Well I want to get into reloading. I'm just starting out so I want to look into all the options. My budget for this month in $2500 and I can throw another $2000 1 month later if I have to. I want to reload for 45/70, 308 and 45 acp. I do however have a limited amount of space so really big press might not work well. I don't mind putting money into it so my budget can always go up. Right now the only thing I have is a large pile of brass from factory ammo that I've been shooting.
Reloading where to start?
- Thread starter haha49
- Start date
Your budget is not going to be an issue. That's plenty to get started. Find someone local to you who reloads and learn as much as you can. Then you'll be able to make an informed decision on what type of equipment you want to use. Some people prefer a single stage press, others prefer a progressive. Others still only use progressive for pistol rounds.
The biggest thing is be careful, pay attention, dont go over the max pressures in the book and always always make sure you arent putting a double charge in the casing before you seat the bullet.
The biggest thing is be careful, pay attention, dont go over the max pressures in the book and always always make sure you arent putting a double charge in the casing before you seat the bullet.
Well with that kind of a budget the first thing to decide is what color you like. Then go buy that brand of press. 
Really just go get a few reloading manuals (Lee's Modern reloading, Lyman reloading handbook, and if you want ABC's of Reloading) to get the basics down. Then go buy a press kit and die sets of the calibers you wish to reload for. You will also need a caliper that measures to the thousandth(I prefer a dial rather than digital...no issues with dead batteries). Then as you run into little issues go buy the gear to fill that gap as trying to buy everything up front with no reloading experience is next to impossible.
Since this is your first foray into reloading I'm guessing you're not shooting competitions meaning any brand is fine(seriously I use a full Lee set up and it works great...snobs will cringe upon hearing that but the ammunition loaded is on par with expensive set ups). Given your budget though you'll probably want to go with a Hornady/RCBS/Lyman starter kit and skip over the Lee as the starter kit press isn't the best in the world (but works great if on a budget..I'll let you know how many years mine lasted in a decade or so). With any cast iron press kit you'll be set for a lifetime of reloading.
By the sounds of it space is going to be your biggest issue. A decent size reloading bench makes things go much smoother.
Really just go get a few reloading manuals (Lee's Modern reloading, Lyman reloading handbook, and if you want ABC's of Reloading) to get the basics down. Then go buy a press kit and die sets of the calibers you wish to reload for. You will also need a caliper that measures to the thousandth(I prefer a dial rather than digital...no issues with dead batteries). Then as you run into little issues go buy the gear to fill that gap as trying to buy everything up front with no reloading experience is next to impossible.
Since this is your first foray into reloading I'm guessing you're not shooting competitions meaning any brand is fine(seriously I use a full Lee set up and it works great...snobs will cringe upon hearing that but the ammunition loaded is on par with expensive set ups). Given your budget though you'll probably want to go with a Hornady/RCBS/Lyman starter kit and skip over the Lee as the starter kit press isn't the best in the world (but works great if on a budget..I'll let you know how many years mine lasted in a decade or so). With any cast iron press kit you'll be set for a lifetime of reloading.
By the sounds of it space is going to be your biggest issue. A decent size reloading bench makes things go much smoother.
Powderfinger61
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Nice budget....
Well with that kind of a budget the first thing to decide is what color you like. Then go buy that brand of press.
Really just go get a few reloading manuals (Lee's Modern reloading, Lyman reloading handbook, and if you want ABC's of Reloading) to get the basics down. Then go buy a press kit and die sets of the calibers you wish to reload for. You will also need a caliper that measures to the thousandth(I prefer a dial rather than digital...no issues with dead batteries). Then as you run into little issues go buy the gear to fill that gap as trying to buy everything up front with no reloading experience is next to impossible.
Since this is your first foray into reloading I'm guessing you're not shooting competitions meaning any brand is fine(seriously I use a full Lee set up and it works great...snobs will cringe upon hearing that but the ammunition loaded is on par with expensive set ups). Given your budget though you'll probably want to go with a Hornady/RCBS/Lyman starter kit and skip over the Lee as the starter kit press isn't the best in the world (but works great if on a budget..I'll let you know how many years mine lasted in a decade or so). With any cast iron press kit you'll be set for a lifetime of reloading.
