My Short/Long term reloading plan (please fill in the blanks)

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voxdei

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So i'm pretty new shooting in general. I fired my first gun in January and I've jumped into the sport with booth fleet. My rPAL is in the mail, I've already bought my first pistol from the US a SIG P226 .40S&W. I'm looking at IPSC shooting eventually so volume is going to be a issue for me. I'll eventually look at a M305 so i'd like to do .308 reloading eventually soon too. I'm making a shopping list and i think i'm going to start with the LEE turret press and i'd like to know what i'm missing.

LEE TURRET PRESS DELUXE 4 HOLE TURRET AUTO INDEX KIT $145
http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/frame.cfm?ItemID=4&CategoryID=19
DILLON CARBIDE DIES IN .40S&W $65
LEE 40 S&W POWDER THRU EXPANDING DIE $15
(might go with the LEE UNIVERSAL CHARGING DIE instead)
LEE SAFETY PRIMER FEED COMBO (LARGE & SMALL) $25
Vernier Calipers 6 inch Stainless Digital Calipers $20
LEE AUTO DISK RISER (think i need this but not sure) $12
HORNADY GS-1500 Electronic Digital Scale $35
RCBS BULLET PULLER POWER PULL $22
Hornady HANDBOOK OF CART RIDGE RELOADING 8th EDIT $36
49th Edition Reloading Handbook $28
The ABCs Of Reloading $20


Once i go rifle i'll Add

Dillon Carbide Rifle Die .308 $160
Lee Turret $12
LEE 308 WIN CASE LENGTH GAUGE $6
FRANKFORD ARSENAL QUICK-N -EZ CASE TUMBER KIT 110v $85

Setup in Turret will be

Stage one - Sizing
Stage Two - Universal charging die
Stage Three- Bullet Seat
Stage Four - Crimp die

I chose dillon dies because from what I've read they are smoother than Lee Or Hornady dies


Long term goal is to get the
Hornady LNL AP bullet factory for $1200
HORNADY 40/10MM BULLET FEEDER DIE $28
Hornady Case feeder Plate x2 (not sure what size i need small rifle/smallpistol?
RCBS RCBS LOCK OUT DIE $58
RCBS RCBS POWDER CHECK DIE $40



No the set up on this is...odd

Stage one - Size
Stage two - Powder (am i missing a die for this?)
Stage Three - Powder check
Stage four - Bullet feeder
Stage five - bullet Seat die

No crimp? this part has me confused. Did i set this up wrong? Is there anything on this list I'm missing? This is my plan and i got most these prices from Henry's.
 
I don't see the need for the Dillon Carbide rifle die. I would suggest RCBS, Lee, Hornady, Lyman, Forster, Redding etc normal Full Length sizing dies for your rifle loading. You still have to use lube with the Carbide rifle die and since you will never wear out a normal die I would not pay the extra for it. For a commercial loader that is planning on 10s of thousands of rounds there may be an advantage but for an average loader or even benchrest competitor the normal brands work great. I also feel the Lee Pistol dies are good dies and a great value. I like to crimp pistol seperately and add a Lee Taper crimp die for the calibre I load. I do not use the Lee Factory Crimp die for pistol much any more.

I would make sure you buy the Lee Classic Turret 90064 around $100 (Cast Iron) and not the old Lee Deluxe Turret press (in your link). The Classic Turret press can also be had in a kit 90304 for just over $200.

I would support your choice of the Auto Disk riser with the Turret press and the Lyman 49th manual. Lee 2nd manual is also a good read. I would pick up Redding's Imperial Sizing die wax when you start sizing rifle cases. The case length gauge for 308 and a Lee Zip trim and Ball cutter are nice to trim with. Also I don't think you will find the Auto disk works well for charging 308 cases. You will either need to add the Perfect Powder measure to the Universal Charge die or weigh/measure each charge and then add to case through a funnel.

You will also want a set of dial or digital calipres to measure case lengths, cartridge lengths and bullet diameters with. $30 at home depot and a new battery once or twice a year does great.
 
Oh. Will the Universal Charge die not work with the Auto Disk Powder Measure?

Ya i was kind not sure if i wanted the Lee 2nd Manual or the hornady manual.

Die's are confusing me a lot. I assume that all die kits would be the same. But things like the hornady die set have a seater/crimp die...but i can't figure out what the third die is in the kit. I thought Reddings were super high end Dies (benchrest). For the dies i'm mostly looking for what ever is the smoothest.

Edit: Digital Calipres are on my first list right under the primer
 
voxdei said:
Oh. Will the Universal Charge die not work with the Auto Disk Powder Measure?

Ya i was kind not sure if i wanted the Lee 2nd Manual or the hornady manual.

