Hi every one. So i would like to get started reloading 9mm and 30-06 but with new gun purchases am low on funds were is the best place to get used reloading equipment scale, dies, a press ect. I would like a progressive press but also like the idea of a slow and steady single stage any help would be great anything to get me started i am in alberta if that helps any thanks
best place to get used reloading stuff for begginers
- Thread starter dlo17
- Start date
- Location
- West Quebec
Give the EE exchange a try there is often decent equipment there but know your prices for new.. shipping can be a issue though.
Most every one has an opinion of what company makes good reloading equipment. i have used most and it all works. For a basic setup you can't go wrong with a set up from lee that cabelas has for $150. all you need is dies and the components.
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/3534/lee-50th-anniversary-reloader-kit
I used a press identical to this for 30 years and loaded thousands of rounds before upgrading and still use it from time to time.
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/3534/lee-50th-anniversary-reloader-kit
I used a press identical to this for 30 years and loaded thousands of rounds before upgrading and still use it from time to time.
shoot_to_kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Luskville quebec
If you are buying dies at a gun show inspect the de capping pic to make sure it isn't bent. Also check that the die set is complete, always open the box and inspect them!!! Sometimes you are better off to buy stuff new though.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
A good Half-way between a single stage and progressive for a starter is a Lee Classic Cast rotary press. Easy to use as a single stage but also easy to use as a sort of semi-progressive for both pistol or rifle size cases as the learning curve progresses. A big plus is that they are very affordable for a beginner but still a quality machine.
You won't like the slow and steady single stage for very long especially for your pistol. at the very minimum get a turret press.
If you want value:
Lee turret press
extra turret (one for each set of dies)
Lee rifle/pistol dies (including factory crimp die)
auto disc powder measure (for pistol)
perfect powder measure (for rifle)
Whatever cheap misc accessories you desire/can find:
powder funnel
calipers
brass preparation (cleaning/trimming/chamfer etc)
scale (lever/digital)
bullet puller
etc
If you want new, wholesale sports has all this stuff if not in store get them to order it in for you. Start researching what powder/primers/bullets you want and find it ASAP and buy as much as you can find/afford. Materials for several thousand rounds of 9mm and a good ammount of rifle. You won't be happy if you have a bench full of equipment but no consumables.
If you want value:
Lee turret press
extra turret (one for each set of dies)
Lee rifle/pistol dies (including factory crimp die)
auto disc powder measure (for pistol)
perfect powder measure (for rifle)
Whatever cheap misc accessories you desire/can find:
powder funnel
calipers
brass preparation (cleaning/trimming/chamfer etc)
scale (lever/digital)
bullet puller
etc
If you want new, wholesale sports has all this stuff if not in store get them to order it in for you. Start researching what powder/primers/bullets you want and find it ASAP and buy as much as you can find/afford. Materials for several thousand rounds of 9mm and a good ammount of rifle. You won't be happy if you have a bench full of equipment but no consumables.
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I find, for the most part, that used gear sells almost at retail prices. I use basic Lee press and dies for everything I shoot, from hunting rifles, milsurps and handguns. Yes, you can buy better, yes you can buy faster, but if you are not in a rush and money is a concern, Lee can't be beat ! If you want to be a competitive shooter, then you should step up your game and pay out the big $$.
A nice single stage will always be handy to have even after you move on to a progressive press. And for the rifle stuff where you're working slow and steady with lots of outboard steps a single just fits in far better.
Yes, for making big amounts of ammo for the 9mm a single is a cumbersome machine. But it's not hard to load around 150 rounds of handgun ammo an hour on a single stage after you get comfy with the procedure. If your monthly ammo needs are in the 200 to 400 rounds range that means an hour and a half to 3 hours of reloading time per month to keep you going.
One thing to watch for in the 9mm loading is that there's very little internal volume. You're also working with very small amounts of powder. Both of these factors adds up to problems if you can't very accurately meter out the powder very consistently. From my experience this suggests that we want to use something other than a powder dipper for measuring.
My suggestion is to go with a single stage press of some brand and to use Lee dies. And for a powder measure buy a Lee Autodisc powder measure. The Autodisc mounts directly on the flaring die so you perform both the case mouth flare and powder drop at the same time. And it will prove to be far easier to achieve consistent powder charges than if you're using a hand dipper of any sort.
