Millionth ?beginner reloading? post but with a little more heart to it

[Revoman]

"Even though I now do all my loading on my SDB, I still use the single stage a lot. I use it to de-prime the brass before cleaning and I also use Lee Factory crimp dies to double check the final crimp and sizing."
I too use a SDB (2 of them actually). I de-prime for cleaning with the SDB by having a separate tool head with only the dep-riming pin inserted. I then clean and reprime with a hand primer, I just don't like the Dillon tubes for priming.
The SDB is a really great press for handgun cartridge reloading.

[rhodesengr]

I just don't like the Dillon tubes for priming.
The SDB is a really great press for handgun cartridge reloading.

Not really the topic here but just curious what you don't like about the Dillon priming tubes. I have two FA hand primers and much prefer using the Dillon system. I have had one or two problems. Sometimes the last one or two primers don't drop in. I cured that by adding some weight to the follower rod. I also got a burr on the plastic magazine tip and primers were hanging on that. I sanding that smooth. I just learned that if you don't feel la primer go in, just stop immediately and remove the primer system and figure out what happened.

Over all, I find it much better and certainly faster than hand priming.

[bergmen]

I started reloading maybe 30 years ago. Over the years I stocked up on components at maybe 10X my shooting rate. As a result I am set for the next several decades. I'm 74 years old so my kids and grand kids will inherit the remaining stash.

Being 100% self sufficient with all center fire ammo is golden. I NEVER shop for ammo, can reload anything I want at any time I want (.32 S&W Long, .32 ACP, 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, 454 Casull, 30-30, .308 Winchester, .300 WSM).

I would never go back to scrounging ammo on the shelf. BTW, two single stage Rock Chuckers for me. Also, several 10k of rimfire in stock as well

It's all good.

Dan

[Divernhunter]

The Lyman book is what I tell beginners to get and READ!!
The RCBS Kits are a great starter place and you will use them.
I own 2 RCBS single stage presses(A RC and a Jr). I also have a 650XL Dillon that I only load 45ACP and 9mm Luger on. I have a separate Hornady single stage for my 50BMG.
I load for many different cartridges and I load all my rifle and most pistol rounds on the RCBS presses. The single stage work best with rifle rounds because after sizing I trim and debur flash holes as well a swage primer pockets as needed and I cannot do this on a progressive.

I> strongly suggest a single stage press to start with. I do not like the turret presses as you can get more give/slop in them. It takes 30 seconds to change dies on a single stage press. If you are in more of a hurry you do not belong to the reloading group. I batch process my brass and seat new primers while watching TV.

[Revoman]

"Not really the topic here but just curious what you don't like about the Dillon priming tubes."
I had some of those same issues with the Dillon tube fed priming station. I like to hand prime for a few reasons;
1.) I can readily see anything that is happening with the primers. Does it take longer, yes, but if you add in time to stop and figure out the issues with the tube system, it catches up some.
2.) I like to strengthen my grip and working the hand primer helps that. I'm not reloading vast quantities, so it's easily done. The grip helps with recoil management in my view.
3.) I inspect every piece of brass as I slide it into the case holder on the hand primer. It gives me another chance to catch any misses (cracks/split/dirty pockets etc) after I have inspected them before cleaning. I use the wet method by the way.
4.) Lastly, I had seen instances where a primer went off and ignited all of the primers inside the tube and the only place for the energy to go is up and down. There is also a lot of primer dust that collects inside of the tube. How often to you clean the inside of the primer tubes....besides never. Examples:

https://www.google.com/search?q=dillon+primer+tube+primer+explosion&sca_esv=c6e69ef0fa2af6ef&source=hp&ei=LA0WZon3FpHHkPIPy42NsAk&iflsig=ANes7DEAAAAAZhYbPE09wOeXnxGmABpXQeMKKYBw5ygD&ved=0ahUKEwiJvYnU37aFAxWRI0QIHctGA5YQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=dillon+primer+tube+primer+explosion&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IiNkaWxsb24gcHJpbWVyIHR1YmUgcHJpbWVyIGV4cGxvc2lvbjIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSPKOAVAAWOqEAXACeACQAQCYAY8BoAGwGKoBBDMyLjW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAiKgAp4YwgILEC4YgAQYsQMYgwHCAhEQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARjRA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAgUQABiABMICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBixA8ICCxAuGIAEGMcBGNEDwgIFEC4YgATCAg4QLhjHARixAxjRAxiABMICCxAuGK8BGMcBGIAEwgIIEC4YgAQY5QTCAgsQABiABBiKBRiGA8ICBhAAGBYYHsICBxAhGAoYoAGYAwCSBwUyNC4xMKAHvZ0C&sclient=gws-wiz#ip=1

[IronLad]

Thanks for the help everyone. The slow down really stopped me from responding on my progress

I have made some dummies that are perfectly COAL! Some Vmax 40 grains and some h335 and found a couple federal gold match small rifle primers

My setup was with the hand reloading set from lee (i still love it btw) but I have a:

1. Lee Single stage C press
2. Lyman deburring and chamferring tool
3. Lyman 500 beam scale
4. lee 223 die set
5. lee scoop set
6. imperial wax
7. hogdon h335
8. Hornady Vmax 40gr
9. some mixed winchester and pmc brass Im sorting for two different batches to reload
10. rcbs universal hand priming tool

I primed my first brass today (was scared id pop it and thought id squeeze it too much)

I feel confident in trying powder soon after making 7 dummies to learn on

I dont have a book but have gotten some loads for the 40 grain vmaxs from people who own the book. I know the process but just need to make it real and have more confidence lol

[divingin]

Agreed with Smoothy above. Most will say to start off on a single stage so you can learn each step and then move on to the next. You learn thru repetition. My biggest gripe with that was that if I screw up doing a step, I've got to undo everything I just did. Even if it's just 50 rounds, its a big pain in the rear.

