Let's show your reloading setup and need advises

J

JPNICK

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Hi guys,

I'm ready to begin reloading... But I don't know where to start... I want to do precision reloading for .308 win. I don't need to do volume reloading but precise reloading... I'm ready to put around 1000-1500$ for the setup (excluding brass, bullets, primer and powder). But like everybody I would love to pay only 50 bucks ;)... I have a room in my basement ready for my setup... But there's so much maker...I'm a little lost...

So I would like to see your setup and to know what I should buy to begin correctly.... I'm looking for a single stage press and everything a newbie reloader should buy to clean brass, prep brass, prime, load powder and bullet for precision reloading with no trouble.... Thanks
 
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you should get the Hornady AMMO PLANT kit, it comes with just about everything for around $1500. auto case feeder, auto bullet feeder, you just have to add the dies.

I'm definitely going to buy that.
 
A large bench with good lighting is good, i don`t have any pics of my mess but i do use an old Lyman Orange crusher. If starting new i would get a Forster co-ax press, and i have a RCBS chargemaster on order with Santa but will never give up my old and reliable Ohaus scale. You don`t need every little gadget to start it took me a lot of years to gear up butr then i didn`t have the web to show me all the newest stuff, had to wait for the next issue of handloader. A press, scale, trimmer, deburring tool, lube pad, funnel, and a primer pocket brush will get you started. Lots of accessories like loading block can be made from a scrap of wood. I have been loading for 40+ years and still don`t own a case polisher, nice to have but as long as you wipe your cases free of dirt your good to go, you can wash em if needed but they don`t need to shine like new. Some of the old time target shooters used a Lee hand tool to load at the range, fancy doesn`t matter consistency is the big factor.
 
JPNICK said:
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Ammo-Plant-110-VT/

The problem with this is that there's no cleaning equipment, no cutting stuff and no measuring tools... It's a nice kit, but I think I'm not there for now.... I have to start somewhere and I would have to buy more stuff with this...
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THen buy cleaning equipment and a scale and you've got an awesome package. If you think you'll have to buy that many more accessories with the ammo plant then you're in for it if you're going to buy a basic reloading kit.

don't get me wrong, lots of guys are using basic kits, but if you're into shooting a lot you need to look for something that produces more in less time. I guess it's just personal preference. Dillon makes a press as well, I had one of these (650).
 
I reload all my rifle and black powder cartridges on a Hornady classic single stage.I find it to be a good all round press and the quick change bushings are great.All my dies that I use on this press are mounted in their own bushing so die change over is a simple twist and your done.I don't have the accessory kit but I think it seems to be a good way to buy some important tools you will need all in one convenient package.It took me some time to gather most of mine because somethings are not always in stock.Hornady is great to deal with directly and their shipping is reasonable.I like to support my local businesses but if they are always out of stock or don't carry the items that you want it is nice to have the option of dealing direct.That being said I think that any of the major reloading companies make a product that will satisfy your needs and all will give you great service and support.
 
If I had to replace everything I actually use in my reloading room it would cost me around $4,000 to $5,000 easily. I still don't see how I cod effectively load quality ammo for less than $2,000 in equipment.
 
Cleftwynd said:
If I had to replace everything I actually use in my reloading room it would cost me around $4,000 to $5,000 easily. I still don't see how I cod effectively load quality ammo for less than $2,000 in equipment.
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What?
Are you neck turning all of your brass, using those expensive mircometer seating dies. 5 or 6 Herrel powder measures. Sure the sky is the limit when it comes to reloading accessories but to say that you can load good quality ammo for less than $2 grand sounds a little outragous. FS
 
Cleftwynd said:
If I had to replace everything I actually use in my reloading room it would cost me around $4,000 to $5,000 easily. I still don't see how I cod effectively load quality ammo for less than $2,000 in equipment.
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I hear you with the cost to replace equipment. But..... For years I reloaded good quality ammo on equipment that cost me $200 used.......

It's not that I don't rely on the gear on my bench, it's that if I had to I could do without, it would just take longer to do what I am doing.....
 
