Help Out a Newcomer?

Tyler

Tyler

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An(g)us, Ont
Hey all.

I have decided I want to start reloading.

I've done a lot of searching here and found no specific answer to my set of questions, and I was wondering if you guys could help me out?

Taking my situation into consideration; poor/ish University student, live in a townhouse with limited space, 3 calibres to reload, load about 50 rounds per sitting/bi-monthly... I'm not entirely sure what kind of reloading set-up is right for me.

I have a small spare room, but it doubes as our computer room/ guest room, so it would be nice if my re-loading gear would pack away nicely.

I am also concerned about any toxic by-products of reloading, like spent primers, lead dust, and powder residue. What is the best and safest (and cheapest) way of cleaning brass without a tumbler?

I was thinking of going with a Lee Anniversary Kit, as it is in my budget. I want to augment that with a digital scale and vernier caliper, as well as a reloading manual (naturally). Is this a good start?

Anything else you guys would suggest?

Any help is appreciated.

Also: What are the best sources in Canada for reloading components?


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The LEE Kit is a good starter kit...you can always upgrade later...comes with a manual too which is a nice bonus...Higginsons Powders has the best prices I have seen thus far for it

I clean the brass with 000 steel wool after I trim and resize it...I use the LEE case lenght guages for trimming my brass

A digital scale is nice,but not an absolute must have right off the bat...an RCBS 5-0-5 scale I believe is one of the best.....

You will need a powder trickler, dies for what you are reloading, case length guages or an RCBS case trimmer to trim the brass lenght back to normal specs...

This is all I can think of for right now,I'm sure others will jump in......

A few more manuals can't hurt either,you can get them free from most powder manufacturers
 
Tyler said:
Also: What are the best sources in Canada for reloading components?
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I have found the cheaper prices to be in the US, and then just ship up. Cdn retailers were selling the RCBS kit I bought for full list. Companies like Midsouth Shooters Supply were selling for half the list prices. I got my press and dies, shipping and brokerage, for less than the cdn retail price.
 
Are dies and presses interchangeable?

IE: Will Lee Dies work in a Lyman loader? Or are there different standards for different companies?
 
So far so good...

So what CAN'T I order from the U.S.? Are bullets and brass OK? I would imagine that powder and primers would be on the forbidden list...

Do any of you guys get harassed by Canada Customs for regular reloading stuff?
 
chola: rather than using steel wool try the green Scotch brite pads. No little particles of steel wool on the bench or floor or imbedded in the brass. If you like them shinier, finish with the white pad to your satisfaction. I'm not too fussy. I prefer my brass to generally show it's age and only clean enough to prevent die damage or fouling.
 
Tyler said:
So far so good...

So what CAN'T I order from the U.S.? Are bullets and brass OK? I would imagine that powder and primers would be on the forbidden list...

Do any of you guys get harassed by Canada Customs for regular reloading stuff?
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Reloading equipment and dies is not a problem, falls under the tools category and is acceptable to import without permits. Everything else pretty much buy here. As mentioned, Higginson Powders is a good source for powder, bullets, primers, etc (higginsonpowders.com).
 
Busta Capp said:
Reloading equipment and dies is not a problem, falls under the tools category and is acceptable to import without permits. Everything else pretty much buy here. As mentioned, Higginson Powders is a good source for powder, bullets, primers, etc (higginsonpowders.com).
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Cabela's is not shipping presses up here as I just found out :(

I'm just getting into this myself. I ordered a Lee Challenger kit (comes with dies).
If I stick with this hobby I'll either go with a turret next or who knows... a full blown progressive!
 
Since we're on the topic of newbies to the reloading world here's one for all the pro's out there.

I would like to get into reloading for longterm purposes. Would I be better off getting a good press and digital scale rather then buy a kit and end up upgrading everything?

Also people keep talking about the powder measurer. Are these really nessesary or could I just measure out the proper weight on the scale and then use a funnel to pour it into the casing?

Cheers
 
Depends what you want to do. I have felt no handicaps using a beam scale vs. the digital in 30 years of reloading. The digital is faster, is all. Requires power though. There are basic kits, and there are more complex kits. If you are going to do bulk reloading, a powder measure can be your best friend. I use one for handgun cartridges, and almost all of my LR 308 ammo is done with one. Just takes practice (and the right powder) to become pretty accurate with it. - dan
 
Tactical308 said:
Since we're on the topic of newbies to the reloading world here's one for all the pro's out there.

I would like to get into reloading for longterm purposes. Would I be better off getting a good press and digital scale rather then buy a kit and end up upgrading everything?

Also people keep talking about the powder measurer. Are these really nessesary or could I just measure out the proper weight on the scale and then use a funnel to pour it into the casing?

Cheers
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If you want the best of both worlds in a Powder Dispenser and Digital Scale then get an RCBS ChargeMaster. It weighs the charge for you and and you can set it to re-dispense the same load when you set the pan back on the scale, that way it is weighing your charge while you seat your bullet.

