Looking to start reloading

Crazy Chaingun

Crazy Chaingun

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Hello all

I'm looking to get started with loading my own rifle, handgun and shotgun ammo.:D

I really don't have much knowledge on the subject and I don't know anybody who reloads.
Hopefully I can glean some information from you folks

My first question would be: What equipment would I need to reload?
I really don't know how the process works.

Also, what companies make reloading equipment?
I would want to get good quality stuff that will last and do the job right.

Any input you have would be great.
 
First step is to pick a copy of ABCs of Reloading. It will explain a lot and answer a lot of questions.

The process, regardless of gear, involves punching out the old primer, rersizing the brass, putting in a new primer, putting in propellant and then inserting and seating a bullet. Depending on cartridge and need, there are more steps, but that's the basics.

As to gear, it depends on how much you shoot and how much money you have. Entry level is a Lee Loader, which turns out good ammo and is very cheap (maybe $35 - $50) but requires a hammer, time and elbow grease.

Above that is a single-stage press, which is much easier and faster but costs ten times as much with all the bits and pieces. A turret press is similar, but can be a bit faster. Once you have those, with minimal investment, you can reload as many different rounds as you wish.

Top end is a progressive press, which will churn out a round every time you pull the handle. It's more complicated and very much more expensive. If you shoot a lot of ammo, it might be worth it, but many reloaders never need that much capability.

As to brands, can't say as I've ever had a bad bit of gear and my bench is a rainbow. Some will swear Lee is garbage, others say it's great. Personal taste, I think, counts for much of it.
 
3rd time this week . . .

Go to the RCBS website. At the top is a Step by Step how to guide for reloading.

It'll give you a good idea of the process.
 
That is a very general question. The first thing you have to determine is what is your budget and how many/type of rounds do you wish to load? Most reloaders go with a single stage press. A full set up can cost from about $300 to about $1000 with a few sets of dies included.

Best to do a lot of reading first and ask more specific questions once you start to figure out what type of set up you want.

I started thinking I would spend about $300 but have spent over $1000 now.

Have fun. G
 
Look around the internet to get some ideas and then buy some loading manuals. One for rifle and pistol and one for shotgun. You will probably find that shotgun requires a different press than rifle and pistol. Decide which you would use the most and start there. It has been suggested that you can buy shotgun ammo almost as cheaply as you can load it. I find this to be the case but I don't shoot a lot of shotgun.

Lots of guys, myself included, started with Lee equipment. Most manufactures make introductory kits and you can compare prices. One thing about starting with a more expensive good quality single stage press is that with a little care it will probably outlast you. My RCBS Rock Chucker is still going strong after 30 years. It gets used for loading a couple boxes of rifle and developing new pistol loads. The Dillon 550B progressive is mostly for large quantities of pistol ammo. Lee, RCBS, Lyman, Dillon manufacture predominantly rifle and pistol equipment. The only shotshell reloading equipment manufactures that I know of are MEC and Ponsness Warren. The other guys with more information will have to fill you in. Do some research, get a general understanding of how the process works and then you can make an informed decission about what best fits your needs at this time. Good luck.
 
There's so many good write ups on web sights as well as videos on You Tube that one hardly needs a book these days. But as you read through the writeups be sure to look for the common warnings and practices and take the ones you see one time only with a grain of salt. You want to develop your own feel for the process from your reading.

Reloading is far from difficult. But it does demand attention and an appreciation for what can go wrong. A big safety item is to only have one type of powder out at a time and be sure of what is in your powder measure.

We recently had a bad injury at the range at Mission. Followup information indicates that the guy that got injured was loading pistol ammo first then switched to rifle and may have forgot to switch the powder in the dispenser. Pistol powder has NO buisiness in rifle cartridges. Especially when filled to the capacity that rifle cartridges are filled to. In that case the second round turned the rifle into a pipe bomb. It split the reciever and shot the bolt back into the shooter's face. The scope was busted in half and the reciever reduced to shrapnel as well as the chamber of the barrel split wide into a flower petal like mess.

So always know what is in the powder dispenser. For myself I stick a piece of masking tape to it and mark the powder type and what weight is being dropped. And the powder bottle sits by the press until done. Then the powder is poured back and tape removed to make ready for any switch to the following load setup.

Details, the safety is all in the attention to the details.
 
Crazy Chaingun said:
I'm looking to get started with loading my own rifle, handgun and shotgun ammo.....My first question would be: What equipment would I need to reload?
I really don't know how the process works.

Also, what companies make reloading equipment?........
Click to expand...

-Buy 1 or 2 manuals, $50-85 ( latest edition of Hornady my first choice )
-Buy a good press $180 (RCBS rock-chucker or similar from Hornady or Lyman new or used on e-bay. ( unless you are planning do do large volume a single stage will do.)
- Reloading die for the designated cartridges, $ 45 ea ( you could purchase them on e-bay if advertised new only, unless is a RCBS die, if something is worn out RCBS will replace free no question ask.)
- Scale buy new $70

- powder dispenser new $ 80
- case trimmer $ 80-100 plus collets and pilots if not includet.
- deburing tool $10
- primer pocket cleaner $ 3
- case holder for the press $5 for each group caliber involved
- if you plan to clean the brass need a tumbler $ 80
- cleaning media for the tumbler $10
- grease pad to lube brass before resizing $ 5
- caliper to measure brass $20
This cover all basic tool for metallic cartridges reloading(pistol and rifles).

For the shotgun you need a different press, and die .
 
Thank you all for your advice.

I'll probably try pick up a good reloading manual in the near future.
In the meantime I'll look up stuff on the internet.

Sounds like there is a great deal of knowledge to be gained on this subject.

I shall return soon, with more questions :cool:
 
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