By the sounds of it space is going to be your biggest issue. A decent size reloading bench makes things go much smoother.
Yes size is a factor I see some really nice looking press setups but they look like monsters. I was speaking to some people about it already and it seems like i will have to get 1 press for each caliber ie 1 rifle 1 pistol since they don't switch over. I don't mind switching the whole top half if I had to. I have a small space and something that looks like a giant monster wont fit I will have to mesaure out the space I have to use ie think small corner table for the press. I would have room to place the componants beside it but I don't have allot of space.
I have 3 gun safes takeing up most of the room..
Read good books first and determine your true needs:
Volume shooter love Dillon progressive presses,
Precision shooter love RCBS Rock Chucker.
The important thing is to buy a progressive press if you really shot large amount of ammo (over 100 rounds a week) or get a press which produces high quality ammo.
Alex
Volume shooter love Dillon progressive presses,
Precision shooter love RCBS Rock Chucker.
The important thing is to buy a progressive press if you really shot large amount of ammo (over 100 rounds a week) or get a press which produces high quality ammo.
Alex
Step 1 - buy a good (Lyman, Hornady, Lee, RCBS, whoever) reloading manual. To start out I bough the Lyman Pistol Reloading manual. Most good reloading manuals will have a section dedicated to teaching the new reloader (like moi ) the basics.
Step 2 - if you're a member of a gun club, ask around the membership. I'm pretty sure that someone in the club will mentor you in reloading.
Step 3 - buy a kit from Lyman, RCBS, or Lee. Those kits will have pretty much everything you need except dies, powder, primers, and bullets.
Step 4 - reread that loading manual you bought until you know the reloading steps by heart, and KEEP CHECKING and RECHECKING both the steps you're following and how much powder you're putting in the cases!!!
) the basics.Step 2 - if you're a member of a gun club, ask around the membership. I'm pretty sure that someone in the club will mentor you in reloading.
Step 3 - buy a kit from Lyman, RCBS, or Lee. Those kits will have pretty much everything you need except dies, powder, primers, and bullets.
Step 4 - reread that loading manual you bought until you know the reloading steps by heart, and KEEP CHECKING and RECHECKING both the steps you're following and how much powder you're putting in the cases!!!
Nice budget....
With a budget like that I would scrap reloading and just buy the ammo! lol
If you get a single stage it will do everything - pistol, rifle, 50bmg...
But really if space is the main issue get a single stage press and it won't take up a lot of room. I actually reload on a 24"x18" stand I made. Granted I have a desk right next to it to lay crap out on, but if I had to I could do it all in that space. The only downside of a single stage is that it takes longer to load ammo on than a turret press, but personally I don't find this much of a concern as if I had more free time I would piss it away doing something less productive.
Turret presses are generally for loading pistol rounds only as the cases are easier to form and don't require lube. Some turrets will do rifle rounds but you'll want to check that first. But as I said a single stage press will load everything, just one step at a time. So: 1)size/de-prime 2)size brass 3) prime brass, 4) load powder, 5) seat bullet/crimp. The turret presses will do all these steps(except size the brass) every time you pull the lever for higher production runs and will also take up more space as a result. With the single stage you will have to change the die on the press for each step which is apparently what most people dont like. Really it takes all of 30 seconds to unscrew one and seat a new die/adjust it.
Overall I think you can guess my recommendation is to start with a single stage and move up to a turret if you feel the need. It's fool proof, simple(indestructible), works on everything, and forces you to pay attention to what you're doing. All good things. Downside is it's slower than a turret press for loading bulk pistol ammo.
If you get a single stage it will do everything - pistol, rifle, 50bmg...
But really if space is the main issue get a single stage press and it won't take up a lot of room. I actually reload on a 24"x18" stand I made. Granted I have a desk right next to it to lay crap out on, but if I had to I could do it all in that space. The only downside of a single stage is that it takes longer to load ammo on than a turret press, but personally I don't find this much of a concern as if I had more free time I would piss it away doing something less productive.
