Reloading where to start?

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Grendeb

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Hi to all and thanks in advance for your answers.
I'm looking to give some love to my savage fcp-sr in 308 by starting to reload.

What I know is very basic: some cases can be reloaded, clean cases, stretch trim, new primer, powder and put a bullet crimp it...
To be honest this is what i know but there are many more details some people dont crimp, some uses sand basket to clean, some expand and trim cases but apperently not alway or some don't...
In other words I'm lost a bit in all that a friend of mine reload but he doesn't have tools so i think there are cheap ways to reload.
So long story short what I am looking for is:
1-Most complete kit to do reload regardless of how much it would cost (ideal world) but please include rough price.
2-Cheaper way to get the job done maybe starter kit best bang for the buck.
3-Details on "how to do" for both kit (#1-2)
4- Information for the above; how many times cases can be fired, how to clean cases, do we really need to expand/trim cases, crimp and other since I forgot something for sure since I want to start.

I know this is heavy please refer a link to any starter guide.

Thanks you much and we'll see you on the range!

Grendeb
 
Put it together yourself. Anyone I've spoken to regrets the kit as they basically end up with the press used and nothing else.

If you got the coin, and no one told me this, get a Forester Coax.

http://www.x-reload.com/forster-press-co-ax-b-3-s-jaws-included-w-o-dies/

Otherwise the Lee Classic Cast for the best heavy bargain press. It's also big enough to even load .50 BMG.

For the learning part, see the reloading forum. Lots of answers there. Otherwise, get a reloading manual or ABCs of Reloading and read. Without an idea of a budget it's hard to really guess what you want.
 
This isn't the answer you want but it's the best I have. Buy a reloading manual (I like the books from Lyman or Hornady) and read it cover to cover. Only then are you armed with the base knowledge to start your quest. I had 2 manuals read and loaded with a friend before I bought my first piece of reloading gear. For what it's worth, over 20 years ago I bought a second hand RCBS Rockchucker plus a few other things from a guy and still load with it today.
Good Luck. tbhupe
 
CreamySmooth said:
Put it together yourself. Anyone I've spoken to regrets the kit as they basically end up with the press used and nothing else.

If you got the coin, and no one told me this, get a Forester Coax.

http://www.x-reload.com/forster-press-co-ax-b-3-s-jaws-included-w-o-dies/

Otherwise the Lee Classic Cast for the best heavy bargain press. It's also big enough to even load .50 BMG.

For the learning part, see the reloading forum. Lots of answers there. Otherwise, get a reloading manual or ABCs of Reloading and read. Without an idea of a budget it's hard to really guess what you want.
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Thanks for the info I'll definitely look at the press.
For the budget it is 1- no limit or 2- cheaper way
 
LouF said:
http://www.dillonprecision.com/ you can get another type of machine first,but then you'll have two because you'll end up with a Dillon anyways..:runaway:
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I agree. We all end with an XL 650. But you need at least 1 single stage. The coax is the best. It's the Dillon of single stage presses. Then get a Dillon progressive. Then load anything.
 
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here's a quick review from the 'FAR side of the moon' from a Dillon, ...as they are worth as much as my jeep... but for bolt action, if your broke like me, I just use a Lee classic loader for $35, on top of a log and a rubber mallet with fire formed brass.. .223 not .308 - same sh!t different pile.

bang out a few boxes to ladder test, then a 100 rounds for the weekend is still pretty easy in a few hours.

I use a simple Lyman digital scale and throw a slightly light charge with a Lee dipper and trickle up, kind of slow but pretty easy. (I bet I can pound out rounds just as fast as on a single stage press! you have to 'batch' it all anyways. :cheers: if you've got a few hundred to spend get a turret, if you have a few thousand to spend get the Dillon for sure!!! but gotta cut this short to go out and get more firewood for the stove...
 
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CreamySmooth said:
I agree. We all end with an XL 650. But you need at least 1 single stage. The coax is the best. It's the Dillon of single stage presses. Then get a Dillon progressive. Then load anything.
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I have the 550 and am perfectly satisfied.The lifetime no BS warranty is great also.Broke/wore-out a few parts so far and one call to Dillon and it's in the mail.:rockOn:
 
If you are at all on a budget, the Lee Classic Cast is a heck of a bargin. And despite what the reloading snobs might tell you, it's not total crap.

