Complete Reload Noob Help Wanted.

[kcheung2]

Wow, you missed all the recent posts about Opticsplanet?

[ghideon]

Wow, you missed all the recent posts about Opticsplanet?

Recent? I stopped ordering from them a decade ago.

OP also check places like Midsouth, Grafs and Sons, Powdervalley etc etc.

Everyone's pretty hard hit right now on reloading supplies and equipment, so you still might roll snake eyes.

[CheapBloke]

Recent? I stopped ordering from them a decade ago.



OP also check places like Midsouth, Grafs and Sons, Powdervalley etc etc.



Everyone's pretty hard hit right now on reloading supplies and equipment, so you still might roll snake eyes.

I saw a unrelated deal for opticsplanet on gun.deals, and found they had reloading supplies and thats how it started.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[CheapBloke]

I am anticipating to start reloading asap as I get the rest of my products. Despite having a hand press, I am satisfied in choosing this product to start reloading over the various many reloading equipment that is miles better due to current circumstances.

Here's a vid of someone per description Lee himself using a Lee Loader to load 308s in 40s.

https://youtu.be/UeEl9wZyabc

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Cowboy T]

Trust me I looked at all options. When some of the posts and reload videos say don't do this near kids, I don't plan to, the small space in garage is best I can do with minimal kids contact (as they play in-home mostly, but when sun goes down and it starts cooling then they play in garage or front patio), and watching vids on reloading this hand press seemed best option.
Portability was the main thing I was looking for, and hand press fit that. And i've been playing too much games on my "~2hr free time when kids are asleep," and figured I should and could rather be doing this.

*i just saw the pics from Randall, as much as that seems small, I don't even live in a place like that. I live at a place with small front porch/patio (public view) and garage (i can open it enough for good ventilation while being private)

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

In that case, reload where and when you can. Sounds like the garage, after the kids have gone to bed, is your best option. It's safer in another way as well; you're less likely to be distracted by other concerns if you're alone in the garage. Finally, it's easier to hose down the garage afterwards, say, early in the morning, if you spill powder or whatever, than it is to clean inside the living quarters.

Now, for the "whack-a-loader", as I affectionally call it. Yep, they work, and yep, they produce fine ammo. I understand that ammo reloaded by the Lee Loader has won more than one competition. I would suggest using a little bit of case lube with them just to make it easier to get the cases out of the resizer.

Randall is correct about the "need" to clean cases by tumbling/ultrasound/etc. You don't really have to. Simply wiping them off will actually do the trick from a straight functionality perspective. With that said, I do find that it's somewhat easier to find case defects when they are nice 'n' shiny. And, yeah, I kinda take pride in making what looks like brand-new ammunition. :-) Sort of like waxing your car on a regular basis vs. the occasional car wash.

[Cowboy T]

My friend wanted to get a hand loading kit and I talked him down. Bare minimum would be a single stage and if you want to load for 9mm, 223 or anything that you will shoot a lot, turret or semi or full progressive press.

Eventually, for the OP, I would agree with this. Right now, his situation doesn't allow for that. What's the *MOST* important is that he gets started reloading, by whatever means makes sense for his current situation. His hand press is a single-stage, so he's got the bare minimum, and that's good.

Now, *down the line*, OP, I can certainly recommend Lee's Classic Turret Press. If I could have only one "do-everything" press, this would be it. But that's down the line for you. Right now, don't concern yourself with progressive, turret, or anything else but what you've got.

It's like legendary be-bop jazz drummer Art Blakey once told me, "learn to play what you have." And if you can do that, then you can play anything. Same idea behind reloading. You're on the right track.

I'd like to put your shopping list into an actual list form, and make two slight tweaks to it as well.

1.) Carbide Die set
2.) cleaning supplies
3.) scale (digital for size)
4.) scoopers
5.) load data (printed from internet) Two good reloading manuals, which come with load data in them
6.) Calipers
7.) the 3 Ps (Primer, Powder, Projectile) is all I need to get.
8.) hand primer tool

And later on,

9.) tumbler/separator for upgrades.

Why the reloading manuals? Randall was right again about that. Please, pick up at least two (Lyman's is a very good and popular one) and study them both.

Why a hand primer tool? It's a lot easier to prime cases that way vs. doing it on a single-stage press. You can knock out a bunch of 'em while sitting and watching TV, *once you get the hang of priming*.

[bigbossman]

Once he's all set up..... good luck finding primers.

I applaud the addition of another member to the reloading ranks..... but what a tough time to get into it.

[tabascoz28]

I only order from Optics when I don't need it that bad and when it's on super sale compared to other sources. Never trust their in stock quote.

[CheapBloke]

Is there any law in CA that prohibits a person from reloading ammo in their front porch/patio?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[GeeBee49]

Is there any law in CA that prohibits a person from reloading ammo in their front porch/patio?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

I have never heard of any law like that and I can't imagine there being one. If your patio is in the back yard that would be a better place. I'm not interested in my neighbors knowing what I have or what I'm doing.

[CheapBloke]

I have never heard of any law like that and I can't imagine there being one. If your patio is in the back yard that would be a better place. I'm not interested in my neighbors knowing what I have or what I'm doing.

I have 2 neighbors that left and right of my unit. One neighbor is a sheriff that already knows I own firearms, and the other is a Trump 2020 supporter.
Neither will not be able to see what I am doing unless they look over walls and the common area walkway in front of porch is out of view unless a person walks upto porch gate. No neighbor to the front as it is a avocado field.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[GeeBee49]

I have 2 neighbors that left and right of my unit. One neighbor is a sheriff that already knows I own firearms, and the other is a Trump 2020 supporter.
Neither will not be able to see what I am doing unless they look over walls and the common area walkway in front of porch is out of view unless a person walks upto porch gate. No neighbor to the front as it is a avocado field.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

You'll be fine then. Only one of my neighbors knows that I own guns and he's a good friend. I don't know where the rest of them stand so I don't share information with them.

[The War Wagon]

Apprentice with someone who KNOWS what they're doing. I did that for 2 years, with a friend who's been reloading for 25 years. It's the BEST way to learn!

[Cowboy T]

Once he's all set up..... good luck finding primers.

I applaud the addition of another member to the reloading ranks..... but what a tough time to get into it.

As Bill Clinton put it, "Ah Feeel Yooour Paaiinn!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmFwKH5bVY

I got into it during the panic of 2009. Primers were Unobtainium then as well. Didn't stop me; I knew I was paying a premium then, but I also learned my lesson and got prepared for the next primer drought (no problems now!). What mattered most is that I actually started reloading and could thus afford the necessary range time to get proficient at marksmanship. That's got to be Goal #1, even--heck, ESPECIALLY--during times like this.

This component drought will not last forever. Let's all remember that when the panic settles down and STOCK UP.

Apprentice with someone who KNOWS what they're doing. I did that for 2 years, with a friend who's been reloading for 25 years. It's the BEST way to learn!

One way to do this, though it is an abbreviated way (but still very helpful), is to take the NRA's Metallic Cartridge Reloading Course. The now-wife and I did that (we weren't married yet back then), and yes, it did help. I'm very appreciative of that course.

[CheapBloke]

I am meeting someone on fri. for 2k small pistol magnum primers at a understandable gouged price of $80/1000.

I think with the hand pressing, its a lifetime worth lol

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk