Reloading for the first time

[madstyle1]

As I do more research about reloads I have been shopping around the kits. I assume this is good enough as a starter? I only look to do 223 and 308 win. Im assuming this kit and the dies will complete the equipment to get started?

[Fastattack]

You will need some calipers, but the cheap HF brand is ok to start out - they are as accurate as the expensive ones for your use. Eventually you will want to trim your brass too, but this kit will get you going.

[Strafer]

The RCBS Rockchucker kit is what I started with and have been using for the past 8 years. And I have my original HF calipers too - never upgraded (didn't need to).

The kit you're looking at will work great, IMO. I still use it for pistol load development and all my precision 223 and 22-250.

Good luck!

Edit - for brass trimming I started out w a simple Lee handheld trimmer. I eventually upgraded to a little crow WFT, but the Lee worked just fine.

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[tabascoz28]

If I was doing it all over again I wouldn't buy kits.
1) Press (includes priming arms)
2) Digital scale and powder drop /combo
3) Calipers
5) Caliber specific trimmer (worlds cheapest trimmer on ebay and replace the endmill cutter)
6) Case prep center to chamfer, deburr, brush, clean flash holes, decrimp primers.

[madstyle1]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses

[dmy]

If you want to go economical, I suggest Lyman EZ trim, which can be chucked into an electric screwgun, and RCBS chamfer /debur tool. I also suggest digital calipers and a digital scale. And, of course, a good loading manual.

[JackEllis]

If you're not in a huge hurry, keep an eye on the Private Reloading Sales sub forum. Folks often sell off bits and pieces they no longer need because either they've upgraded or they no longer have time to reload.

If you're on a budget, an inexpensive digital scale will get you started but be aware they have a tendency to drift. A digital scale and powder drop combo greatly speeds things up but they're spendy.

[edgerly779]

Good choice will last a lifetime.

[golfish]

I agree, it will out live you. I use it for 9mm, 38sp, 357, 45acp, 45LC, 7.62x39, 30-30 and 308.

The scale and powder dispenser are crazy accurate..

[madstyle1]

Right on everyone!!

[jp1911]

The RCBS Rock Chucker kit is a great kit. You will want to get the RCBS stuck case remover 9340.
Also grab extra decapping pins for which ever dies you use.

You will also need to get a tumbler to clean your brass, brand doesn’t really matter they all last about the same. For media I use crushed walnut shells. I get them from the local feed store, what you will spend for a pound at the gun store will get you a 25 pound bag at the feed store.


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[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by madstyle1

As I do more research about reloads I have been shopping around the kits.
I assume this is good enough as a starter?
I only look to do 223 and 308 win.
Im assuming this kit and the dies will complete the equipment to get started?

Did you look at my stickied post which has a list of things you need to get started?
https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/...d.php?t=158086

You don't have to buy the exact items, but the list is pretty comprehensive on the actual THINGS you need.

[madstyle1]

I missed that . Looking at it now

[JackEllis]

Originally Posted by jp1911

You will also need to get a tumbler to clean your brass, brand doesn’t really matter they all last about the same.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you're starting out you COULD skip a tumbler. Shiny brass is a nice-to-have but washing it in hot water with a few drops of Dawn and maybe a pinch of Lemishine or something similar gets brass clean enough.

Not an RCBS press and not a single-stage but for the price, this setup might be worth considering:

[madstyle1]

Originally Posted by JackEllis

If you're starting out you COULD skip a tumbler. Shiny brass is a nice-to-have but washing it in hot water with a few drops of Dawn and maybe a pinch of Lemishine or something similar gets brass clean enough.

Not an RCBS press and not a single-stage but for the price, this setup might be worth considering:

Ya i was looking at the Lee precision turret style as well

[baranski]

Originally Posted by JackEllis

If you're starting out you COULD skip a tumbler. Shiny brass is a nice-to-have but washing it in hot water with a few drops of Dawn and maybe a pinch of Lemishine or something similar gets brass clean enough.

Not an RCBS press and not a single-stage but for the price, this setup might be worth considering:

Now that is a good deal.

[JackEllis]

Better hurry up before I buy it. I'd love to have a second press set up for decapping and sizing.

[ysr_racer]

tl;dr

OP, don't forget a caliper, bullet puller, and a cheap digital scale.

Smart Weigh GEM20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESHDGOI...ing=UTF8&psc=1

[Oceanbob]

Randall nails it….

I can’t predict your need and production but later you might
move to a progressive machine. (Go Blue….hahahaha)
(Ducking….)

I didn’t see a case gauge in that postage stamp size photo but
I use case gauges from Dillon. Really a good tool for checking your rounds.

Good luck.
Bob

[Divernhunter]

That is a great kit to start reloading with. I bought the RCBS Rockchucker kit in 1970 and still use it. It had some different items in it then. I now have 3 single stage presses and a Dillon 650.

[madstyle1]

Originally Posted by Fastattack

You will need some calipers, but the cheap HF brand is ok to start out - they are as accurate as the expensive ones for your use. Eventually you will want to trim your brass too, but this kit will get you going.

I have calipers but not digital. Its the old the needle in the glass version.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by madstyle1

I have calipers but not digital.
Its the old the needle in the glass version.

Those are better than digital because you can read between the lines on an analog dial while digital has no lines so therefore less total resolution.

[madstyle1]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Those are better than digital because you can read between the lines on an analog dial while digital has no lines so therefore less total resolution.

Nice im set in that category then lol

[Fizz]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Those are better than digital because you can read between the lines on an analog dial while digital has no lines so therefore less total resolution.

Don't need .0000000000001 resolution for ammo. With analog you have parallax error, mechanical backlash, offset of dial face relative to the hand, mechanical wear, etc. If you want to get real into the weeds you can account for temperature effects on all of the above.

Then there's the human element of interpolating between mark readings. Then there's the fact that no piece of brass or projectile is exactly perfect so even if your measurement is perfect the material dimensions will be different even if measurements are the same.

I love me some analog calipers, but I can't think of any circumstance with ammo that these differences will manifest into downrange performance.

You want to get THAT exact, calipers are the wrong tool entirely and you need dial indicators in a temperature controlled environment.

[Fastattack]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Those are better than digital because you can read between the lines on an analog dial while digital has no lines so therefore less total resolution.

Plus, no battery to worry about. Ever.

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[ysr_racer]

I've been using the same analog calipers I bought from Dillon about 35 years ago. There a knob on the dial that lets you adjust it for accuracy.

In all this time it's off .001

Money well spent.

[RickD427]

That RCBS kit is a great start. You'll soon find yourself adding equipment to your reloading bench as you gain experience, but wait for the experience to come before you go shopping.

A single-stage press is the right choice for a beginner. It's plenty fast enough for a casual shooter. If you do move up to a progressive press, you'll still value the single stage for small jobs.

[madstyle1]

My Calipers lol

[madstyle1]

Originally Posted by tabascoz28

If I was doing it all over again I wouldn't buy kits.
1) Press (includes priming arms)
2) Digital scale and powder drop /combo
3) Calipers
5) Caliber specific trimmer (worlds cheapest trimmer on ebay and replace the endmill cutter)
6) Case prep center to chamfer, deburr, brush, clean flash holes, decrimp primers.

So if i was to piece together. Other than Dies is this everything needed to get it started? Hardware wise.

[heavyhaulin818]

OP, I’m just learning too and right away I found out how important a kinetic hammer/collet die is. I bought the Berry’s and have found it to be very effective plus the handle id wider and feels more secure in the hand.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by madstyle1

So if i was to piece together. Other than Dies is this everything needed to get it started? Hardware wise.

That list is missing the most important thing.
Reloading manuals.
Get 3 of them.
Actual paper books.
Lyman
Your powder manufacturer of choice.
Your bullet manufacturer of choice.
Read the whole front of the layman manual before the reloading data until you actually understand it.
After that, you should have an idea what you actually need.

Cross reference loading data from all 3 books against each other and ignore the outliers.

[tabascoz28]

Originally Posted by madstyle1

So if i was to piece together. Other than Dies is this everything needed to get it started? Hardware wise.

These are my wants after 20 years of reloading. Otherwise it could be a chore. I have never scooped in powder and measured on a beam balance. I have never primed by hand in a separate hand process, always on press. I have never eyeballed the OAL of a bullet. For years I tried trimming with Lee zip trims and hand trimmers. That's a fast way to get some carpal tunnel or speed up your arthritis. I didn't include a tumbler because it's not technically necessary, I used to just wipe them down a bit and if it was really cruddy I'd use some steel wool. I still don't have a bullet puller. It's called a pair of pliers and leverage. With my accurate loads I always either used a previous setting or back them out and start over.

My book came with my kit, the only things I have of the original kit is the press, the primer arms and the book. It is technically possible to learn on youtube but a lot of info is in different places. I am not sure there is one person who goes through all the intricacies of reloading all in one video.

Reloading on a progressive press is also different. You'll have to know the process backwards and forwards before mixing all the processes together and potentially adding an auto primer drop, case drop, bullet drop and powder drop.

Also, are you trying to make plinking ammo or accurate? I make 9mm on my semi progressive at about 400rds per hour. On my Big Green, I can probably make 50rds of 338LM an hour. That's not including trimming, annealing, and other case prep.

[RNE228]

I like analog for that reason. And, it is easier to watch the needle sweep as you adjust, as compared to watching numbers flash by.

Digital and analog have their purposes. But I find on the reloading bench, I mostly reach for my analog calipers.

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Those are better than digital because you can read between the lines on an analog dial while digital has no lines so therefore less total resolution.

[RNE228]

Lots of stuff in the reloading section of Market Place here.

I've been seeing a lot pop up on Craigslist in Sacramento region too.

[steelholder]

Are you shooting 223 out of a semi? If so you're gna spend a LONG time reloading that with a single stage.

[steelholder]

At 500 I think you're paying way too much for what you're getting, look at the classic lee turret. Faster loads for 223 and can be used as single stage for 308.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Reloadi...-127632-2357-0

[madstyle1]

I plan on reloading 223 & 308 win on this.

BTW @AR15barrels I just ordered the 50th Edition from Lyman on amazon. Looking forward to reading this educate myself further.

[madstyle1]

Originally Posted by tabascoz28

These are my wants after 20 years of reloading. Otherwise it could be a chore. I have never scooped in powder and measured on a beam balance. I have never primed by hand in a separate hand process, always on press. I have never eyeballed the OAL of a bullet. For years I tried trimming with Lee zip trims and hand trimmers. That's a fast way to get some carpal tunnel or speed up your arthritis. I didn't include a tumbler because it's not technically necessary, I used to just wipe them down a bit and if it was really cruddy I'd use some steel wool. I still don't have a bullet puller. It's called a pair of pliers and leverage. With my accurate loads I always either used a previous setting or back them out and start over.

My book came with my kit, the only things I have of the original kit is the press, the primer arms and the book. It is technically possible to learn on youtube but a lot of info is in different places. I am not sure there is one person who goes through all the intricacies of reloading all in one video.

Reloading on a progressive press is also different. You'll have to know the process backwards and forwards before mixing all the processes together and potentially adding an auto primer drop, case drop, bullet drop and powder drop.

Also, are you trying to make plinking ammo or accurate? I make 9mm on my semi progressive at about 400rds per hour. On my Big Green, I can probably make 50rds of 338LM an hour. That's not including trimming, annealing, and other case prep.

Just plinking..

[tabascoz28]

You're lucky, cause that lee classic turret kit is now larger and stronger. My original lee precision turret couldn't do 308, weak and short. But i bought it 20yrs ago. Sold it for $80 and got a new classic recently. Solid unit for a first, get the process down and make 100rds an hour easy. I use the lee auto disk powder drop and skip the combo powder\scale, save some money. Use flake and ball powder. Sticks will get stuck in that dropper. Get a cheaper digi scale.

[madstyle1]

Originally Posted by tabascoz28

You're lucky, cause that lee classic turret kit is now larger and stronger. My original lee precision turret couldn't do 308, weak and short. But i bought it 20yrs ago. Sold it for $80 and got a new classic recently. Solid unit for a first, get the process down and make 100rds an hour easy. I use the lee auto disk powder drop and skip the combo powder\scale, save some money. Use flake and ball powder. Sticks will get stuck in that dropper. Get a cheaper digi scale.

Ok I ordered the RCBS Rebel press today (single press). I will piece the equipment together. If I can save money for now as Its my first time i’m good with that. 100 rds an hour is not bad im ok with that.