Reloading 101

[30-338]

Omission?????

Better than a lee, not as good as a dillon.
Priced accordingly.

The vast majority of competetive shooters use dillon and have for a LONG time,
well before the internet was the source of information that it is today.

There are 4 kinds of Dillon users:
those that started with a lee,
those that started with an RCBS,
those that started with a Hornady
and those that started with a Dillon.

I noticed you didn't include Redding and Forster. Is this a purposeful omission ???

[ar15barrels]

I noticed you didn't include Redding and Forster. Is this a purposeful omission ???

Those companies don't make progressive presses.
Redding's turret and single stage presses are built like a tank.
Forester makes the most powerful single stage press you can buy. Most excellent for full length sizing.

[PaperPuncher]

Does one achieve better accuracy by using a single stage press vs. progressive?

Would this question relate more to powder measure/scale for consistency of load or are there other important factors of accuracy that may be better served by a single stage?

I am going to start loading now that I am building a 6.8SPC for hoggs and target shooting. I want the best accuracy possible but I also want to be able to load as quickly and safely as possible given the amount of free time I have.

I will also be loading for my other firearms which will not demand the accuracy I am looking for from the 6.8. Should I be looking at going with both progressive and a single stage set-up?

Thanks for the info and great post.

[ar15barrels]

Does one achieve better accuracy by using a single stage press vs. progressive?

Would this question relate more to powder measure/scale for consistency of load or are there other important factors of accuracy that may be better served by a single stage?

The two things that matter most are consistency of powder charge and alignment of the bullet with the case.
In those respects, it does not matter if the press is progressive or single stage.
You can use a progressive press as a single stage and weigh individual charges and the ammo will be just as accurate as if you used a single stage.

[JDKazee]

Great information, thank you!!! Getting back into reloading after 25yrs of not doing it. Any good information is a help. Thanks, again
Jerry Kazee

[GetBulletsandBrass]

If anybody who is in the S.F. Bay area is interested, my company Bullets and Brass, LLC is going to be putting together another "Introduction to Reloading" course.

We just held our first course this past week on the 18th. We covered just the basics and provided an overview of many of the presses that are available on the market, advantages and disadvantages and cost of making your own ammo versus factory ammo.

We are working on forming hands-on classes where participants can load some of their own ammo and shoot them at the range the same day. The little details of this class are still in the works and should be announced soon under the ammo and reloading section of the Calguns forum.

Previous postings:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=258340

[ar15barrels]

If anybody who is in the S.F. Bay area is interested,

This thread is statewide and the reloading clinics are well advertised already.
Please don't muddy it up even more...

[bothenook]

So from what I've read so far, no one is using the RCBS or you think it is not a good one.
I just bought one and feel that it is a good set-up or am I just miss informed?
If you are using this set-up ( I haven't got it up and working yet) how many rounds do you get an hour? and what problems do you have or not have?

some of us have. i reload .38, .357, 9mm, 45acp, 45 Colt, 30-30, and .243 with this press. the longest part is getting the new die plate on (i already have each caliber installed on a separate plate) and installing the shell plate. once i do that, i check one "empty" round for overall length and throw a couple of powder charges to measure and make adjustments. loading primers into the tube and throwing 100 rounds takes about 20 minutes or so. longer if loading rifle or really huge powder charges (because i check the thrown charge more often), or when i get in a hurry. being in a hurry always makes loading take longer.
I've also discovered Lee's Factory crimp dies since this picture was taken. now i just seat the boolits with the progressive, and crimp using an old Lee single stage i had laying around from when i started this madness. it takes a little more time to handle each round again to run through the crimp die, but my groups have gotten smaller, and the chrono times more consistent since changing to a dedicated crimp die. midway sells them pretty cheap, and i have one for each caliber i load for.

one more thing: i noticed that go-no go gauges aren't really talked about for the new reloaders here. in a nutshell, reloading without a go no go for pistol calibers is asking for a lot of jammed guns. midway sells them too, and they are really cheap insurance. but i must say that since i started using Lee's factory crimp dies, i haven't had to worry about case bulges caused by the press. they smooth out any bumps and bulges, and every round i've checked since using them have passed the go no go test. that was not the case before using the crimp dies.

[uracan]

great info

[gorblimey]

Those companies don't make progressive presses.
Redding's turret and single stage presses are built like a tank.
Forester makes the most powerful single stage press you can buy. Most excellent for full length sizing.

This one goes to 11!

http://rceco.com/MN.asp?pg=products&grp=36

http://www.corbins.com/pr-csp2.htm

[1Fastrider]

Good post. Much appreciated. I'm ordering components to reload with this week.

[Preacher]

Awesome thread just a noobie needs Thank You!!!

[happy trigger]

Horhady Lock-n-l0ad classic???

For loadind 308 win match loads for a beginner, what do you think about the Hornady Lock-n-load classic set up?

Is there an advantage to your lower priced set up?
Eventually I will also load 9mm and 223 practic rounds.

[GABEL1500]

New to reloading

I have purchased my equipment and now I need to look at getting some die's. I want to start reloading .223 and 45 caliber. I have purchased a horandy lock and load basic kit. Would I need to get a die to remove the primer and a die to press in the bullet? I am starting to read books and coming here and asking questions. Any help would be appreciated. I found some die's on horandy's website. http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem...ze-Die-1-Each/

Would this be right?

[ar15barrels]

I have purchased my equipment and now I need to look at getting some die's. I want to start reloading .223 and 45 caliber. I have purchased a horandy lock and load basic kit. Would I need to get a die to remove the primer and a die to press in the bullet? I am starting to read books and coming here and asking questions. Any help would be appreciated. I found some die's on horandy's website. http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem...ze-Die-1-Each/

Would this be right?

Keep reading the books and THEN ask questions later.
The answers to your current questions are in the books.