Need help with supplies

[Nate G]

I've decided to jump into the reloading game and have decided to just start with a Lee Classic turret press and maybe down the road get a progressive.
I am a total noob to reloading and need a little bit of help. I was thinking of this http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant2...essive+Presses

If I go with that what else would I need or don't need in it to get me started ( besides brass/bullets/primers, etc...) All I plan to reload for now is .223 and .45

Thanks

[Low-Pressure]

You will need a reloading manual, dies and a tumbler. BTW: there is a Sticky on what you need to get started reloading here.

[Nate G]

You will need a reloading manual, dies and a tumbler. BTW: there is a Sticky on what you need to get started reloading here.

Ya I forgot to say besides dies. So just dies and a tumbler and that's it to start? That thread was kind of confusing lol

[sonnyt650]

You need dies for both. Some sets come with the shellholder but I purchased a whole set from Lee anyway. I'd get a Possum Hollow .223 trimmer, but if you stick to the Lee one you need the correct case length gauge. If you stick to the Lee stuff you'll find that trimming is the most frustrating task ever devised by man, and at that point come back and ask about better ways to do it.

I'd also get the adjustable powder disks and use those instead of the normal disks that in my experience jumped in too large increments. My Lee scale still works fine for my purposes and was pretty much spot on from day one according to the check weights I purchased. There's a different Lee powder-thru die for rifles or handgun and you'll need to get one for rifle, but their 4-die deluxe kit has the 45 auto one.

[lpspinner]

+1 on that Auto-Disk Adjustable Powder Charge Bar and the Possum Hollow. Makes life a lot easier.

Lee 223 3-Die Deluxe Set
Lee Rifle Charging Die
Lee Universal Flaring Die
Lee 223 Factory Crimp Die
Dillon Spray case Lube

Lee 45 ACP Pistol 4-Die Set

Electronic Caliper
RCBS Vibratory Case Tumbler
Corn Cob Brass Cleaning Media
Media Separator
Dillon Rapid Polish


I think I got everything else.

[Nate G]

Lps, thanks for those links that helps alot.

So what do you all think of that kit. Is it worth it or should I buy seperately?

[lpspinner]

That all depends...

If you go with the Possum Hollow, then you don't need the case trimming items in the kit. Then if you price this individually, I get $173.79 before shipping. But then Factory Sales is $10 more for shipping then F&M, so you are only saving less then $20.00.

Now if you go with the Possum Hollow and don't buy the case trimming tools from the Lee kit, then you'll need a Chamfer and Deburring tool.
I have both and prefer the L.E. Wilson over the Lee.

Basically, it's really 6 or one, half of dozen of the other.

If you have a C&R FFL, then you can get discounts from Midway and Graf & Sons.

Also, regular price at Graf & Sons for the same kit is 197.99 with shipping, but they are out of stock.

[maschronic]

i would just suck it up and get a progressive press. have someone show you how to run it. it is pretty simple. i have dillon 550 and learned on my own.

[Bill Steele]

I've decided to jump into the reloading game and have decided to just start with a Lee Classic turret press and maybe down the road get a progressive.
I am a total noob to reloading and need a little bit of help. I was thinking of this http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant2...essive+Presses

If I go with that what else would I need or don't need in it to get me started ( besides brass/bullets/primers, etc...) All I plan to reload for now is .223 and .45

Thanks

The Lee Classic Turret is a terrific choice.

Have you compared buying the individual components from a retailer like Factory Sales, versus this kit. I think you will come out a little better buying from Lee specialist like FS, coupled with the fact that a few of the things in the kit can be improved upon with a slight upgrade and maybe a different color.

[Bill Steele]

I load all my rifle on a single stage press. The way I go about prepping brass it doesn't save me any time using my Dillon.

I think if you have the right setup, you can load rifle quite fast on a progressive. As far as what is possible accuracy wise with a progressive, I think it was "uscbigdawg" that posted a picture of a quarter he obliterated with three shots of his .223 at 600 yards all loaded on his Dillon XL 650, so I suppose it is possible. Frankly, if I could hit a quarter at 600 yards with one of three shots from my Rem700 - 308, I would be thrilled.

As far as saving money, I save money on everything I reload. I have loaded about 10K of .45ACP in the last 12 months, for about $1400 in components. I think I would be hard pressed to match that buying ready made ammo.

[lpspinner]

@wardog.....All I can say is that I am not in the same league as you. My loads are more accurate then I can shoot, so I'm not worried about pinpoint accuracy.

As for my reloading techniques, I can be semi-anal (hope I can say that). I load all the same head stamps at one time, so I get fairly good consistency with seating depths. My Dillon 550 is consistently dropping +-.1 grain, so I think that's fairly good.

I prep using a single stage, I like to decap all my brass first then give it a quick (1-2hr) cleaning before continuing. For Rifle loads, like Bill, a progressive does not really speed me along, cause I still have a few more steps on the single stage first. However, if I had a Dillon 1050, then maybe it would be faster.

I have plenty of free brass to last a long, long, long time, so that's out of the equation. a good supply of projectiles. (Heck, I still have a case of Winchester 9mm HP that my mom bought me 25+ years ago) Powder, I gotten deals on, so if you add everything up and keep a running total, I'm way better then if I were to buy the inexpensive stuff from WalMart.

[pdq_wizzard]

I've decided to jump into the reloading game and have decided to just start with a Lee Classic turret press and maybe down the road get a progressive.
I am a total noob to reloading and need a little bit of help. I was thinking of this http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant2...essive+Presses

If I go with that what else would I need or don't need in it to get me started ( besides brass/bullets/primers, etc...) All I plan to reload for now is .223 and .45

Thanks

that will work fine, like has been said you will also need dies. the only thing I would add is a better scale.

edit to add: for 223 you will also need a case trimmer, and guess what? Lee makes one of those also. (and it works well)

[G-Man WC]

I never thought of reloading as a game but a hobby.
I'm starting with the Lee Classic cast and after a few hundred, I'll start on the Dillon650
for pistol. -g

[Nate G]

Thanks everyone!

[lpspinner]

Let us know what you finally ordered.