New reloader bought Hornady Lock and Load

[pipeline1]

Hello all,

New to the forum, so a couple of new reloading questions.



I just got this kit and wanted to know what some seasoned vets think. Also what else do I need? I want to reload 9mm, 45 acp, and 5.56. I know I need dies, powder, primers and brass. Any recommendations on those either?


The kit: https://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=57928

Thanks all and forgive the nuisance that is this post.

[JagerDog]

I've had good luck with the case lube, but many haven't. Doesn't matter much on the pistol dies so long as they have carbide sizing rings.

You'll want to add more die bushings.

If using crimped primer brass on the .223 you want some style of crimp remover. I guess some current or .mil pistol brass is crimped as well.

45 ACP can be found in both large pistol and small pistol primers. Most hate the small pistol but if you have no brass currently, it would preclude from needing both size pistol primers.

[pacrat]

First things first, to be added to as needed. You need a decent set of dial calipers capable of .001" accuracy. I say "dial" because they don't use batteries. And have always given me repeatable accuracy for 50+ yrs.

And as JD mentioned, you're gonna need a butt load of these.

https://jet.com/product/detail/c50d9b484a8c48ecbb71094a8634b78b?jcmp=pla:ggl:NJ_dur_Cwin_Sporting_Goods_a2:Sporting_Goods_Hunting_Gun_Maintenance_a2:na:PLA_786130016_46759725811_pla-293944498515:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786130016&is_retargeting=true&clickid=6f6ac3df-9f1c-47b3-a5a2-9b89b99b3f6b

Which can be had for as little as $4 if purchased in bulk, but closer to $6 in smaller lots. Which IMHO is just a rip-off marketing tactic on the part of manufacturers to force customers to buy them. You, with just the stated 3 calibers you plan to load. Need a bare minimum of [8] just to get started. Adding more as NEEDED for specialty dies like Universal deprimers and taper crimp dies.

For me, and the 30 odd die sets I own. That would be approx $450 just in bushings.

You also need a means to "trim to length" for the 5.56mm you plan on loading. One of the cheaper Lee caliber specific hand trimmers should suffice unless you are going to load 5.56 in bulk. Then get the electric drill attachment to go with it.

Other than that, you NEED good reading comprehension and lots of patience to double/triple check everything you do. Apathy, complacency, and over confidence leads to KaBooms.

JM2c

[Divernhunter]

1st if you have not already got it get a manual and READ IT. I suggest the Lyman manual.
A brass cleaner(tumbler), media and separator are great to have.
Lee makes a small tool that you use with a hammer for the crimped in primers. It is a bit slow but is very good and cheap.
HF has electronic calipers cheap and they work just fine.

Not a must but for rifle brass a case prep center such as the Lyman one is really good to have. To remove the crimp there are a number of different tools including case prep ones but the Dillon super swager is the best and one of the fastest.

I (and friends) did not have good results with Hornady case lube. I have had zero problems with the RCBS Spray lube. Which brings us to getting a stuck case remover kit(like RCBS) which you will need sooner or later. Sooner with Hornady lube.
A bullet puller is good to have. Both the Collet style and the hammer style.

Feel free to ask questions but many can be answered by reading the Lyman (or others) book. You will get lots of help if you ask. You will also get different thought/opinions and you will need to sort out what is right for you.

[baih777]

buy those bushings. your going to need a tumbler.
this one works good and is bigger than those little ones.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/turbo-tumblers/2500-pro-magnum-tumbler.html

you can find it cheaper.

and a couple of loading trays.

if you don't want to mount the powder dispenser, you can make it portable bt mounting it to a 2x6. wider keeps it stable.

[JagerDog]

First things first, to be added to as needed. You need a decent set of dial calipers capable of .001" accuracy. I say "dial" because they don't use batteries. And have always given me repeatable accuracy for 50+ yrs.

And as JD mentioned, you're gonna need a butt load of these.

https://jet.com/product/detail/c50d9b484a8c48ecbb71094a8634b78b?jcmp=pla:ggl:NJ_dur_Cwin_Sporting_Goods_a2:Sporting_Goods_Hunting_Gun_Maintenance_a2:na:PLA_786130016_46759725811_pla-293944498515:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786130016&is_retargeting=true&clickid=6f6ac3df-9f1c-47b3-a5a2-9b89b99b3f6b

Which can be had for as little as $4 if purchased in bulk, but closer to $6 in smaller lots. Which IMHO is just a rip-off marketing tactic on the part of manufacturers to force customers to buy them. You, with just the stated 3 calibers you plan to load. Need a bare minimum of [8] just to get started. Adding more as NEEDED for specialty dies like Universal deprimers and taper crimp dies.

