Ok What Am I Missing (Equipment)

[ZNiner]

Here is what I have so far in regards to equipment, I made every effort to buy the best of breed:

Dillon 550B - For loading plinking ammo
Forster Co-Ax Press - For loading match grade ammo
Thumlers SS Tumbler
SS Media/Lemishine for Tumbler
Dies for all of the calibers I am loading
Giraud Trimmer on order (ETA Early August)
Dial Caliper
RCBS Universal Hand Primer
Lee Universal Decapper w/spare decapping rods
RCBS Collet Style Bullet Puller along with the requisite collets in the calibers I plan to load
RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo
Various Small Tools
Imperial Case Sizing Wax
Lyman Electronic Scale Powder Funnel Pan
Dillon 600 Super Swager
Dillon Primer Flip Tray
K&M Primer Pocket Uniformer Large
K&M Primer Pocket Uniformer Small
RCBS Flash Hole Deburing Tool .30 cal
RCBS Flash Hole Case Pilot Stop .22 cal
Hornady 1 shot case lube
RCBS Precision Mic .308
RCBS Precision Mic .223
RCBS Media Separator
RCBS Powder Trickler
Satern Funnel .22 - .30 cal
Various trays in the calibers I will be reloading for
4-5 reloading manuals, Lyman, Sierra, ABC's of Reloading, 1-2 more I can't remember

Things I still need to get

Weights to calibrate my RCBS ChargeMaster Scale

Things I still need to get but can't find in stock:

Varget Powder

Things I need to get but have to complete a previous step for:

Redding Bushings for my Competition Dies in .308 - I plan on loading 175 SMK in Lapua brass and I need to measure the case to figure out which bushings to get.

Things I am considering ordering but not sure if I really need them:

Lyman M-Dies
Lee Factory Crimp Dies

So my question for the experienced reloaders out there is the following:

What am I missing equipment wise? What brand/model of the missing equipment would you recommend?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I'd add either Hornday "one shot", or Dillon spray case lube, if you plan on doing any bottleneck cases on the 550.

You will also need a bottle of Dawn, or Palmolive for the SS tumbling.

[bender152]

Primer flip tray
Case gauge

[Eargasm]

Depending on how picky you want to get with case prep, you might consider a pocket uniformer, a flash hole deburring tool, and a case mouth deburring tool. What about extra primer tubes and a Frankford Arsenal primer tube filler?

[ZNiner]

I have extra primer tubes for the dillon. I thought the universal hand primer also came with a primer flip tray?

The Giraud will deburr and chamfer the case mouth.

So what brand case gages primer uniformer and flash hole deburring tools would you guys recommend?

I just realized I will need some sort of media separator.

[afrancke]

So what brand case gages primer uniformer and flash hole deburring tools would you guys recommend?

For flash hole deburring, the 21st Century ones are quite nice:

http://www.21stcenturyshooting.com/FlashHole_Deburring_Tool.php

For primer pocket uniforming, the K&M do the trick nicely chucked in a drill/driver:

http://www.kmshooting.com/catalog/primer-pocket-correction-tools/large-pistol-primer-pocket-correction-tool.html

[Bill Steele]

I have extra primer tubes for the dillon. I thought the universal hand primer also came with a primer flip tray?

The Giraud will deburr and chamfer the case mouth.

So what brand case gages primer uniformer and flash hole deburring tools would you guys recommend?

I just realized I will need some sort of media separator.

The RCBS Universal hand primer will work fine as a flip tray.

I have case gauges but don't use them much. For pistol, I prefer to use the barrel, for rifle, I only load match, so I am measuring everything, a case gauge would be superfluous. They will save you a few beats for plinking ammo.

Get a media separator with a top (RCBS makes a nice one), less txic dust when turning the drum.

I like the Lyman Pocket Uniformer, Flash Hole deburr. I like the RCBS primer pocket brushes.

Nice setup, you won't have many regrets with that list.

Good luck, have fun.

PS - I would skip the LFCD, the only one worth buying is the rifle version and you won't be needing that one.

[Ghost_Maker]

ur missing the obvoius.... powder primers projectiles.....

[afrancke]

Portable setup?

