New to reloding need some advice

[jlitt619]

Im going to start reloading and want some advice on a good starter kit. This is the kit i was looking at http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...g/anivers.html. What are some pros and cons to this kit? Other than a reloading manual is there anything else i will need to get started. Any advice would be great

Josh

[1lostinspace]

Im going to start reloading and want some advice on a good starter kit. This is the kit i was looking at http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...g/anivers.html. What are some pros and cons to this kit? Other than a reloading manual is there anything else i will need to get started. Any advice would be great

Josh

Lee is the bottom of the barrel and their hand priming tool sucks so does the drill mounting shell shaver.

Go with RCBS and do it right from the beginning, once you start reloading you will always reload, I can't remember the last time I bought ammo.
Also get a digital scale it will save you allot of time

don't know if you near Bright spot in corona but they have good stuff for cheap.

[ojisan]

As an entry level kit to play with, it looks like a good deal.
If you decide you like reloading, go Dillon.
Get several reloading manuals / powder charts. Compare carefully, they will be different! I prefer slightly downloaded from max.
The temptation to load 100 elephant killer rounds right away will be tremendous. But load a few soft, then a few middle powered, then a few stronger and work your way up.

[zeb]

The best advise that I got was to pick up a couple reloading manuals first. They all explain the different steps involved in the reloading process. Once I had a good idea of how it all worked, I jumped right into a Dillon 650.

[USN CHIEF]

Go to the below link and read it, lots of good info.

http://www.reloadingroom.com/index_files/Reloading%20101.htm

[merritt]

digital Scale and digital Calipers are nice. I use a RCBS press personally but ive been looking at getting a dillon progressive. Remember one of the keys here is that you are going to be using these tools for a while you should get stuff that is comfortable to work with.

[Army GI]

Im going to start reloading and want some advice on a good starter kit. This is the kit i was looking at http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...g/anivers.html. What are some pros and cons to this kit? Other than a reloading manual is there anything else i will need to get started. Any advice would be great

Josh

That is an excellent choice.

When I first got started into reloading, that was the exact same kit I bought. It does everything you need and comes with everything you need besides dies and components. It is inexpensive so you can see if you like reloading without a huge initial investment. Once you decide to step up to a bigger machine they're really sell-able to other n00bs. While not as sturdy as some of the better presses (Dillon) it'll serve you well as you learn and grow into reloading. If you decide to keep it because you only shoot a hundred or two rounds per year but still like reloading as a hobby that should be fine too.

What caliber are you considering reloading?

The reason I ask is if you're loading for a bolt action or lever action rifle, a single stage should be fine for that. You just don't need a machine that'll produce as many rounds as a more intricate press...generally bolt action shooters just don't shoot as many rounds as pistol shooters. But if you're going to be loading lots of pistol rounds you'd actually be better served with a Lee turret press. Loading pistol rounds in a single stage gets old QUICK.

Hope this helps.

-GI

[jlitt619]

That is an excellent choice.

When I first got started into reloading, that was the exact same kit I bought. It does everything you need and comes with everything you need besides dies and components. It is inexpensive so you can see if you like reloading without a huge initial investment. Once you decide to step up to a bigger machine they're really sell-able to other n00bs. While not as sturdy as some of the better presses (Dillon) it'll serve you well as you learn and grow into reloading. If you decide to keep it because you only shoot a hundred or two rounds per year but still like reloading as a hobby that should be fine too.

What caliber are you considering reloading?

The reason I ask is if you're loading for a bolt action or lever action rifle, a single stage should be fine for that. You just don't need a machine that'll produce as many rounds as a more intricate press...generally bolt action shooters just don't shoot as many rounds as pistol shooters. But if you're going to be loading lots of pistol rounds you'd actually be better served with a Lee turret press. Loading pistol rounds in a single stage gets old QUICK.

Hope this helps.

-GI

it will be for .223 .40 and .38special but mainly for .223

[Darklyte27]

I got the same kit except it has the hand primer.

