More ??Starting Reloading HELP CHECK IT AGAIN please

[mtsul]

cool thanks guys I just got my Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit from Cabelas it comes with a (powder data manual with more than 1,000 different loads)
Also is this ok for starting?
And do I need to buy other stuff?
My other question is do I need to buy a crimper?
Or does that come with the dies? and is it 1 for small pistols 1 for large and same for rifle?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_215925&id=0003080216577a

[Milsurp Collector]

cool thanks guys I just got my Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit from Cabelas it comes with a (powder data manual with more than 1,000 different loads)
Also is this ok for starting?

Yes.

And do I need to buy other stuff?

Yes. Dies, bullets, primers, and powder. Some other things you really should have, others are nice but not essential.

Should have a dial caliper http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=119623 to measure case length. Each time a round is fired and then resized, the brass stretches and becomes a little longer. At some point it becomes too long and should be trimmed down to size. That's why your kit includes a case trimmer. Your reloading manual(s) will list the maximum and minimum case length for each type of brass casing.

Some people don't bother measuring case length, they have power trimmers and just run all of their cases through it. I don't have one of those, so I use my dial caliper to measure each brass casing after resizing and expanding. If it is too long I trim it. If it is too short (below the minimum) I don't use it. You can use the Lee trimmer in your kit but you have to buy a case length gauge and shellholder for each type of round you are reloading. Fortunately they are inexpensive ($4.49). Or, you can buy a case trimmer that is more expensive but works with most types of brass. I use this one http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=614276

Correct case length and trimming if needed is important, don't skip it.

Another must have is an impact bullet puller http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=810810

You use this tool to take apart rounds that you have made if you realize you might have made a mistake or you want to change something. Trust me, it happens. Maybe you made some rounds and then realized you forgot to check the brass length and some are too long. This tool lets you take apart the faulty rounds, recover the bullets, powder, and primed brass, and start over.

Another must have is a powder trickler http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=487186
It allows you to add powder into the pan on your scale, a tiny amount (one granule even) at a time, so you can get the exact proper weight of powder in each charge.

Another must have are reloading trays http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=576361 to keep your work organized. It helps me reload safely. When I am ready to add powder, my resized, mouth expanded, primed brass is upside down in my reloading trays. Then I measure my powder, take a brass case, turn it right side up, add the powder, then immediately seat a bullet. That keeps me from double-charging a case. Because the brass was upside down just before I added the powder, it had to be empty. Seating the bullet immediately after adding the powder prevents another powder charge from being added.

Nice to have but not essential is a case tumbler http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=103614
Mix your dirty fired brass, some crushed walnut or corncob media, and some polish, let the tumbler run for a few hours, and the brass comes out looking shiny and brand new.

My other question is do I need to buy a crimper?
Or does that come with the dies? and is it 1 for small pistols 1 for large and same for rifle?

Most Lee die sets include a taper crimp die, or it can be bought separately. The crimp die is specific for a particular round.

Opinions vary on the need to crimp http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=224773

[eaglemike]

While I agree that the basic information is in all of the loading manuals, I disagree with not having multiples. At a minimum, 2 sources of information for loading, three or more, even better.

One simply is not enough.

As stated, many times there are discrepancies between manufactures, why rely on one when you can cross-reference and get a better feel for the brackets to fit between. There is better coverage with multiple manuals as not all manuals have every bullet weight and type. What if there happened to be a typo in your single manual? It could be disastrous.

I'm all for getting as much information as possible to eliminate the possible error at the range.....which is usaully a bad place to find an error.

This!

I know for sure there have been loading manuals printed with mistakes. Another manual to double check is a very good thing. It's very helpful to extrapolate starting points for bullet and powder combinations that aren't matched up in the manuals. It takes experience to do this of course, not for a beginner. This is a lot harder with one manual. Data handbooks are nice, but full-on loading manuals are the way to go. The knowledge gained from having additional information is worth way more than the cost of the manual, IMHO.

I used to make reloading equipment. You wouldn't believe some of the stories I've heard..........

[mtsul]

Thanks milsurp

[5hundo]

Thanks milsurp

To piggyback on what milsurp said;

Some of the other things that he mentioned are "nice to have" can be purchased at a local Harbor Freight tools, if you have one nearby. The digital calipers I use are from harbor freight, as is my tumbler. They also sell walnut media there...

[mtsul]

Do I also need shellholders? per Cal?

[Sunwolf]

Yes,unless you buy the Lee dies(except RGB).The Lee dies come with a shellholder for the caliber you are reloading.RCBS and other manufs don`t include shellholders with their die sets.
Looks like there will be a reloading class starting soon in the IE,a good idea to take it and get hands on.

[tamalpias]

Do I also need shellholders? per Cal?

no, some shellholders work on multiple cartridge cases. like my 22-250 shell holder will work for 308 as well as 45 auto. plus 9 other popular cartridges. You can look on whatever company website you bought your components from and compare what they have to what calibers etc.

[mmartin]

If you're interested in the reloading clinics that are now getting organized, pop over to one of the links below for your area:

Reloading Clinics Forming: Northern California Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: Sacramento Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: San Francisco Bay Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: North Central Valley Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: South Central Valley Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: Central Coast Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: South Coast Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: Kern/Inyo Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: Los Angeles Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: Orange County/Inland Empire Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: San Diego/Imperial Area
Reloading Clinics Forming: Other Areas

Megan

[mtsul]

yea I voted I cant wait to go, I just got back from a very nice calgunners house who showed/let me load 223 it was cool I loaded about 20 and I did everything besides the tumbler its was great he even let me keep the ammo, but I also have a question he did not know, I THOUGHT i read some place that you could stretch brass??? like that you could use 30-06 for 6.5x55 or 303 or 8x56r????? or something I dont know what or if it is possible

[Milsurp Collector]

yea I voted I cant wait to go, I just got back from a very nice calgunners house who showed/let me load 223 it was cool I loaded about 20 and I did everything besides the tumbler its was great he even let me keep the ammo, but I also have a question he did not know, I THOUGHT i read some place that you could stretch brass??? like that you could use 30-06 for 6.5x55 or 303 or 8x56r????? or something I dont know what or if it is possible

It's called reforming brass. There was a time when it was hard to get brass for certain cartridges. For example, 7.7 Japanese, used in Arisaka Type 99 rifles, a common surplus rifle. You can make 7.7 Japanese brass by reforming more common .30-06 or 8mm Mauser brass. However, manufacturers have stepped up and you can usually buy brand new brass for almost any cartridge. Don't worry about it, reforming brass is an advanced topic. Just learn how to reload your own fired brass for now.

As Sunwolf said, Lee die sets include a shellholder and a powder scoop that gives you a charge that is close to what you want for the most commonly used powders for that cartridge. Then you use your powder trickler to bring the powder charge to the exact amount you want for that type of powder. It saves a lot of time if you aren't using a powder measure. Even with those two extras (shell holder and powder scoop) and sometimes a third extra (taper crimp die) Lee die sets are usually less expensive than other makers' die sets.

[Nessal]

It's good to have 2 manuals...

I have a lyman and a lee and there are many discrepencies between load data in the two. For example, on 30-40 Krag, with the lyman manual, it says that suggested starting on a 150gr bullet using H380 is 43gr. In my Lee manual, it says I can go all the way down to 40.5, which is nice because I like to take it easy on my Krags...

It's good to have a 2nd source...

I found a lot of discrepencies when comparing manuals as well. So what I do now is go to the manufacturer's website and pull the latest load data and go with that instead.