Fassteel said:
What?
Are you neck turning all of your brass, using those expensive mircometer seating dies. 5 or 6 Herrel powder measures. Sure the sky is the limit when it comes to reloading accessories but to say that you can load good quality ammo for less than $2 grand sounds a little outragous. FS
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I didn't mean to sound like I was saying you can not do it, just with my OCD, and uneccessay need for high end crap I send way more than most. Just that if I thinned down to the minimum I would need to clean, prep, measure, load etc.... I would still have over 2,000 invested! I know many people are loading with a few hundred dollars in equipment, I just don't know how they do it!
 
Cleftwynd said:
I didn't mean to sound like I was saying you can not do it, just with my OCD, and uneccessay need for high end crap I send way more than most. Just that if I thinned down to the minimum I would need to clean, prep, measure, load etc.... I would still have over 2,000 invested! I know many people are loading with a few hundred dollars in equipment, I just don't know how they do it!
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You don't have to spend thousands to reload.The basic single stage press with the accessories that the OP noted that he is considering is a great way to start and less than $1000.00.Starting to reload it is better to learn on a single stage than having to learn how to make a progressive function properly.All he needs is a few sets of good dies and he's off to the races for way less than $2 grand.Myself I purchased my Hornady press used for $75.00,Lyman trimmer and scale for$50.00 at a auction,etc,etc.Sure after doing this for years I have thousands tied up in reloading equipment,and even more tied up in molds and sizers,but I still use my single stage more than my progressives
 
Cleftwynd said:
If I had to replace everything I actually use in my reloading room it would cost me around $4,000 to $5,000 easily. I still don't see how I cod effectively load quality ammo for less than $2,000 in equipment.
Click to expand...


Don't buy into needing 5 grand worth of stuff to start. A manual or two, a press, a scale, a powder measure, a set of dies, a vernier calliper and a case trimmer and a chronograph, a shell holder and enough tools to remove the odd stuck case would be a good start. A modest bench and you are off to the races. Buy a good press and a good scale, a lee trimmer and powder measure will work fine, in fact lots of guys use lee presses. First you get good, then you get fast. Guys will all have a favorite brand of dies, but I would get a lee neck sizer in addition to a set of full size dies. You can lube with paper towel, (I do), I use a little 2 cycle oil and just do the shoulders and necks. A phosphor bronze brush for cleaning inside the necks is handy too, put it in your cordless drill.
 
My set-up.
Lee Classic turret press. remove auto index rod and its single stage.
Lee Collet die.
Redding competition die set.
Lyman 2400 polisher.
Lyman case beveler.
RCBS ChargeMaster.
Lyman funnel set.
Caseguard loading trays.
Digital caliper.
Lee Ball handle case lenght cutter.
Lee case lenght gauge.
Lee safety prime.
Lee case lube.
and some things I'm forgetting.

With this 308 reloading setup the betterhalf put 9 of 15 shots inside a 2.5 inch circle at 800 yards. Proof is in the pudding.
 
I'm anotherone who believes you can make precision rounds for a couple of hundred in equipment.
I put together rounds that shot between 0.25 and 0.5 MOA on a Lee 50th Anniversary Kit.

That does not mean that I don't like my RCBS Chargemaster Combo or my Sinclair/L.E. Wilson trimmer but they merely facilitate making accurate ammo more efficiently.

If I were starting out again with what I know now I would purchase the RCBS Master Supreme set which includes the Chargemaster Combo.
I would add a Thumler Model B with Stainless Steel Media for cleaning duties and the Hornady or RCBS concentricity tool.
I would also get from Hornady the Overall Length Gauge, the Bullet Comparator, and the Headspace Gauge along with a good vernier caliper.
 
I agree with the upfront cost being high. If I were to do it again I wouldn't waste money on certain things like always changing benches. Currently my setup is a mastercraft large metal base cabinet with hardwood top and locking cabinets ( lost my gun room when we moved into a brand new house i need everything secure due to kids).
I use:

dillon 550 for pistol
Lee turret press for rifle
Hornady l-n-l single stage also rifle
Lyman auto-flo tumbler
Hornady ultra sonic cleaner
Hornady l-n-l auto charge powder measure.
I hand trim the brass with the cheap lee set.
Mastercraft micrometer (got on sale)
Hornady digital scale
Honady reloading book

Those are the bigger of the items, I know I'm missing some little stuff but I'm not able to check right now.

Also I reload .223, .308, .303 brit, 30-30 win, .300 win mag, 9mm Luger and 40 s&w.

Mostly just 40 now off the 550
 
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