n00b questions about reloading.

Mr. Friendly

Mr. Friendly

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hey all, I'm a late-comer to the world of firearms and hunting, but I'm here now and hopeful to stay. that said, I have a couple of hangups I need help with.

firstly, I'm on provincial disability, so my income is very low, so I can't afford to buy boxes of fresh ammunition to fire and keep myself up to snuff on.

secondly, that means I will have to reload to enjoy this sport which then leads me to several concerns...

I need to know what equipment I'll need? what's best bang for buck, maintaining enough quality that I won't be wasting my money.

I know you don't reload rimfire cartridges, and those are cheap enough to buy enmasse. I'm probably going to get something that's milsurp and shoots the .303 and my brother (who will also reload) will probably get something in the 30 caliber range as well (in case it matters with different presses and such).

so in summary:

- what equipment do I realistically need?
- are there any pre-made kits with the majority of what's needed?
- I'm willing to pay for quality as best I can, but remember I need to be cost conscious.

thank you all so very much for your help! :D please feel free to comment on things that I haven't mentioned, because I don't know better... :runaway:
 
If you can swing it, get the RCBS Rockchucker kit, and dies in the caliber you want, it's a good place to start and you can add a trimmer and a tumbler later, but you will not have to upgrade, as that press is still the "bee's knees".
 
I've picked up most of my stuff "on the cheap".
I'm hoping to get a list and pics posted soon.
I'll be using a Lee single stage press.
I've picked up dies and a few other pieces off the e.e. and e-bay.
I find the e.e. far superior to e-bay... doubt I'll go back that way.
 
ontgunner said:
I've picked up most of my stuff "on the cheap".
I'm hoping to get a list and pics posted soon.
I'll be using a Lee single stage press.
I've picked up dies and a few other pieces off the e.e. and e-bay.
I find the e.e. far superior to e-bay... doubt I'll go back that way.
Click to expand...
unfortunately that doesn't help me much as I don't even know what equipment I need. I know I need a press of some sort, I know I need something called dies, I know I need a scale to weigh the powder. if I mould my own bullets, I'll need that equipment...tho I probably will buy premade the bullets for the beginning until I know more.

I've seen there's a Lee's 50th Year kit for about $150 (a little less) and it comes with a Speers Reloading Manual #16 or some such.

are there other kits, besides the RCBS Rockchucker? I don't have $400 for a kit right now... :(
 
The very first thing you should pick up is a good reloading manual.
I got the latest one from Lyman.
It will take you step-by-step through the process, and show you the tools you need, and some you can add as you go along.
 
I started with the Lee Anniversary Challenger Kit and have replaced a few things along the way as I got more experienced and for ease of use. They are around $100-150 I think now. It has everything you need to get started (including the Lee Reloading manual) except dies, digital calipers and bullet components. I would recommend it as a cost conscious way to get into reloading.
 
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national reloading manufacturer's association- that'll at least give you an idea as to what you will be doing- it's pretty basic,
 
I would suggest trying to find a mentor(experienced reloader) or a fellow CGN'r in your area to show you the ropes it helps alot. They might even have dies for your calibers to help you load on their equipment until you can afford your own. Make new friends where you shoot and you will find lots of reloaders.
 
When I was getting into reloading I just bit the bullet and bought the RCBS rock chucker set. what a good investment. It came with everything you NEED to reload. I've expanded my collection now to include the lyman auto scale and a hornady tumbler and a whole host of other tools. but the rock chucker set and a few extra case holders is the starting point. split the cost with your brother and you'll be glad you bought such a solid press.

A few cost saver hints for you and general knowledge

1) when you get a case trimmer get the RCBS case trimmer without the motor. Then just take off the ghay handle put a 1/2 drill on it and go. lube the shaft with a bit of case lube and away you go. quick way to save a couple hundred bucks if you have a 1/2 drill kicking around.

2) you can often time buy dies on EBAY. Don't. order them from whole sale sports ask them to send you the right bullet bases that match the dies. the cost will be the same in the end but you won't end up with screwed up dies. I've been stung a few times and it isn't worth it to save the extra 10 bucks. EE is another good place to get them. BECAREFUL if your are reloading pistol or straight cartridges with CARBIDE dies. BUY NEW ONES as often times people are selling ones that are cracked.

3) the RCBS rockchucker can reload everything that is currently made in case sizes for small arms. from the .223 to the .50 bmg, some of the smaller presses are quite hard to reload .338 lapua magnum (RCBS partner) my buddy has one and it's just a bit small. There is also a kit to upgrade/switch the RCBS rockchucker into a progressive press for later on. (progressive presses do more then one step on more then one case everytime you pull down).

