newbie in San Jose

[Just.a.guy]

Hi Guys,

I've been shooting for a few years, and now I want to get into reloading. I've got a ton of questions, and a fairly tight budget. The calibers I want to load for are .223/5.56, 30-06, and .45 ACP. I have different goals for different calibers. I'd like to start building a precision load for my R700, but I mostly want cheap blasting ammo for my AR and 1911.

This is my shopping list at the moment:

I already have "Modern Reloading" 2nd edition by Lee, and Lyman's Reloading Handbook #49.

Lee Challenger Breech Lock Anniversary kit

Hornady Dial Calipers

Lee .45ACP carbide 4-die set

Lee .45ACP case length gage

Lee 30-06 3-die set

Lee 30-06 case length gage

Lee .223 3-die set

Lee .223 case length gage

Hornady 55gr .224 bullets

Hornady 150gr FMJ-BT .308 bullets

Hornady 230gr FMJ .451 bullets

I've been saving my brass so I've got a few hundred cases of each already.

I found powder that I think should work at Powder Valley. I can't link to it (it looks like the Powder Valley website was designed in 1998, haha...) but I found IMR4320, 8 pounds for $147, which my Lee book says will work for both rifles, and VihtaVouri N310, 1lb for $30 (Lee has load data for that load)

I haven't found one single place online that has all 3 primers I need (large pistol, small rifle, large rifle) in one place, and I don't want to get boned on hazmat fees, so I'm planning to drive out to Bass Pro Manteca tomorrow after work (I just called them, they said they have a bunch of primers).


My questions for the gurus:

How does my shopping list look? Is there anything else I'll need to get started?

Will a novice reloader be able to tell the difference in quality between RCBS, Hornady, Dillon, and the like, vs Lee? Is it worth it to spend the extra couple hundred bucks on a RCBS RockChucker Supreme kit, when I have no clue what I'm doing?

Is it worth it to spend the extra money to start on a turret press, or is it a good idea to learn with a basic single stage?

Will these powders work well? They're pretty much the cheapest ones I could find that my book has load data for, is there a good place to get a good powder cheaper? Local, perhaps?

Is there a good local place to buy primers? I'm willing to drive to Manteca, so anywhere closer to San Jose than that would be that much better.

Am I biting off more than I can chew, starting with 3 calibers at once?

In the step by step instructions in the Lee book, he says case tumbling isn't really necessary, unless you want shiny brass. Besides looking nice, is there any great benefit to buying a tumbler?

Does anyone local want to show me the ropes when it comes to actually making ammo? I'll buy you dinner, a case of beer, a box of bullets, whatever. I've got a friend that reloads, but I've seen him shoot more squib loads in one range session than I care to count, so I don't know if I want to ask him to teach me, haha.

Is there anything else major I should know, besides lurking in this subforum and reading all the stickies?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Dark Mod]

theres a san fransisco chapter of the reloading club forming, you would do well to link up with them.

As for your list, it looks great. Tumbling is good for preserving your dies, theres a lot of grit and propellant left on the brass and when you run them through your dies it will slowly eat them. With clean brass a die should last several lifetimes.

I think you have a good starting point, a single stage lee is a great way to begin, and the calibers your planning on loading will be very fullfilling.

[krwada]

You need a bench to mount all the stuff on.

Believe me ... you will need it.

[Whiterabbit]

Does anyone local want to show me the ropes when it comes to actually making ammo? I'll buy you dinner, a case of beer, a box of bullets, whatever. I've got a friend that reloads, but I've seen him shoot more squib loads in one range session than I care to count, so I don't know if I want to ask him to teach me, haha.

cmon over. I'm by 280 and 880. you bring your dies and components, I have the press and mount all set up, its all set to go. No need for dinner, beer, etc. Just gotta schedule around the 2 year old. I'm set up with a single stage any support equipment that could possibly be useful after that (you'd be surprised how handy a lathe is when it comes to reloading!)

Anyways, I've had a couple calgunners come through, you are always welcome. I spend as much time in the shop as my wife lets me, so you aren't being a burden or anything. If anything, a good excuse to spend MORE time out there.

Just send me a PM and we'll arrange the rest together. Just simple and informal.
-S

[Just.a.guy]

cmon over. I'm by 280 and 880. you bring your dies and components, I have the press and mount all set up, its all set to go. No need for dinner, beer, etc. Just gotta schedule around the 2 year old. I'm set up with a single stage any support equipment that could possibly be useful after that (you'd be surprised how handy a lathe is when it comes to reloading!)

Anyways, I've had a couple calgunners come through, you are always welcome. I spend as much time in the shop as my wife lets me, so you aren't being a burden or anything. If anything, a good excuse to spend MORE time out there.

Just send me a PM and we'll arrange the rest together. Just simple and informal.
-S

Thanks, man! PM sent.

[Eljay]

One nice thing about the Lee Classic Turret press is you can run it like a single stage, and then when you're comfortable with what you're doing you can put in a rod and it will automatically rotate the dies around for you. There's still just one piece of ammo being worked on at a time - it's not like a progressive where there's one brass for each die position and everything's happening all at once.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Welcome! Whereabouts in San Jose? I'm over by westgate!

cmon over. I'm by 280 and 880. you bring your dies and components, I have the press and mount all set up, its all set to go. No need for dinner, beer, etc. Just gotta schedule around the 2 year old. I'm set up with a single stage any support equipment that could possibly be useful after that (you'd be surprised how handy a lathe is when it comes to reloading!)

