Getting started reloading?

[A.M.]

Hey everyone,

Want to get started reloading.

Looking at this so far:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/423081/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-anniversary-kit#

1) Is it a good kit?
2) what else do I need to get besides this (I'm looking to do 556/308)

Thanks!

[Dark Mod]

I think the lee challenger kit is a GREAT kit. Your going to NEED a few other things, and your going to WANT quite a bit more.

Starting out with need: you need some calipers. Your going to need dies and trimming tools for each caliber you want. You can get the lee lock and cutter for like $10 each caliber, Dies should run you about $30 or so.

Want: Your going to want a tumbler, it makes your brass nice and clean, removes lube really well too. Your going to want a better scale, and a bullet puller. Your also going to want a reloading manual.

Some people may argue that some of the things in the want column belong in the need column, but this is just my advice.

[Bill Steele]

It is fine to start. Lots of valuable information in the stickies above.

[Silverone858]

I just got started too and just finished shooting my first 50 223 rounds and thats the kit I bought but now I kinda wish I got the lee turret. Santa just might bring me that 1911 ive been looking at!
Theres a lot of helpfull vidoes on youtube to help get you started. Make sure you get a manual or 2, you can also get free load data from some powder brands.

[A.M.]

Can someone tell me exactly which dies to get? I see "depriming" dies, "factory crimp" dies, etc.

Same with the cutters, etc.

Too many choices!

[A.M.]

Wait-- do I need four different dies per cartridge?

[reachoutar]

this is the route i went with. it saves tons of time. it also comes with a rebate for 500 bullets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/679228/hornady-lock-n-load-ap-progressive-press

watch the vid in the link also it will give you an idea of what your getting into

[A.M.]

Is it worth the extra 300 bucks?!

[Javi]

Is it worth the extra 300 bucks?!

That's up to you. Lee, RCBS, Hornady, Forster, Redding, Lyman, etc. will have some different features that may or may not appeal to you. I know "Iraqveteran8888" made a great overview of the Lee challenger kit. He also did an overview of the RCBS Rock Chucker. I'd suggest reading the description & reviews for those individual presses to see what you would want out of it. I personally didn't really like how some of the tools in the Lee kit worked(although they work!) so I was going to just get the press itself and piece together my own kit.

[Divernhunter]

By your questions I can tell you know nothing about reloading. That is fine but you need to understand some of the basics before you proceed.Before you do anything buy the Lyman #49 reloading manual and read it. It will answer about 95% of your questions you will have. It will answer the ones you have already posted. Once you have read it then come back for any queations you may have because the answers will make more sense then. The book also has great data in it for reloading.

To answer your questions. For rifle dies you only need a 2 die set. You do not "need" to crimp the bullets for rifles. Many of us do not crimp for semi-autos also.That will be explained in the book. Some people like to crimp and use a "crimping" die. Others that crimp use the built in crimper in the seating die. Again most do not crimp. Buy a set of FL(full lenght) dies for rifle reloading.
Pistol dies: get a carbide type die set. You do not need to lube the brass. Most sets are 3 dies but lee makes a crimp only die that can be usefull. Pistol type ammo needs a crimp.
The brand of equipment you get is up to you. They will all make ammo. Some are noted to have great warr(RCBS,Hornady and others) and some not(Lee) so the choice is up to you. IF you do get lee dies be sure to buy some real LOCKING rings for them. That way you can set the dies once and not have to readjust them all the time. Buy the time you buy the rings you will be near or at the cost of a set of RCBS/Hornady dies and the RCBS/Hornady dies have a no BS warr unlike the lee. The lee presses are the cheapest(and not a great warr) on the market. However they will work just keep all reciepts for lee stuff and note they do not have a lifetime warr like others.
Be sure to buy a hand primer and not prime off the press.Info in the lyman book I believe. It will make more accurate ammo and is easy to do while watching TV. The Lee hand primer is cheap and works well as long as you follow direstions and lube the wear points since they are pot metal. If you do not you will have to buy one often. Do not ask me how I found this out. I even called lee and they basicly said tough luck buy another.
Buy a SINGLE STAGE press even if you later get a progressive you will have a need for the single stage. I have 2 Dillon 650 progressive machines and still use the heck out of my 3 single stage presses.


The bottom line is it is your money so get what you want but be informed. The Lyman book will help you there.
"I PERSONALLY" believe in the buy once, cry once (about the price) and have great stuff with the best warr/service for life. Also for whoever get my stuff after I die.
If you want to talk and ask questions PM me and I will give you my phone #. I load for over 35 different cartridges and started when I was in grammer school in the 1960,s. I have mentored a number of people. I will explain the best I can and not push you into one brand or another. I can only tell you what I have learned over the years and you can decide for yourself.

[Norcalkid]

I just started using that kit. Its ok. You will probably also want a good book, caliper,dies, trimmer length thingies,, puller, shell holder if your dies dont come with one, and maybe some extra insert thingies for dies. And dont forget a tumbler. All in will be about 300 to be up and running. I like my buddies rcbs powder measure better.also like rcbs case slick better tham whats provided.

[A.M.]

If I get the hornady lnl listed above, I just need dies and a trimmer? What trimmer do I want?

[Dark Mod]

If I get the hornady lnl listed above, I just need dies and a trimmer? What trimmer do I want?

Start with a cheap one, once you start doing a lot of volume then you can worry about moving up from there. Any trimmer will work, the more expensive ones just do it faster.

I personally use the possum hollow trimmers and love them, i trim alot of brass though.

Not sure how much you know about reloading, but you should at least understand the process before you buy anything so you know what your getting in to.

Without writing a novel, the reloading process is a bunch of steps that have to be completed in order.

1. resize the brass and pop out the old primer (done with a sizing/depriming die)

2. trim the case (trimmer)

3. reprime (done with a hand primer or on the press)

4. charge the case (powder measure)

5. seat/crimp the bullet (Seating/crimping die)

Typically i will clean the brass after resizing and trimming because resizing requires lube which gets the case all sticky and needs to be cleaned off.

Theres obviously much more to it than that, but hopefully this explains the basic idea behind it.

[Blov]

Buy a SINGLE STAGE press even if you later get a progressive you will have a need for the single stage. I have 2 Dillon 650 progressive machines and still use the heck out of my 3 single stage presses.

All of Divernhunter's advice is good but this one is crucial. Don't learn on a progressive, rather start by using a single stage and getting comfortable with it.