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[SIP2000GLO]

I'm trying to get into reloading. So far I've read a few articles and watched a half hour video regarding reloading. I would still need to have an instructor or someone with lots of reloading experience to teach me the "DOs" and "DON'Ts" of reloading before I'm comfortable with doing it by myself. That and I would like to have my house and garage intact.

But before the live hands on instructions from a professional reloader, I want to get some reloading equipments ready.

I would like to get a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=679228

in the near future. I know, a newbie should start to learn with just a single stage press but I'm a lazy SOB . I figured if I get a single stage press, after six months or a year of reloading it would just be sitting there because I would get another press that is a little quicker. Besides, I do not have a lot of time as I work a lot so a progressive press would save me from being in the garage too long and sneak in a little range time.

As far as reloading equipments, I was wondering if these dies "Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-Die Set 45 ACP"

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=242098

would work in the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press? In other words, would they fit and function appropriately?

I would also need :

Reloading manual
Scale
Tumbler
Shell plates
Shell holders
Powder
Primer
Bullets
Brass

Please let me know what else I need so I can order all at once and save on shipping.

Thanks for the inputs!

[freakshow10mm]

Buy or rent the book ABCs of Reloading. It will go over equipment you need and what equipment makes life easier. Read it, decide what you desire, then buy equipment.

[Waldog]

I have the LNL AP press and it is awesome!!!
However, as a NEW reloader a AP press is going to be very frustrating unless you have a buddy that has one and can set yours up.
Do yourself a favor and buy a single stage press first. I positively guarantee that you will STILL USE THE SINGLE STAGE PRESS after you graduate to the AP.

[Someguy925]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe all reloading dies universally have the same thread dimensions so they can fit in all presses.

Also, do yourself a favor and get a single stage press first. Then spend on something nicer once you understand the process.

[Chris M]

Don't make the same mistake I made.

I currently don't have any reloading equipment, but when I was out at my dad's earlier this year, he had me hand-load some .30-carbine using one of those cheap lee reloading kits, where you have to use a mallet to resize the shell, and seat the primer and bullet.

Anyways, I apparently wasn't paying close enough attention when seating the primer. There must have been a piece of the tumbler media still in the case. I gave it a little too hard of a whack with the mallet, and BANG. Good thing there was no powder in there. It scared the crap out of my father and I, though. I was very careful after that.

[mstlaurent]

I have the LNL AP press and it is awesome!!!
However, as a NEW reloader a AP press is going to be very frustrating unless you have a buddy that has one and can set yours up.
Do yourself a favor and buy a single stage press first. I positively guarantee that you will STILL USE THE SINGLE STAGE PRESS after you graduate to the AP.

+1

I started with a LNL AP as well, and I am saving my pennies to buy a single stage for utility work like stuck cases, pulling bullets, etc. If I had it to do over again I would buy the Hornady single-stage press kit, and after I was comfortable working on that I would go out and buy the AP.

[mstlaurent]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe all reloading dies universally have the same thread dimensions so they can fit in all presses.

Almost all. There are still some oddballs out there (the Dillon Square Deal comes to mind).

[SIP2000GLO]

Thank you gentlemen for the advices. I will keep each and every single advice in mind . I will continue on to learn more as much as I can.

[tenbender]

SIP,

in ALL honesty, you need to start on a single stage press. An RCBS Rock Chucker is the press I learned on and it has served me well. I still use it for all of my "match loads. It is much more time consuming yes, but you will learn so much more over time regarding "the basics" of reloading. And once you are comfortable with using the single stage, you will be much more confident once you move on to the "progressive.

I have a Dillon 650 XL with all the bells and whistles and an RCBS Pro 2000 dressed out. Don't let anyone (including myself) guide you with what is best. I mentioned my presses only to give you an idea of my equipment, but I feel you should shop and find a press (along with a good scale, dial calipers, at least two reloading manuals and a tumbler) within your budget. You can add a little at a time or go for broke if that is within your grasp.

Reloading is not an inexpensive endeavor. Lastly, there is a ton of information available both in print and online so disregard paying for someone to educate you. You will educate yourself because it really is a "hands on" learning experience. Granted, it is great if you have a good friend, relative etc. to help you along, but in all honesty, you don't need anyone holding your hand as long as you can focus. What I mean is acquiring 'TUNNEL VISION" without distractions because even the smallest distraction reloading can be the difference between and great day at the range or one that can be life altering. Literally!! I wish you many years of enjoyment rolling your own.

[freonr22]

On. The lnl you can use it as A single stage just sayin

[SIP2000GLO]

Ten,

The reason I chose the LNL was it's convenience and I do not want to end up having a bunch of presses in my garage. Space is very limited. I wanted something that down the line where I do not have to spend a lot of time producing and use the batch for a few months at a time.

Also, at the moment I do not have much time to go to the range. Even after getting the press, I doubt that I would be loading much for least a few months.

During that time, any extra time I have would be devoted to knowing the press. At first, it would be very slow and work my way up. I would not mind if I can only load 1 round an hour at first. I would give about 20-30 hours into it to get the rhythm going and get the mind to memorize that rhythm.

From my extremely limited knowledge of reloading through reading, watching a video, and taking advices here , I think reloading is just like an assembly line. It takes time and practice.

I think having an experienced reloader watching over me for the first maybe 200 rounds of different calibers such as 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP gives me the extra assurance that I'm doing it correctly. There are a lot of informations out there that's for sure, but I cannot afford to make any mistakes. I hope this will be a lifelong hobby that I will enjoy.

freon,

Yes, the first 20-30 hours or more will be single stage.

[ejor]

The lee dies work but they don't have as long of threading on the die body and the lock and load bushings are thicker than some other presses. I had to turn the lock nuts upside down to engage the threads, as they[the lee lock rings] have an rubber o-ring on the bottom half of the nut[no threads there], otherwise the die would be loose. You could also buy standard redding lock nuts

[sd_shooter]

I was recently in the same boat as the OP, wanted the LNL AP as my first press and tried to do a bulk order. Don't worry, the money you 'save' on shipping will be spent soon thereafter on more orders... you can't possibly cram it all in at the same time! Chances are you'll have to get your powder, primers and bullets from different places.

So far:
- LNL AP press
- 2 reloading blocks
- Redding Pro Series dies, they are made for progressive presses:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=547339

- LNL shell plates (I don't think you'll be needing any shell holders...)
- Primer flipper
- A scale
- Digital calipers
- LNL Handgun rotor:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=164839

- LNL Handgun Micrometer powder insert:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=615914

- Lyman reloading manual
- Hornady reloading manual
- ABCs of reloading manual (PS. I have an extra one for sale, see my signature)
- Hornady die wrench:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=154534

- Cartridge max gages:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=171349

- Media separator:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=176956

- Hornady locking rings (an upgrade from the stock die rings)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=391359

- Tumbler
- RCBS lock out die: (could also get Hornady powder cop, but I think this is better)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=536792

- Brass sorter:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=847836

- Extra bushings:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=786036

- Universal PTX, as recommended by CG user impactco:

http://www.powderfunnels.com/products.html

If you're just reloading handgun ammo I don't see the need for a single stage, although it wouldn't hurt. You could just get this one so your LNL bushings would fit right in:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=197894

[popeye4]

SIP,

in ALL honesty, you need to start on a single stage press. An RCBS Rock Chucker is the press I learned on and it has served me well. I still use it for all of my "match loads. It is much more time consuming yes, but you will learn so much more over time regarding "the basics" of reloading. And once you are comfortable with using the single stage, you will be much more confident once you move on to the "progressive.

I have a Dillon 650 XL with all the bells and whistles and an RCBS Pro 2000 dressed out. Don't let anyone (including myself) guide you with what is best. I mentioned my presses only to give you an idea of my equipment, but I feel you should shop and find a press (along with a good scale, dial calipers, at least two reloading manuals and a tumbler) within your budget. You can add a little at a time or go for broke if that is within your grasp.

Reloading is not an inexpensive endeavor. Lastly, there is a ton of information available both in print and online so disregard paying for someone to educate you. You will educate yourself because it really is a "hands on" learning experience. Granted, it is great if you have a good friend, relative etc. to help you along, but in all honesty, you don't need anyone holding your hand as long as you can focus. What I mean is acquiring 'TUNNEL VISION" without distractions because even the smallest distraction reloading can be the difference between and great day at the range or one that can be life altering. Literally!! I wish you many years of enjoyment rolling your own.

^^^^What he said.

I also have a Dillon XL650 along with a Rock Chucker. You need a single stage press, it is very versatile. Changing calibers on a progressive can be a bit of a pain and can also be rather expensive to acquire all the necessary parts. For instance, each one of my toolheads for the Dillon (I have three) has a powder dispenser. It also takes about a half hour to change over calibers. I tend to leave it set up for the one I shoot a lot (right now, .308 Win) and I load everything else on the Rock Chucker. You won't regret purchasing a single stage (check ebay, they often have used ones).

[xxdabroxx]

I LOVE MY ROCK CHUCKER!

Whatever you do, make sure you pick up a "Lee Auto Prime" hand priming tool. That way you can prime brass while watching tv in your lazy boy.