Anyways, I've had a couple calgunners come through, you are always welcome. I spend as much time in the shop as my wife lets me, so you aren't being a burden or anything. If anything, a good excuse to spend MORE time out there.

Just send me a PM and we'll arrange the rest together. Just simple and informal.
-S

Is that offer open to other San Jose residents? I'm off 280 & Saratoga!

[Whiterabbit]

absolutely. Like I said, I've had other folks come through. If I reload the same cartridge, I have dies you can use. Otherwise, bring your dies. Of course your own brass and consumables. Reeds is just up the street. No need for beer or lunch, just work with my family schedule. Also, it's like borrowing anyone elses tools. You break something, it's no harm no foul, you replace the part or the consumable.

I'm on the north side of 280, closer to Roger's Relics.

[Jack1939]

I have a Lee Classic Turret Press and I am very happy with it. I am happy I did not get a single stage press. I love having the turrets with different calibers all set up and all I need to do is pop in a different turret with its dies and I am ready to load. When loading rifle I use it like a single stage press but I love being able to seat the bullet and then spin the turret to the crimp die. For pistol loads I use the index rod and while it is not as fast as a progressive press I get one completed round with four pulls of the handle... There are some Lee Classic Turret Press kits but I found it was cheaper to buy the components separately.

On your shopping list I would get a separate trimmer and lock stud for each case length gage.

The perfect powder measure is great for rifle loading but I like the Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure for charging pistol rounds. The "pro" is better than the regular Auto Disk Powder Measure if you are going to use it for multiple calibers because the screws holding it together screw into brass nuts rather than plastic...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/348753/lee-pro-auto-disk-powder-measure

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/114080/lee-auto-disk-powder-measure-riser

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/814175/lee-classic-4-hole-turret-press

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/880135/lee-4-hole-turret-press-with-auto-index

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/292460/lee-4-hole-classic-4-hole-turret-press-turret

get some lee case lube for your rifle rounds too. I mix it with rubbing alcohol and spray it on the cases and let dry overnight...

when you get comfortable with what you are doing mount a screwdriver in a vise use it to trim your cases with the lee case trimmer...

[Jack1939]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/548630/lee-safety-prime-small-and-large-primer-feeder-for-2006-later-reloading-press

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/467641/lee-primer-feeder-bracket-for-turret-presses

[SonofWWIIDI]

absolutely. Like I said, I've had other folks come through. If I reload the same cartridge, I have dies you can use. Otherwise, bring your dies. Of course your own brass and consumables. Reeds is just up the street. No need for beer or lunch, just work with my family schedule. Also, it's like borrowing anyone elses tools. You break something, it's no harm no foul, you replace the part or the consumable.

I'm on the north side of 280, closer to Roger's Relics.

Thanks whiterabbit! I may take you up on that offer in the future. I have tons of brass to reload, mostly 9, .40 and .45 (gotta clean it first), and wouldn't mind a little insight into the reloading arts!

I'll be in touch!

[scotchblade]

I have the Lee Classic Cast Breech lock, which is a heavier duty version of the Challenger. I'm thinking that may be the better choice, but I'm not sure it comes with a kit.

Natchez beats Midway's price for it, but it is wise to compare shipping.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=LEE90999&src=exrbSrch

You should have some extra bushings too.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=LEE90063&src=exrbSrch

As far as tumbling, there are many home recipes for cleaning brass using citric acid, but I'm very happy with the tumbler kit I got from Cabela's. It works great and the price is right.

Cabela's Tumbler

Have fun!

[Whiterabbit]

I have a Lee Classic Turret Press and I am very happy with it. I am happy I did not get a single stage press. I love having the turrets with different calibers all set up and all I need to do is pop in a different turret with its dies and I am ready to load. When loading rifle I use it like a single stage press but I love being able to seat the bullet and then spin the turret to the crimp die. For pistol loads I use the index rod and while it is not as fast as a progressive press I get one completed round with four pulls of the handle... There are some Lee Classic Turret Press kits but I found it was cheaper to buy the components separately.

On your shopping list I would get a separate trimmer and lock stud for each case length gage.

The perfect powder measure is great for rifle loading but I like the Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure for charging pistol rounds. The "pro" is better than the regular Auto Disk Powder Measure if you are going to use it for multiple calibers because the screws holding it together screw into brass nuts rather than plastic...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/348753/lee-pro-auto-disk-powder-measure

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/114080/lee-auto-disk-powder-measure-riser

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/814175/lee-classic-4-hole-turret-press

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/880135/lee-4-hole-turret-press-with-auto-index

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/292460/lee-4-hole-classic-4-hole-turret-press-turret

get some lee case lube for your rifle rounds too. I mix it with rubbing alcohol and spray it on the cases and let dry overnight...

when you get comfortable with what you are doing mount a screwdriver in a vise use it to trim your cases with the lee case trimmer...

Hi Jack,

The LEE turret press, does it have a hollow ram, depositing spent primers in a tube slip-fit over the bottom of the ram?

[Ike Arumba]

The LEE turret press, does it have a hollow ram, depositing spent primers in a tube slip-fit over the bottom of the ram?

Yes.

[Whiterabbit]

Excellent. That will be a fine press to compliment my classic cast and my RCBS press.

Only thing it needs is a way to use a case feeder, cycle through 4 stations, then kick the case out.