Looking over your gear, I don't see any obvious accommodation for loading on the spot at the range. This is a very useful practice for developing loads that you can then take back to your workshop/garage/home to produce en masse.

I have used the Co-Ax mounted to a plate and bolted via a C-clamp to a shooting bench and that works fine. It's bigger than an arbor press and hence less portable to an extent, but I think it's fine.

Your Chargemaster, on the other hand - not ideal for the range. I have the GemPro which is an inexpensive and very portable electronic balance (and more precise theoretically than the Chargemaster's scale). That said, I can't recommend it for portable loading - it tears through batteries and is terribly wind sensitive. Instead, I'd go for a powder thrower (volumetric measure). The Harrell's are quite nice (and priced accordingly): http://www.harrellsprec.com/

But you can easily get away with much less expensive. I do like the Harrell's for range of clicks, though, and repeatability. Still, you're looking at +/- 0.2 gr precision here. I'm sure somebody will step in to say they achieve +/- 0.1 routinely, but I'd be a bit wary.

For all kinds of loading, I would say you'd benefit from something that allows you to measure length off the bullet ogive - the Sinclair hex nut one comes to mind: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadin...prod34262.aspx

For bolt guns, it's good to have some means of measuring distance from bolt face to rifling so you can accurately control jam/jump by setting bullet seating depth appropriately. You can do this a number of ways, including using a case with a loosely sized neck that allows light pressure to seat a bullet + the comparator above.

Since you are getting the Co-Ax, strongly consider getting the short handle with ball grip. Likewise, buy the rings for your dies by the 12-pack. Either Forster or Sinclair's (more expensive but allegedly nicer).

You will not be swapping dies easily/quickly between the Co-Ax and Dillon, by the way - I personally hate having to redial all of the measurements and now have an appreciation for those loading rooms with multiple Girauds, multiple Dillon presses, etc. Consider buying dedicated dies for each. You'll see how it goes.

[ExtremeX]

Just another option...

Instead of the RCBS MIC you can use the Hornady Headspace comparator.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/479704/hornady-lock-n-load-headspace-gage-5-bushing-set-with-comparator?cm_vc=sugv1231904

[afrancke]

True enough, though the Precision Mic is preferred. Much easier to get repeatable measurements than using calipers, especially since you are likely wanting to get a relatively small amount of shoulder bump - tolerance for measurement differences here give the mic a solid edge.

[ExtremeX]

True enough, though the Precision Mic is preferred. Much easier to get repeatable measurements than using calipers, especially since you are likely wanting to get a relatively small amount of shoulder bump - tolerance for measurement differences here give the mic a solid edge.

I agree, but the calipers are faster when doing a batch check... one of the reasons I like it a lot.

I bump back .001 to .0015 on one of my rifles and I find it repeatable in measurement.

Both are good tools, and have their strong points.

Since the OP is having a hard time finding a MIC, this would get him up and running, and its universal across more calibers.

[ZNiner]

Thanks for the feedback all. I now have a list of things to go after to wrap up my equipment needs for reloading. This has been a long journey for me as I bought the Dillon in mid 2012 and am now close to having everything I need in mid 2013. The craziness since December really got things going in regards to getting all of my equipment.

For the sake of clarification, I am using separate dies for the Dillon and Forster. I have 2 caliber conversions and quick change sets along with Dillon Carbide dies for the Dillon and Redding Competition dies sets for the Forster. My dies for 7.62x54r and 7.5 Swiss will be used on the Forster only.

I will look into a portable setup if I feel it is a need for me. At this point I have spent so much money I just want to stock up on Powder and Primers once my immediate equipment needs are met.

[ExtremeX]

Based on your list of equipment looks like you are off to a great start. Lots of quality stuff in there.

I gave myself an equipment budget when I started and damn near had to double as I keep finding things I need/want as I was reloading.

[ZNiner]

Wanted to update, I ordered the following this morning through Grafs:

K&M Primer Pocket Uniformer Large
K&M Primer Pocket Uniformer Small
RCBS Flash Hole Deburing Tool .30 cal
RCBS Flash Hole Case Pilot Stop .22 cal
Hornady 1 shot case lube

I had everything in my basket on Midwayusa but they wanted over $30 for shipping

Still need to order a media separator.