Newbie to loading. Help please!

[Kwikvette]

Bravo guys! What an amazing amount of useful knowledge. ����
I will admit that the new ammo laws made me look at loading sooner rather than later. Like I also mentioned before, loading look theraputic to me! Is that weird?

I spent a good number of hours watching Youtube videos of the Forster co-ax and the floating die design is pretty sweet. The time it takes to swap out dies is amazing. Everything about tha loader seems to be what Im looking for. Match grade dies seems to be whats recommended-is this accurate?

The match dies I bought have a micrometer knob; nice thing is I can write down this number so I have the seating depth for load A whereas load B will have a different seating depth (different rifle/projectile/etc).

I too find reloading to be very therapeutic, and being overly analytical in character just helps in the process. Always check your brass, always check your powders, primers, etc. Ensure your work station is absolutely clutter-free otherwise you can easily put in the wrong primer or even worse, use the wrong powder.

Here's what I found when looking down my brass before dropping powder -



Here's what happened when I didn't set up my die properly. Out of the list of items, add in a bullet puller for when you make mistakes (and you will make them) -

[angelsfann02]

Kwikvette, so some dies are adjustable? Excuse my ignorance, but I thought if I purchased 6.5CM dies for example, all I had to do was install them and voila?!

[NorCalFocus]

Kwikvette, so some dies are adjustable? Excuse my ignorance, but I thought if I purchased 6.5CM dies for example, all I had to do was install them and voila?!

All dies are adjustable. You can adjust screw them in or out adjusting how much contact you make with the case or bullet.

Yes for match quality ammo you want match dies. I personally like Forster Dies. Redding and Whiden also make very good dies.

[jimmythebrain]

for full length seating dies (resize the entire case) just follow the instructions to get to factory new spec cases. This is for shooting in all guns or as a first step when working loads from once fired brass or new brass
to reload in just your rifle form brass already fired in your rifle, then you only size the neck portion of the case AKA "neck sizing"
for setting neck sizing dies it is just a trial and error thing since each rifle can have a slightly different chamber depth based on the chamber reamer/cutter used to make the barrel.
So you screw the die in or out 1/8th of turn or so at time to move the die body up and down to change hard far down the "neck" you resize the case You want the body to match your chamber which was accomplished when you first fired the case in your chamber, in effect your rifles chamber worked as resizing die on the that piece of brass. You just need to re-establish neck tension to hold the new projectile in place.
Seating dies have a internal stem post that you screw in or out to change how far down into case that you push the new bullet- different bullets have different profile or curves and each one needs to pushed in different distances (deaper or shallower) in to case per type of bullet profile, weight, tip type. One this is set for given load it does not change. You not need to reset this with every bullet you load.
Reloading lets you set the bullets a perfect distance into the case to get optimal performance. Not just a one size fits all chambers distance that you get with factory ammo.
with reloading you get cheaper and better ammo. Tuned to your rifle.

you will need to get a die set that can do- full length sizing, neck sizing, and bullet seating.

[angelsfann02]

Just to throw you out some ideas of prices and items you'll need...you can shop and buy from where ever you want.I just use midway links here becasue its easy.

-Forster Co-Ax $350 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/26...le-stage-press
-Chargemaster Lite $250 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/64...enser-110-volt
-Powder Funnel $5 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/97...-to-45-caliber
-Case Trimmer and prep Center $180 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/62...nd-trim-center
-Tumbler Kit $85 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/41...rator-110-volt
-Calipers $15 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/29...tainless-steel
-Dies $75 ish per set
-Loading Trays $5 each https://www.midwayusa.com/product/21...reloading-tray

Thats just under $1000. Again you can shop around and find better deals. But this stuff would be great things to start with that won't need replacing or upgrading in a few months. Yeah you can start a lot cheaper, but I will put money on the line that you'll be wanting to upgrade stuff if you go cheaper.

Looks like im leaning towards the Forster CO-AX with match grade dies. Everything I have read and video I have watched on the Forster give it great reviews. That settles my rifle ammo loader.

Just need to decide on what progressive to purchase. I also want to make sure that the powder dispenser and tumblr I buy can handle high volume. Dont want to have to upgrade later. Is the Dillon xl650 and Dillon 750 tumblr worth a look?

If I dont buy everything now, I know I'll spend the money elsewhere lol

[phdo]

Looks like im leaning towards the Forster CO-AX with match grade dies. Everything I have read and video I have watched on the Forster give it great reviews. That settles my rifle ammo loader.

Just need to decide on what progressive to purchase. I also want to make sure that the powder dispenser and tumblr I buy can handle high volume. Dont want to have to upgrade later. Is the Dillon xl650 and Dillon 750 tumblr worth a look?

