Newbee Reloading Gear Advice

[BeyondInferno]

I'm shooting a RRA/Colt AR and I have about 1000 brass unfired. I've been keeping anything I fire for reloads but have no equipment. I've been looking at the lee hand press kit and the 2 die set from lee for .223 on cabellas or midway. I just want to know what else i need to SAFELY reload. I'm not getting into match ammo just 55 grain and maybe some 75ish for longer range. to make it easier i'll just list links to the stuff i've been checkin out.

Press kit - http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...847&hasJS=true
Die Set - http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...847&hasJS=true
Power Measurer - http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...853&hasJS=true
And yes I know there is alot of info online about this stuff just none of it is for doing it for as cheap as possible with .223.
Thanks for ANY help!
I also need to know what else i need other than the obvious lead and powder, etc.

[joelogic]

There are plenty of threads about this already, just search for it.

[Sideline Shooter]

Try to get together with a calgunner in your area with reloading experience. Learn the basics and see how much equipment and cost it's gonna be before you jump in. Chip in to the teacher for the help. It will be a lot less confusing to you.

Sideline Shooter

[BeyondInferno]

Thanks Sideline! Now for the tricky part of actually finding someone who's willing to spend the time! lol.
Honestly, I just want some advice on the cheapest setup no matter how long it takes to load. I just want to be able to sit in front of the TV for an hour or so at a time and do some reloads. I plan on buying a book on the details of the process i just need to get some buyer's advice on a hand press setup.

[LGB Loader]

I just want to be able to sit in front of the TV for an hour or so at a time and do some reloads.

Never, under any circumstances do you want to assemble ammunition while watching TV, talking on the cell phone, day dreaming, talking to your dog, Drinking beer, wine, or whiskey, etc. or anything else that will break your concentration.

You must remain 100% focused on what your doing becuase if you F up, it could KILL you or the person standing to the left or right of you or all three at the range. This is a fun hobby and rewarding and addicting and all the other things but there is a ton of responsibilty that you must be willing to take on if you begin - otherwise, please buy factory ammo.

To this day, after almost 30 years, if my head ain't in the right frame of mind to assemble ammo and I can't keep focused, I walk the F away from the bench. I do this for the safety of myself and the shooters around me.

Sorry if I sound like a jerk but I really am looking out for your best interest and unexpecting other shooters standing next to you.

If you need help, PM me. I am always glad to help.

LGB

[BeyondInferno]

Point taken! And you didn't sound like a jerk

[Acorn556]

Dillon makes a press for a good price thats only for one caliber. From my understanding its all you need for a basic reloading setup. Its called the square deal

[ar15barrels]

Dillon makes a press for a good price thats only for one caliber. From my understanding its all you need for a basic reloading setup. Its called the square deal

Square deals are only for pistol cartridges.

The way to go to get started loading 223 on the cheap is one of the Lee kits plus a Lyman reloading manual and some RCBS dies off eBay.
The hand press is more something I would use as a survival tool than a first-plan to load with.
After sizing 100 rounds of 223 on that press, you will be ready to throw it out the window.

Lee press kit with a real powder measure and scale:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=423081

[spareparts]

I'd stay away from the Lee hand press and get a real press. When you try to do reloading on the cheap it will come back to bite you. I could see processing a couple dozen rounds on one those but I'd never consider one for doing reloading for an auto loading rifle. You'll just spend way too much time for very little gain. Even if you don't have the resources to put together a reloading bench you can always mount a single stage press to a pice of plywood and use clamps to secure the whole thing to a table for reloading sessions. At the very minimum I'd get a Lee classic cast single stage press.

ETA: I broke the linkage on the cheap press that Randall mentions above after reloading a couple thousand .223

[Fjold]

BeyondInferno if you put your location in your profile, people can see if you're local to them and might be able to help.

I've let a lot of Bakersfield guys come to my place and use some of my reloading equipment to see how it's done.

[sorensen440]

If you can afford it or save up for it I would recommend a better press

a bench mounted single stage at least

[bohoki]

buy the lee trimmer and gauge also a lyman deburing tool the lee deburing tool barely lasts 100 trims than it just turns into a bur bender

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=476992

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=107333

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=284379

or any other brand i suppose

also one of these if you are loading pmc

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=501588

[BeyondInferno]

okay, so i just spent an hour on the phone with member LGB Loader and have decided to stay clear of the hand press. I'm gonna save some money and go with a Lee classic turret kit from Kempf online. Comes with a lee 3 die set, pro powder measurer and primer feeder.
Also, I'm getting lee universal deprimer, a cheap tumbler, RCBS 505 Scale, RCBS campher/debur tool, Possum Hollow trimmer w/ drill adaptor, primer pocket cleaner and some loading blocks. As far as I know That's all I'll need aside from consumables.
Oh And Lymans 49th!

[BeyondInferno]

And P.S. If you see LGB loader on the street BUY THAT GUY A BEER! Nicest guy on the internet IMO!

[spareparts]

You may also want to consider a case gauge as well, especially since you're reloading for an auto loader.