Want to Reload but need some help

[Lobo07]

I'm just getting a little more into shooting, and want to get into competitive. I don't want to be a Pro, but get some experience in the area. And I also want to start reloading my own ammo.

I'm hoping to get pointed in the right direction regarding reloading from those with experience.

1. Reloading Press (top 3)
2. Reloading Supplies (Where to buy) (top 5)
and why you recommend it..

and any additional information that you may want to add.

want to reload 9mm, if that makes a difference.


thanks in advance

[gsxr310]

Same here... Wanna get started... Looking at the Hornady lock n load AP press. Any happy users? Are Dillon dies compatible?

[CSACANNONEER]

Sorry, you are asking for recommendations without providing enough info. How much do you plan to reload/day,week,month? What is your budget? etc.

I would suggest attending a reloading club low cost clinic if there is one in your area. Ventura County has one this coming weekend but, it's full. Hopefully, we will have one in LA County (Saugus) in March. Orange County, Inland Empire and Sac also have active clubs. If you can't make one of those, still, take a class somewhere BEFORE you buy anything.

As a reloader, I have Dillon, Lee, Hornady,MEC and RCBS presses right now. Each has it's pros and cons. There is no "top" press unless you are talking about a Hollywood.

As far as sources for components go, I'm cheap and get mine from too many sources to list. Again, there is no top suppliers for me.

[Sir Toast]

Start by getting a good manual by Lee or Hornady or Lyman. Read, then read some more. It will give you many answers. Don't buy anything until you read a manual or two.

I would start with a single stage press and reload easy stuff like .223 that won't take your head off if you make a mistake like a 338 LM. I'm a fan of the Lee Classic Cast single stage press because I reload precision ammo and I like the Lee Classic Cast (because I can reload .416 Barrett on it).

My advice is to KEEP IT SIMPLE when you're starting out. You can always upgrade when you know what you want. Start with a kit. Just my two cents.

[chicobeaks]

I'm just getting a little more into shooting, and want to get into competitive. I don't want to be a Pro, but get some experience in the area. And I also want to start reloading my own ammo.

I'm hoping to get pointed in the right direction regarding reloading from those with experience.

1. Reloading Press (top 3)
2. Reloading Supplies (Where to buy) (top 5)
and why you recommend it..

and any additional information that you may want to add.

want to reload 9mm, if that makes a difference.


thanks in advance

Your budget has a big impact on what would be recommended for you. I personally like Dillon presses so my recommendations will be a little biased. You can start with a single stage press if you want to get in cheap and don't mind the extra work. If you think this is something that you will be doing seriously I would recommend a Dillon 550b. It doesn't automatically index the rounds so it is kind of a manual progressive press. I wouldn't get a auto-indexing progressive press if you are just learning to reload. You're bound to screw something up if the pieces are moving and you don't fully understand what is going on.

Single Stage
- RCBS Rock Chucker
- Redding Boss/Big Boss

Progressive
- Dillon RL550b

[SacJDog]

I basically started reloading when I dove headfirst into competition. Went from shooting a few thousand to 10 thousand in a year. I started with the RCBS reloading kit, which came with almost everything to begin reloading, except dies were separate. I use a dillon 650 now since I spent the first year getting comfortable with a single stage press.

As for components, I use gunbot. Basically have to check regularly and when something appears that you want, then you have to jump on it. Keep in mind that primer and powder charges a hazmat fee of around $28. So it is in you best interest to buy in quantity to mitigate the cost of the hazmat fee.

[bohoki]

ive reloaded thousands on a single stage its easy and cheap

9mm is a great start

i use a rcbs jr-2 but you can get by with the cheapest lee press
i use the lee 9mm dies it comes with a little scoop so you could use it instead of getting a measure you just need to use their suggested powders

i can prime on my press i'm not sure how the lee works ive never had a lee press

9mm cases you may find lately may be primer crimped so you should get a little small primer pocket reamer

i also cast with a lee mold but that is a bit more advanced than you probably want to go but wow it makes my cartridges cost like a nickel each

[stilly]

I'm just getting a little more into shooting, and want to get into competitive. I don't want to be a Pro, but get some experience in the area. And I also want to start reloading my own ammo.

I'm hoping to get pointed in the right direction regarding reloading from those with experience.

1. Reloading Press (top 3)
2. Reloading Supplies (Where to buy) (top 5)
and why you recommend it..

and any additional information that you may want to add.

want to reload 9mm, if that makes a difference.


thanks in advance

Welcome to Calguns reloading sub forums. I am glad that you at least had the intelligence to come here and ask the forum. That is a good start and two people already gave good advice.

