It's time to get reloading equipment

id64

id64

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 99%
99   1   0
Location
Toronto, Ontario
I think that I am ready to get in to the reloading. What kind of equipment would you suggest in terms of easy to use, readability and speed. I understand that price can be wary. Who sells those in Toronto?

TIA
 
Maybe you should look into the type of kit to get first, but the very first thing you should get is a reloading manual .. I got one before I even bought my kit. I'm just starting out and got my kit just before x mass.

I bought all my stuff here http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/

I went to the local shop and they wanted $730 plus taxes just for the press kit and I ended up buying mine for $460 at budget. So don't necessarily look in the Toronto region.

BTW that ammo can is now full I have another 308 can full, both are overflowing with 223. I haven't counted it all but I'm assuming there's 2500 rds. Woo hoo ... Just waiting on my bullets.

DSC03467.jpg

DSC03466.jpg
 
Last edited:
id64 said:
I think that I am ready to get in to the reloading. What kind of equipment would you suggest in terms of easy to use, readability and speed. I understand that price can be wary. Who sells those in Toronto?

TIA
Click to expand...

1. get reloading manual
2. get a progressive press (you can still do rifle, just have to do some case prep first)
3. like bart i have lnl ap and reload 9mm and 45acp, you can do 200-250/hour or 400-500 with bullet and case feeder (those 2 items cost $600+)
4. I know i have said this many times but i recommend budget shooter supply (link above)
5. there are plenty of youtube vids of progressive lnl ap, this will give you idea of the press.
[youtube]dSr1efcTf5s[/youtube]
 
First step, as suggest, is to get a manual and read it. Most of the major component makers publish them and none of them are bad.

I would also suggest you get another book, The ABCs of Reloading, a large paperback that will answer a lot of questions and give a lot of general advice.

There are, generally speaking, three kinds of reloading press. The single-stage is the simplest and the cheapest. Some would say it is also the most accurate, but we're talking about minor advantages at best. It's also the slowest and you will need to change dies over and over. Many if not most people start with a single stage and many never feel they need more.

Turret presses are similar except the dies (two, three or four to a set) are mounted in switchable turret, a plate threaded for multiple dies. It makes switching back and forth between dies faster as you can leave them set up and simple rotate the turret.

Progressive presses are automatic or semi-automatic. Every time you pull the handle, a complete round pops out. Much faster, but more expensive and rather more fussy in some people's opinions.

IMO, your reloading requirement is on the borderline. You should be able to put out 100 rounds in a couple of hours with a single-stage press once you get the hang of it. A progressive, once set up, will easily cut that to half an hour or so. Your call if it's worth the extra expense and fiddling.
 
Dillon is good stuff also, and if you go press and case feeder they are the same price as the Hornady. Henry used to sell them I don't know if he still does. Hornady also used to have a free bullet offer, I am not sure if that's still going.
For pistol rounds I recommend a carbide die, makes things way easier.

Bart 212 how do you like the dillon 1200 trimmer?
 
twig_40 said:
Dillon is good stuff also, and if you go press and case feeder they are the same price as the Hornady. Henry used to sell them I don't know if he still does. Hornady also used to have a free bullet offer, I am not sure if that's still going.
For pistol rounds I recommend a carbide die, makes things way easier.

Bart 212 how do you like the dillon 1200 trimmer?
Click to expand...

Love it. When I started getting interested in reloading I was watching youtube videos like it was my job. I constantly saw vids where guys were wasting their time fumbling around with hand trimmers.

Then I saw the 1200B and realized that I could basically skip a step by incorperating it with my sizing (the die that the 1200B uses is a FL sizing die). These dies are friggin expensive though $60.

Since I have thousands of 223 and thousands of other various other calibers I thought that I'd just bite the bullet and buy it to save hours of time (the way I thought about it was that i'd probably add another hour to every 150 -200 rds reloaded by trimming by hand). It also leaves Zero, Zilch, Nada burr.

I also have a DeWalt case prep center which works really good at removing military crimps.

DSC03474.jpg


Here's a pic with my case feeder.

DSC03475.jpg
 
I am in Toronto as well & looking to learn reloading

Hi there,
I just stumbled across this thread! Wow many of those questions could be asked by me as well. I am also in the GTA, I have downloaded the ABCs of reloading and a few others (I can e-mail it to ya just PM me)

I am looking at turret presses, but all in something like the Redding T-7 will not be cheap. I am early in my "reading" phase though, most people suggest getting a low end cheapie reloading press, make sure you like reloading & then spend for proper tools.

If anyone is doing a "Reloading Clinic" or willing to train us newbies that would be awesome! (It would also give us a chance to see the different presses in action & see the "Good, Bad & Ugly" of each.)

In terms of reloading I am looking to reload
9mm (luger)
7.62x25 (Tokorov)
7.62x39
12 gauge shotgun (need a different press for that one!)

Regards

Peter
 
id64 said:
4 calibers = 9mm, 45 acp, 40 S&W, .223

About 5 thousand rounds per year.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Now that gives us a place to start with you.

Okay, I am the first one to recommend starting small and cheap and still get good ammo and I am the biggest Lee Precision fan because of that.

So, to begin with...forget the Lee kit. As a matter of fact, forget ANY single stage kit with the volume you are going to do. If you buy a kt, that's great, but make it a progressive kit.

However, if you want to really learn reloading and itsprocesses, you need to start slow and that means single stage. So, what I would suggest is a Progressive Kit and a single stage Lee "Reloader Press" ($35 but if you buy the "Anniversary Pack" ($48), it comes with the reloading book "Modern Reloading" which is my go to book everytime and one of my favourites). Cheapest single stage on the market and since you are only loading pistol and .223 it will be more than enough to help you master the basics.

All your dies will fit in this press, and the other equipment from your progressive kit will start working for you from day one. Once you have the basics down, go for broke, load your a$$ off and have fun.
 
id64 said:
4 calibers = 9mm, 45 acp, 40 S&W, .223

About 5 thousand rounds per year.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

IMO, a Lee Classic Turret will be perfect for these calibers, at the volume you need. At 150 rds per hour production rate, you need only 3 hours per month on the Lee Classic turret.

Cheap to buy and maintain, these LCTs are the best thing since metallic cartridges. YMMV of course.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom