New rabbit hole to start down

AB3006

AB3006

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Well, I've been a GunNut for just about a year now. Got rifles for me, got rifles for my kids, got everyone shooting.It's now time to jump into the next level. Reloading.

I went to my local LGS, and this followed me home:
1727845481676.png

On order, I have Lee Ultimate die sets for 243 and 30-06.

What's the next purchase to start (I have a bunch of once-fired brass in both calibers)?

I am looking for suggestions in 1) Best powder to start with (for each cal); 2) Best bullets to start with (looking for accurate bullets to also hunt with); 3) primer suggestions; and 4) other ancillary equipment not in this set.
 
I don't see a scale in that set-up, a good one would be the next thing I would look for, and you'll need a set of calipers. If your brass is too long they'll need to be trimmed.
 
Lyman Pocket Touch ...It's there Mauser...in the package with the scoop and the powder funnel.


AB3006...you do this long enuff, you'll fill a mechanics tool chest with reloading "stuff" LMAO

Reloading...It's an awesome and very gratifying hobby ! Here's a list of some thing that will surely help you along the path to shooting more often and getting better groups !
My uncle first showed me how to load brass 12 ga shells in 1973 ! That was the start of my life long reloading obsession ..lol I loaded for everything I ever shot in my lifetime.. from 32 ACP to 45 ACP..all my pistols, my rifles 223 to 300 WM and the new 6.5 PRC, and shotguns 12 ga to 410 !
Still doing rifle and shotgun to this day !

You should have a case trimmer of sorts...LEE are good, NOT expensive, they're caliber specific, they work fine and coupled with a cutter and lock stud will last a long time ! You CAN do it by hand...BUTTT a battery operated Power drill is soooo much easier) you can also use it for cleaning cases.

Get some of the newer / better case lube as opposed to the heavy oil on the lube pad supplied with your kit. Hornady One Shot or Dillon Case lube both work real good. Much easier to clean off the residuals left on your cases.

Grab some #0000 steel wool...along with your 1/2 inch chuck battery operated drill...you can quickly clean up dark necks and polish a few cases in small batches. Tumblers are a good investment IF...you're shooting hundreds of rounds a month from dirty semi's..lol

I would highly recommend getting a hand priming tool. Much easier to "feel" the loose primer pockets when seating your primers. You can then mark that case for tossing.
Stuck case remover....JIC it happens !
Definitely ...a Set of Vernier calipers !!!
Primer Pocket cleaner ( if there's none included)
Loading journal / log book...KEEP RECORDS/ batches of brass...you'll soon see why..lol

I have had great luck with IMR 4350 in both calibers you mentioned, ANNNNND there's still some available from most LG Shops and suppliers. There is still some large rifle primers kicking around..same one for both.
Lots of bullet selections around, but Hornady and Nosler seem to be in stock in most places. Nosler Partitions for your 243...100 or 105 grainers ! The '06...all depends on what you like. I always liked the 165 grainers for it and my 308's !
Any thing else I can think of...I'll add for you

Best of luck with it ! Kevin
 
Your manual has lots of recipes. Generally, the ones near the top of the list are better. At least they employ powders with the correct burn rate (huh?, read your manual)
Your rifles will preferentially tune to a bullet weight, and each rifle is unique, so asking the internet is a waste of time. Dont be fooled by expensive "premium" bullets. I've had the best performance (accuracy and hunting performance) from Hornady Interlock SP bullets.
 
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Consider an electronic powder measure. I use a manual one (RCBS) but it's the measuring of powder/using the trickler I find frustrating. Especially in the dead of winter when everything is dry and static-y. I'm considering an RCBS Chargemaster (or similar), and probably won't reload again until I have one. lol
 
I recall the days when I first got into reloading, I went with another brand but similar. A few years later I've still got the itch, I have managed to add to my collection bit by bit. Welcome to the club!
 
Hmatt said:
95 is average in central AB I’ve seen. I saw 4350 for 129.99 in a couple stores tho!
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I just bought a couple lb’s of IMR 4064 for $60 on sale, just gotta keep yEr 👁 👁 peeled.

Op needs something to clean cases as well as trim cases, a hand primer is good but I enjoy priming on the press more. A good quality caliper is always a good purchase.
 