1. Get yourself a good beginner's reloading manual, Like the Book of Lyman (49th edition) or the Book of Lee (Modern reloading by Richard Lee, 2nd edition). I only recommend these two books to start because they are somewhat neutral when it comes to load data. The book of Lee reads like this: "Hi, we are Lee, this is our press line up, this is our other stuff, here is how you use them, oh and this is how you reload..." While I have not read the Book of Lyman, I have heard it was very good. Lee does have the MOST load data (choices) that are published for you to play with though. Plus, I think the Book of Lee is the cheapest to buy. This summer they are releasing it again but it will include new powders and newer load data/ recipes. I will be buying it when it comes out.

2. Attend a reloading clinic. For the price that it costs, it saves you a LOT of headache and gives you great exposure to what you will be doing. You spend what? Half a day and get to see all the cool james bond tools you can use to remake your ammo and you get to talk with other reloaders and all that jazz. I like going to the Ie one just because I get to meet new members and because Bronco is such a nice guy for not banning me from them yet for all the interrupting I do.

There is what you should do to get started, buy a book, start reading it (it reads very fast and is like a CS Lewis book, plus, out of the book that is only 2 inches thick you will only really need to read about 1/4 inch or so, the rest is just reference material to help you decide which way you want to go with things. Once you have read some stuff, and you attend the clinic then you can see the things you read about in real life. OR, you can just attend the clinic and pick up a book later, but ALL reloaders have at least ONE book in their arsenal. And by all I mean most. There are these new guys that think the internet is their lord and savior when it comes to truthful information but they are just ignorant and are secretly asking to get maimed. And of course there are a few guys that are so old that they were reloading since it was written down on papyrus paper and rolled up into scrolls that the Chinese kept locked up in their ninja-monk temples...

So there ya go, enjoy.

[emptybottle151]

Lee Classic Turret Press Kit and when your ready Hornady Lock N Load

[kalapa]

I also started out loading 9mm. I am pretty good with hand tools, and have past experience working in a machine shop, so I was already familiar with using calipers and things like COAL made sense to me. If you have a similar sort of knowledge base, don't be afraid to make the jump to a progressive. I did it and I have great results loading 9mm and now 45acp.

Get a good reloading manual (I have the Lyman 49th and it was great) and learn the basics.. but consider that by the time you get a single stage setup going, you're already in it for several hundred $$$ for a bunch of equipment you may not need if you end up going with a progressive later on.

[Atlast357]

As a new member of the reload clan myself , I also highly recommend
finding a class put on by other reloaders.
Then read and start with basic equipment. Take one step at a time....don't
go out and buy a whole kit of stuff, unless you have a lot of bucks to dump.
You will soon fiqure out what equipment to really fit your needs and abilities.
Good luck.Welcome.

[Lead Waster]

Lee Classic Turret is a good one... faster than a single stage (and just as utilitarian) and way less handling of brass so better efficiency and work flow.

A Dillon 550b is a great press, it's progressive, but nobody said you can't just run one case all the way around the 4 stations, just like the turret (though the case moves here, in the turret the turret moves).

Dies, except for dies made specifically for the "Dillon Squar Deal B" press, I think all dies are compatible with all presses... meaning there is a standard die size. Some say Lee dies don't have enough threads for a Dillon tool head, but it depends on how you set your dies, and you can use lock rings UNDER the toolhead. I use Lee dies for all but .45 ACP (for no reason other than I bought those Hornady dies to use with my Rockchucker).


I bought the Rockchucker kit when I first started out, and still use that press since it's awesomely strong, but I use the Dillon 550b for all my reloading.

You'll also need a good scale and manuals. A book called "The ABCs of metallic cartridge reloading" (or something like that) is a good start.

Check this out

That's with the $25 "Lee Loader".

That's the simplest, but also most work intensive way. But it's a good introduction to what steps you take to reload a single round.

[AandO]

WELCOME to the Wonderful World of Reloading.

I believe there is a Sticky titled Reloading 101 here on Calguns. There are also some outstanding videos put out by Sinclair (I think) and several others that are fairly comprehensive. If you live near me (Yucaipa near Oak glen) I'd be more than happy to Mentor you. Seeing things being done in person has a quality all of it's own. It puts meat on the learning curve of reading loading books, which I also would advise you to do. Another poster or two listed a couple of the excellent ones for a newbie.

[09cs]

Lee Classic Turret Press Kit and when your ready Hornady Lock N Load

I started with (and am still using) the LCT press. I used it as a single stage for a while to start out and get the feel for each different operation, then added the auto indexing rod, and am getting comfortable with that. Highly suggest it!

[Fjold]

Are you loading for pistols or rifles?