Where do we start?

Cagunman

Cagunman

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Shediac, New Brunswick
A buddy and I are starting to think about reloading. Right now it'll be easy .38spl.
What I want to know is what are we gonna need? I know that we are gonna need a press but I also know there is an awful lot of other stuff, like tumblers and scales and ..... I'm thinking we could start by buying the items we will need until all that will be left is the press.
Any suggestions?
 
You need a way to
1) clean brass.
2) Check brass for length
3) Resize and deprime
4) Prime
5) Measure and add a powder charge
6) Press in a bullet.
 
ok.. So how many do you plan on making at a time? It really changes the equipment.

if you start with .38 special but want to do lots of loading for hunting rifles later, youhave to make sure you get something that can be adapted to it. If it's only pistol maybe a lee 1000 or similar setup would work. I do all of my loading on either an RCBS single stage press or a hornady lock and load setup. Depends if I want to make 40-60 an hour or 300-400.
 
To start you need a press as you mentioned. Single stage is better to start and you can always trade up to a progressive when you get used to it. A set of carbide dies so you don't really need to polish the brass before you reload. still a good idea but not totaly needed to start. A priming tool and a powder scale. RCBS and Lee both have starter kits with all you need to get rolling. Lee is a lot cheaper and work just dandy for years. RCBS you are paying for the green colour just like a John Deere tractor. Might have better trade in value years down the road. The only other thing you need is a good caliper. Prefferably digital so there is no guessing on overall or minimum length of the loaded bullet. You will probably never need to trim the brass because it will crack from use before it will stretch enough to make a difference in your shooting. Choose your powder and get some cast lead semi-wad cutters and go nuts.
 
"...we could start by..." Cost less by buying a beginner's kit. They don't come with tumblers though. Both of you will have to work up a load for your own revolver too. Mind you, most .38's will shoot 148 grain WC's with 2.5 to 2.8 grains of Bullseye well.
 
Edward Teach said:
You need a way to
1) clean brass.
2) Check brass for length
3) Resize and deprime
4) Prime
5) Measure and add a powder charge
6) Press in a bullet.
Click to expand...

If you are just starting out, and intend to start with .38 Special, you really don't need all of the above.
1. You can wash your cases with dishwashing liquid.
2. You rarely if ever need to worry about cartridge length with .38 Special, especially at the start.
3. Get a Lee starter kit, either their single stage or their turret press, with a three die set (almost all of them are carbide these days).
4. Prime with the priming setup with the press.
5. Use Lee dippers to start, or go with a simple powder measure (Lee also makes one).
6. Bullets are seated with the die set.

So, dies, press with priming tool, scale, powder measure. Keep it simple and add stuff when you really, really need it.
 
That's why I wasn't specific about equipment... ;)

That being said anyone wanting to load pistol ammo is likely going to want to load volume, so that means a tumbler, a turret or a progressive press, and some means of throwing charges quickly.
 
I'm in a similar boat. I want to get started with reloading 308 and 45 (for starters). I met somebody at the local club this weekend who told me about a local shop who has the Lee 50th Anniversary Kit on sale. Would something like that be worth starting with, or should I spend a bit more coin to get the Turret model?
 
Cagunman said:
A buddy and I are starting to think about reloading. Right now it'll be easy .38spl.
What I want to know is what are we gonna need? I know that we are gonna need a press but I also know there is an awful lot of other stuff, like tumblers and scales and ..... I'm thinking we could start by buying the items we will need until all that will be left is the press.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Wow, tough question as there are dozens if not hundreds of answers.
1. How much do you want to spend?
2. How many rounds do you want to reload per hour and how many per month?
 
easyrider604 said:
Wow, tough question as there are dozens if not hundreds of answers.
1. How much do you want to spend?
2. How many rounds do you want to reload per hour and how many per month?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking we would want to be able to reload say 300 per hour. That way it wouldn't be nuts to try and get ready for a shoot if we had to. We can spend about, say $500. Right now I'm thinking Dillon.
 
