New to reloading. What will I need?

[Arcaporale]

Well I guess it's a little too late to ask this as I already sent in my order to Midway but here it is.

After doing about 6 months of "research" I've decided to start reloading .223 and .40 S&W for my hungry AR and XD on a Lee classic turret. I think I've ordered everything I'm going to need. I already have the lee reloading guide and have been looking over that for some time, I plan on starting in single stage mode to get the hang of things then use the press in auto indexing mode to start cranking out volume.

Anyways here is what I ordered to get me started:

-Lee classic turret press
-additional lee 4 hole turret
-primer pocket cleaner
-lee deluxe carbide .40S&W die set
-lee safety prime
-lee pacesetter .223 die set
-auto disk charging die (for .223)
-lee pro auto disk with upgrade kit
-case lube
-lee auto disk riser
-lee chamfer and deburring tool
-kinetic bullet puller
-lee safety powder scale
-primer feed bracket
-extra indexing ratchets for turret press
-case neck brush
-lee universal decapping die
-hornady m-2 case tumbler
-powder funnel
-electronic caliper
-possum hollow case trimmer and power adapter (for .223)

I've ordered components and tumbling media already from a few other distributors also.

If anyone has any other items they can suggest to help let me know. Thanks!!

[Bill Steele]

Looks like you have it dialed pretty well.

The Lee scale will work fine, but will take some patience to learn to use properly. Give it time and you will get by, but if you get frustrated, look up the Dillon balance beam scale, mid-fifty bucks, much easier to use.

On using it in single stage mode, frankly I think that is a bad idea. When you start, I think the auto-indexing actually helps in avoiding missing or double charging. In any case, when loading your 40's pick a powder that fills more than 50% of the case with a start charge (not Titegroup, your Lee book has the volumes in cc's of each powder's start load and also has the case volume at the start of each caliber's listing, so picking a good powder to start with is pretty easy), then you only have to worry about missing a charge (squib's). Also, learn to look inside each case before mounting the bullet and you will be GTG.

Good luck, have fun.

[Arcaporale]

Looks like you have it dialed pretty well.

The Lee scale will work fine, but will take some patience to learn to use properly. Give it time and you will get by, but if you get frustrated, look up the Dillon balance beam scale, mid-fifty bucks, much easier to use.

On using it in single stage mode, frankly I think that is a bad idea. When you start, I think the auto-indexing actually helps in avoiding missing or double charging. In any case, when loading your 40's pick a powder that fills more than 50% of the case with a start charge (not Titegroup, your Lee book has the volumes in cc's of each powder's start load and also has the case volume at the start of each caliber's listing, so picking a good powder to start with is pretty easy), then you only have to worry about missing a charge (squib's). Also, learn to look inside each case before mounting the bullet and you will be GTG.

Good luck, have fun.

I have already bought some HS-6 for loading the 40's, is this a good starting powder or can you suggest a better one?

Thanks for the advice, I will start in indexing mode then.

I have seen other lee turret users mount an LED on the press to help look into the cases to check for missing/doublecharges, I intend to do this.

[Bill Steele]

I have already bought some HS-6 for loading the 40's, is this a good starting powder or can you suggest a better one?

Thanks for the advice, I will start in indexing mode then.

I have seen other lee turret users mount an LED on the press to help look into the cases to check for missing/doublecharges, I intend to do this.

HS6 should work fine, even with the heavier bullets you won't be able to double charge even at start levels without over filling the case (just barely spilling out with 200gr XTP's for instance).

My favorite powder in this range is VV-3N37, but it costs a little more and with lighter bullets you will have a pretty full case. With a really full case and the Lee turret in auto index mode, the indexing rod can bounce some powder out if you are loading quickly, so this is a downside to this option.

It sounds like you have done your homework and are pretty locked down, you should do fine.

Have fun.

[Markus]

I basically have your exact setup except I don't reload for .223. I would recommend the Unique powder for pistol loading since it's so versatile. I load my .40 and .45 with 5 grains of unique so I don't even have to change out the disc. However 5 grains of unique for a .45 is a bit of a powder puff load.

[rcserg]

What was your total cost to start?

Well I guess it's a little too late to ask this as I already sent in my order to Midway but here it is.

After doing about 6 months of "research" I've decided to start reloading .223 and .40 S&W for my hungry AR and XD on a Lee classic turret. I think I've ordered everything I'm going to need. I already have the lee reloading guide and have been looking over that for some time, I plan on starting in single stage mode to get the hang of things then use the press in auto indexing mode to start cranking out volume.

Anyways here is what I ordered to get me started:

-Lee classic turret press
-additional lee 4 hole turret
-primer pocket cleaner
-lee deluxe carbide .40S&W die set
-lee safety prime
-lee pacesetter .223 die set
-auto disk charging die (for .223)
-lee pro auto disk with upgrade kit
-case lube
-lee auto disk riser
-lee chamfer and deburring tool
-kinetic bullet puller
-lee safety powder scale
-primer feed bracket
-extra indexing ratchets for turret press
-case neck brush
-lee universal decapping die
-hornady m-2 case tumbler
-powder funnel
-electronic caliper
-possum hollow case trimmer and power adapter (for .223)

I've ordered components and tumbling media already from a few other distributors also.

If anyone has any other items they can suggest to help let me know. Thanks!!

[Tzvia]

While I've used Unique (it was the first powder I used the first time I started reloading- 45colt BTW), I find it smelly and dirty. Universal is much better in that regard and I found works well in 40S&W. I also use 231 and yea, Titegroup.

I would suggest a second reloading book- like Lyman or Sierra. Lyman is a good choice if you like to use cast lead bullets-lots of cast data, and I bought Sierra because I use their bullets in bulk boxes for .223 and .308. I also have Lee and Hodgdon.

The Possum Hollow trimmer and power adapter just came back into stock at Midway so I ordered it earlier this week- chucking hundreds of .223 into a Lyman trimmer even with the power adapter is getting kinda old; I hope it speeds up the process for my bulk reloading. It looks like a smart idea.

[Arcaporale]

What was your total cost to start?

I think all the items mentioned were around 800-900 range, I also bought a bunch of other stuff for my ar so the total bill was like 1700

[CALI SHOT DOC]

i learned a big thing you need is....patience. Sometimes it takes a while to perfect the load you are wanting for a particular gun.

[Arcaporale]

While I've used Unique (it was the first powder I used the first time I started reloading- 45colt BTW), I find it smelly and dirty. Universal is much better in that regard and I found works well in 40S&W. I also use 231 and yea, Titegroup.

I would suggest a second reloading book- like Lyman or Sierra. Lyman is a good choice if you like to use cast lead bullets-lots of cast data, and I bought Sierra because I use their bullets in bulk boxes for .223 and .308. I also have Lee and Hodgdon.

The Possum Hollow trimmer and power adapter just came back into stock at Midway so I ordered it earlier this week- chucking hundreds of .223 into a Lyman trimmer even with the power adapter is getting kinda old; I hope it speeds up the process for my bulk reloading. It looks like a smart idea.

I should add that I purchased the lyman manual with the order too. I wanted to be able to cross reference data from different sources.

I saw that the possum hollow trimmer has been out of stock for a while everywhere. I put in my order on Saturday and then noticed yesterday it went out of stock again and that my order still had not shipped. I was afraid I didn't order it in time, but my order shipped as of today.

[Arcaporale]

i learned a big thing you need is....patience. Sometimes it takes a while to perfect the load you are wanting for a particular gun.

I plan to start slow, not really looking for accuracy right now, just learn the basics and make some good, cost effective plinking ammo, but yes patience will be important. Eventually when I get a bolt action rifle and a good, simple single stage I will focus on making the "perfect load."

[sargenv]

simple single stage I will focus on making the "perfect load."

Um.. 20 years in and I'm still looking for that "perfect" load... I'm doing it for more cartridges... but I'm still looking... single stage, progressive, same same..

[bohoki]

i gotta be blunt and say i do not see much speed increase in loading 223 in a progressive with all the case prep they take

unless you go all out and get a progressive that can lube, size decap,clean/uniform pocket, trim/debur then prime charge and seat a bullet and that is out of my budget and i barely have much savings over the cheapest 223 due to component costs

[Munk]

seems like you got most of it covered. You may want a set of calipers to measure COAL with, so you know if you're seating too long or short (both are annoying in their own way).

I like to recommend getting the "One book, one caliber" books for each cal. Usually you can find these at your gun show, or some of the more interesting gunstores (Though not at the big chain places...). It's essentially a photocopied book collecting all the load data from all the various manufacturers of powders, bullets, cases and such along with load data from various editions of reloading manuals. I've used these books to determine which powders I want to use with the bullets I chose, so I can get the best bang for my buck (either velocity, or economic powder usage... in some rare cases, BOTH). I've got a stack of these books, and I love the damn things. I also check the MFGers websites to get their latest load data for their latest products ( Example: Hornady FTX, relatively new, not necessarily in the 1book). The .44mag book even has separate sections for rifle loading and handgun loading. (although, I would like a reference for handgun loads for some rifle rounds too... dang T/C Contenders and their .30-06 handgun barrels.)