If I dont buy everything now, I know I'll spend the money elsewhere lol

I honestly think the Co-Ax is overkill for loading rifle rounds. It doesn't require much effort to replace the dies when needed. Just unscrew and screw in the new one. You won't be switch out dies that often to justify the purchase. Save the money and buy powders, primers, bullets, etc. I use the Hornady bushing system on a Redding Big Boss II and switching out dies is cake. You will need a conversion bushing and a bushing for all your dies but the simplicity justifies the purchase. Again, I've never used a turret-style press so I don't have firsthand experience.

[BigBronco]

I honestly think the Co-Ax is overkill for loading rifle rounds. It doesn't require much effort to replace the dies when needed. Just unscrew and screw in the new one. You won't be switch out dies that often to justify the purchase. Save the money and buy powders, primers, bullets, etc. I use the Hornady bushing system on a Redding Big Boss II and switching out dies is cake. You will need a conversion bushing and a bushing for all your dies but the simplicity justifies the purchase. Again, I've never used a turret-style press so I don't have firsthand experience.

The Forster Coax is not about the ease of changing dies. it is the free floating die that gives better concentricity. There is a reason more match shooters use that press.

[Kwikvette]

I honestly think the Co-Ax is overkill for loading rifle rounds. It doesn't require much effort to replace the dies when needed. Just unscrew and screw in the new one. You won't be switch out dies that often to justify the purchase. Save the money and buy powders, primers, bullets, etc. I use the Hornady bushing system on a Redding Big Boss II and switching out dies is cake. You will need a conversion bushing and a bushing for all your dies but the simplicity justifies the purchase. Again, I've never used a turret-style press so I don't have firsthand experience.

I would not steer anyone away from the Co-Ax if they were looking to load rifle ammo for precision.

I'm only a few months into reloading and I can't imagine using a different single stage than the Forster. Even the priming system is nice and I've seated several hundreds of primers already.

[JagerDog]

Kwikvette, so some dies are adjustable? Excuse my ignorance, but I thought if I purchased 6.5CM dies for example, all I had to do was install them and voila?!

All dies are adjustable. You can adjust screw them in or out adjusting how much contact you make with the case or bullet.

Yes for match quality ammo you want match dies. I personally like Forster Dies. Redding and Whiden also make very good dies.

Then there's bushing dies which accept various neck bushings.

[angelsfann02]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the replies! Im just looking to avoid having to upgrade or regret buying equipment later on. At some point everyone was new to loading and you guys help us newbies avoid pitfalls.

Did anyone chime in on the Dillon XL 650 for a progressive loading?

[Michael in California]

I honestly think the Co-Ax is overkill for loading rifle rounds. It doesn't require much effort to replace the dies when needed. Just unscrew and screw in the new one. You won't be switch out dies that often to justify the purchase.

I'm going to disagree here. I load 50 to 100 rounds of 6.5cm at a time. So, 50 rounds of depriming, swap, 50 rounds of sizing, swap, 50 rounds of seating. I absolutely hate swapping screw down dies. The you have the odd round that gets screwed up so you have to pull it down and fix it, which is a couple of extra die changes. Thus, I have a Hornady single stage.

If I were starting over, I'd have a co-ax without any doubt.

Regarding the dillon 650: I don't have one, but it certainly is popular and second only to the 550. Folks get the 550 for cost. But, you aren't particularly cost conscious, so go for it. I know you will not be disappointed.

I use a hornady LNL progressive without bullet/case feeders. A bit more cost conscious than the 650. I load 9mm and .45 mostly. 5 minutes between setup changes including swapping between large and small primers. I just wish I had two powder drops so I didn't have to diddle too much with that. I should, at least, get multiple metering screws.

Since I'm left handed, the LNL progressive fits my method of work better than the 650 anyway. Right hand stays on the lever, Left hand feeds case first then bullet. I get real good rhythm and thus, real good rounds per hour.

Regarding blue, red, or the other red presses, pick what you like.

[NiMiK]

The Dillon 650 is great for volume! I personally have a 650 for my pistol ammo and .223 that I use in conjunction with Dillon dies. I've had RCBS and Hornady dies in the past and they worked great but decided to go with Dillon after 3 years. I found them to be more consistent when seating and sizing my brass.

I'll use a Lee Classic single stage for my 308 with Redding Type S. This gives me more consistency between rounds.

Going with single stage or progressive is really a question of amount you shoot, how much you value your time and how bad your OCD is

[AGGRO]

Setting up dies is no big deal and it only takes seconds to swap them out. Get a decent caliper set and understand how to read it and most of all a good manual that explains the terms like COL. Cartridge overall length. This is some good reading

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handloading

Check out the sticky titled reloading 101 in this forum.