Good beginner gear
- Thread starter logibear1
- Start date
So... my stance is definitely not a popular one... but I have been reloading for years with a Lee Hand Press, powder scoops, and beam scale. I usually only reload 50 at a time every couple months or so and this works great for me, is economical, and all my gear fits in a small toolbox.
I am starting to shoot centrefire PRS and will be looking at a progressive press, but that is because I would need to be reloading 200 rounds for a weekend.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Look for a Single stage press kit, some of them are well thought out. The Hornady LnL classic single stage kit is what I started with, there isn’t anything I didn’t or still don’t use that came in the kit. You will need a few other bits and pieces but it has a lot you’ll need, Lee has a single stage press kit that looks alright as well.
The Hornady press runs between $550-600 depending on where you find it online. CGS has it for $550 at the moment.
https://www.canadasgunstore.ca/prod...c-reloading-press-kit-12-piece|0953-0718.html
The hornady kit includes:
Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, Digital Scale, Handbook of Cartridge Reloading – 8th Edition, 3 Lock-N-Load Bushings, Primer Catcher, Positive Priming System (Small and Large Primer Cups Included, Handheld Priming Tool, Universal Reloading Block, Chamfering and Deburring Tool, Powder Funnel and Trickler, 5.5 oz can of One Shot Aerosol Case Lube
The Hornady press runs between $550-600 depending on where you find it online. CGS has it for $550 at the moment.
https://www.canadasgunstore.ca/prod...c-reloading-press-kit-12-piece|0953-0718.html
The hornady kit includes:
Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, Digital Scale, Handbook of Cartridge Reloading – 8th Edition, 3 Lock-N-Load Bushings, Primer Catcher, Positive Priming System (Small and Large Primer Cups Included, Handheld Priming Tool, Universal Reloading Block, Chamfering and Deburring Tool, Powder Funnel and Trickler, 5.5 oz can of One Shot Aerosol Case Lube
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Before you buy anything, grab a Lyman or a Lee reloading manual and read through the sections prior to the load data. It will break down all the process and should give you an idea of what you’ll need to gather together.
Look at this thread: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/what-needed-to-start-reloading.1744815/
To get started with the most basic/starter reloading set up, you will need this:
1. Press (single stage) O frame
2. Scale (beam scale) for weighing powder charges and bullets.
3. Priming tool (some presses come with a priming tool, LEE for example)
4. reloading die set for your chosen cartridge AND shell holder (LEE dies come with shell holder)
5. trimmer (not needed for most handgun cartridges) use the LEE handheld trimmers for about $15
6. powder funnel
7. loading block (easy to make it yourself with a piece of 2x4 and a drill)
8. case preparation tools (inside/outside neck chamfer, large and small primer pocket cleaners)
9. caliper (digital or dial)
10. bullet puller, because you will need one eventually
This is a basic setup that will make excellent quality ammunition and is all that many shooters will ever require. At some point you may want to add a powder measure and some kind of brass cleaning machine but you don't need it right away. An experienced reloader can make 50-100 cartridges per hour with that setup.
The most economical would be not having to buy stuff twice. Loads of people start out with a cheap Lee starter kit, then slowly replace all of it over the next few years. I say buy once / cry once. For a few bucks more you can get a kit fom Lyman, or Hornady or RCBS that will last you a lifetime, and be easier to upgrade as you see fit.
To be fair, there is nothing wrong with a Lee single stage press at all, in fact I would recommend starting with something like this (or a used RCBS/Hornady/Lyman) - definitely single stage though.
Where you don't want to go low end is on your scale. I would recommend a quality balance beam scale with a good dampening system (eg Ohaus). Budget electronic scales are plenty accurate for hand loading, but I suspect you'll outgrow a cheap one fast.
Tricklers, loading manuals, chamfer tools, hand primers, powder dispensers, decent FL dies, etc can all be gotten for next to nothing at gun shows, and one brand is really as good as another for a beginner. Maybe avoid a hand primer that doesn't use standard shell holders.
Good luck, be safe and have fun.
Same here, and it works great for me! I bought a kit and it is ok, but I got a better beam scale RCBS and a few other things that are better but the press is good enough!
That said if I was gonna do it all over again I would go the rockchuker way, and invest in a good scale right away!
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I’ve always found JUJITSU2000 to be a good example of the reloading process as well as reloading with the minimum of what you need for tools. You really do need a ton of gear, you just need a good understanding of the process
When I was starting out I found the way he broke it down to be about as straight forward as it get, easy for a beginner to wrap their head around.
When I was starting out I found the way he broke it down to be about as straight forward as it get, easy for a beginner to wrap their head around.
In general, basic reloading steps are:
Case preparation tools:
universal depriming die, case trimmer, chamfer and deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner tool, a caliper
Powder handling:
Scale, powder funnel, trickler, powder thrower
Resizing and finalizing the rounds:
A press, shellholder and dies, loading block, lube
If you go into advanced stuff you might need:
Flash Hole Uniformer, OAL Gauge, Headspace caliper adapters, Neck-Turn tool, bullet comparator, concentricity tool....
If you load a lot then you might need:
Tumbler, media separator, turret press, autocharge powder dispenser, case stuck remover, case preparation center....
Initial investment is at about +/-$500 and it can easily go to $5000 but it is fun.
If someone can teach you, this would be the best. Doin it by yourself is also doable. I start reloaded by myself. YouTube is your friend.
good luck
- Inspect brass
- Deprime the brass.
- Clean primer pockets and clean the brass.
- Lube and resize
- Measure and trim
- Chamfer/deburr.
- Set primer.
- Load powder
- Load bullets.
Case preparation tools:
universal depriming die, case trimmer, chamfer and deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner tool, a caliper
Powder handling:
Scale, powder funnel, trickler, powder thrower
Resizing and finalizing the rounds:
A press, shellholder and dies, loading block, lube
If you go into advanced stuff you might need:
Flash Hole Uniformer, OAL Gauge, Headspace caliper adapters, Neck-Turn tool, bullet comparator, concentricity tool....
If you load a lot then you might need:
Tumbler, media separator, turret press, autocharge powder dispenser, case stuck remover, case preparation center....
Initial investment is at about +/-$500 and it can easily go to $5000 but it is fun.
If someone can teach you, this would be the best. Doin it by yourself is also doable. I start reloaded by myself. YouTube is your friend.
good luck