4) don't get a progessive press to start. the manual, slow, deliberate practice of a single stage press is important to learning how things work and what variables matter a little and what variables matter A LOT.

5) have a goal of what you want out of reloading. if you want cheap cheap reloads, then that is one thing. If you want to get all you can out of your rifle then that is another goal. the two goals are sometimes close in cost and somtimes VERY far apart, especially when it comes to bullets. You can buy bulk winchester bullets or you can buy sierra match moly coated blah blah blah's and the cost will go from .5 cents a bullet to .40 cents a bullet.

6) get a GOOD MANUAL. the more versions the better. Don't buy some manual that doesn't have a lot of versions. I have the speers and a few others. the manual is important because it will teach you the basics of HOW to reload. There are websites with bullet and ballistic data that can help you generate loads but none of this is any good if you don't understand HOW to reload. Speers is the best manual for this type of learning that I have found. It certainly doesn't have a tonne of loads but it does and EXCELLENT job of teaching. it also comes in the rockchucker set.

7) GET A GOOD MENTOR. Playing with powder that goes BAM is dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Manuals and Mentors are the way to make this safe and fun. Once you get the hang of it and have a few issues come up and solve them your confidence and understanding will quickly grow.

8) experiment. EACH rifle you own will shoot different even if chambered in the same round. I have 3 rifles that shoot .223 /5.56 ammo and they all like different recipes. I have a rifle called a M1A supermatch. By switching powder from IMR 4320 (45 grains) to IMR 4350 (47 grains) my groups shooting 155 palma bullets (Sierra Matchking) shrunk from 1" to 1/2" at 100m. That means my rifles margin of error shrunk 50%, the rest is up to me (which is where the HUGE MARGIN of error beings :)

9) get a good digital caliper. you can buy them for a decent price usually at an auto parts store. Make sure it does thousandths and one more .5 of a thousands. you need that accuracy for case trimming and for case dimensions.

10) have fun. there is nothing like the satisfaction of shooting factory rounds and sucking and changing over to your handloads and watching the rifle preform.

cheers.
 
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I would suggest for pure cheap shooting consider a bargain SKS and a case of surplus ammo for about $500.00. Now as far reloading goes , consider a Lee single stage press and RCBS 223 dies and a 223 bolt gun. $310.00 for a Stevens to $600.00 for a Remington. .223 is about the cheapest to load and as accurate as you would want.
 
I recommend the user friendly ABC's of Reloading, which is available thru Amazon.ca for much cheaper ($17.33) than the fancy manuals:
abcs.jpg

http://www.amazon.ca/Abcs-Reloading...=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211093977&sr=8-7

Also look into Lee equipment, no matter what the snobs say. If you're not turning out thousands of rounds all the time, their prices are unbeatable.
http://www.leeprecision.com/
 
If you look about on Ebay, at shops closing down, smaller shops with very old stock, local ex-shooters and garage sales, you may find some very good bargains.
Ben is right in that you do require an O-frame press, be sure to purchase a heavy cast press and do give the light alloy jobs a miss, do not feel the need to purchase new as very few of the second hand press's have had any meaningful work, if you find a cheap cast C-frame press, grab it for seating...it will suffice.
Now unless you can purchase a good quality set of scales (either balance or electric) second hand, you may have to purchase new....do not stint on quality with the scales.
You do not initially require a powder thrower as you can manually dribble charges onto the scales.
Dies are dies when loading for a .303 Br, second hand are fine to start with.
A trimmer and rocket ship can wait until a future date, but save yourself some aggravation and purchase new brass to start with.
You shall require a loading manual, but to start with you can utilise the powder manufactures sites on the internet, or simply ask here and someone will post the required load listings....for free.
Good luck.

Just one thing more....every shooter that is still in the game thinks that his old used gear is worth new price, try to purchase from blokes that have given the shooting game away.
 
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I just started using my Lee Challenger press. Cost me $100 from WS. Suggest you go to the Lee and RCBS site-especially the RCBS site for its videos so you can see the stuff at work. Look around both sites and you will see lots of pictures of all of the stuff they make. Lee even makes a cheap little hand loading press for about $25 just add dies etc. You will need a scale, trickler and a whole list of stuff that is not expensive. Have a look and see what other people are using. Maybe ask on this site if any GNers are in your hood and they may be willing to show you their stuff. The people in this site are of great help and quite friendly. Dont be afraid to ask. Once you have a feel for it you can probably get almost everything you need used on this site too. Damn, I love the EE! :)
 
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