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_11_52/ai_n16741370
presses ....
http://www.dillonprecision.com/
http://www.gunaccessories.com/RCBS/Presses.asp
information ...
http://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/shotpist.php
http://www.stevespages.com/page8.htm
Last edited:
Wallace has it pretty much summed up right there....That is all great advice!
The only thing I would maybe differ on is the suggestion of a single stage press. While it is the safest bet for a newbie, you really have to consider what you are reloading for. If IPSC is in your plans, loading all that ammo on a single stage will be a full time job. If you are just an occasional plinker it may just suit you just fine. Only you can be the judge of how much ammo you intend to load and buy equipment accordingly.
I started with a full progressive for my first press and have no regrets. I started out using it like a turret press (cycle one round through at a time) and worked up the speed once I understood all the steps. As Big Slick on GT points out, it is easier to slow down a progressive than to speed up a single stage....
Go single stage or maybe turret (the Lee Classic cast gets good reviews) if your planning small amounts of pistol or rifle rounds. If you want large amounts of pistol ammo though, the progressive will save you hours of labour. Do what works for you.
I second the Titegroup suggestion too. I love it for .45....Economical and fairly clean. I toss 5.0 grains under a 200 grain Frontier flat point lit by a Federal LP primer for a soft shooting yet accurate round. Give it a try once you have done all your reading and get your stuff together (but start saving your brass now). Good luck!
The only thing I would maybe differ on is the suggestion of a single stage press. While it is the safest bet for a newbie, you really have to consider what you are reloading for. If IPSC is in your plans, loading all that ammo on a single stage will be a full time job. If you are just an occasional plinker it may just suit you just fine. Only you can be the judge of how much ammo you intend to load and buy equipment accordingly.
I started with a full progressive for my first press and have no regrets. I started out using it like a turret press (cycle one round through at a time) and worked up the speed once I understood all the steps. As Big Slick on GT points out, it is easier to slow down a progressive than to speed up a single stage....
Go single stage or maybe turret (the Lee Classic cast gets good reviews) if your planning small amounts of pistol or rifle rounds. If you want large amounts of pistol ammo though, the progressive will save you hours of labour. Do what works for you.
I second the Titegroup suggestion too. I love it for .45....Economical and fairly clean. I toss 5.0 grains under a 200 grain Frontier flat point lit by a Federal LP primer for a soft shooting yet accurate round. Give it a try once you have done all your reading and get your stuff together (but start saving your brass now). Good luck!
again, i'd go with the PROGRESSIVE- specifally with the 45, the lee 1000- just bypass the troublesome priming station- i started out with the old lee 3 station turret at the same time as i got my first 45 and even with 3 strokes per cartridge, it seemed to take forever to load 100- big improvement when you go to the 1000- sure there are lots of naysayers, but some of them have deep pockets which i don't- even cheaper if you can find a used one, or someone that's dissatisfied with it- or at least get a progressive that auto-indexes
as far as powder goes, ww 231 is my choice- titegroup can be almost impossible to get at times,even though 231 smokes a fair bit with cast loads
as far as powder goes, ww 231 is my choice- titegroup can be almost impossible to get at times,even though 231 smokes a fair bit with cast loads
This is good advice. I started on a rockchucker, which I would recommend only if you are planning on loading rifle rounds. If all you want to do (at least to start) is pistol, and specifically .45, go with a progressive.
A Dillion 550 would serve you well, even if you want to load rifle loads.
Get a couple of loading manuals and do a bunch of reading as others have stated, but keep in mind no amount of reading will replace the knowledge you gain by actually doing. Starting out by making a bunch of dummy rounds without primers or powder is a good start.
