Starting reloading!!

MilitaryCollectorMark

MilitaryCollectorMark

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Going to start reloading with my Dad.

Going to be reloading for:
Dad's:
6mm remington
22 Hornet
222
22-250

Mine:
25-06
300 win mag
270
308

I have a basic reloading kit from RCBS to get me started.

I'll probably be upgrading to a better scale cause it comes with a digital one.

Anything else I should get that would be good to have?

Have dies for the 6mm and 222, need dies for everything else. Also have a crimp die for the 222.

Have powder for the 22 hornet, lil gun, primers Winchester Small Rifle, and winchester red label brass, bullets hornady #2230 45 gr varmit.

For the 25-06 I have 2 weights of bullets, Nosler 120 gr. Partitions # 35643 and Hornady #2530 87 gr. SP and hornady 25-06 brass

Going to need to get lots of powder and primers to cover the calibres. :)
 
Good calipers and the appropriate comparators. The Canadian Tire calipers were actually not bad but I’ve upgraded to Mitutoyo. I prefer the steel of Sinclair’s comparators vs the aluminum Hornady.

Many will say Reloading Manuals and even though I love books and have all the major editions, the internet contains all the load data you need.
 
Get the free download of Richard Lee’s book Modern Reloading. I wish I had it when I started. Woulda saved a lot of experimentation. Also, pay attention to details. I had a brick of 1000 primers from the store. They had mixed in 3 flats of magnum primers with the regular ones. Didn’t notice til I loaded and shot them. Made for some interesting groups, and thankfully nothing worse!
 
I’m still using my balance beam scales that came with my RCBS kit, can’t go wrong.
You’ll want something for cleaning and prep of your brass, I’d recommend the Frankfurt Arsenal rotary wet tumbler and case prep center.
Also get yourself a stuck case removal set , it’ll come in handy,trust me on that.
You can get what you need at Canadian Tire that will work.
A good set of Calipers.

Maybe some other things , But that’s for later .. lol
 
45C said:
I’m still using my balance beam scales that came with my RCBS kit, can’t go wrong.
You’ll want something for cleaning and prep of your brass, I’d recommend the Frankfurt Arsenal rotary wet tumbler and case prep center.
Also get yourself a stuck case removal set , it’ll come in handy,trust me on that.
You can get what you need at Canadian Tire that will work.
A good set of Calipers.

Maybe some other things , But that’s for later .. lol
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Thanks!
 
Welcome to the edge of the rabbit hole, it’s very slippery.

Not sure what you have to comment other than I have never found .222 to need a crimp. YMMV I reload for all the calibers you list. Enjoy.
 
Southcountryguy said:
Welcome to the edge of the rabbit hole, it’s very slippery.

Not sure what you have to comment other than I have never found .222 to need a crimp. YMMV I reload for all the calibers you list. Enjoy.
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Yeah, I've taken a peek at what you can buy when your getting into target shooting. Amazing what companies come up with!

That crimp die, may or may not use it. Maybe try uncrimped vs. crimped and see if there is any difference between the 2?
 
Hi Mil. Speaking of crimping, I experimented with it on the .243 and quit, no difference in accuracy. Also never crimped .223 and 6.5x55 no problem, and both achieved 1/4 MOA accuracy. High recoiling rounds I’d crimp so bullets don’t get slammed in while in the magazine.
Also, using the Lee neck sizing collet dies, I got 8 or 9 firings on 223 (and they’re still not tight closing the bolt) and 6-7 firings on 6.5x55 before full length resizing. 12x fired brass looks like new. Just watch the brass length and trim when needed.
It’s all in Richard’s book :)
 
Digger1 said:
Hi Mil. Speaking of crimping, I experimented with it on the .243 and quit, no difference in accuracy. Also never crimped .223 and 6.5x55 no problem, and both achieved 1/4 MOA accuracy. High recoiling rounds I’d crimp so bullets don’t get slammed in while in the magazine.
Also, using the Lee neck sizing collet dies, I got 8 or 9 firings on 223 (and they’re still not tight closing the bolt) and 6-7 firings on 6.5x55 before full length resizing. 12x fired brass looks like new. Just watch the brass length and trim when needed.
Click to expand...

Good to know! Thanks.
 
Digger1 said:
Bertn, I’ve been priming on press for 8 years, looking at getting a hand primer. What kind do you recommend?
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You can buy cheaper or you can spend several hundreds. I used the primer on the press for a while then, bought an RCBS hand primer, then a Lee hand primer, and probably a couple others I have forgotten about
THEN I bought the priming press I said I could not afford when I first started re-loading. ( RCBS Model: 9460 AUTOMATIC PRIMING TOOL)($134.95 USD)

Wish I had saved the time and money by not, buying the other primer presses. I would have saved money in the long run.

There are better primer presses out there but they cost hundreds more. Do buy Dillion primer tubes and use the RCBS tubes as back up, you will thank me.. LOL
 
Primer presses.

When choosing a hand primer press or a stand alone primer press, there are quite a few different options.

I've tried about half a dozen and found the best unit for the money was the Lyman, with a tray on the side.

The next best unit for me was the RCBS offerings.

Each of them has their issues.

I've also tried four different bench mounted primer presses.

The RCBS which fed the primers from plastic strips, that are reusable, is likely the best but the strips are hard to come by these days.

Lee makes a bench mounted press but the feed tray leaves a lot to be desired.

Lyman also makes a bench mounted press that is a pain in the butt.

I eventually went back to the Lee, but fitted the excellent Lyman feed tray and it works flawlessly.

I have a enough arthritis in my thumb joints that using hand lever operated presses gets to be painful.

The RCBS hand presses have the longest and easiest levers to operate and are relatively trouble free.

The bench mounted press I use, is mounted to a 6x8x1/2 inch aluminum plate. When it's not in use, it's hanging off the wall, out of the way
 
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