Want to get into reloading - need help!

Clammy

Clammy

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Hey everyone,

Since I got my PAL back in November, I have gone a gun buying spree. As a result, I have 3 different calibres now - 12ga, .44 magnum, 9mm - and am planning on more. I also want to get into IPSC. Since factory ammo costs for all these will run up quickly, I want to start reloading.

I am a complete noob to reloading, I don't know anything about the good brands, etc, so I'd like to tap the vast knowledge base here and ask for suggestions as to a reloading rig to start out with. I will be reloading rifle and handgun cartridges.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer.

Cheers!
:cool: :cool: :cool:
 
Unfortunately I couldn't find a good source of information, so I just ordered a couple of books from amazon. I hope after reading them I will learn enough to make sound buying decisions.
 
Reloading

For a longlasting pistol/rifle press I have found the dillion 650 unbeatable. It is rock solid and they stand behind their products 110%.
I know of no press that will do both shotgun and rifle/pistol.

I also have a lee press for precision handloading rifle. I have found the lee products to be good, less expensive, but I think a little less durable in the long run. It really depends on your budget and actual potential use for the press.
 
Steyr101 said:
Whats your budget and what volume do you plan on reloading?

Based on the guns you have now... is it safe to assume you will only be loading handgun calibers?
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For now I will be reloading handgun cartridges. But I do plan on getting an AR-15 and a .308 rifle, and probably a 30-30 lever-action rifle... also a VZ-58, but for that I'll just buy milsurp ammo since it's so cheap anyway.

As for volume... not really sure... once I et into IPSC, it will be it the hundreds of rounds/month I'm sure.

Hadn't really thought of budget. I'm felxible there. One of the answers I was looking for was what to expect cost-wise to start out.

Thanks.

Cheers!
:cool: :cool: :cool:
 
Your main decision will be to buy a progressive press or single stage type of press. In the single stage world cost and quality is pretty much as follows in descending order: Redding, RCBS, Lyman, Hornady,............Lee. In the progressive line of presses Dillon rules the pack, and then the same order as above.
As for volume... not really sure... once I et into IPSC, it will be it the hundreds of rounds/month I'm sure.
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Volume wise if you will be doing hundreds of rounds per month on a regular basis, that dictates a progressive press as being almost manditory. A progressive press has several different mechanical stations that performs all the loading steps on a progression of several cases for each swing of the press lever. A single stage press performs only one loading step with each swing of the press lever, so it is much slower to load any given quantity of ammo. The progressive is somewhat more involved to initialy set up, but once its hummin' your a rockin'.
 
Best to learn the ropes on a single stage press first. Can't beat the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit. I've got a progressive press, but I still load almost all my rifle ammo on my Rock Chucker. Later on you can always look into a progressive press.

The Dillon 550B offers probably the best combination of performance vs. cost but it generally isn't recommended for newbies to jump right in and start reloading on a progressive. There's too much danger of things going wrong...and when things go wrong as a result of reloading...often your gun ends up going boom too, along with your hand(s) and possibly eye(s).

Chances are if you're looking at shooting IPSC it will be in the standard division using some sort of stock 9mm. The Winchester White Box 9mm ammo is so cheap that some guys won't even bother reloading for 9mm anymore and they use it for IPSC. In a pinch it can certainly get you in the game until you develop the skills and knowledge to load safe, reliable ammo...and give you a chance to decide what outfit will work best for you and your needs.
 
Dude dont do single stage at first, cause your just gonna get into progressive presses in the future neways, go for Dillon, they are the best out there and have the BEST warrenty ever, i am new to reloading also, but i am getting a Square deal b since i just load 1 hand gun size,but since your going to be loading rifle you should look into the 550b, its teh best for changing around, it isnt to complex like 650 or 1050, and its a decent price. theres tons of info on the net about them.

Curby
 
Clammy:

It's better to learn how to load with a single stage than a progressive, because if you make a mistake you should catch it immediately but with a progressive it will be magnified.

PM me.

RePete.
 
