brand new to reloading

T

TheM4chef

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Hi folks, first time post here in this dark new world.
I am planning on just loading .223/5.56 to feed my AR's for the time being.

I have picked up the Lee anniversary reloading kit inc
223 lee dies, case holder and trimming guide for .223
Tumbler with media etc and the strainer
Reloading shell holders, storage cases.
Hornady 55g fmjbt .224 with cannelures
The lee reloading manual 2nd edition and the ABC's of reloading
I have close to 2k used brass mostly norc and winchester all 1st fire

So my question is, is there anything I'm missing here? Other than powder and small rifle primers?
I'm just looking for plinking ammo.

Eventually I'd like to load up some match ammo and see what my 20" colt can do and some 300 win mags got hunting down the road.

Thanks!

I
 
read your manuals and when your done reading them, read them again
this was the best advice I was given when I started and have fun with it don't think of it as work or a chore or youll end up hating it.
 
Powder measure and scale? a couple of loading blocks? How are you planning to prime - on the press or with a hand primer? Case gauge for .223? caliper (prefer digital) for length measurements? Sounds like you've got most of it covered.
 
I know what your saying. That's one of the best parts is the learning and learning. I've loaded 50 300 win mag with the father in law giving me tutorial and will have him schooling me on this new endevour.
Big thing is I just want to know I have everything I need to get started
 
Concur with above. I'm new as well and my main first lesson was read the manuals many times. Be sure of the components you need before you buy them. Some of the boxes are deceptively simple and I almost made a few mistakes by getting some components before I fully understood the procedure.

I got the 50th Anniversary Lee set too. I found that a good digital/analog caliper is essential. I have the scale from the set but got a digital scale as well and I compare the two. I also compared the factory loads against the reloads to ensure I was fairly close. Make sure you understand the units of measure, all I am going to say on that. Grains and grams are not the same.

Do you have a primer pocket cleaner?
 
Kb007 the lee kit comes with their perfect powder measure and their safety scale. I have a set of mastercraft digi calipers and for the loading blocks? I'm not sure what that is.. I picked up a lyman laiding board to hold shells while loading ?
 
I did another batch up tonight for a trip to the range tomorrow and another tip is don't scrimp on them batteries for the digi scale. Who knows how long the batteries that came with it were sitting on the shelf.

One last check comparing the factory round to the reload and I had 430.7 grain compared to 430.2-431. Some brass casings came in at different weights but overall a good sanity check.

I found this guy on youtube that does the Mosin Minute. He does a really good job of explaining the whole reloading process and uses a Lee setup. He uses a simpler press but overall not much difference. I pieced together his videos and must have watched the whole thing about 20 times. I would even play it over the cars speakers while I was driving.

There are videos out there for whatever you want to reload, compare them, helped me.
 
TheM4chef said:
Kb007 the lee kit comes with their perfect powder measure and their safety scale. I have a set of mastercraft digi calipers and for the loading blocks? I'm not sure what that is.. I picked up a lyman laiding board to hold shells while loading ?
Click to expand...
Yup, that's it.
 
TheM4chef said:
Hi folks, first time post here in this dark new world.
I am planning on just loading .223/5.56 to feed my AR's for the time being.

I have picked up the Lee anniversary reloading kit inc
223 lee dies, case holder and trimming guide for .223
Tumbler with media etc and the strainer
Reloading shell holders, storage cases.
Hornady 55g fmjbt .224 with cannelures
The lee reloading manual 2nd edition and the ABC's of reloading
I have close to 2k used brass mostly norc and winchester all 1st fire

So my question is, is there anything I'm missing here? Other than powder and small rifle primers?
I'm just looking for plinking ammo.

Eventually I'd like to load up some match ammo and see what my 20" colt can do and some 300 win mags got hunting down the road.

Thanks!

I
Click to expand...

For convenience, a small cup, and a small metal baby spoon or small plastic spoon. Makes getting the charge weight easier... Can never have too many reloading manuals, and a book called Pet Loads by Ken Waters. Powder funnel, I like the lyman one, as well as the lyman deburing tool.
The norinco brass lasts longer when annealed, and I find a micro torch works well for that... Get a trimmer base for a drill, and chuck it into the drill. Mount your case onto the trimmer base, start the drill, start the torch, and heat from the edge of the shoulder to the neck till it's just turning red then quench it in a bucket of water. Do this in a darkened room.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head...
 
The norinco brass lasts longer when annealed, and I find a micro torch works well for that... Get a trimmer base for a drill, and chuck it into the drill. Mount your case onto the trimmer base, start the drill, start the torch, and heat from the edge of the shoulder to the neck till it's just turning red then quench it in a bucket of water. Do this in a darkened room.

I must say I have never heard of doing this. Is this common? Seems like quite the project for all the brass I have
 
hello,

i am also just getting in to reloading. we are looking for a progressive shot shell reloader. the reason why we need a progressive reloader is because we shoot a lot of shells and a single stage just won't do it. we are looking for the mec 9000 g. if anybody could tell me were i could find people selling these reloaders on gun nut that would be very help full.
 
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