Help a reloading noob out

[adrenalinejunkie]

Hey all. I'm getting into reloading soon with a few friends, and was hoping to get some good information before I get into it. I've talked to a couple people on here about it and they've been a huge help to me so far and have helped me get this lit together.

Is anyone local to the SFV 818 area and willing to possibly help put a fellow calgunner start out once I have all the equipment?

I'm buying a Lee reloading manual (2nd edition) and will read it cover to cover before I start (going with the lee manual because I'm getting a Lee anniversary reloading kit)

I looked through the stickies and searched, but I couldn't find anything about my specific questions.

1. What primers/powder should I use for .223? (which for plinking, but also which would be better for defensive situations?)
2. Is a digital scale really THAT much more helpful than the included scale?
3. How do these bullets look?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165165907/hornady-bullets-22-caliber-224-diameter-55-grain-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail

4. I've looked for bullets in this forum for sale and couldn't find any. Is there another section I should be looking to?

So far on my reloading list, here's what i'm buying

Is there anything that i'm missing?

Lee anniversary single stage reloading press kit
Lee reloading manual
Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 223 Remington
Lee Case Trimmer Cutter with Ball Grip
Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings
Lyman Case Prep Multi Tool
Lee Deluxe 3-Die Set 223 Remington
Lee Factory Crimp Die 223 Remington
HF 5lb tumbler and corn cob or walnut media
Frankford Arsenal Case Lube 8 oz Pump
Dillon case gauge
Bullet puller
Calipers (dial or electronic?)
Bullets, bulk once-fired brass, 1000 primers, 1lb powder

Any help is much appreciated

[j.primo]

I have both digital and dial calipers. I like the dial because you don't have to worry about the battery dying.

For scales... I had a digital scale that fluctuated, so I bought another digital to compare my throws to ensure everything was consistent. I'll do that til' I bite the bullet and buy a 5-0-5.

Tricklers come in handy, I think they're running at $13-14 on Midway.

Collet style bullet pullers are a savior if you have a lot of bullets to pull. I have and recommend the Hornady.

GL

[mud99]

looks good to me, as to the calipers, HF has a digital set which has inches, mm, and fractional inches. I highly recommend them.

I don't think you really need the FCD but others may think different.

[MaHoTex]

Hey all. I'm getting into reloading soon with a few friends, and was hoping to get some good information before I get into it. I've talked to a couple people on here about it and they've been a huge help to me so far and have helped me get this lit together.

Is anyone local to the SFV 818 area and willing to possibly help put a fellow calgunner start out once I have all the equipment?

I'm buying a Lee reloading manual (2nd edition) and will read it cover to cover before I start (going with the lee manual because I'm getting a Lee anniversary reloading kit)

I looked through the stickies and searched, but I couldn't find anything about my specific questions.

1. What primers/powder should I use for .223? (which for plinking, but also which would be better for defensive situations?)
2. Is a digital scale really THAT much more helpful than the included scale?
3. How do these bullets look?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165165907/hornady-bullets-22-caliber-224-diameter-55-grain-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail

4. I've looked for bullets in this forum for sale and couldn't find any. Is there another section I should be looking to?

So far on my reloading list, here's what i'm buying

Is there anything that i'm missing?

Lee anniversary single stage reloading press kit
Lee reloading manual
Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 223 Remington
Lee Case Trimmer Cutter with Ball Grip
Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings
Lyman Case Prep Multi Tool
Lee Deluxe 3-Die Set 223 Remington
Lee Factory Crimp Die 223 Remington
HF 5lb tumbler and corn cob or walnut media
Frankford Arsenal Case Lube 8 oz Pump
Dillon case gauge
Bullet puller
Calipers (dial or electronic?)
Bullets, bulk once-fired brass, 1000 primers, 1lb powder

Any help is much appreciated

- Use Varget powder
- For 223 bullets search on google for Golden west Brass, ask for the Calguns discount.
- Forget using that balance scale with the Lee kit. It is a real pain to use.

- Go to powder Valley for powder and primers. I use Wolf primers and they work fine.

[Zeke003]

I might be able to help you, check your messages.

[Dark Mod]

The lee scale is terrible, and digital ones can be had for under 20 bucks. But if your really set on using it, it will work. I would lose my mind trying to get any meaningfulnloading done

[Bill Steele]

Looks like you have things pretty well mapped out.

On the Lee scale, I had one for a long time and found it very accurate, if a bit difficult to learn to use quickly at first. I have an RCBS 1010 that is my day to day scale, but I felt just as comfortable using the Lee scale if I had any doubts, it just took a little longer to get things weighed. In any case, you probably want a beam scale, even if you end up getting an electronic scale down the road. The RCBS 505 mentioned above is a terrific middle of the road offering, another is the Dillon Eliminator, both highly recommended.

If you end up crimping your rifle rounds, I think the LFCD is one of the best. I am not so sold on its cousin for handgun use.

I don't load 223, so someone else will have to give you their ideas on powders, projectiles, primers, etc.

I agree with the Powder Valley recommendation.

Good luck, have fun.

[adrenalinejunkie]

Thanks for all the help guys! I'll definitely check all that out. What kind of primers and what kind of powder? I see several different kinds.

[j.primo]

I've tried Varget for .223, but my loads are close to compressed. I'm on a pound of RAMSHOT TAC, so far so good.

[bruceflinch]

I like 4064 for 223. Your Manual should have some good recipes. IIRC, I use 24 grn w/ a 55grn bullet.
BTW, for liability reasons, you don't reload for defensive rounds. Use Factory for defense.

[drkphibr]

Reloading is an art, science, passion, hobby and addiction.

Your list of items will evolve from necessary/required/minimum to seemingly never ending as there is a special "must have" tool for just about everything and you'll soon find yourself buying the same type of tool, but from different manufacturers based on your preferences/experience to help you do something faster or with greater accuracy.

As for supplies, I enjoy browsing at the local gun shows as you generally can't beat their prices for powder and primers (the cost of show admission, parking, driving, etc. must be weighed against shipping and hazmat charges for online orders). For example, MidwayUSA (great source) will charge a separate hazmat fee of $25 for powder AND and additional $25 hazmat fee for primers on the same order whereas Powder Valley (another fav of mine) will only charge a single hazmat fee for an order than contains both primers and powder. Shop for bullets when they are on sale or buy in bulk to save money (be careful on shipping charges again on that as some use flat fee for S/H while others charge by weight and bulk bullets can be heavy).

Bottom line, you'll get different answers from just about any and everyone you ask as we all have our preferences.

[adrenalinejunkie]

Well guys, I just ordered everything! I took everyone's suggestions into consideration and got
-Lee anniversary kit
-HF 5lb tumbler
-case polish
-walnut tumbler media
-case length gauge/shellholder
-case trimmer
-bullet puller
-2 quick change bushings
-deluxe .223 3 die set
-FCD
-manual of course
-lyman case prep multitool
-digital scale
-digital calipers

it was recommended to me to get a cartridge case gage. is this different from a case length gage?

Now to get the bullet components. I think i'll go with gunbroker for brass, golden west brass for bullets, and powder valley for powder and primers. Just mixed bulk brass, either hornady, remington, or winchester bullets 55gr FMJ, CCI primers, and probably ramshot powder

[jonzer77]

- Use Varget powder
- For 223 bullets search on google for Golden west Brass, ask for the Calguns discount.
- Forget using that balance scale with the Lee kit. It is a real pain to use.

- Go to powder Valley for powder and primers. I use Wolf primers and they work fine.

I agree with this. The Lee scale "works" and I use that loosely because it is a pain in the butt but everything else in the kit works like its supposed to.