getting started tutorial?

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xcaribooer

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Looking for a favor here. Is there someone in the Maple Ridge area that would be willing to show a new guy how its done? I want to reload for my 30-06 and eventually my 270.I have a scale, set of rcbs 30-06 dies, lee loader kit for 06 and all of the components needed to start except powder.Will get that as soon as I choose a recipe.I want to start with something in 180gr for moose. My dad and I used to reload for our 303's with a lee loader way back when but I really would like a refresher from someone who knows what they are doing,Thanks
 
I am across the river from you.
If you dont get any other offers, I may be able to find time to drop in and point you in the right direction.
Weekends are best for me.
 
Wow is it really that simple.

I'd love to start reloading but have never had any idea how it was done.

Whats the initial investment to get into it?
 
Jeffman, it can be done for 200 bucks or less if you buy everything for one caliber only, and you make use of Lee products. I honestly can't recomend their kits, especially the scales and pwder measures that come with them. To go really cheap, get any press (even a hand held one) a hand held priming tool, a one caliber trimming tool,case mouth deburring tool a primer pocket cleaning tool dies of your choice, a lube pad, and a lee dipper kit. The dipper kit saves you the cost of a powder measure and scale, and they work really well. All that might even come in at 150. You can always upgrade later, but don't go cheap on a scale, that is why I reccomend a dipper kit for a beginer.
 
J.P,

Thanks for the info.

Whats the easist caliber to start reloading. I've got; 9mm, .45ACP, .223, 7.62X39, 7.62 NATO, 44-40, and 8mm mauser.

I guess I'd be most interested in reloading the .223 for my AR and mini-14. Is it as easy as the pistol calibers?

Also, and I'm sorry to be a bother, but is there some "starter" (all in one box) kit I can purchase with explicit instructions so I don't blow myself up?

44-40 and .45ACP would be nice to reload since the commercial stuff is so darnd expensive.

Jeff
 
I second J.P.s suggestions, having begun reloading about six/seven months ago. I purchased a Lee Challengar and their Hand-Press, of which I've only used the latter thus far. While the powder measures have served me well, I paid a bit more for a Hornady Scale which will be invaluable for when you want to start working up from the starting to max loads listed in reloading manuals. Basically, there is just enough margin of error with the Lee measures to restrict your reloading to those loads that are reduced by 10% from the max listing, otherwise there is a danger of overloading the case. The reduced loads usually shoot fine and put less pressure on your rifles, so you could start off with the measures and purchase your scale (about $60) later on.

I've reloaded .22 Hornet, .303br, .308 and 8x56R. I'll be loading for 7.5 Swiss, 6,5x55, 8x57, 9.3x57 and x62 as well, so it's really opened up lots of shooting opportunities that otherwise would not be available to me. I'm just waiting to start melting all the wheel weights that I've collected......I guess that you can say that it's addictive! :runaway:

You can however still reload for one or two calibres at reasonable cost.

Good Luck!

Frank
 
Jeffman,

You should get a good reloading manual (I use Lee's) and then one of their reloading kits. You can get the Lee Anniversary kit for under $150 with the manual, except that you'd be paying for a Lee scale, which both J.P. and myself would steer you from. You could purchase the manual and a Lee Challenger or Hand Press Kit seperately, but then you would still need to buy a Lee Chamfer Tool, Primer Pocket Cleaner, Case Length Gauge for the calibre you're reloading and the Cutter for the gauge. It's not as bad as it sounds, as all of these extra items come out to about $20 extra. For another $10 you could get the Lee Powder Measure set, that's good for hundreds of loads.

If trying to work up accurate loads for your AR is of primary importance, .223 is not a bad place to start, though you'll save more money per shot loading for the larger calibres like .308 and 8x57. Since you'd be more interested in fine tuning your loads, you would want to buy a good scale right from the start. For more dollars, there are also reloading kits put out by RCBS and Hornady, complete with guidbooks.

Regards,

Frank
 
Jeffman, yes there are kits made by LEE, they are about 200 bucks. Yes, .223 is very easy to load for. Every caliber is about the same "difficulty", although few have special considerations. The very best thing you can do is go buy a copy of "Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee. Read the whole thing befor you start buying stuff. You do not have to buy LEE products, its just that they are cheap, and they usually work just fine. You need to break down each operation that needs to be accomplished and then decide what tool to buy and use to accomplish that task. There are different ways to do each reloading operation and they all work. Learn more before you buy
 
Intersting comments about the Lee stuff. I got the basic set when I started reloading a few years ago and have been happy with it, although the press has a little more slop in it than I would like. The ram running through the aluminum frame w/o a steel insert may have something to do with it. Perhaps their new heavy-duty press is better? I can live with it but I may eventually replace it with...?

I also am not all too keen about the Perfect Powder Measure; I noticed that it seems to "leak" fine ball powders like H-110 unless it is really tightened up. If I were to replace one item it would likely be that. As to the balance-beam scale, I've found it to be pretty accurate. I made up a "test weight" from a piece of aluminum extrusion which I had weighed on a good laboratory scale (almost analytical grade) and the Lee scale was very, very close.

I've found their dies to be very good, as well as the case trimmer. The other case prep tools are OK, although there are likely better ones. I've also started using the Imperial/Redding Die Sizing Wax and really like it- MUCH more convenient than the Lee stuff.

Does anyone have experience with the Lyman Power Deburring Kit? I have also heard that Hornady reloading stuff is quite good.

I'm interested in opinions here because a friend of mine is about to get his PAL and will want to get into reloading and it's always good to have opinions other than one's own.

:) Stuart
 
You prefer the Imperial/Redding sizing wax because it's more convenient than the Lee stuff? I think the Lee collet die is far more convenient myself, no lubing at all. :p

I got a Lee hand press while waiting for the Classic Cast press to come back in stock, and I'm quite impressed with it. No slop in the movement at all as far as I can tell.
 
cariboo_kid said:
You prefer the Imperial/Redding sizing wax because it's more convenient than the Lee stuff? I think the Lee collet die is far more convenient myself, no lubing at all. :p

I got a Lee hand press while waiting for the Classic Cast press to come back in stock, and I'm quite impressed with it. No slop in the movement at all as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

Good point- the Lee collet dies are excellent. But I thought you were supposed to lubricate unless you're using carbide dies? I have Lee dies for my .303, .222 Rem. and 45-70 but RCBS for the .44 mag.and 6.5x54 M-S. I also neck-size only for the .303 and 6.5x54 as it's easier on the brass. I just got some Redding/Imperial Dry Neck Lube for that. Works well but it can be a little messy.

I'm thinking of getting a hand press, too. Easier to take out the the range when working up loads.

:) Stuart
 
The lee collet is the exception to the rule for lube. It doesn't pull an expander ball through the neck, it squeezes the neck against a central mandrel of the correct diameter. No friction to reduce with lubrication.

The hand press is ideal for taking to the range, or prepping some brass in a comfortable chair rather than locked in the dungeon. I de-prime and neck size at the kitchen table while visiting with my family and watching movies, but I do the priming and charging process downstairs at the bench with no distractions.
 
cariboo_kid said:
The lee collet is the exception to the rule for lube. It doesn't pull an expander ball through the neck, it squeezes the neck against a central mandrel of the correct diameter. No friction to reduce with lubrication....
Click to expand...

I learn something very day. Thanks!

;)
 
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