Looks like you need a progressive. Either Dillon 550 or 650.

My first ever reloading press and reloading for that matter is on a Dillon 650 with case feeder (otherwise it would be just a 550 that can auto index). You will run into small hiccups but over time you will have no problems.

All said and done, I think it set me back $1600. I'm not entirely sure if that sum includes tumbler, scale and other bits and pieces.

Granted, once you have it, it'll pay itself off or allows you to shoot more. If you cast your own bullets, you will save $$$ and always leave the range feeling satisfied with no dent in wallet but at a cost to time.

I blew another $1+k to reload 44 mag and 223. 223 costs me a ton. I don't have trimmer (went for the 1200B). I don't have a swagger, so I bought the super swager. The 1200B is pretty sweet. Trimmed 500 cases in no time at all. No need to debur yet if even required. I'm using FMJBT.
 
Cagunman said:
I'm thinking we would want to be able to reload say 300 per hour. That way it wouldn't be nuts to try and get ready for a shoot if we had to. We can spend about, say $500. Right now I'm thinking Dillon.
Click to expand...

Ok a Dillon Square Deal would be around 400. Add tumbler, scale, puller,caliper ...yes you are in the ballpark.

Or go with a Lee Loadmaster. Including everything mentioned above within $500, I think. Check with Lee Factory Sales in wisconsin for the Loadmaster.

FWIW, I sold my 20 year old Dillon 550B (in great shape) with one set of dies, $580.00 six months ago.
 
If your loading for pistol bypass the single press. $170 buys you a lee 1000 progressive including 38 special carbide dies from Cabeles in the states or a little more locally.

People will slam this press but it's a great starter pistol press, you can easily do a 200 an hour going easy and slow(which I recommend when you first start off). If you end up liking reloading and really want more reliable, higher production and spend way more money sell the Lee press for what you bought if for on EE and buy a Dillon or Hornady progressive.
 
apu said:
If your loading for pistol bypass the single press. $170 buys you a lee 1000 progressive including 38 special carbide dies from Cabeles in the states or a little more locally.

People will slam this press but it's a great starter pistol press, you can easily do a 200 an hour going easy and slow(which I recommend when you first start off). If you end up liking reloading and really want more reliable, higher production and spend way more money sell the Lee press for what you bought if for on EE and buy a Dillon or Hornady progressive.
Click to expand...

Thank you. That's the kind of feedback I was looking for. Having said that, I assume all I would need to reload for my 308 as well would be the proper dies. Anything else?
 
I assume all I would need to reload for my 308

Not sure if that is a typo, and you meant "my 38" instead of "my 308". If you meant .308, you won't be able to use a Lee Progressive 1000, at least not to my knowledge. I have three 1000's, a 38/357, a 9mm, and a 45acp. If they are set up properly (key word), they will work just fine. The powder measures do much better with finer grained powder than, say, 700X.

Take some time, buy a couple of reloading books, or you can go online a search for articles on "how to reload", etc. There are some great articles available.

A couple of good manuals such as the ABC's of Reloading, Lyman's, Lee, RCBS and so forth will be a good investment. Gun shows are sometimes a good place to find manuals.

Also, take what you read here with a touch of salt. Sometimes, opinions are pretty strongly worded. Try not to be too "tunnel visioned" about reloading methods and equipment. We all started somewhere and could overload the internet with some of the stories of boo-boos we pulled. Be careful, and, above all, have fun!!:p
 
I did indeed mean .308. This is the type of information I'm looking for. I obviously don't know much about the reloading game. So, handgun and rifle loads are done with different presses huh? Yay, more spending!
 
awndray said:
I did indeed mean .308. This is the type of information I'm looking for. I obviously don't know much about the reloading game. So, handgun and rifle loads are done with different presses huh? Yay, more spending!
Click to expand...

Um, no...just different (and usually fewer) dies for rifle.

The first thing you should do is go out and get yourself a manual. Do that before buying anything else. 49th Ed. Lyman Manual is a good place to start, as is The ABCs Of Reloading.
 
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