I can't wait until mine gets here.......DAMN POSTAL SERVICE!!!!
 
No, because most of them are activated by the stroke of the press, or the small handle on the side, if you're doing it that way. It's still a mechanical movement, that is influenced by the way that you do it. That is; if you slam it back and forth hard, you will get different (measurably so) results then if you move slow, steady and evenly. The trick is to be consistent. The type of powder means that some powders don't meter well. Ball works best. - dan
 
Hmmm... I just sort of figured the automatic despenser filled a pre-measured, adjustable, cup... and that speed of movement was irrelevant.

What's the best powder dispenser out there for the money?
 
There are two main types of powder measure equipment (other than manually measuring each throw, or a progressive press).

Automatic Dispenser (ala RCBS Chargemaster) where the equipment dispenses the charge
chargecombo.jpg


And the manual powder dispenser (ala RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure)
uniflow.jpg


I believe Dan is referring to the manual powder dispenser, where how you move the handle effects the accuracy/consistency of powder measure, as well as the powder itself. This manual method gets you close to the desired powder weight, and then you would use your scale and possibly a powder trickler to acheive the correct powder charge.

This manual method is fine (it's what I use) and unless you are doing large volumes, or have various "recipes" you want preprogrammed it will serve you well.
 
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Thanks BC, that is indeed what I was referring to. It is also the only type of dispenser you can mount on the press (or at least that I have seen). The cartridge activated ones work the same way, but are started by the case itself pressing up against the bottom of the dispenser, the movement of which is still controlled by how you operate the press. - dan
 
It is difficult to make specific recommendations without knowing what, specifically, you will be loading. You haven’t even told us yet whether you are loading for shotgun, rifle or handgun.

Since you were asking about bullets and brass, I will assume metallic rifle and handgun.

Firstly, I firmly believe that even the most advanced reloader who has a Dillon 1050 for each caliber still needs a single stage press for odd jobs. So, get a good single stage press and a simple balance scale with a 500+ grain capacity to start. I have 3 Lee presses ( a C-frame, O-frame and a turret) and they have worked well enough for my small volume need for years. The Lee scale is not big enough to weigh most bullets, which is occasionally useful, so it may make more sense to go with somebody else’s kit, or buy a Lee press and another maker’s accessory kit, which is how I got started.

Almost all dies are made using a standard 7/8”x 14tpi thread, so they work together except for a few proprietary dies, and you are unlikely to stumble upon these by accident.

Some presses do not have sufficient clearance to load any but short rifle rounds. The Lee Turret press and Dillon Square Deal come to mind.

For storable reloading, the best setup I had was mounting my press on a pine plank about 25cm square. There was a hole near the back for a 3/8” bolt. My bench had a matching hole. There was a shelf in the closet held the press assembled on the plank. When I wanted to load, I pulled the press out of the closet, dropped it on the bench and ran the bolt and washers through the holes, which located the press on the bench and held the back of the mount solidly. Two C-clamps were placed on the front edge of the board to help hold it firmly in place.

An RCBS powder measure screwed into a steel mounting plate was also C-clamped to the bench, overhanging the edge. A scale is pulled out and set on the bench and leveled. The “bench” itself is nothing more than a heavy computer desk, and continues to function as a computer desk when not reloading, the only indication it does anything different is the hole hidden under the keyboard.

I also had a separate “accessories” board which could hold my Pacific shotshell press, a Hornady case trimmer or provide an alternate place to mount the powder measure.

Oh, and the US reloading companies will not send you brass or bullets as these are considered “significant military equipment” and cannot be exported without a permit.
 
I'll be reloading .308, .303, and 7.62x54R to start.

I was actually thinking of a similar set-up, attaching everything to a board and clamping it down to my computer desk, which should be sturdy enough as it is decently heavy.

Thanks a lot for the info!

Also, I've read in previous threads about the dangers of primer residue when cleaning brass. I'd prefer to use a bucket with some sort of solvent, that way everything can go in the laundry tub, as I don't want used cleaning media lying around. Is there an established method of cleaning brass using solvents and other means?
 
Tyler said:
Also, I've read in previous threads about the dangers of primer residue when cleaning brass. I'd prefer to use a bucket with some sort of solvent, that way everything can go in the laundry tub, as I don't want used cleaning media lying around. Is there an established method of cleaning brass using solvents and other means?
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I'm not sure if you are referring to the explosive hazard of primer dust, or the lead hazard of fired residue, but either way I think you might be on your own in setting this up. I have never met anyone in the real world who took special precautions over these issues.

My immediate reaction to your liquid cleaning method is that it is the opposite of most strategies. Many industries that deal with toxic solutions dry them after use, since solid salts are less mobile and bioavailable than ions in solution, and can usually be packaged and landfilled with relatively little problem.
 
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