Low End Reloading

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joel050283

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I am looking at getting into reloading. I own a 300 RSAUM, and can't shoot as much as I want to becasue fo the ammo $$$.

I am looking at one of the lee loader kits that are about 25$, and pruchasing a digital scale to go with it.

Are these kits reliable, and safe if used properly. Will I see poor performance in my rounds compared to a press style kit.

I plan on making cheap practice round, to get out and practice technique, and then either make my hunting rounds. likely a 180 g accubond round (which I can't get in canada), or if the performance sucks witht he loaded rounds getting factory loads for hunting season.

Any advice is appriciated, because I know next to nothing about reloading, and dont' have the $$$ to get into with a pro style kit.

...........................Well after looking into to it I am not finding any kits suited for 300RSAUM any suggestions.
 
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i would buy a cheap lee kit with dies. i would avoid cheap digital scales and go with the lee scale. its cheap but will work. the kit will also come with other basic tools you will need. you may find you like reloading and can purchace additional dies. with a little trial and error you will find a good load. at least as good as factory. try a hornady 180 grn with imr 4350 powder and a magnum primer cci or federal. lots of cheap practice. also before you start buy a good reloading manuel and study the how to load section. it will teach you the basics.
 
well, you tell me- you need a hammer and they neck size only- then it's tap, to decap, then tap the brass into the sizing die, then tap it again to seat a new primer, push a DIPPER through the powder and pour that down a funnel, and then put the bullet in place and seat it with the bullet seater - trust me- it's REALLY junky- even the worst single stage with dies is superior to those things, esp in the newer magnums- better off getting a good single stage- there's lots out there- and manual and learn how to do it right rather than on the cheap- yo'll be listing that lee loader inside of a month after you learn how to use it- as far as accubonds go, you should be able to get those through your local NOSLER dealer- they're standard fare - i've seen them at wholesale
 
If you have bought many boxes of factory ammo for those short mag. you should not kick about buying some decent reloading equipment, for hunting ammo you should FL resize and otherwise reload quality ammo. Reloading for an Rsaum is no more expensive then any other cartridge, and the big advantage to reloading is that you can make superior quality ammo, as well as save money.
 
I started off with a Classic Lee Loader, and it made very accurate ammo, but I purchased a good scale off the EE instead of using the scoops. To be honest, these days I do not get to shoot much, and the amount I do shoot could easily be made using a Lee Loader. If you already have a lot of fireformed brass, your good to go, just remember eventually you will need to FL size your brass, something the Lee Loader cannot do.
 
Get yourself a lee 50th anniversary kit(pick one...the more expensive one includes a hand primer in addition to the press primer), a set of dies w/ full length and collet neck sizer(neck sizer optional but usually good to get in the same set if you can..easier on brass for a longer life, full length size every 4th or so firing along with annealing the neck if you feel so inclined), and a case length gauge for the case trimmer. Also you will need a good caliper, for which I recommend a manual one with a dial since the digital suck when the battery dies. Make sure it measures to the thousandth. Also make sure the kit comes with case lube. Pretty sure it does but if it doesn't pick up a tube(like $2).

The hardest part to get right is the powder measuring. Set the powder measure that comes with the kit to your desired weight(verified with the balance scale) and confirm powder charge every 10th or so round. The measure is not the most accurate but it's a far step above using just a scoop. Whatever you do though do not get within a grain of the max charge as I've found volumetric powder measures can vary by almost a grain depending on how the powder flows/type of powder used.

As well make sure to get a copy of 'modern reloading' by Lee and a Lyman reloading manual as well(for recipes and reference/procedure). Reading the book 'ABCs of reloading' is also a good first step.

Cheapest place to order is usually factorysales.com out of the US, but shipping is expensive from them(make sure you order everything you need/want).

Also if you look for a digital scale, DO NOT CHEAP OUT. Any scale under a few hundred is usually extremely inaccurate with lots of drift and can blow up your gun.
 
Lee Loaders(a lot of us started with one) will load good ammo if you use a scale. The only downside, aside from being slow, is that they neck size only. So if you bought brand new brass or once fired, both of which require FL resizing, you'll have grief. Otherwise, you're fine.
 
I would avoid the use of the ditigal scale you mentioned, unless you have a calibtrated weight set to go with it. Electronic scales can be effected by many variables.... you need to verify it reads right.

I would recommend you look into, if you have not already, the ability to perform dimensional checks and then correct if needed. For one, used cases can and will increase in lenght over repeated use ... and needs to be corrected.

Your original post indicates accuracy is not priority!! Reloading is one primary reason for accuracy!!

One may want to look at what they will spend on proper reloading equipment, how much they shoot, the importance of accuracy ... and compare it to the cost of buying bullets.

For "playing", there are alot of relatively cheap rounds out there ... which are proven.

If you don't fully commit to reloading, you may run into misfires and/or dangerous loads ... please take reloading seriously. SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE .. for there is only one of you!!

I have shot reloads, by others, and they have failed when it meant most.
 
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