For me, and the 30 odd die sets I own. That would be approx $450 just in bushings.

You also need a means to "trim to length" for the 5.56mm you plan on loading. One of the cheaper Lee caliber specific hand trimmers should suffice unless you are going to load 5.56 in bulk. Then get the electric drill attachment to go with it.

Other than that, you NEED good reading comprehension and lots of patience to double/triple check everything you do. Apathy, complacency, and over confidence leads to KaBooms.

JM2c

Ya...the calipers. And a trimming method (these go from mild to wild...volume will be your deciding factor). Case gauge is a good thing.

I'd add a couple more reloading books. A mentor if you can find one.

[tonyjr]

Little things like latex gloves , 2 lights [ unless you like shadows ] goggles or face shield , something to bolt the press to , at least one different reloading manual [ buy used off ebay ] , maybe case gauges [ I use and used the lee hand loader ] Watch ebay for an extra set of dies for each caliber . But I have mostly Wilson's
Don't believe others you can set up your dies with bushing , but you still have to check each time you install . Unfortunately the boxes the dies come in are not made for the dies with bushings on .
I have bent a few decapping pins - get at least one extra for caliber - swapping a bent one from die to die is a hassle .
A bucket for " bad " brass " . Live by the famous words - when in doubt , throw it out .
A couple of plastic boxes to hold cartridges and others for M T cases .
forgot welcome here

[racinjason233]

Let me know if u want some .45acp brass I'll send a usps box full! U choose the box size and pay the shipping...

[C.G.]

Hello all,

New to the forum, so a couple of new reloading questions.

Thanks all and forgive the nuisance that is this post.

First, ask and ask again, better than screwing up. Bad reload can be detrimental to your health.

As to the dies, I personally don't care for Lee (except their universal decapping die) you may want to start with RCBS unless you have deeper pockets in which case Forster or little more expensive Redding.

[stilly]

Hello all,

New to the forum, so a couple of new reloading questions.



I just got this kit and wanted to know what some seasoned vets think. Also what else do I need? I want to reload 9mm, 45 acp, and 5.56. I know I need dies, powder, primers and brass. Any recommendations on those either?


The kit: https://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=57928

Thanks all and forgive the nuisance that is this post.

From MY point of view you bought the wrong kit. those three calibers you mentioned are GOFAST calibers. means that once you get them to the range, they tend to go fast.

You appear to have purchased the CLASSIC kit. That is nothing more than a single stage press. IF you can at least change dies out via QC bushings then you can go a HAIR faster, but you will be batch reloading in batches of ??? 25? 50? 100? Meaning that you will take a group (batch) of shells, like 25 or 50 or so in a loading block or just stand them on their own (loading block is easier to organize) and you will screw in the FIRST die and then you will decap/resize all of that batch of shells. THEN you will take out that first die and insert the second die and then you will FLARE and CHARGE your entire batch of shells. Then you will take out that second die and insert the third die and you will SEAT and CRIMP (or just seat) your rounds and they will be complete after you crimp them, OR if your third die only seats, then you have a 4th die that will crimp, so then you gotta put THAT die in and run all of your seated rounds through that one finally and THEN they are ready to be fired. Then you can start on your next batch. SOME of those steps are interchangeable, like you can charge before or after you expand, but you aint gonna be seating before you charge or crimp. (well, not if you want functional ammo anyways) And because there is ONLY ONE die allowed on top of the press at a time in a single stage, then it means that in order to be fast, you should do a LOT of shells with that die, then put in the next die and do all of those shells again, then the third die and do all them shells again... The GOOD news for you is that you can STILL buy a Lee Classic Turret PRESS ONLY for about $120 more. Then you can set this press you have aside and only use it when you want to make some .223 ammo. .223 is GOFAST ammo, but some folks like to take their time with it anyways and try to make precision rounds with it. Nothing wrong with that. There are bolties in .223, but Not so many of them in 9mm or .45 Automatic Colt Pistol.

