So confused about getting started

Petrock

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I'm looking into getting started at reloading. I've looked through a ton of these posts and still have some questions.

At this time I will be reloading .308 and may venture into pistol calibers in the future. The rifle is a M14S autoloader.

I am novice at reloading!

I can not decide what type of press I would prefer, a progressive or single stage.

How much is it going to cost me to start up?

What make to choose?

How hard is it going to be for me to figure out the press and other kit?

What kit do I have to get?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
One of the best things you can do buy the ABC's of Reloading book which will cover the subject well.

The Lee classic turret press can be used as a single stage press or as a semi progressive press and won't break the bank.
 
+2 on the ABC's of reloading. Also try to find a fellow shooter who has experience reloading..they can help a lot. I watched a friend of mine reloading 9mm rounds (single stage..slow and carefull) several times before I got up the nerve to try it myself!

Given your location there should be lots of reloaders around. Perhaps a local gun club can help?

I recommend starting with a single stage press for now. Keep it simple!

Tom
 
I'm looking into getting started at reloading. I've looked through a ton of these posts and still have some questions.

At this time I will be reloading .308 and may venture into pistol calibers in the future. The rifle is a M14S autoloader.

I am novice at reloading!

I can not decide what type of press I would prefer, a progressive or single stage.

Probably start with a single stage, but if you do get into a lot of pistol reloading, a progressive would be a good investment, also consider a turret press, it usually don't think turret or progressive presses are entirely necessary unless loading handgun or semi-auto rifle, ie, .223

How much is it going to cost me to start up?

Depends on the equipment you buy and the accessories you prefer, probably budget for at least 600-700 at least which includes a pretty good startup of components as well if you go with Lee

What make to choose?

RCBS and Dillon get pretty good reviews, but Hornady is also well known. I have been using the inexpensive Lee press for a little while and have no complaints. :)

How hard is it going to be for me to figure out the press and other kit?

Single stage is very simple, instructions are included with your die sets for basic reloading procedure and die setting. Progressives are a little harder to figure out

What kit do I have to get?

Depends on what you want, the reloading I do I regret purchasing a kit because the only thing I actually use is the powder thrower and press, I choose to upgrade to a digital scale. No kit includes everything you need, dies will always be extra IIRC

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Also a very important consideration is new vs used and extras. I would recommend a tumbler, a digital caliper, a digital scale (for the rifle loading) and a good chamfer/deburring tool.

Cheers
 
Yup keep it real simple and only load for one firearm at a time.

I run a single stag setup and only now want to get into progressive. I still have a lot to learn but am far from "new".
 
Buy a single stage for your 308. Later when you get into pistol, buy a progressive. Reloading is not that difficult, go out and buy a reloading manual. Better yet, buy two. All of them have the basics of reloading explained before they get into the actual data, having more than one will provide a good cross reference.

Once you have an understanding of what you need, make your shopping list and, well, start shopping!

I personally have an RCBS Rockchucker for a single stage. Really a preference thing, all single stage presses perform the same basic functions. And until you learn the basics, there is no point trying to explain to you that Dillon is the best progressive.:stirthepot2::ninja:;)
 
- First and foremost and if at all possible, get a buddy or someone you know that reloads to give you a hands on walk through of the process, a mentor if you will. You can 'read' it from a book but with a mentor, it is the equivalent of a picture being worth a thousand words.
- Next, pick up a few of the more readily available reloading manuals and actually the more the merrier. You can have too few but never too many and a quick three I'd suggest would be Lyman, Speer and Hornady. Most component manufacturers put out their own so if down the road you decide to use Barnes bullets for example, you may want to pick up their manual as well.
- Then, do a read through of what they have on the actual process of reloading. That plus the guidence of a mentor should help alleviate many of the potential mishaps, frustrating pitfalls and get you on the track of safe accurate reloaded ammunition.
- As far as equipment is concerned, I would be tempted to start out with good functional quality but simple and basic so as to make the process easier to understand. As you get into it and understand the process better, you can always gradually upgrade as the need and your wants dictate.

Welcome to the club.:)
 
I'm looking into getting started at reloading. I've looked through a ton of these posts and still have some questions.

At this time I will be reloading .308 and may venture into pistol calibers in the future. The rifle is a M14S autoloader.

I am novice at reloading!

Weren't we all!

I can not decide what type of press I would prefer, a progressive or single stage.

Single Stage, especially for a semi rifle.

How much is it going to cost me to start up?