Great for getting into loading.
you can always sell it later or use the press for just depriming and basic loads.
Then if you want to load more efficiently you can get a progressive press, which will do more than 1 function in 1 pull of the arm.

For me, I plan to upgrade later down the road to a progressive press to crank more RPM, or rounds per minute!! haha

[Army GI]

it will be for .223 .40 and .38special but mainly for .223

I'm assuming you have an AR.

I guess it all depends on how much you shoot, then.

How often do you shoot and how many rounds at a time do you shoot?

If you go once per month and shoot 100 rounds at a time, you should be good to go with that single stage you picked out. But you may want to upgrade just because, it's up to you.

If you're thinking about competing and putting a lot of lead down range, you should really think about a progressive later on down the road. But as I said try the single stage and see if you even like reloading. Some people don't care for it.

[G-Man WC]

[QUOTE=1lostinspace;2004864]Lee is the bottom of the barrel and their hand priming tool sucks QUOTE]

Do some reading for yourself. May old timers have used the Lee hand priming tool longer than most people on this board have been alive. Priming with the Lee hand primer is a quicker option, giving a better feel for the primer seat than on a press. As long as you follow there directions and grease it as they suggest, it could last 20 years +.
Depriming on a dedicated small single stage press with a universal decap die will keep your sizer die from getting dirty and foulded up, resulting in scratched brass. Quicker to! Quality over quanity. You should enjoy what your doing and not try and crank out 500 rounds in an hour. That's when KaBooms go down. I'm speaking to loading larger center fire rifle rounds.
If your part of the black rifle / Gen-X crowd and want to crank out buckets full of 223 ammo, a Dillon 650 may be in your future. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Look on FleaBay and Craig's list. If you know what you want, there are some good deals. I saw a guy selling a new/used RCBS RockChucker kit for $150 in Gilroy last week. My 2-centavos.
Check your PM. -g

[pennys dad]

I just started reloading a few months ago and am using lee for most pieces, they work great and I feel confident with the product. I am loading 357, 45, considering 40. I will start 308 soon, real soon. Now I am considering a Dillion for my 223 and 9mm needs.

[Army GI]

Do some reading for yourself. May old timers have used the Lee hand priming tool longer than most people on this board have been alive.

I love my Dillon 550b, but I would not rag on Lee just because it's cheaper. I started out on their single stage press. I haven't had any problems with their products and I use their dies exclusively.

If your part of the black rifle / Gen-X crowd[/snip]

Just to nitpick here, those of us born in 1980 or later are actually called Generation Y. We grew up with computers and the internet.

Generation X is already old people

[pennys dad]

Hey US Gen X old pooo's built those PC's for U youngens :-O \sorry for thread redirect

[Darklyte27]

[QUOTE=G-Man WC;2005997]

Lee is the bottom of the barrel and their hand priming tool sucks QUOTE]

Do some reading for yourself. May old timers have used the Lee hand priming tool longer than most people on this board have been alive. Priming with the Lee hand primer is a quicker option, giving a better feel for the primer seat than on a press. As long as you follow there directions and grease it as they suggest, it could last 20 years +.
Depriming on a dedicated small single stage press with a universal decap die will keep your sizer die from getting dirty and foulded up, resulting in scratched brass. Quicker to! Quality over quanity. You should enjoy what your doing and not try and crank out 500 rounds in an hour. That's when KaBooms go down. I'm speaking to loading larger center fire rifle rounds.
If your part of the black rifle / Gen-X crowd and want to crank out buckets full of 223 ammo, a Dillon 650 may be in your future. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Look on FleaBay and Craig's list. If you know what you want, there are some good deals. I saw a guy selling a new/used RCBS RockChucker kit for $150 in Gilroy last week. My 2-centavos.
Check your PM. -g

Very well said.

I like my Hand primer very much as well.
I get a better feel when the primer stops going up so i know when to stop squeezing.

Plus when you are good enough, you dont even have to look after you know the primer is facing the right direction.

I am that "ne gen X" that shoots black rifles though, I dont shoot 500+ rds a month so for me, loading maybe 100 rds is fine for me.