Welcome to the rabbit hole! Reloading has always been a source of relaxing activity for me. I started with a LEE Classic Loader, but have expanded. My first press was a Lyman Spar-T, several LEE progressives and some other LEE presses, and all other "necessary" items. Lot of years ago, I branched out into casting my own bullets, and have recently dived into powder coating. Just a while ago, I bought a .22 caliber gas check maker.

Read some reloading books and check online for some very interesting articles and information.Hopefully you will derive lots of pleasure from reloading. There are some very knowledgeable members on here, always ready to help.
 
Get a beam scale, the Lyman Brass Smith is nice. I wish I would have known that 20 years ago.

Wet tumble your brass with stainless steel pins, Lemishine and Armor All Wash and Wax. The Thumblers Tumbler hexagon works well. Makes it easier to see problems with the cases if any develop and cleans the primer pocket.
 
AB3006 said:
Well, I've been a GunNut for just about a year now.
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Well, that statement tells me that the best thing you can do for yourself & your pocketbook is find a loading mentor that is close and accessible for questions and answers.
Lots of good suggestions in the above post on stuff you "could use" but very few of them are essential to a new reloader. The digital powder measures are nice, the case cleaners are nice, the case prep stations are nice ....but you can get along nicely without them to begin with ....your loading volume down the road will tell you what is worthwhile spending a lot of money on.
there is one item mentioned a couple of time that I would recommend as essential and that is a case trimmer and one other item not mentioned yet and that is a digital caliper ( I bought 2 of them at Canadian tire last week for $30 each). It is quite common for reloads to be a bit hard to chamber and brass uniformity & accurate measurements are the only way to make easy chambering a certainty with every batch you reload.
What part of Ab are you in, there might be a willing mentor on here that is close to you.
 
fingers284 said:
Well, that statement tells me that the best thing you can do for yourself & your pocketbook is find a loading mentor that is close and accessible for questions and answers.
Lots of good suggestions in the above post on stuff you "could use" but very few of them are essential to a new reloader. The digital powder measures are nice, the case cleaners are nice, the case prep stations are nice ....but you can get along nicely without them to begin with ....your loading volume down the road will tell you what is worthwhile spending a lot of money on.
there is one item mentioned a couple of time that I would recommend as essential and that is a case trimmer and one other item not mentioned yet and that is a digital caliper ( I bought 2 of them at Canadian tire last week for $30 each). It is quite common for reloads to be a bit hard to chamber and brass uniformity & accurate measurements are the only way to make easy chambering a certainty with every batch you reload.
What part of Ab are you in, there might be a willing mentor on here that is close to you.
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Agreed. In terms of the ancillaries you mention... I am a dabbler/tinkerer and somewhat of a hoarder. I have two vernier calipers and a 2-4 inch micrometer. I like to pretend that I'm a hobby machinist :|

I'm in Freistadt Stampedeville :D
 
AB3006 said:
Well, I've been a GunNut for just about a year now. Got rifles for me, got rifles for my kids, got everyone shooting.It's now time to jump into the next level. Reloading.

I went to my local LGS, and this followed me home:
View attachment 828603

On order, I have Lee Ultimate die sets for 243 and 30-06.

What's the next purchase to start (I have a bunch of once-fired brass in both calibers)?

I am looking for suggestions in 1) Best powder to start with (for each cal); 2) Best bullets to start with (looking for accurate bullets to also hunt with); 3) primer suggestions; and 4) other ancillary equipment not in this set.
Click to expand...
You need calipers. And I agree with the earlier suggestion to get a beam scale - the Lyman Pocket Touch is a cheap electronic scale, and cheap electronic powder scales are seldom a good investment. Reliable, accurate electronic scales start at about the $200 mark. I have good electronic scales and I still check them against the beam scale periodically to confirm.
 
jethunter said:
You need calipers. And I agree with the earlier suggestion to get a beam scale - the Lyman Pocket Touch is a cheap electronic scale, and cheap electronic powder scales are seldom a good investment. Reliable, accurate electronic scales start at about the $200 mark. I have good electronic scales and I still check them against the beam scale periodically to confirm.
Click to expand...
I have calipers and micrometers... and 0.0005" tolerance standardized mandrels for testing bore diameters. I hoard tools :D

I also have an electronic lab balance... it doesn't do grain weights but it's dead nuts accurate.
 
Get a few books and someone that has been at it for a long time, you will save money and time!!
 
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