Looking to start reloading...

Zen_Seeker

Zen_Seeker

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After 25+ years as a shooter I'm ready to try my luck reloading. Mainly 223/556 and/or 308 at the moment but Luger 9mm, 45ACP, .223, .3030, .308win, .30-06 are all rounds I use.

I'm looking for a softly used, or new but low priced, setup that has everything I "need" to get started. It can be automated or manual steps as long as I can clean a used case, trim the case as needed, replace the primer, add the right amount of powder, seat the bullet, then go test at the range. Nothing that's going to break or be garbage down the road. Being able to get dies local for the calibers I use is important but if .223/.308 is covered I can wait to pick up more as I improve and know what I'm doing.

I've had a look at a few pages in the EE group but the only two sets I thought would be good where for local sales only, BC. I'm in Ontario, GTA.

Dillon, Lee, and Hornady all seem to be tried and true with at least one person, who took the time to write a review, thinking that Hornady was the over-all winner based on his needs.

So if you have anything you have out grown or no longer use please let me know. If you see a good deal in EE that I missed, and it's in Ontario/GTA, or can be mailed cheaply, please let me know. I'd be very grateful for the advice or assistance!


TIA,
Zen
 
Also put RCBS equipment on your list - I use it almost exclusively and it's first-rate! I suggest starting with a basic kit such as one of the Rock Chucker Supreme kits. You can import reloading tools (but not components such as brass, projectiles, etc) from the US as well - I have gotten some great deals on these items.

I would definitely start with a single stage kit for .223 and .308. Most kits include a reloading manual which is essential - start low and work up slow!

Case gauges and calipers for length measurement are also critical to ensuring safe and consistent handloads.

It's a fun part of a great hobby.
 
Tazzy said:
Check Kijiji. Sometimes there's good deals to be found.
Click to expand...
I started there, and Craigs list, before joining the EE group. Problem was I didn't know if something was a good deal or someone trying to unload old crap no one wanted and a pain to use. :)
No that I know "slightly" more than I did a few months ago I should check again. Trouble is people always think their used stuff is worth top dollar, I've done it myself.
 
FirearmsEnthusiast said:
Also put RCBS equipment on your list - I use it almost exclusively and it's first-rate! I suggest starting with a basic kit such as one of the Rock Chucker Supreme kits. You can import reloading tools (but not components such as brass, projectiles, etc) from the US as well - I have gotten some great deals on these items.

I would definitely start with a single stage kit for .223 and .308. Most kits include a reloading manual which is essential - start low and work up slow!

Case gauges and calipers for length measurement are also critical to ensuring safe and consistent handloads.

It's a fun part of a great hobby.
Click to expand...
Will do. Single stage is what I recall seeing in my uncle or grandfathers basement back in the 70' when I was a kid. Looked like the green Lee slot machine press. Never saw it used, it was just bolted to the bench. Don't know what ever happened to all his stuff after he passed. :confused:
 
For your 1st press I suggest you get new equipement. The way I see it is if you find one on the EE or Kijiji, you'll end up paying more than you like for shipping.

Take a look on Amazon. The prices are competitive and shipping is free. You'll find starter kits and presses from Lee, RCBS, Lyman and Hornady.
 
I persomally bought the lee 50th anni starter kit, I've reloaded over 500 rounds of 308 match grade using the kit in last month(120 on friday), the lee 4pc die kit, a rcbs powder trickle, a rcbs collet bullet puller and a rockford Arsenal stainless tumbler. I probably paid under 600 for everyting to get started. Minus the components those get pricey quickly. Im really happy with my purchases, but a rcbs charge master is on my list of items to buy.
 
I have had my hornaday progressive from new 25 years ago, and works like new still.

Good kuck finding anything decent at low price, used, don't waste the time looking. Just buy new, especially if you want to reload the calibers listed. Also helps having manuals.

Reloading equipment rarely comes up for sale, enuff said
 
Just bear in mind that most dies have a standard thread, so you can use RCBS dies with a Lee press. The kits don't come with dies, so that is an extra. I bought the LEE kit years ago - its the cheapest, but it is fit for purpose.
 
Lee Precision Classic Turret Press Kit - Article # 99197 $349.99
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/77040/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-kit

Kit includes: Classic Turret Press, Pro Auto-Disk powder measure and riser, large and small Safety Prime, cutter and lock stud, chamfer tool, small and large primer pocket cleaner, a tube of Case Sizing Lube, Safety Powder Scale and a Modern Reloading Second Edition.

This one seems standard but I'll still need the .223/.308 dies, tumbler, and a few other things...

I could have sworn I saw a deal for a kit plus a tumbler but it must have been elsewhere as I can't find it at the usual stores? (Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press deal is gone from Cabelas.ca as well.)

Does the above sound okay? Anything I "have" to have I missed? (Figure a puller can come later along with other items that are nice to have but not needed right away for a newbie.)


