Reloading for dummies
- Thread starter StiffDrink
- Start date
Brassman66
CGN frequent flyer
Nice to have, but not needed when you start out reloading.
Well if they OP is going to reload bottle neck cases, esp 1x fired from someone else's rifle and not virgin brass, then he'll need a trimmer.
Vibrating tumbler etc are nice to have but if you are in a pinch, you can use a poor-man's wash ie 1cup vinegar, 4cups water, tablespoon of dishwashing soap and a tablespoon of salt. Let soak for about 20-30mins, agitate every few mins then do a final rinse with some baking soda.
Last edited:
Nothing crazy, just looking for somthing fun to do. i cast my own musket ammo so i would like to cast my own .45 in the end to use
There is no "set-up with a Lee Loader. just some metal parts in a box. No way to personalize it unless someone painted them pink. There is already a thread running on reloading benches, look there for personal set-ups. But since you need to see a "personal" set-up I'll show you a couple.
"...What components? Dies?..." Um, if you don't know what a component is, read a manual before you buy anything. Said manual wil be part of the minimum too. Bullets, primers and powder are components.
"...picture for this lee loader..." Go to Lee's site and look at their Classic Loader. And it's a plastic mallet, not a hammer. Throw the scops away and buy a scale too. The scoops are inaccurate.
"...picture for this lee loader..." Go to Lee's site and look at their Classic Loader. And it's a plastic mallet, not a hammer. Throw the scops away and buy a scale too. The scoops are inaccurate.
Tumblers are fairly cheap, especially if you get a used one.....When I first started i was cleaning 9mm brass by hand. I got a tumbler pretty quick. lol
As for trimmers, like Trinimon said, you will need some method of trimming for your rifle cases, lee is the cheapest. Trimming is a vital step not to be overlooked.
With reloading there are lots of little things you will run into that require a new different tool, its just kinda part of the game. That's why people say it does not save you money.... you just get to shoot more! BUT reloading for some, like myself, is a very enjoyable hobby in itself.
First step like many have said is reading.
Enjoy!
As for trimmers, like Trinimon said, you will need some method of trimming for your rifle cases, lee is the cheapest. Trimming is a vital step not to be overlooked.
With reloading there are lots of little things you will run into that require a new different tool, its just kinda part of the game. That's why people say it does not save you money.... you just get to shoot more! BUT reloading for some, like myself, is a very enjoyable hobby in itself.
First step like many have said is reading.
Enjoy!
there is no "set-up with a lee loader. Just some metal parts in a box. No way to personalize it unless someone painted them pink. There is already a thread running on reloading benches, look there for personal set-ups. But since you need to see a "personal" set-up i'll show you a couple.
lol.....
I would support reading ABCs of Reloading before doing anything else.
Three-and-a-half types of reloading gear in common use.
The Lee Loader comes in a small box, maybe 6" square. It produces good ammo but is slow and noisy. All the actions essentially depend on hammering the brass.
The others depend on compound leverage and are thus quicker and easier. They are of course much more expensive.
The single stage press can be fitted with interchangeable, cartridge-specific dies. Each die does a task - resizing, belling the neck, seating the bullet, etc. You need to run all your cases through one die, then change dies, run them all through again, etc. it's much faster than the LL and once you have the press, all you need buy are new dies to do other rounds. This is where most people start and most never go any further.
Turret presses are about the same except that the dies fit into a detachable steel plate and you can just turn the plate - faster.
Progressive presses are like miniature factories. Every time you pull the lever, you get a complete round of ammo. If you shoot a lot of ammo, this is for you. Most people don't need one. They are more complicated and more expensive. But fast!
If you decide on a press, there are kits with the major bits and pieces. Read ABCs first.
Three-and-a-half types of reloading gear in common use.
The Lee Loader comes in a small box, maybe 6" square. It produces good ammo but is slow and noisy. All the actions essentially depend on hammering the brass.
The others depend on compound leverage and are thus quicker and easier. They are of course much more expensive.
The single stage press can be fitted with interchangeable, cartridge-specific dies. Each die does a task - resizing, belling the neck, seating the bullet, etc. You need to run all your cases through one die, then change dies, run them all through again, etc. it's much faster than the LL and once you have the press, all you need buy are new dies to do other rounds. This is where most people start and most never go any further.
Turret presses are about the same except that the dies fit into a detachable steel plate and you can just turn the plate - faster.
Progressive presses are like miniature factories. Every time you pull the lever, you get a complete round of ammo. If you shoot a lot of ammo, this is for you. Most people don't need one. They are more complicated and more expensive. But fast!
If you decide on a press, there are kits with the major bits and pieces. Read ABCs first.
I'm also new to reloading and found a couple of evenings surfing youtube was a big help. There's lots of videos out there by people who love to hear themselves talk and demonstrate their knowledge 
Take advantage of that.
I went with the Lee Handheld Press for starters....it's inexpensive and doesn't require a lot of space.
Take advantage of that.I went with the Lee Handheld Press for starters....it's inexpensive and doesn't require a lot of space.
Congratulations. For any beginner on a shoestring budget, this is a great way to get started. The press is about $60, dies for $40. Depending on what you are loading, the scoop is fine for hunting accuracy. No bench needed, your entire kit, including powder, can be packed away in a tool box. I can FL resize .30-06 cases on mine without any extra effort.I'm also new to reloading and found a couple of evenings surfing youtube was a big help. There's lots of videos out there by people who love to hear themselves talk and demonstrate their knowledge
I went with the Lee Handheld Press for starters....it's inexpensive and doesn't require a lot of space.
Grabbed a couple of books and going to start reading first. Any suggestions for something that does both shot shells and 7.62 x 39. Here comes the flames. Is .22 worth reloading? just asking because I honestly don't know. I have two young shooters that pound threw a bucket of .22 like they were smarties.
Barnes_270
Regular
- Location
- Langley, BC
There isn't a press that can do both rifle and shotshells (that I know of). You also can't reload rimfire - how would you reprime it?
I read once that in isolated regions of the late and unlamented USSR, it was not unknown in times of shortage to reload .22 rimfire by making a paste of ground-up strike-anywhere match heads and pushing it into the rim with a stick or something, letting it dry and then reloading it with surplus propellant. I suppose it might work, but for me it's an intellectual exercise only. Among other things, such match heads contain ground glass; imagine what that would do to your bore.
- Location
- Banana Republik of Kebekistan
StiffDrink, don't take this wrong and please read your OP again. Sincerely sorry if I sounded condescending (was not my intention) but it is what me and others have answered to.
PS: congrats for identifying correctly (but misspelling) the deep sea mofo hazardous skill.
heavyBullet
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Just off the island of MTL
Lee loadrs make great ammo, I still use mine, I have one for every caliber I have, just remember you need fire formed brass from the particular rifle you will be reloading for, so hopefully you have been saving all your brass, if not you may need someone to full length resize them for you since a lee loader only neck sizes.
It's just the way it seemed, but it's ok. I was literally lookin for a point form, bullet points list of items, not any novel. Anyway I will try to write more and ask less next time.
Btw, SAR swift water rescue tech and rescue diver