Turret presses are generally for loading pistol rounds only as the cases are easier to form and don't require lube. Some turrets will do rifle rounds but you'll want to check that first. But as I said a single stage press will load everything, just one step at a time. So: 1)size/de-prime 2)size brass 3) prime brass, 4) load powder, 5) seat bullet/crimp. The turret presses will do all these steps(except size the brass) every time you pull the lever for higher production runs and will also take up more space as a result. With the single stage you will have to change the die on the press for each step which is apparently what most people dont like. Really it takes all of 30 seconds to unscrew one and seat a new die/adjust it.
Overall I think you can guess my recommendation is to start with a single stage and move up to a turret if you feel the need. It's fool proof, simple(indestructible), works on everything, and forces you to pay attention to what you're doing. All good things. Downside is it's slower than a turret press for loading bulk pistol ammo.
Well I want to shoot allot more 45 acp and 45/70 so I might just start with a pistol press for 45 acp then get another one for everything else.. might be simpler..
Unless you're going with Redding, avoid the starter kits. With that exception they all seem to contain a piece or two of throw away value added junk. In time your reloading bench will be well stocked with stuff from every brand. None of em have cornered the market on the best of everything, despite the claims of some brand cheerleaders. I've got s**t from Forster, Hornady, Lyman, Lee, Dillon and RCBS. They each seem to make that one thing you want or need at some time that the others just don't.
Reloading is, for most, an interesting pastime and that interest will start with researching and shopping for the gear you'll need. Enjoy!
With regard to precision vs volume, there are happy mediums available such as the Redding turret press or check out the multi-place unit offered by these guys: ht tp://www.ch4d.com/ . Point being you're not limited to choosing between progressives and/or single stages. Where space is a concern these middle ground units may be the ticket. A single stage press that accepts the bayonet style die mounts offered by Hornady may be worth considering too.
Careful with RCBS. They've outsourced to China. They have an excellent warranty (almost all brands do) but thats generally not the first thing you want to be using with new equipment. I'm not suggesting you avoid RCBS, just know the situation. They have a strong brand cheer leading squad here.
Oh, and that 2 large thats burning a hole in your pocket,, won't be there long.
Reloading is, for most, an interesting pastime and that interest will start with researching and shopping for the gear you'll need. Enjoy!
With regard to precision vs volume, there are happy mediums available such as the Redding turret press or check out the multi-place unit offered by these guys: ht tp://www.ch4d.com/ . Point being you're not limited to choosing between progressives and/or single stages. Where space is a concern these middle ground units may be the ticket. A single stage press that accepts the bayonet style die mounts offered by Hornady may be worth considering too.
Careful with RCBS. They've outsourced to China. They have an excellent warranty (almost all brands do) but thats generally not the first thing you want to be using with new equipment. I'm not suggesting you avoid RCBS, just know the situation. They have a strong brand cheer leading squad here.
Oh, and that 2 large thats burning a hole in your pocket,, won't be there long
.
Unless you're going with Redding, avoid the starter kits. With that exception they all seem to contain a piece or two of throw away value added junk. In time your reloading bench will be well stocked with stuff from every brand. None of em have cornered the market on the best of everything, despite the claims of some brand cheerleaders. I've got s**t from Forster, Hornady, Lyman, Lee, Dillon and RCBS. They each seem to make that one thing you want or need at some time that the others just don't.
Reloading is, for most, an interesting pastime and that interest will start with researching and shopping for the gear you'll need. Enjoy!
With regard to precision vs volume, there are happy mediums available such as the Redding turret press or check out the multi-place unit offered by these guys: ht tp://www.ch4d.com/ . Point being you're not limited to choosing between progressives and/or single stages. Where space is a concern these middle ground units may be the ticket. A single stage press that accepts the bayonet style die mounts offered by Hornady may be worth considering too.
Careful with RCBS. They've outsourced to China. They have an excellent warranty (almost all brands do) but thats generally not the first thing you want to be using with new equipment. I'm not suggesting you avoid RCBS, just know the situation. They have a strong brand cheer leading squad here.
Oh, and that 2 large thats burning a hole in your pocket,, won't be there long
Thats some good advice regarding starter kits.
I'd avoid them altogether and buy the products you really need not whats thrown into some of these kits.
If you're doing straight wall cases like 45 ACP and 45-70 as well as .308 I can think of no better press to start out with than a Redding T-7 turret press.
Redding dies wont disappoint you either nor will their trimmer and shellholders.
