Setting up to reload

Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
What do you need to reload on a small scale?

and how many rounds would it take before it paid for itself?
 

Mic

Jan 2009
165
0
Wa
I have been looking into this as well. I have found a lot of good reviews on the Lee Classic turret loading system. It is 190 from cabela's.

But would like to hear what experienced reloaders have to say.
 
Feb 2009
126
0
Lacey, Wa
I bought me the lee single stage anniversary kit... for how much i shoot it was a pretty good deal. With the single stage I can load about 100 rounds in one hour. The Classic Turret will load close to 200 per hour. In the single stage you have to change the die after every step. In the Classic all of the dies go in a turret and stay setup.

I think i bought mine for $85... just remember you still will have to buy some dies, and a tumbler to clean your dirty brass. Oh the single stage is aluminum vs cast iron in the Classic.

Not sure of how many rounds it would take to repay... I've reloaded about 3000 rounds so far since Nov. Have you looked at the Dillon presses? I've heard they are pretty good quality as well.
 
Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
ok, so

press, dies, tumbler to clean brass...scale? funnel? what else do you need here?

and the brass, primers, powder, and bullets what else do you need here?


and I'm guessing shotgun reloading is a totally different world?




and a book.....might be the first place to start....
 
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Jan 2009
223
0
Spokane
Dillon... there is no substitute.

I used to have 2 RL550's - one setup in 40 and the other on 45. I sold both of those and bought a 650 and case feeder. It's setup for 40, but have the caliber conversion for 45 and dies for every other caliber I shoot. I loaded T's 10mm on my RCBS Rock Chucker. Once I had the brass cleaned, I loaded 150 rounds in about 2.5hours - with "help" from my 4-year old daughter.

With the 550 and filled primer tubes, I could do between 500-600 rds/hr. I've had the 650 abot a year and haven't really given it a good run to see what it can do, but I've read reviews that said between 800-1000 rds/her with the case feeder. I would expect to get between 600-800 with filled primer tubes and a full case feeder.
 
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Jan 2009
223
0
Spokane
What do you NEED to start reloading?

Any quality single stage press will get your foot in the reloading door. I learned to reload on the Green stuff, so am partial to RCBS if it's not Dillon. that said, I also have some Hornady and Lee dies. The Lee is a factory crimp .223 - the Hornady is 40 S&W.

A reloading book - Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, Speer/RCBS, Hodgdon. Get one that the newest of the first 2 and then pick up used versions of the others.

Goggles - I've never had primers go boom, but knew a guy who worked at the CCI works in Lewiston when I went to WSU... he had some interesting scars. (I don't wear them, but know I should.)

Grain scale. Preferably electronic, but a single beam RCBS (510/1010) can't be beat. Check ebay and gunbroker. I use a PACT electronic. There are several to choose from.

Powder measure. Again, my preference is green. Either RCBS or Redding. Or check this out - Quick Measure - The Accurate Powder Measure This is what I used to load the 10MM's powder. And what I will be using for .223 when I get that bug.

Dies - a set for each caliber. If you're going to do straight wall pistol calibers - 9mm, 4o, 45, you will want a taper crimp die. Makes life much easier. For pistol calibers - carbide dies. Accept no other. For rifle cartridges, a god case lube, like Hornady one shot. Works good and doesn't dent case walls if you put on too much like the RCBS stuff will. Go with RCBS, Redding ($$), Hornady, Lee. I usually avoid Lee, but other people have had good luck with it. Lee does make some special dies that no one else makes - like the factory crimp dies. For auto loading rifle - .223, .308 it's a good investment. I've read about the Lee/EGW undersize die for 40. handy if you shoot Glocks or pick up brass that's been thru a glock. takes the glock bulge out so you don;t have issues with chambering the previously glockified brass. Remember to get the right shell holder(s). Some will work for more than 1 caliber. 30-06, 25-06, 270, 308, 243, 7mm-08, 22-250 = 1 shel holder.

Brass trimmer - If you shoot rifle stuff more that twice, you will want... need... to trim to length. Brass flows under pressure. Least resistance is thru extending the case mouth. Again, RCBS. Or Foster/Bonanza.

Loading blocks. MTM or RCBS. To hold your brass as you work thru a stage (depriming/resizing, adding powder, seating bullets).

ACRO bins - hand for holding your brass.

Brass polisher/tumbler. To clean that nasty ass brass. Crushed walnut - finest you can get so it doesn't clog flash holes. the big shell stuff is great for cleaning brass before resizing, but once you deprime, the fine is the only way to go. Otherwise you'll spend too much time knocking the crumbs out of the flash hole.

I've been reloading for 25+ years and have a pretty good collection of godies, but it seems there is always some new gadget. Starting out, stick with the basics. Pick up one of the major mfr's (Sierra or Hornady) reloading manual and give it a read before you buy anything else.

Feel free to pm with any questions.
 
Feb 2009
126
0
Lacey, Wa
Went with the anniversary kit because it included alot of stuff like the powder scale, powder drop, the safety prime attachment. Its good buy for people who are interested reloading but don't want to drop all the cash. Now that I'm hooked I'm going to upgrade later this year to the Dillon 550 and downgrade the lee press as a depriming station.

They sell a pretty good/cheap Frankford Arsenal tumbler kit at Sportsman's. +1 on the carbide dies... it will save you the trouble of lubing up the cases.
 
Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
man thats gonna take forever and a day to make a 50 rnds of ammo... unless you are Mr. Lee of course... then it only takes you 40 seconds per round :)

YouTube - Reloading with a Lee Loader

I'm not planning on churning out lots of rounds, more looking to roll my own.


you don't know me...I do things the hard way...it's lots more fun that way! :mfclap:


this could be perfect for me to be able to reload a few rounds here and there...as much as I shoot, it's not a big deal.
 
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Jan 2009
223
0
Spokane
I had one of those in 30-30. It worked for what I was doing, hen was able to upgrade to an RCBS rock chucker. Besides the speed, which you say isn't an issue to you, the next problem is lube. I never used lube with the die and the brass was scuffed/scratched. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of. Great for doing a few rounds - and portable you could use on a range.
 
Feb 2009
246
0
redmond,wa
i got the 650 for my first reloader and have dropped around 2 grand on it just to get it to the point i like it at. its a fun hobby tho. if its not something you are sure about then try to find someone that has one you can try out. i think if you buy one of those cheap ones it will discourage you and turn you away from it.
 

Ash

Feb 2009
19
0
Portland, OR
Having a single-stage press available is invaluable. Just wait for that first stuck case! I run a Dillon 55 with an RCBS Pardner set up for stuck cases. I've also used it to taper-crimp my .40 SW cases because I don't like the "mushy" feel the 550 gets sometimes when it's trying to do 3 other things to 3 other cases. I feel that I have more control over it that way. May be an illusion, but it's how I run it. I also use it to resize/deprime 9mm, as the 550 can sometimes be hit&miss for that caliber. Maybe it's a military primer crimp issue?

Anyway, stating with a single-stage press gave me a healthy respect and understanding for what happens at each stage of the process, and certainly gave me respect for the detail involved in the hobby.
 
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Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth....

I picked up the lee classic loader, bullets, and primers.

I still need: a scale, case lube, powder, and the most expensive part: time.
 

Mic

Jan 2009
165
0
Wa
I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth....

I picked up the lee classic loader, bullets, and primers.

I still need: a scale, case lube, powder, and the most expensive part: time.

woot
 
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