My biggest suggestion would be to stay away from kits. Kits are attractive, since the buyer always thinks "Oh look, it has everything I need". The problem is, of the dozen things in the kit, usually only 1 or 2 are actually useful, or well made. I would strongly suggest getting individual components, after reviewing each. Most of the junk in my "I'll never use this" box is from kits.

So get a good, simple (single stage) press. Some good quality dies. A good trimmer. A decent powder thrower. A REALLY GOOD scale. A REALLY GOOD micrometer. And so on.
 
I don't know what kits you guys are buying but I use everything in my rock chucker kit and nothing is junk. Maybe if I bought lee I would agree but this has been a great kit to start out with.
 
First thing you need is knowledge, buy a reloading manual and get up to speed. If you are budget minded and just loading for a bolt 308, get a single stage. You can develop loads and load an accurate round with the basics. Get a kit or build you own, I started with a kit and use most of it still, I have many calibers I load for but not in huge volumes (20-100 at a time). As to the other questions, the amount you can fire a single piece of brass depends on the brass. Some thicker military style brass is going to outlast a thin cheap brass. Annealing will give it more life but 308 is easy to come by at any range. Cleaning the brass depends on if you just want clean, clean and shiny or spotless new. An ultrasonic will clean it, a tumbler will clean it and polish it, a combination of both will look better and keep your media clean. SS tumbling will make it look new but has an initial higher cost. If the brass has been fired from your rifle you can skip full length sizing it but trimming may be required after a few fires, get a digital caliper to check length. I don't crimp mine but some like to, it's personal preference. If you decide later to expand to a progressive press for larger production you can, you will always need your single stage for other stuff. It all depends on how much you shoot, what you shoot and how deep is your wallet.
 
get a Lee Challenger kit
also get a 308 die set
and you're good

extras you might want (not need)
vibratory/ultrasonic/steel pin tumbler to clean the cases
better scale (I never found the Lee scale lacking but some did)
second smaller press to seat the bullet
 
I don't want to discourage You but from your post I think You have some reading to do before You even consider buying gear. Or iyou will most likely follow a recomendation here from someone that doesn't fully understand your needs and You will later realize it wasn't the right purchase to make. Buy ABC's of reloading and read it front to back then You will have a better understanding of the process and what You are looking to do with the reloads. Are You precision loading or just plinking? how many rounds a year do You shoot? are You planning on reloading more calibers? how much time do You have? how much space do You have? These are all questions You need to answer to know what You really need to get.
 
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I read Lyman, and Lee manuals and I think I have even more questions than when I started thinking about getting into reloading. My impression on those two books is that they are not intended for new reloaders. Lyman forgot to explain how to read data and some parts of the process, Lee forgot to use any illustrations except for their product promotional pictures. Not no mention the absence of some common military cartridges data in books overflowed with zillion of useless cartridges I never heard of. The best is educational YouTube videos plus those books and a friend whom you can bug with zillion of stupid questions (I wish I had one).
P.S. After reading Lyman's book and some reviews I purchased LEE CLASSIC TURRET PRESS KIT from X-Reload in QC. On top I added Hornady GS-1500 electronic scale (kit has mechanical one) and electronic caliper. Kit came with the Lee book BTW. Am in process of setting it up and figuring out what I need to _actually_ start reloading.
 
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laker415 said:
I don't know what kits you guys are buying but I use everything in my rock chucker kit and nothing is junk. Maybe if I bought lee I would agree but this has been a great kit to start out with.
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^^ Same here. I did , however, get a second powder thrower as the kit one was a little erratic with weights below 3.5 (good for anything above that). I use both throwers and everything else that came in the kit.
 
tbhupe said:
this isn't the answer you want but it's the best i have. Buy a reloading manual (i like the books from lyman or hornady) and read it cover to cover. Only then are you armed with the base knowledge to start your quest. I had 2 manuals read and loaded with a friend before i bought my first piece of reloading gear. For what it's worth, over 20 years ago i bought a second hand rcbs rockchucker plus a few other things from a guy and still load with it today.
Good luck. Tbhupe
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x2 ^ - big time!!!
 
A good selection of reloading manuals is very handy. Sierra makes a nice manual. I think I have one by Speer. I find it's usually a good idea to buy a reloading manual published by a manufacturer of components you use. So a Nosler manual might also be a good place to start. Most manuals are more cookbooks for loads, rather than "how-to" guides for actual loading.
 
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