That doesn't change with a progressive. It does, however, mean that you now have a number of cartridges that need to be disassembled and corrected, rather than just corrected. And that is a bigger pain in the rear.

I don't think you *need* to learn on a single stage press. It can be done on a progressive - you just need to pay 4 or 5 times more attention to what's going on. The most important thing is to understand what's supposed to happen at each stage, what can go wrong, and how to tell the two apart.

That said, I use a progressive for bulk reloading (all pistol and plinking rifle ammo), and a single stage (or arbor press) for precision rifle ammo.

For a first timer, a kit is handy, unless you are willing to research each tool that you need. Even though the kits are of questionable usefulness, everything's there, and it's all usable. Upgrade the kit as you get to know what you need to improve your loading experience. Pretty much everyone I know does that, starting from a kit or not.

[mikeyr]

I just can't imagine a reloading bench without a single stage press permanently attached to it. Even after you have multiple Dillon presses you will still use the single stage for test loads, oops loads like ran out of primers on the Dillon and need to prime a few cases. I started with a Rockchuker and that worked fine for 20 years or more. Then got Hornady with those quick rings. I was gifted a SDB for 45Colt and WOW everything changed. I went out and got a 650 but never got rid of my single stage, I still use it a lot. So I would budget for a 750 (replacement for 650) or look for a used 650 but start on a single stage. I see nothing wrong with going to a progressive press to start with but you WILL make mistakes and with progressive you will likely not find them until at the range. Single stage you will catch your mistakes far easier.

I find I can go out in garage and single stage rounds in a nice relaxed atmosphere but when loading on 650, I am far less relaxed and watching every round go through every stage. In near 50 years of reloading, I have only had one squib where the round never made it out of the barrel and that was on a progressive press, if I had not caught that the sound was different, my gun would have gone boom on second trigger pull. Also, if you are starting out, I suggest finding powders that fill the case as much as possible, harder to double load that way, then as you get more confident, find powders that are better suited for that caliber.

[smoothy8500]

That doesn't change with a progressive. It does, however, mean that you now have a number of cartridges that need to be disassembled and corrected, rather than just corrected. And that is a bigger pain in the rear.

I think you may have misinterpreted what XDJYo and I were trying to explain (or our explanation wasn't clear) about using a progressive but doing a single step like sizing only, or belling/priming only, with a batch of 50 rounds (or maybe 250) to understand that one process before moving on the next.

But yes, you are correct that trying to learn 4-5 things at the same time can lead to problems.

[midvalleyshooter]

As mentioned Youtube is your friend:

Click here--> https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ammo+reloading

[ar15barrels]

[/LIST]I primed my first brass today (was scared id pop it and thought id squeeze it too much)

I dont have a book but have gotten some loads for the 40 grain vmaxs from people who own the book.
I know the process but just need to make it real and have more confidence lol

How do you know the process if you don't have a book?
There is much more stuff in the book about "the process" that's FAR more important than the load data.
Get a real load manual from a bullet maker (not the free load guides from the powder makers) and read all the stuff BEFORE the load data.

[Cowboy T]

Agreed with Randall (ar15barrels) above. Get a real reloading book, and preferably two of them. I can recommend, from experience, the following reloading manuals.

1.) Lee's Modern Reloading
2.) Lyman's 51st Edition Reloading Handbook
3.) Hornady Reloading Handbook
4.) Speer Reloading Handbook

Before I ever touched a reloading press, I studied the Lee book (my first book) for a couple of months. I don't mean just "read" it. I mean *studied* it.

And for those who say learn on a single-stage, like you're doing with your Lee Single Stage C press...until just last year, I had that exact press on my bench since 2009. It was my first press. The only reason I don't have it now is because I sold it, at a fair price, to new reloader just last year. He's making .308 Win on it now. I replaced it with a Lee APP.

There is nothing wrong with progressive presses...after you learn how to use them. The post above relating a progressive to a Ferrari and a good learners car to a Toyota Corolla is absolutely correct. I learned how to drive on a Honda Civic (automatic) and Accord (5-speed manual). It was only later that Dad let me try out his Toyota Supra (also a 5-speed manual). And he was exactly right to have me progress in that order.

Your Lee single stage press will load a lot of mighty fine ammo for you. I know this from experience.

If you'd like some tips on how to do this with a single-stage, have a look here at some videos I made specifically for new reloaders like you. Free to view or download at your leisure.

https://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/