Reloading Newbie Questions

David_M

David_M

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Hey guys, I know a lot of you know way more about this stuff than I do, so I thought I would ask. I am new to reloading and don't have a big budget, I am looking for a starter kit or a list of stuff I need. Does this kit look any good?

http://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-challenger-kit.html

If so, do I need anything else? If not what are your suggestions? Any help is greatly appreciated, and btw I want to reload 6.5x55 Swede.

Thanks, Dave
 
I was once in your shoes. While I am better off now, I am not so much better that I have the top of the line equipment espoused here on CGN in sickening profliferation. So, since I started with a Lee Loader and a hammer, this will get you set up.
You still need dies and a trim length gauge for trimming your brass. The scale works but is so finicky, I lost patience and tossed it once I could afford better. I also tossed the powder measure once I was able to afford better. I still have, and use, the same items I bought in the kit, myself, 20yrs ago.
You also need some good references. My favourite is "Modern Reloading" by #### Lee for both the process and recipes. Next is "ABCs of Reloading". I am a firm believer in books, but there are great online sites as well. Learn all you can before you start.
This isn't so dangerous that you need to be confined in blast-proof rooms, but there is SOME element of care required, you are dealing with things that go boom and when they do so incorrectly, it can be deadly. This was done for many years by people who, as children, ran with scissors, cast lead toy soldiers, rode in the back of pickup trucks, and generally had fun. Many people try to over-complicate this and bring stupid "safety" rules in that don't need to be invented. Unfortunately common sense is gone today, but if you approach it carefully and respect the things you are playing with, you will be enjoying this hobby for the next 50years and will be the one passing on info to the new guys.
Don't let the nay-sayers here tell you that the Challenger won't load good ammo, I used it for years on .303Br, '06, and 7.62x39mm rounds. While I never won any matches with my ammo I never lost any, either, but I've eaten well for an awful number of years.
Good luck, be smart, and enjoy.
Ted
 
Thanks guys, where do you get your powder, and are there any preferred types? Also where can I buy bullets for 6.5x55 or just in general because I do have other guns just 6.5x55 rds are the most expensive(at the local gun store, $36.99 for 20, online $22.99 for 20)

Thanks for all the help and I will likely buy those books and the kit, do you know where to buy the books?
 
David_M said:
thanks anxious to get started
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You will need dies and shell holders , the chamfer and debur tool that came with my rbcs kit ,is really slow. I'm getting a bit that trims,deburs and chamfers all in one ( saves a lot of time). You can get a really good deal on a rbcs supreme kit,From the states.
 
David_M said:
thanks anxious to get started
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From Wainfleet, just head over to Hummasons in Ancaster, they will have pretty much everything you will need from equipment to supplies. But first you want to figure out what you want to use for powder and bullets. Plenty of reloading info available on-line, a good place to start. Every powder has different characteristics and different burn rates, make sure you check for a suitable powder for the weight and calibre you are loading for.
 
PaulR42 said:
From Wainfleet, just head over to Hummasons in Ancaster, they will have pretty much everything you will need from equipment to supplies. But first you want to figure out what you want to use for powder and bullets. Plenty of reloading info available on-line, a good place to start. Every powder has different characteristics and different burn rates, make sure you check for a suitable powder for the weight and calibre you are loading for.
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Alright, I will have to look it up, because I have never been there
 
Brianma65 said:
You will need dies and shell holders , the chamfer and debur tool that came with my rbcs kit ,is really slow. I'm getting a bit that trims,deburs and chamfers all in one ( saves a lot of time). You can get a really good deal on a rbcs supreme kit,From the states.
Click to expand...

I will have to look into it, where do you buy your stuff in the states?
 
Depending on your personality; i discovered that reloading enhances my overall enjoyment of shooting.
The satisfaction of creating your own ammo was unexpected. Spending a few hours at the loading bench
in and of itself can be worthwhile. I still like to keep my cost per round to a minimum but no don't obsess over it.
If you are organized, you will never run out of ammo again.
 
David_M said:
I definitely want to keep the cost per round down, but it will probably become more of a hobby than a task.
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You are loading for one rifle, It should never become a task! When it does, you need to take another look at what you are doing. If you reload simply to allow you to shoot more without spending more, you will be fine. If you expand your shooting hobby into competition sports, then you will need more ammo, more often. IT CAN THEN BECOME A TASK! You may have to spend far too much time at a single stage press making rounds to shoot every week or so, then you have to look at making changes to your process. Can you continue? Nope. Gotta move to a method of lading that speeds things up and you will then go to a turret or a progressive, loading will become fun again because you can then pump off 4-500 rounds in an evening, instead of every night loading until way past bedtime, just so you can shoot next weekend.
I have been reloading for over 30 years, and, while I may have considered it some kind of "hold-yer-mouth-right" voodoo magic in the beginning, I have NEVER considered it a task! Always more to learn about this hobby and people here know ALL the tips and tricks if you ask. But, ask after you have tried to find out all you can first. Asking a question here that others can google in 4 seconds may get you hammered on.
 
rookie wildcat said:
You are loading for one rifle, It should never become a task! When it does, you need to take another look at what you are doing. If you reload simply to allow you to shoot more without spending more, you will be fine. If you expand your shooting hobby into competition sports, then you will need more ammo, more often. IT CAN THEN BECOME A TASK! You may have to spend far too much time at a single stage press making rounds to shoot every week or so, then you have to look at making changes to your process. Can you continue? Nope. Gotta move to a method of lading that speeds things up and you will then go to a turret or a progressive, loading will become fun again because you can then pump off 4-500 rounds in an evening, instead of every night loading until way past bedtime, just so you can shoot next weekend.
I have been reloading for over 30 years, and, while I may have considered it some kind of "hold-yer-mouth-right" voodoo magic in the beginning, I have NEVER considered it a task! Always more to learn about this hobby and people here know ALL the tips and tricks if you ask. But, ask after you have tried to find out all you can first. Asking a question here that others can google in 4 seconds may get you hammered on.
Click to expand...

Actually I have watched countless videos and read information off of many different sites (the main caliber I will be reloading is 6.5x55, I have many others I would like to reload as well) and concluded that the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit would work for me, I wanted to know if I was missing anything, others kindly chimed in, and you are being rude about me asking a quick verification question. Sorry if I offended you but I did not intend to.
 
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I've got the Lee 50th Anniversary kit for my single stage rifle loading and decapping. It works. Some things you might eventually end up replacing/upgrading would be the deburring tool, and scale. The scale takes a little getting used as it isn't dampened enough and takes a while to settle but once you get used to working it, it's not too bad. The powder measure looks/feels a bit cheap but surprisingly, it worked well for me with extruded powders. Fine powders like H110 etc not so much.

Some things you will want to pick up would include a powder tickler, a bullet puller, loading block, a set of calipers, one or two reloading manuals and of course, your dies.
 
David, your are more than welcome to see my set up before you go buy yours. I am not into large quantity production nor do I want to be stuck behind a press all day. Reloading is a space filler. I work in quantities of 50 or 100. when ever I have an hour or so to kill I will go in my shed and finish one stage(or two on a good day).

I am not interested in shooting the nut sack off of a mosquito at 500 yards. Minute of pie plate at 100 yards is good enough for me. I use my reloads for target practice. I use premium bullets for hunting. When your kids go through one or two hundred in a sitting it is nice to have these home made rounds.

Only you know exactly what you need.

Regards
 
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