About $200 give or take.

What make to choose?

Lee

How hard is it going to be for me to figure out the press and other kit?

Talk to a buddy who has reloaded before or purchase a manual, also the internet is a wealth of knowledge.

What kit do I have to get?

Lee Anniversary kit. Comes complete with one set of dies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You can always upgrade at a later date. Personally, I don't care for progressive presses, I chose to weight each charge. Maybe I'm just old fashioned;)

For the most part, Lee is as good as anything out there. But you may want to upgrade from a Lee scale. I form 7.62 Mauser brass from 30-06 Springfield brass on my trusty old Lee O-Frame Challenger press.
 
Thanks Gents

I got the basic answers I need to the questions. Looks like I'll go with the recommendations and head for a single stage to start.

I've heard so many things about sizing dies, crimping dies, guess I have to get me an edgeumakation ;)
 
I'd consider reloading for a pistol cartridge first.

The first cartridge I ever reloaded for was .357magnum. I knew no one who reloaded and this was before the internet (you know what I mean).

I went to a local shop and bought a reloading book. I went home and read it several times over. Then I went and bought a cheap lee press, dies, grain scale and vernier caliper. The powder, primers and bullets as well. To this day I still don't have a tumbler (I really want one though).

Common sense and you're good. :)

I will reload for rifles one day, but I know there are extra steps involved in reloading for rifle that I will have to research first when I get the time ;)
 
actually i bought the ABC's of reloading after I read all the internet info
I skipped through a majority (if not all) pages, cause I knew it all already
so IMO ABC's of reloading= useless waste of 20$

For reloading data I use hogdon's website, it's free

You just gotta sort all the bulls**t you read on the internet
 
Rock Chucker supreme kit.
I bought this to get started. Plus I had someone walk me through it. Which makes it very easy.
 
Most people would agree the Rock Chucker kit is a good place to start for anyone ..

you can do any reloading with that kit and comes with a good book ect.

after you actually get everything setup..

Although this might seem complicated .. To avoid much wasted time i'd read about ladder method reloading and understand it and use it.. You will avoid the dreaded waste of powder, bullets and time spent trying to find a magic load like a lot of people do. And skip right to the science of it all and get down to finding a real load for YOUR GUN.

Its a great way to get your rifles shooting well and a good hobby as well so long as you take the time to fully understand how it all works.

good luck. and i recommend starting off on a single stage myself.

I use the Hodgedon site for all my max load guides ect great resource center.
 
Rock Chucker supreme kit.
I bought this to get started. Plus I had someone walk me through it. Which makes it very easy.

+1. Having a Rock Chucker is like having your favourite, built like a tank rifle. The one you always go back to. It is not some disposable piece of junk. It's an anvil. The warranty is 100% no nonsense forever. It's nowhere near as fast as a progressive or a turret press, but it'll always get the job done. There's a reason they almost never come up forsale in the EE.
 
lee 50th aniversity kit 145
dies set 30ish
case trimmer 7ish
lb powder 35ish
box of .308 hornady fmjbt 29ish
box of primers 5ish
brass 15ish per 100 of once fired stuff, new is more
reloading manual 40ish

lots of videos on youtube to watch, call over a friend to show you, read the manual front to back
 
Rock Chucker made in china now???

Is the Rock Chucker not made in china now???

Who makes the best for the $ single stage? Lee?






Like Joe said dillon makes the best progressive.:D
 
Should be about $200 for Lee single stage, scale, dies, incidentals like case length trimmer, primer cleaner, hand primer system.
Then $30 for a lb. of powder
$30/100 for bullets, cheap .308 hornady sp
$40/1000 primers
Just started loading for my M14/305 and cost is about 56 cents a shot.
You don't need the best of everything, I've been using Lee for about 18 years and have had no problems.
Started out buying factory winchester or federal .308, fired them, then reloaded them, am on the fourth loading now and have no problems either, other than the extractor on the M305 is quite harsh on the brass.
Good luck to ya
 
yeah last I checked in local shops, winchester and federal both have boxes of 20 for 18$
cant remember the exact name, but they're good for plinking THEN reloading :)
 
"...For reloading data I use Hogdon's website, it's free..." Good too, but it doesn't cover every powder(Hodgdon sold powders only and not all Hodgdon powders suitable for all cartridges) for every bullet. You really need a manual. Preferably one not published by a bullet or powder maker. They give data for their products only. The Lyman manual has more loads for more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book.
 
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