Newbie Reloader wants advice.

S

saskcowboy

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Lipton, SK
Hi folks,
Just getting into the reloading game, planning on buying a Rockchucker kit right away. To start off with, I am going to be loading for 22-250, out of a Weatherby Vanguard. Targeted quarry includes yotes, gophers and paper. I have a large pile of once fired Remington brass, is it better to start from scratch with new brass or buy a tumbler and clean my own stuff? Also looking for advice on which powders and primers to start with? Will be using 36 gr Varmint Grenades. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. What tools and equipment am i likely to need in addition to what comes in the kit? I have been knocking off 400 rounds and up a year, which is why i am wanting to try reloading. I dont really expect much of a savings, but i think i have enough volume of shooting to justify the equipment.
Thanks

Saskcowboy
 
saskcowboy said:
Hi folks,
What tools and equipment am i likely to need in addition to what comes in the kit?
Saskcowboy
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with starting with your own once fired brass. I'm not a fan of using other people's "once fired" brass unless you know it's history.

As far as other tools, a decent set of vernier calipers will come in very handy (not the cheap plastic ones), as will a powder trickler. The list goes on and on from there :D

Chris.
 
Don't forget the ( dies ) as they don't come with the kit and brass trimmers and many little plugs and pins and brass holders and at least more than one type of ( bullets and weights) to try find what your gun likes and so the pain grows in leaps and bounds____________and more than one manuals to cross check loads plus primer loading thing and so on
 
Last edited:
I highly recommend the Lee collet die for your application, i.e. neck sizing fireformed brass from the same rifle you are reloading for. No lube/cleanup required, which is a big timesaver, and no runout on the necks.
 
I bought the same kit and really like it . the warrenty is great if you bugger anything up on the equipment or the dies (if you buy RCBS dies).
I would agree with a good vernier calipers and as far as a cheap option for resizing is the Lee case trimmer $5.99 and a Leepilot and shell holder for $6.49. The kit comes with a manual but you can get tones of reloading info from the web site of whatever powder you choose for reference info.
If you feel you need a tumbler I bought a fairly cheap cabelas tumbler and it has worked good for a couple years so far. For the amount you say your going to shoot is about the same as I do and I would think this would last for quite a while.
Good luck and have fun
 
If you want to save a few bucks, you don't actually need a tumbler. Shiny is nice, but not necessary.
Come to think of it, a powder trickler is unnecessary too. Thumb and forefinger work just as well.
 
saskcowboy said:
Thats interesting. Just checked out the Lee website, sounds like that is a fit. It says that its not recommended for hunting? Why is that?
Click to expand...

Neck sizing shrinks the neck only enough to hold the bullet. While hunting the bullet may somehow get pushed inwards leading to dangerous pressures. But ... crimping comes to the rescue. Get a Lee factory crimp die as well.
 
Please refer to post #9 above. Neck-sized cartridges allow the case body and shoulder to move forward to fit the chamber of the rifle. This makes for a tight fit, and it can be a little snug when chambering these cartridges, requiring a little bit of force to close the bolt. You certainly can't cycle the action for quick follow-up shots nearly as quickly or easily. Set up your resizing die for partial-full length resizing and you'll get a nice compromise between neck-sizing and FL sizing for hunting rifles.
 
Jordan Smith said:
Please refer to post #9 above. Neck-sized cartridges allow the case body and shoulder to move forward to fit the chamber of the rifle. This makes for a tight fit, and it can be a little snug when chambering these cartridges, requiring a little bit of force to close the bolt. You certainly can't cycle the action for quick follow-up shots nearly as quickly or easily. Set up your resizing die for partial-full length resizing and you'll get a nice compromise between neck-sizing and FL sizing for hunting rifles.
Click to expand...


Buy the Lee Deluxe 3 die set so you have the Collet neck die, FL die, and seater. That way you can neck size most of the time, and when your rounds do become stiff to chamber after several firings, you can run them through the FL die. Your brass will last far longer this way than FL or partial FL sizing it every time. It is a good practice to use relatively new brass for hunting loads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom