Reloading Noob

cpynch

cpynch

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Hey all,
What's a good site for a reloading noob? I want to get into reloading, but have NO idea what tools etc I'll need. Does anyone know a site that has some good info, or a site that offers a reloading "kit" so I can get an idea of a total price for all the gear I'll need?

Will mostly be reloading shotgun hulls, .243 win, and 7mm rem mag. Although I do plan on getting a better .22LR rifle sometime soon as well.

Thoughts?
 
Start with a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. Your local gun shop or Amazon.
RCBS's site has a 'Reloading Guide' with pictures on their site. Reloading isn't rocket science. The hardest part is setting up the dies properly and that's not hard.
Look into an RCBS Beginner's Kit. Gives you everything you need less dies and shell holder. Runs around $500 or less. Plus you get their legendary customer service. Have any problems and they'll fix it, usually free, with a phone call. Even if you caused it or bought used kit. Buying used is ok, but it'll take longer to assemble what you need. Takes a lot of abuse to damage modern reloading kit. Lots of reloaders sell their old kit when they move to a progressive.
Pop into your local gun shop and ask 'em about the kit. Comes with a Speer manual, but buy a Lyman book too. It's more versatile. The Speer book only gives data for their bullets. The Lyman book has more loads, using more powders and bullet weights, than any bullet or powder manufacturer's book. Nothing wrong with them though.
You'll need a set of dies and a shell holder for both cartridges. Any brand of dies will do. Plus components, of course.
Shotshells use a totally different type of press. The equipment is less expensive though. Don't load shotgun myself.
 
I don't even think its possible to load for 22LR and even if it is, no one does it.

A couple tools you might want above and a beyond a kit are

Tumbler
Digital caliper
digital scale
Trimmer


I like my Lyman 49th edition for a reloading book, has a ton of info on rifle and pistol, but not on shotshell reloading.
 
Ditto on the abc's of reloading. I got the same advice, and I still have that book on my shelf.

Then I'd suggest higginson for prices; I got the Lee anniversary kit, and for reloading maybe 50 or 100 rifle rounds at a time, it's perfectly fine (and a lot cheaper than $500). There is also a Lee Loader for shotshell hulls, but I've never gotten into that.
 
"...Lyman 49th Edition..." Pricey thing isn't it.
"...a lot cheaper than $500..." $500 is a guesstimate. Lee kit is ok, but their warrantee isn't as good. If something is busted, other than decapping pins, they want you to send the kit back to them. RCBS just replaces it. So does Dillon, but Dillon kit is big money.
 
My advice, don't try everything at once. It is very elementary that rimfire 22s are not reloadable.
You will have nothing but confusion if you start out trying to reload shotgun and centre fire rifle. Shotgun reloading is another complete ball of wax to rifle reloading.
If I was you I would start out by reading a considerable amount, about reloading, guns, ballistics and so on, before I even tackled a reloading manual.
Spend a lot of time on these threads, reading about umpteen topics on the general subjects and asking questions.
 
I'm a complete noob myself but I have good idea what I need. I don't plan on starting small either. I'll only be happy when pumping 500rds per hour, so I'm likely going to buy the Dillon XL 650 /w feeder and other goodies. That way, I won't have to upgrade b/c I know I will if I can't hit 500rds/hr. It's rated 800-1000rds/hr but I doubt I'll achieve those in the beginning or even close to 800 when I get used to it.

Planning on reloading 9mm, 44mag, .223. Maybe 45ACP, provided I buy a 1911 or P220.
 
Onagoth said:
I don't even think its possible to load for 22LR and even if it is, no one does it.

A couple tools you might want above and a beyond a kit are

Tumbler
Digital caliper
digital scale
Trimmer


I like my Lyman 49th edition for a reloading book, has a ton of info on rifle and pistol, but not on shotshell reloading.
Click to expand...

I kind of figured people might not reload .22lr rounds, wasn't sure tho.

I'll definitely check out the books, and although I'm not sure what all the tools you mentioned are, I'm sure I will find out soon enough.