Edit: Didn't come up in a "reload" search but did when I searched for the kit? This is what I was thinking about originally.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit w/ Sonic Cleaner Combo - Article # 83810 $499.99
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/72950/hornady-lock-n-load-classic-kit-w-sonic-cleaner-combo
 
Are you loading hunting rounds or precision? The Lee turret would be great for your pistol rounds but maybe not as accurate for your rifle. I started with the RCBS rock chucker supreme kit. I use everything in the kit and it has all served me well. I have no regrets. I have obviously expanded my tools but for getting the basics down, it will do the job. I am just using a vibratory tumbler for now and its far cheaper than stainless. I will add a stainless tumbler but don't find it necessary at the moment. For dies I have redding and forster. I don't mind hornady and I have 2 sets of lee that work well for the money. Good luck
 
I have had and use a variety of presses and have found:
- single stage is just fine for most amounts of rifle shooting up to around 200 rounds in a session...for plinking/range blasting fun I'd just opt for low cost bulk/surplus
- for pistol/high volume stuff I really prefer an auto-indexing progressive...doesn't have to have auto case/bullet feeding, but auto-indexing is really nice.
- I tend to gravitate to a Lee single stage with Breech Lock quick change bushings when I'm loading up a bunch of different rifle stuff or prepping/forming brass...same idea as the Hornady Lock N Load quick twist stuff. Really convenient for swapping dies. Maybe not the most laser accurate setup...but perfectly within the tolerances I'm looking for with that setup.
- Dillon stuff is nice...but RCBS, Forster and others can produce good stuff too. If your setup is producing rounds within your tolerance spending more doesn't net much. Spending lots doesn't guarantee 0.00000001" runout either (sarcasm)
- for really high precision, low variation stuff I still prefer a set of LE Wilson hand dies and an arbor press. I don't think it's actually slower than a single stage...but it probably is...but I'm usually loading many fewer rounds on this at a time. You can put together a tool box loading kit for the range/field...
- don't forget to budget for all the other stuff too...case trimmer, deburring/case prep, case cleaning, lube pad, etc....
- priming with a hand priming tool is nice...gives a lot more feel than the super leverage a press develops. You can easily detect loose primer pockets, etc...
- a good quality powder measure, with a metering stem that actually means something, is a solid purchase...reliable/repeatable powder drops is so much better than a cheap setup where you need to check and adjust each powder charge.
- even if you end up with a progressive...having a single stage press to use for decapping or resizing is a nice option.
 
Zen_Seeker said:
Lee Precision Classic Turret Press Kit - Article # 99197 $349.99
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/77040/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-kit

Kit includes: Classic Turret Press, Pro Auto-Disk powder measure and riser, large and small Safety Prime, cutter and lock stud, chamfer tool, small and large primer pocket cleaner, a tube of Case Sizing Lube, Safety Powder Scale and a Modern Reloading Second Edition.

This one seems standard but I'll still need the .223/.308 dies, tumbler, and a few other things...

I could have sworn I saw a deal for a kit plus a tumbler but it must have been elsewhere as I can't find it at the usual stores? (Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press deal is gone from Cabelas.ca as well.)

Does the above sound okay? Anything I "have" to have I missed? (Figure a puller can come later along with other items that are nice to have but not needed right away for a newbie.)


Edit: Didn't come up in a "reload" search but did when I searched for the kit? This is what I was thinking about originally.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit w/ Sonic Cleaner Combo - Article # 83810 $499.99
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/72950/hornady-lock-n-load-classic-kit-w-sonic-cleaner-combo
Click to expand...
The Lee turret kit you have mentioned is a great kit. It will turn out fantastic rounds for plinking or even hunting. I would not use it for precision rifle competitions.
With the indexing bar in, you can load a couple of hundred rounds an hour for pistol and smaller-cased rifle, like your .223. You can remove the indexing bar for .30-06 and still load better than a hundred an hour, I do.
Buy Lee and worry about spending your money on components instead of flash.
 
Zen_Seeker said:
Lee Precision Classic Turret Press Kit - Article # 99197 $349.99
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/77040/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-kit

Kit includes: Classic Turret Press, Pro Auto-Disk powder measure and riser, large and small Safety Prime, cutter and lock stud, chamfer tool, small and large primer pocket cleaner, a tube of Case Sizing Lube, Safety Powder Scale and a Modern Reloading Second Edition.

This one seems standard but I'll still need the .223/.308 dies, tumbler, and a few other things...

I could have sworn I saw a deal for a kit plus a tumbler but it must have been elsewhere as I can't find it at the usual stores? (Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press deal is gone from Cabelas.ca as well.)

Does the above sound okay? Anything I "have" to have I missed? (Figure a puller can come later along with other items that are nice to have but not needed right away for a newbie.)