For the rifle cartridge reloading you will want to weigh every charge to ensure accuracy. For that sort of work a hand dipper is fine since you'll start deliberately light. Then you finish up to the correct weight using a powder trickler to dispense the last few flakes.
For the press if you're really tight for funds then go Lee. But since I've run into a couple of problems with Lee presses I've had I've gone Hornady. It's a little more money for the "other red brand" but I find it's a lot more precisely made a press. And I really like the Lock N' Load bayonet die bushings because I don't need to reset and test the dies every time. From there the next step up in cost is RCBS. I don't see it myself. I prefer the Hornady to the RCBS. Going even more upscale we get to Redding. If you can foot the cost of the Redding single stage it does have the advantage of a superb on the press primer handling system.
The key for priming the cases is to have some system that does not require handling each primer. Oils from the press or case lube from the brass on your fingers is at risk of transferring to the primers and wicking into the primer compound and killing the primer as a result. So I won't use anything that requires picking up and placing each primer by hand. And neither should you. At the very least a set of Lee hand priming tools is what you need. And a nice bulk on the press system would be even nicer as it means less handling of the cases and faster reloading as a result.
Up to now I've been using a Lee hand primer tool. But I have to admit that having all those primers in the tray so close to the one being set does make me a little concerned. I'd prefer a setup that separates the one being set from the ones waiting in line by some distance. On the other I don't see stories out there about hand primers being an issue of this sort. So I'm likely worrying about nothing.
Yes, for making big amounts of ammo for the 9mm a single is a cumbersome machine. But it's not hard to load around 150 rounds of handgun ammo an hour on a single stage after you get comfy with the procedure. If your monthly ammo needs are in the 200 to 400 rounds range that means an hour and a half to 3 hours of reloading time per month to keep you going.
One thing to watch for in the 9mm loading is that there's very little internal volume. You're also working with very small amounts of powder. Both of these factors adds up to problems if you can't very accurately meter out the powder very consistently. From my experience this suggests that we want to use something other than a powder dipper for measuring.
My suggestion is to go with a single stage press of some brand and to use Lee dies. And for a powder measure buy a Lee Autodisc powder measure. The Autodisc mounts directly on the flaring die so you perform both the case mouth flare and powder drop at the same time. And it will prove to be far easier to achieve consistent powder charges than if you're using a hand dipper of any sort.
For the rifle cartridge reloading you will want to weigh every charge to ensure accuracy. For that sort of work a hand dipper is fine since you'll start deliberately light. Then you finish up to the correct weight using a powder trickler to dispense the last few flakes.
For the press if you're really tight for funds then go Lee. But since I've run into a couple of problems with Lee presses I've had I've gone Hornady. It's a little more money for the "other red brand" but I find it's a lot more precisely made a press. And I really like the Lock N' Load bayonet die bushings because I don't need to reset and test the dies every time. From there the next step up in cost is RCBS. I don't see it myself. I prefer the Hornady to the RCBS. Going even more upscale we get to Redding. If you can foot the cost of the Redding single stage it does have the advantage of a superb on the press primer handling system.
The key for priming the cases is to have some system that does not require handling each primer. Oils from the press or case lube from the brass on your fingers is at risk of transferring to the primers and wicking into the primer compound and killing the primer as a result. So I won't use anything that requires picking up and placing each primer by hand. And neither should you. At the very least a set of Lee hand priming tools is what you need. And a nice bulk on the press system would be even nicer as it means less handling of the cases and faster reloading as a result.
Up to now I've been using a Lee hand primer tool. But I have to admit that having all those primers in the tray so close to the one being set does make me a little concerned. I'd prefer a setup that separates the one being set from the ones waiting in line by some distance. On the other I don't see stories out there about hand primers being an issue of this sort. So I'm likely worrying about nothing.
Watch the old ones. Get someone to show you how to spot the carbide sleeve inserts in the decapping and sizing die looks like. You're looking for the joint line and the slightly more grey look of the sleeve which indicates that it's the carbide insert.
The other two are generally just good tool steel and that's fine. But you want the carbide sleeve insert in the sizing die. Too much chance of scratched or worn out dies otherwise. I know because the ONLY set of dies I ever bought that did not have the carbide insert were ruined.
The other two are generally just good tool steel and that's fine. But you want the carbide sleeve insert in the sizing die. Too much chance of scratched or worn out dies otherwise. I know because the ONLY set of dies I ever bought that did not have the carbide insert were ruined.
- Location
- West Quebec
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