Die's are confusing me a lot. I assume that all die kits would be the same. But things like the hornady die set have a seater/crimp die...but i can't figure out what the third die is in the kit. I thought Reddings were super high end Dies (benchrest). For the dies i'm mostly looking for what ever is the smoothest.

Edit: Digital Calipres are on my first list right under the primer
Click to expand...

Dies
for a pistol caliber with straight case there are:
  • case sizing die - brings the enlarged case to the SAAMI dimensions
  • case mouth expanding die (sometimes the powder is poured through this die) - this one slightly enlarges the case mouth to accept the bullet
  • bullet seating die - forces the bullet into the case to an adjustable depth to obtain the recommended OAL. Most of these dies also apply a taper crimp to the case canceling previously applied the expansion.
  • crimping die (optional) - this one will apply a taper/collar/roll crimp on the case according to the specs. (9mm headspaces on the case mouth so very little taper crimping is required while 38 special headspaces on the rim so a heavy roll crimp may be in order)
  • loaded cartridge sizing die (optional) - re-sizes the cartridge taking care of the bullet bulge. Sometimes it is part of the crimping die.
 
I own most of the current manuals and like the way the Lyman and Lee cover a lot of bullet types/general load info. Eventually you may find yourself with several manuals, and if you like Hornady bullets the manual from them has specific load data that is very helpful.

Basically all the manuals first 1/3 is how to reload. The rest is load data specific to different calibres. I don't load .257 Roberts or .35 Whelen etc so those 6 pages will not likely be read by me.

For 308 Win a normal RCBS or Lee, FL set will smoothly reload nice accurate ammo.

I didn't look into the compatibility of the auto disk with the Universal die. It's just that it won't put out enough powder for 308. It was designed for pistol loading and with the double disk kit can load some powders (ball like Win 748 etc) in some smaller rifle cases (22 Hornet, 223 etc). I don't think a powder like IMR 4895 or Varget would do well in it, nor would you get enough through it for 308 loading. I would put a Lee funnel on the case or in the Universal die if it fits and either measure (RCBS Uniflor/ Lee Perfect Powder Measure) or weigh each charge and manually add it. You can also add the Lee Perfect to the Universal so the press actuates it. I did this for a few hundred 308 in a Lee Loadmaster but that's a different story altogether.

Here's a list of mostly Lee stuff for 40SW and 308

Classic Turret Kit 90304
Auto Disk Riser 90041
Perfect Powder Measure 90058
Funnel 90190
40 S&W 4 die set 90965
Lee RGB 308 Win dies 90879
Lee #2 Shellholder (308) 90519
Lee 308 Case Length Gauge 90139
Ball Grip Cutter 90275
Zip Trim 90899
Spare 4 hole turret 90269
Digital Scale
Digital Calipre and spare battery
Tumbler and Media separator
Hammer Type Bullet Puller
Case Loading block to set charged cases in
Lyman 49th Manual
Lee 2nd Manual
Book to record your loads in
Bench, bolts, screws for press and measures etc.
Safety Glasses for priming
 
Looks like you are on your way. I just bought the LNL bullet factory. Do your homework before you buy it. If I were to do it again I would gave bought a dillion. Trying to find a store with Hornady parts and accessories currently in stock...good luck. Hornady reps admit that they are back ordered for months. I have a Dillion dealer 10 min away.
That said, once set up, it runs really nice. I mainly use it for 9, 40, and 45. The longer 357 and 44 cases are a PITA trying to get all 5 shells to line up with the dies. I have a 223 shellplate but have not tried it yet.
Personally, Lee has one of the best reloading manuals going. Unless you get a screaming deal on the ABC of reloading, save your money.
Try and find someone with in your club who would be willing to show you the ropes. You would learn more in a couple Sat afternoons than you would by yourself bin a year.
D
 
Count_x said:
Looks like you are on your way. I just bought the LNL bullet factory. Do your homework before you buy it. If I were to do it again I would gave bought a dillion. Trying to find a store with Hornady parts and accessories currently in stock...good luck. Hornady reps admit that they are back ordered for months. I have a Dillion dealer 10 min away.
That said, once set up, it runs really nice. I mainly use it for 9, 40, and 45. The longer 357 and 44 cases are a PITA trying to get all 5 shells to line up with the dies. I have a 223 shellplate but have not tried it yet.
Personally, Lee has one of the best reloading manuals going. Unless you get a screaming deal on the ABC of reloading, save your money.
Try and find someone with in your club who would be willing to show you the ropes. You would learn more in a couple Sat afternoons than you would by yourself bin a year.
D
Click to expand...

Odd. I can't find anyone who sells Dillon. Everything here is LEE, Honady, RCBS. Henry's is in surrey he seems to have all the hornady stuff for the LNL AP
 
The Shooting Edge in Calgary stocks Dillon.

Many people I talked to called Dillon and bought their set up direct.
 
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