EDIT: I guess I should clarify, I know what a caliper is, and I already have a digi scale :p But as far as tumbler, and dies, etc I'm kind of in the dark. I just plan to start a lot of target shooting this year, and at $40\box for ammo, I could buy a reloading kit for 4-5 days worth of shooting.
 
Oh yeah...

You'll need tumbler to clean the brass (unless you want to do it the poor man's way)

Digital caliper (a measuring gauge that looks like a C-clamp)

Trimmer - to cut the brass - still not sure if I need one. Definitely not for 9mm and 44mag, but for .223 and others, people do.

I never even thought about reloading .22lr. I wonder if people do. For under $20/500rds, I'll stick to factory. :)
 
You are going to need a trimmer if you are going to reload for a .223, or other rifles. Unless you are planing on discarding the brass after the third to fifth firing because at this point the brass will have grown past it's max case length.
 
speaking from my personal experience,
first i got the ABCs of reloading from Amazon. it cost me less then 20$ shipped ( they have super saver free shipping on it)
that book had a wealth of information. that;s where i learned about all the steps, the DOs and DONTs,
then i baugh the LEE 50th anniversary kit. It goes for around 135-150$, it contains everything you need minus the dies and shellholder
i baught it from SMCdonald, a dealer here on CGN.
then i got the reloading manual, the shells, the bullets, the primers and powder and started reloading for 9mm. it will take you around 1500 9mm reloads to cover your initial investment and then youll start saving
 
I purchased an XL 650 a month ago, and finally received the auto case feeder couple days ago. I finally set up my press and it's awesome! definitely a quality piece, many can agree to that.

Not sure if you are aware of this, when reloading 40cal and 45cal ammo, make sure you are using the right size of primers! I have been picking up brass after every session at the range and noticed that some of these cases have small primers and some large not sure why they just don't make one size, but, just be careful when reloading, especially on the priming stage.

i was going to add some pics of my reloading table, but i can't figure it out for the life of me. no pic attachment button :(
 
Hey florin: Good point about different primers sizes used in those cals. Don`t want to jam a big primer into a case that accepts small. I wonder what would happen? BOOOM!?

Where did you order your auto case feeder? Epps has auto case feeder, but with large plate, but don`t have small case feeder plate in stock. I think they carry everything I want, except small plate, 44mag dies. Don`t know if they have die mounting heads. I`m almost considering forking out extra dollars for another powder dispenser. I want to change out the loader as fast and as accurate as I can. Meaning, no messing around with adjustments once they`re good.
 
I ordered my case feeder from dillon. I tried looking around but couldn't find any sites that had what I wanted, so i just called dillon :) everything can be shipped from their website to Canada, except for primers and other materials, brass, bullets, etc. but all reloading equipment you can get direct from them. They have excellent customer service. I also purchased the DVD, i'm a visual person, i need to see it being put together!

I hear ya on changing the dies, adjustments and all that. I will most definitely buy an extra die holder and powder dispenser to make switching back and forth a lot less time consuming.

it really sucks that some manufacturers use different primers :( I have collected a whole lot of brass and now I have to go through each one and separate. I also bought 5000 large primers, now I have to go out and buy more small primer.

If you really can't find any small plates out there, i "think" i saw a couple at my gun range, that's where i bought my xl 650, other accessories i purchased from dillon, direct.

let me know!

does anyone know how to post pics in your post??? i looked through the faq's and it reads that there is a "managed attachments" button under the message box, i'm looking all over and can't find it :( i want to post some pics!

thanks!
 
I also added the Zip Trim from Lee. Then I buy the green scotchbrite scouring pads and cut each one into about 1-1/2" squares. So instead of tumbling, after lubing and resizing, I chuck each case into the zip trim, trim and chamfer, and then polish quickly with the pad. Then I wash them, to get any lube out from the case neck, because otherwise a few flakes of powder tend to stick to that and make accurate weighing of thrown charges difficult... I guess tumbling would clean the insides of the cases better, if you had small enough tumbling media, but...
 
florin79 said:
does anyone know how to post pics in your post??? i looked through the faq's and it reads that there is a "managed attachments" button under the message box, i'm looking all over and can't find it :( i want to post some pics!

thanks!
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