Help with a Reloading Set Up

Landris

Landris

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Hey all,

I'm starting to looking into getting set up to reload my own ammunition. Currently don't know too much about it but willing to learn and have some shooting enthusiast friends willing to help out. That said, I have looked at the RCBS Rebel Master Reloading Kit ($650), and the Lyman Ultimate Reloading System ($1K). Both from Cabela's, but don't know if this is the way to go or not. I'm primarily looking to reload 270 WSM, and 308 Win, at least for now. Looking for any and all thoughts and information. Can probably justify $1300 max-ish.

Thanks
 
Without getting into brand specifics, or looking at those kits, is probable that you are planning to spend double or triple that you need to, to be able to reload cartridges. Is possible / probable that you might benefit most, initially, from a couple reloading manuals - Lyman 50 is likely a good one, if you only get one - for the first chapters about HOW to reload - makes purchase of stuff a bit easier on pocketbook, if you have a thought what it is that you will need. Need a way to get fired primers out. Need a way to re-size. Need a way to measure case and trim / chamfer to length if needed. Need to have way to insert new primer. Then load in powder - likely that you have weighed or used a volume system to approximate weight - then a way to seat a bullet. Is my suspicion that marketers for reloading stuff make their money by creating needs among potential re-loaders who do not really know much, and who believe the marketers implicitly. Is perhaps why the most invaluable asset is time spent with a competent reloading mentor, not with a BS artist.

By and large, like many things, is a trade-off between time, accuracy and cost. Can most definitely start by filing down a fired case to make a "scoop" to dispense powder loads - versus spend north of $500 for an "automated" trickler and digital scale. Also to do with the volume that you intend to reload - 20 per month? 200 per month? 2000 per day?
 
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ht tps://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading%20Manuals/

Some manuals here for your reading pleasure. ABCs of Reloading is a good starting point.
 
Landris said:
I'm primarily looking to reload 270 WSM, and 308 Win, at least for now. Looking for any and all thoughts and information. Can probably justify $1300 max-ish.
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What is your intent with loading? Loading for high precision is more expensive than loading for economy/availability, but either way I feel like I can put you into a kit for well under these kinds of numbers.
 
I would start with watching you tube videos on reloading. Get an idea of the process, and some of the tools.


Then watch some of Garvin. Ultimate reloader vids on press comparisons.

When I started I also watched some like, "What most new reloaders wish they had" , "what reloading kits are missing" , "mistakes new reloaders make" and so on.

Then I pieced together my own kit and purchased only what I wanted. Generally went higher end stuff, only because I wanted to. You don't need to do this to get good ammo. I did because I am who I am, and want consistency.

I still only use a manual scale with a trickler and the lee cups. I reload for 6 calibers now, and started with only 2.

The bigger issue you will have right now is not reloading gear, tools, but components like primers. Powders, cases, and bullets for the most part are fairly available.
 
wallz said:
I would start with watching you tube videos on reloading. Get an idea of the process, and some of the tools.


Then watch some of Garvin. Ultimate reloader vids on press comparisons.

When I started I also watched some like, "What most new reloaders wish they had" , "what reloading kits are missing" , "mistakes new reloaders make" and so on.

Then I pieced together my own kit and purchased only what I wanted. Generally went higher end stuff, only because I wanted to. You don't need to do this to get good ammo. I did because I am who I am, and want consistency.

I still only use a manual scale with a trickler and the lee cups. I reload for 6 calibers now, and started with only 2.

The bigger issue you will have right now is not reloading gear, tools, but components like primers. Powders, cases, and bullets for the most part are fairly available.
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For sure! I found is often ways to make brass from other cartridges, to swage down or make (cast and size, lube or powder coat) bullets to work in your particular rifle(s) and most reloading manuals list at least half dozen or a dozen alternative powders that can be used for most bullet weights - they will go "bang" - some may not be most perfect choice for your needs, though. But, pretty much "dead in the water" without proper sized primers - not sure that I have ever found an acceptable substitute for actual primers.

Like many others, I started with the elderly Lee Loaders - severely limited to neck sizing only brass previously fired in your rifle, limited to specific powder(s) per bullet weight to go with the supplied scoop, etc. - but they worked, and I made many hundreds of rounds with those, and a hammer with a plastic end on it - no press involved. But as time went by, each step of the process became "easier" with used or new tools that replaced how it was done in that Lee Loader, until the loader kits have sat on the shelf, unused, for decades. But I am still quite sure that I could open up the box and make rounds with them, if I wanted to - just not sure if I have that hammer any more ...

Thinking about that - I actually still do use the de-capper punches from the Lee Loader kits almost every time that I reload - I had bent or broke a de-capping pin on a die - for that batch, decided to dig out the de-capper punch from the Lee kit, and continued on without a de-capper pin in that die - I did get replacement pins for that die, but have stuck with the de-capper punch ever since - for no good reason. Many, if not most, of my expander stems do not have de-capper pins in them. So, that makes de-capping, as a separate step from re-sizing - can do both at same time, if you want to.
 
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The kits are popular, but you can likely do better if you are patient and pick up bits and pieces as you go. If you have friends to help you can make sure the stuff you are getting is good- need a way to ensure calipers, scales etc. are accurate or you could be creating issues for yourself. The goals of your reloading are important. If you are looking to load for accuracy then consider all the brass prep tools as being required. If you are just loading up ammo to plink around then you can get away with less. $1300 is a lot to drop on something you aren't sure you will be into- so maybe go through the process with your friends a few times and see how you like it. If they don't have the dies for the cartridge you want to load then maybe invest in this and use their setup to get going. Just a thought... Will also give you an idea about what you like and don't. Generally you can trade "pain in the ass" factor for lower equipment cost...

When I started I already had all the measurement tools, but bought a used single stage press, new dies, new hand primer and a used beam scale. I added a trickler next... and then, and then and then....

Keep your eyes out for LR primers and a powder that will work for your cartridges (bullet weight and case will have preferred powders) and start collecting other components too. You won't save any money reloading, you will just shoot more.
 
My priority would be a good cast iron press, not aluminum, a good scale, electronic or mechanical, a trimming system, and good dial calipers, and good dies. Brand is not all that important.
 
Depending on the kit you’re looking at you can get good value from them, I bought a few individual items new and used and then picked up a Hornady single stage kit for $550-600. The only thing I don’t use in the kit is the hand priming tool, I like to prime on the press. Once you get rolling you’ll start to realize what else you want or need to buy and what level of quality will work for you, kits can be good value and other times things will be even better on the used market.
 
As someone pointed out above, what you expect to accomplish with reloading will greatly drive the equipment and quality level you should purchase.

I'm not a huge fan of the kits because I think they contain a bunch of stuff you don't necessarily need or could do better buying individual stuff.

First things first. Buy a reloading manual and read it. Then read it again before you purchase any equipment.


You can never go wrong with an RCBS Rockchucker. Lee dies are fine to start. They will produce decent ammo. Lee Case Trimmers are cheap and they work just fine. There is also no setup to get wrong.
 
Buy some reloading manuals as others have said; read them. Buy what you need equipment wise, but only what you need.

As you gain experience, your needs will change; buy what you need as you need it.

If you are planning on reloading anything that takes large primers; particularly large rifle, good luck finding primers at a reasonable price.

All that being said, reloading is very relaxing and rewarding.
 
Has been a few people stop in to see if I would reload some shells for them - for the most part, they have no clue what is involved - as if there is a known recipe to use for their rifle. No doubt, and I showed them, is plethora of "Start" loads that I could do - if they were interested to process their brass with my stuff. Seldom that anyone takes me up on that. The rounds will go "bang" - no doubt - but they are typically the type that will evaluate the "quality" of the reload, by whether they actually hit anything with it - a myriad of other issues at play, that I think they would rather ignore, or claim as "do not matter" - like their own shooting ability. Is likely 4 or 5 bullet weights and brands on hand for their 30-06 - likely 20 powders or more that could be used - pick one of each and let's do a pressure test in your unit - I do not know how else to establish that, unless you just want to use a listed "Start" load. Is usually no such thing as "one" bullet for your rifle; is usual there is no such thing as "one" powder to use - is likely more than 100 powders (at least) - some are horribly mis-matched - but still is healthy handful that "might" work okay for that guy. So, yes, after many hundreds dollars of tooling - some of which worked great and some of which has been moved on, many decades of doing it, good notes, etc., I can make "cheap" loads for my rifles that are at least as good - often way "better" - than what I can buy at a store. At least for most people that stop in here, is the "cheap" part that caught their eye - they tend to ignore the rest of it.

And gets worse (for me) - so a specific bullet is wanted - they usually come in boxes of 50 or 100 - and 15 or 20 rounds wanted to be reloaded - so what am I supposed to do with the rest - who paid for them? Same with powder - usually comes in one pound jugs, minimum - so for 15 or 20 loads at 45 grains each that is 900 grains at most - there is 7,000 grains in a pound - who pays for the unused portion?

And have to be aware that errors exist - really false security to rely on only "one" source of information - is / was such an error on Nosler re-loading website - likely would be claimed to be a clerical typo - they list (listed) exactly the same loads for 160 grain bullets as for 175 grain bullets - with H1000 powder in 7mm STW - that error continues in the Nosler 9 book - results in their "Start" load for 175 grain bullets much higher than their Maximum loads were, in previous editions. Should not take too much imagination to figure out how that error was discovered - hint - by loading 175 grain bullets using H1000 powder in a 7mm STW and going to that website to find out how much of it to use, to "Start". The bolt was VERY TIGHT to open.
 
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1.What you are reloading for? Accuracy or cheaper ammo. If Accuracy it is going to be expensive because of components and the high end equipments.
2.Stop buying kits, it has quite a few things you don't need or not good enough which means you will spend more to upgrade.
3.List all the gears you plan to buy and let everyone in here help you to pick the right one hopefully won't blow your budget too much.
 
If only reloading 2 cartridges I'd buy a Turret Press, that way can just leave the dies set up.
 
Agree with I dont care about you.
Been reloading for many years. Cant go wrong with the RCBS rock chucker.A good set of RCBS dies (Full, neck and Seater dies)
Some tools for trimming cases, A good electronic scale. vernier calipers etc.
Above all get a reloading manual. I use the nosler reloading guide. and stick to the recomended data.
Do not experiment with loads
Its rewarding and lots of fun.
 
Landris hasn't been back, so before you keep giving suggestions, wait until he has the courtesy to reply to some of the questions.
 
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