You would have been better off spending the money on a Lee Classic Turret (the flat arrow looking one) because then you can load up all of your dies at once and only have to pull the handle on the press 3-4 times and you have a completed round in about 15 seconds once you are dialed in. Most if not all people WILL use a single stage press like this one as well as a progressive or turret. These single stage presses are like the work horses. They do fine work, but that fine work is not appreciated in 9mm or .45 Automatic Colt Pistol like it is in rifles and reach-out-and-touch-someone ammos.

I have not looked at what others have said yet but I would hope that someone already told you this. The LCT is the fastest turret in the world before going to a progressive. You can do about 300+ rds an hour on that turret.

Your attitude for this forum is fine in my book. The guys here know a lot and they like to share and we all like to help and encourage newcomers to the game. No problems there at all. We all started somewhere and at some time. Some of us took a liking to blue, others to red and green, and some got lost on yellow and gray...

Oh yeah, I see now that folks are doing that shopping list thing again. That is always fun. I will say that the scale in this kit is near garbage. Look for the American Weigh Gemini Milligram scale like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect...getName=sp_atf That is the one I use and I LOVE it to death. I have been using mine since 2012. There is another one that is updated and all that I like, but I still use the gemini 20.

You should ALWAYS have backups of scales and calipers. I have an RCBS 5-0-5 and I use digital calipers like these: https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools...neral+calipers but I also have a set of these as backups: https://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Tools...=dial+calipers

As for books though, pick up a Book of Lee or Lyman, Lee: Modern Reloading revised edition for 2016, and Lyman is the 50th. I hear good things about the Lyman book but I have never read it. I only got it for the load data. The books are an inch or two thick, but they read very easily and you only read about 1/4 of an inch and the rest is extra load data/charts/ maps/ pinups and stuff like that...

Read your book, THEN afterwards, if you want shopping tips and you want to round out your list, come back and ask some questions.

Good luck, have fun and stay safe.

[TexasJackKin]

You're off to a good start, I started with a similar kit (RCBS Rockchucker kit) about 40 years ago. Still have it and still use it occasionally.

I'm a fan of Stilly's advice, always interesting, and occasionally on point. His advice above is a good example of him being on point. I have the Gem pro scale, and like it as well, but I also have a balance beam to double check it with.

Depending on how much ammo you want to produce, a single stage is fine, but slow compared to other methods, but you will always have use for it.

You don't absolutely NEED a bunch of die bushings, but they sure are nice! Setting the dies is not rocket science, and you can screw your dies in and out of the bushings with out much trouble, it's just slow. I've converted my 40 year old single stage to take LnL bushings (and shimed it) so I can pull dies out of my progressive and put them in my single stage, and that makes it very handy, but not 100% necessary.

As a group, I think reloaders like to tinker with things, and it's part of a great hobby, that you can enjoy for years! But don't plan on it saving you a bunch of money, but it will make you a much better shooter!

[pipeline1]

Thank you all! I'll start by getting a good book and go from there!

I ended up buying this kit because it was on sale. The Deals section of calguns posted it for 178, when the usual price is 280, so I took a chance on it.

Slow is fine for now, since I don't know the process.

Thanks again!

[tonyjr]

Get on a few web sites that sell reloading stuff - always ask for a catalog .
I use bushings for LEE [ not the loadmaster - it uses tool heads ] Anyway you will find a set of dies is not enough .
In my case I have a set for decapping , reloading and the bushing set .
Pistol wise , one set for tool head and another set for bushings .
For pistols , I would get a frankford decapper .
I decap and size on the loadmaster on rifle cartridges . There is a pretty good chance people will start giving away selling "stuff after the beginning of 2018 - that what is offered - you can trade / give away later .

[RiskyBusiness]

Thank you all! I'll start by getting a good book and go from there!

I ended up buying this kit because it was on sale. The Deals section of calguns posted it for 178, when the usual price is 280, so I took a chance on it.

Slow is fine for now, since I don't know the process.

Thanks again!

It's not really a sale if you're spending money to upgrade/replace equipment that it comes with is it? Should've gotten the LCT, I have it and I'm starting to think I've outgrown it after 3momths of reloading it's not as fast as I want to go. I can't imagine ever reloading go fast calibers on a single stage. You could probably sell it for what you paid for if you don't open it and get the LCT for $100. Buy all your equipment separately that YOU choose would fit your style/method. Whether you want a auto drum or chargemaster. Whether you want to prime off press or on,etc

[Sir Toast]

Reloading components for .45 ACP - cheap. PM me if you have questions. I too use the lock N load.

Listen to Stilly. He knows what he's talking about.