Edit: Didn't come up in a "reload" search but did when I searched for the kit? This is what I was thinking about originally.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit w/ Sonic Cleaner Combo - Article # 83810 $499.99
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/72950/hornady-lock-n-load-classic-kit-w-sonic-cleaner-combo
Click to expand...

Check Budget Shooter Supply (board sponsor) For a Lee Classic turret kit with dies and tools for 1 calibre was under $400 to get me started. Now all in I'm up to about $1000 but I've saved close to 3 times that. And additional calibres only cost about another $100 per for dies and guages. It's possible to spend way more and there is some very cool stuff to spend on but until I can honestly say that I'm better than my ammo (might be a few....decades), I'd rather spend money on components and practice.

Like others have said, it is a lot of fun and the satisfaction of making your own better than you can buy custom ammo is priceless.
 
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Nix the tumbler. It does a nice job of cleaning the outside but the insides that meet the powder are still going to be dark. Instead look at either an ultrasonic cleaner or the current favored technique of stainless pin media in a wet drum format tumbler.

For my rifle brass I've found that a universal decapper and then 10 to 15 minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner with a mix of 1 part common white vinegar to 3 parts water along with a dash of liquid laundry detergent works like a charm. You want to use hot water and run the heater in the US cleaner at around 45C. The insides come out looking like new or darn close to it.

On handgun cases with the primers left in the results are not quite as clean. The outsides will look sparkling but the insides have a light shadow to the brass colour.

Anyway you cut it though the US is WAY better than the vibrator style with media. That sort didn't do much of anything to the insides of either handgun or rifle cases.

The stainless pin media gets the cases looking like new for sure. But with a touch more handling to ensure that the pins don't get lost or washed away.

A single stage setup for now would be perfect. Then in time get a progressive if you shoot a fair amount of ammo each month.
 
Thanks all for the advice. Since a single stage does everything "okay" I'll start there. Any good online places to by from or stores in the GTA? I don't want to make accounts, sell my sole, just to be able to buy something online. Just a simple store that takes my CC info and ships without all the data mining or collection customer info.

Cabelas isn't close but has the best deal I've seen so far for the Lee kit, but they don't have the dies for .308 or .223 in-stock that I can see. (Does the .223 die work with 5.56 brass since it's so near in size?) And do I use/get 2-die or 4-die sets for a single stage? (Ya, I'm that new to this...)

Thanks for the feedback on the tumbler. They remind me of my daughters old rock polisher from decades past. I'll look into the type you note.
 
The number of dies in a set depend on what you're loading. For example...if you're loading a BTHP (boat tail hollow point) into a 308 you don't need to expand the case mouth. If you're precision loading and fiddling with neck tension you're probably not going to crimp. If you're going to shoot high recoiling rounds in a magazine you may want to crimp to avoid the bullets moving/reseating from the recoil. If you're seating cast bullets or flat base bullets you'll probably want to flare the case mouth.
Some guys like to use a separate decapping die...some like a separate crimping die. It's usually about what you can feel during each stage and what you think gives you the control you want.

1. Decapping
2. Resizing / neck sizing
3. Case mouth flaring
4. Seating
5. Crimping

Many times 1 & 2 are combined...and 4 & 5 are combined. Two die sets will do 1/2/4/5...three die sets usually have another die to do 3. A four die set will split out one of those steps (e.g. full sizing vs neck sizing or seating vs crimping).

An excellent reference to get is a Lyman's Reloading Manual. Lots of info about each step of the process...which dies do what and when you'd want to do different things. Lots of handy reference tables and stuff. Full lists of "must haves" and "nice to haves". I'd definitely recommend that anyone new to reloading read over that book...or one with as much info...before loading rounds. I like the lyman ones because they have info on cast bullets as well as other stuff.

Re. cleaning cases...to each their own. IMO...I prefer the vibrating type (e.g. Lyman big orange bowl thingy) because it's decently quiet and has served me well for 20 years of reloading. More like a dull washing machine humm of a noise vs. rolling a bin of nails around noise. Just personal preference...and my wife's preference. I like the exterior of the case clean...shiney is a bonus...because that's the surface that'll expand and seal to the chamber. I don't care to clean the insides more than however they get cleaned during the regular cleaning...has not made a difference, for me, for any benchrest/precision/hunting/plinking shooting over the years. I do brush the inside case necks because that's what grips the bullet shank. I would suggest that if you get an Ultrasonic cleaner you get a decently heavy duty unit...the cheaper/smaller jewerly ones aren't strong enough. Hot water + laundry soap (not so sudsy) + just a bit of vinager (I usually skip it) works well as described...I don't see the need to get special jugs of stuff. Get a big seive and rinse well though.

I'd recommend starting with one rifle caliber and getting the hang of things. Dies come up all the time in the equipment exchange for great prices...just keep an eye out and pick up what you need next from there.
 
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