new to reloading, suggestions please

I

islquest

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I have just picked up a Lee progressive 1000 press from a friend, with the 9mm, 38/357 and 10mm/40 cal dies. So far I have played around and taken it apart to clean it, check it out and learn how it works. Now I am about to look into actually using it. It came with tons of good brass (along with all that I have been saving), primers, etc. but I need to get powder and this is where I have NO idea where to even start.
Is there a versatile powder that will work for all, do I need different powders? If so, what would you recommend? If it makes any difference the 38/357's are revolvers, 40 is a standard handgun and the 9mm's are both a handgun and a KV 9mm. I will also be using this for my rifles but that is once I get the others figured out.
Much appreciated.
 
islquest said:
I have just picked up a Lee progressive 1000 press from a friend, with the 9mm, 38/357 and 10mm/40 cal dies. So far I have played around and taken it apart to clean it, check it out and learn how it works. Now I am about to look into actually using it. It came with tons of good brass (along with all that I have been saving), primers, etc. but I need to get powder and this is where I have NO idea where to even start.
Is there a versatile powder that will work for all, do I need different powders? If so, what would you recommend? If it makes any difference the 38/357's are revolvers, 40 is a standard handgun and the 9mm's are both a handgun and a KV 9mm. I will also be using this for my rifles but that is once I get the others figured out.
Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

It depends on what is available; a couple years back I got a deal on 8 lbs of HP38. It is a powder that is a bit on the fast side, but burns very clean in standard loads, I load 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP and .38 special; it is not recommended for magnum loads. When available in the past I have used Universal, Clays and 700X. All work well, but 700X is rather dirty.

I have two Pro 1000 presses; you will need patience and some mechanical/engineering skills to set-up and trouble shoot. Changeovers are not as seamless as one would hope; which is why I have two. Minimal changeovers mean reduced set-up time. I know a guy with 4 who does zero changeovers.

Primer systems must be kept impeccably clean; priming is where you will have the most glitches. I have an air compressor with an air nozzle close at hand. Case feeder and collator work surprising well. I don't have a bullet feeder.

Completed rounds don't always slide down the chute as one would hope; and spent primers go everywhere.

I don't reload rifle with mine, and I don't know anyone who does. I used to use an old Lyman Turret press that I bought new in the 70's and wore out over the years, I recently upgraded to a single stage RCBS Rock-chucker to which I added the Lee Breach-lock bushings and priming with a Lee autoprime bench mounted primer. I only load 6.5 x 55 and 7 x 57 at the moment. I wish I had bought one years ago.

Sounds like a bleak picture, but I am very happy with mine, and have loaded thousands and thousands of rounds.

Glad to answer any other questions you might have.

Mark
 
Did you get any published reloading manuals with the equipment? If you intend on loading all those calibers, look at the data and you should see some common powders. If not, you really should get a manual anyway. Lots of good info and the more books you get, the better. Try to pick out several powders because your next problem is going to be supply. Right now stocks are limited and you might have to make do with what is available.

Your cartridges can cover a large range of applications so it is hard to find one powder for everything. Having said that versatile powders for most middle of the road bullet weights include W231, HS-6, HP-38, Unique or Power Pistol. Titegroup might be another one to try. I use 700X in some of my pistol loading but that is just because I inherited a bunch of it and I am working through it.

Good luck.
 
islquest said:
I have just picked up a Lee progressive 1000 press from a friend, with the 9mm, 38/357 and 10mm/40 cal dies. So far I have played around and taken it apart to clean it, check it out and learn how it works. Now I am about to look into actually using it. It came with tons of good brass (along with all that I have been saving), primers, etc. but I need to get powder and this is where I have NO idea where to even start.
Is there a versatile powder that will work for all, do I need different powders? If so, what would you recommend? If it makes any difference the 38/357's are revolvers, 40 is a standard handgun and the 9mm's are both a handgun and a KV 9mm. I will also be using this for my rifles but that is once I get the others figured out.
Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Get yourself a couple of reloading manuals. They are generally a wealth of information. If you have a friend or acquaintance close by, get them to give you a hand. The Lee 1000 is adequate but as others have said, it is a bit finicky.
I have had good success with Tightgroup for both 38 Spl, 45 ACP and 9 MM.
 
islquest said:
I have just picked up a Lee progressive 1000 press from a friend, with the 9mm, 38/357 and 10mm/40 cal dies.
Click to expand...

burnratechartnew.jpg


There is a huge range of powders that could potentially be of use to you. On this chart, powder #3 might be used for some light .38 special loads, and you might go right up to #74, using Longshot in heavy .357 mag loads. Almost every powder in between could be used somewhere, in something you have.

For one powder that will do well in all those calibers, focus on the range from #40 to #62 (Winchester 231 to Autocomp).
 
Thank you all for the replies. I have several manuals already but I am looking to see if a few might be outdated. Definitely looking for more manuals and more knowledge before I commit myself to reloading. Thanks again for all the advise.
 
I have the One Book/ One Caliber books for each of the calibers I will be reloading, I also have the Sierra Bullets book, and another I just need to remember where I put it. The One Book manuals so far seem to have the most information but they also seem to be the most confusing because of all the variables involved. I just need to pick one powder, one bullet and go from there to start, then start branching out.

MilitaryCollectorMark said:
What kinds of manuals do you have??

I have a couple that I could take pictures of the reloads?
Click to expand...
 
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