RePete said:
It's better to learn how to load with a single stage than a progressive, because if you make a mistake you should catch it immediately but with a progressive it will be magnified.
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I second, third and fourth that! I can't imagine how catastrophic results of the mistakes I've made on my single stage while learning would have been on a progressive. First on a single stage, you can hardly miss an error since you're handling youself each cartridge for each step of it's making. Second, if you make a mistake, you only need to scrap one or two cartridge, and not a full batch.

Plus, a spare single-stage is always useful for the calibers you don't load often. Those Dillon conversion kit for the 650 are expensive, so you need to make alot of ammo so it is worth the investment. Plus, a single-stage loads precision rifle ammunition more accurate than a progressive, IMO.
 
"For a longlasting pistol/rifle press I have found the dillion 650 unbeatable. It is rock solid and they stand behind their products 110%"

I couldn't agree more I have had great success with my Dillion, when you add the case feeder to the 650, it turns it into a ammo producing machine. Check out Winsor Action Pistol, I believe that they carry Dillion. It may be a large initial investment but you will be able to produce lots of high quality ammo,which means lots of shooting. The powder drop in my 650 is one of the most accurate I have had experience with. Dillion says that the 650 will produce 1000rds/hr, thats on the conserative side.
 
I was taught on a progressive, get a SME over for the evening and run through the procedure, its not rocket science. Once the dies are set up and the powder drop, its turns into prodcution line.
 
I don't see a need to start with a single stage press. I started with a Dillon Square Deal B and then moved up to a Dillon 650. As long as you take your time and follow all the instrutions you will have no problems.

If you go to Brian Enos website you will find lots of info on different presses.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/
 
Second, if you make a mistake, you only need to scrap one or two cartridge, and not a full batch.
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Or maybe it just took you longer to make that mistake!

Do you have a driver's licence? Driving a car is much more complicated than loading on a progressive, but do you hear people saying " you should start on a moped and then graduate to 4 wheels...."?

Seriously, looks like you are just after pistol ammo to start, a progressive is just what you need. For pistol, I have only ever loaded on Dillon 550B, so I can't say anything about the other presses, yay or nay. The Dillon has been more than adequate for my needs and has never let me down.

When you do decide to get into rifle, there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a single-stage to sit on the bench beside the progressive. That way you will have all the angles covered.

And while you are at it, a set of dies for every caliber known to mankind, every reloading tool that was ever manufactured, and at least 1 container of every bullet, primer, and powder available.

What are you laughing at? Isn't this what happens to all reloaders?
 
Well one of the things that helped me was that I found someone in the IPSC community that was shooting the same bullet and calibre, powder etc. He was able to give the right # of grains, case lenght etc.
 
mildot said:
Well one of the things that helped me was that I found someone in the IPSC community that was shooting the same bullet and calibre, powder etc. He was able to give the right # of grains, case lenght etc.
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A rule of thumb if/when you get into reloading...never, ever trust a load that a guy "gives" you or you find on the internet. ALWAYS check such info against a good, modern manual like the Lyman 48th ed, Speer 13th, etc...

As I said in my first post, loading on a progressive press as a newbie, things can go boom...its very easy to load a double charge, especially in pistol calibers. You probably wouldn't even be aware of the potential danger until after the doctor pulls pieces of your pistols slide out of your forehead or eye socket!

Learn the basics on a single stage, then move up.
 
X-man said:
As I said in my first post, loading on a progressive press as a newbie, things can go boom...its very easy to load a double charge, especially in pistol calibers. You probably wouldn't even be aware of the potential danger until after the doctor pulls pieces of your pistols slide out of your forehead or eye socket!
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Wow!!!! The drama!!:p
 
Well the guy that helped me out had a 1050 Dillion and had shot .45 in IPSC, so it wasn't a case of getting some #'s from the internet or word of mouth at the range. I loaded several rounds and crono'ed them to make the power factor, and then fine tuned it from there. Shooting .45 there was really only one powder WIN 231 that fit the bill. I didn't see the need to consult several manuals and try a bunch of different powders.Most of the successful shooters that won matches, had done most of the experimenting. Why reinvent the wheel?
 
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I'm also thinking about getting into reloading, though I'm certain a single-stage press is more my speed.

Do folks ever load semi-wadcutters for 9mm, or does it cause feeding problems with semi-automatics?
 
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