Equipment needed for reloading

[jchappies]

I want to get into reloading my own ammo as I shoot .40 SW, .223 and .308 quite a bit. What other equipment do I need (see list below) to reload for the calibers I listed. I'm taking a reloading class this month too

Items I bought
Lyman book
Hornady LnL AP Progressive press
Hornady LnL case prep trio
Hornady electronic scale
Lyman trimmer W\ power adapter
Frankford bullet puller
Hornady primmer turning plate
Hornady die bushing 10pk
Frankford digital calipers
Hornady powder cop
Loading trays
Frankford tumbler kit

Items I need
Die sets and plates (which ones?)
I would like to stay with a good set like RBCS
And what else do I need?

[GillaFunk]

Skip that bullet hammer thing. Pain in the arse

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/851547/hornady-cam-lock-bullet-puller

you'll need collets for .40, .22, .30

skip the frankfort tumbler set up. Mine lastedf or a year, then died.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&dimensionids=4294846309&dimensionids=4294846302&newcategorydimensionid=16212&searchscope=all

and this to separate. That way, you dont spill media all over

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/176956/rcbs-rotary-case-and-media-separator

Trimmer
Rifle

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/817007/rcbs-trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer-kit

cutter

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/145038/rcbs-trim-pro-case-trimmer-3-way-cutter-22-caliber?cm_vc=S014

Case prep
this

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/817007/rcbs-trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer-kit

you'll need trimming bits


PP uniform

http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/case-preparation/primer-pocket-tools/uniformers/sinclair-uniformer-kit-with-screwdriver-adaptor-prod36760.aspx

Powder charging
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/145...ber?cm_vc=S014

[gunboat]

Big monetary difference between what you NEED to reload and what you want --
You should have a better idea of your needs after your class - unless the class is sponsored by an equipitment dealer --

[GillaFunk]

Think of it as a long term investment.

I thought I would save money by doing everything by hand. That lasted all of a few hundred rounds, until my hands hurt. You already have the LNL AP press. Now, do the rest of purchases like you really intend to reload the rest of your life, and get the right stuff.

[stilly]

I want to get into reloading my own ammo as I shoot .40 SW, .223 and .308 quite a bit. What other equipment do I need (see list below) to reload for the calibers I listed. I'm taking a reloading class this month too

Items I bought
Lyman book
Hornady LnL AP Progressive press
Hornady LnL case prep trio
Hornady electronic scale
Lyman trimmer W\ power adapter
Frankford bullet puller
Hornady primmer turning plate
Hornady die bushing 10pk
Frankford digital calipers
Hornady powder cop
Loading trays
Frankford tumbler kit

Items I need
Die sets and plates (which ones?)
I would like to stay with a good set like RBCS
And what else do I need?

PISHAW!

Lee makes a great carbide set also and it will run about $15-$20+ less AND include a shell holder AND include a dipper, AND include a set of instructions AND include a small amount of load data for .40...

I am curious though as to why one would want loading trays if they have a LNL AP. Aint that the reason behind progressive? No trays? I mean, I load on my turret and I still have not had a need for trays. Trays are for hollywood movie sets and single stages as far as I am concerned.

I would leave off the Hornady digital scale and opt for the Gemini scale at Amazon. It has a 10 year warranty, runs on two AAA batteries, lasts a long time, is back lit in blue (to shut up all those dillon fans) and measures in milligrams, but translates over to .02gr accuracy. AND only costs $20... Oh- you already bought it... Sorry. Nevermind... keep this as a reference when you get tired of it in a few days.

As for bullet pullers, there are hammers for $15 and collets for $20+ each caliber. If you are on a budget then the hammer type will get you in for $15ish. I got a Frankford arsenal on sale for 11.99 from midway. Lasted quite some time. Easy to use.

Calipers are all pretty much alike.

[Divernhunter]

I have a midway vib case cleaner that has seen heavy use for more than 25 years.
The hammer type of bullet puller is a good one to get when you need to pull just a couple of rounds OR LEAD bullets. Get one as well as a collet puller. You will use both.
A powder funnel is good to have.
RCBS pump spray lube(better than Hornady) and a metal baking pan to spray the brass in. An old towel to toss the brass(loaded rounds) in to wipe off the lube.

If you are near me I would be glad to help you get started , answer questions etc.

[jchappies]

I only got 2 50 round trays and that what I was going to use them for was just to make it a littler easier to count.

I did for get to order spray lube....I need to do that.

I live in the San Diego area so anyone that would like to help after I get everything I need I would love the help.

[jchappies]

What places in San Diego sell reloading supplies (primmers, bullets, powder etc....)

[Germz]

I would get lee dies as well. they are amazing when coupled with hornady lock rings. I have one set of RCBS dies and I think they are totally eclipsed by my hornady dies.

[knucklehead0202]

both hornady and lee dies work as well, or better than rcbs and are WAAAAY cheaper. also easier to adjust. a collet bullet puller is handy but there are times the hammer-type works better, couldn't hurt to have both. frankford tumblers are noisy as hell but last forever, I opted for the lyman and the auto-flo is a handy feature. think I paid like 12 bucks for the frankford digital scale like 6 years ago and it still has the original batteries in it. other than that, I'm a single-stage user so I can't offer any advice other than I've heard the LNL AP is a good press.

[just in joy]

I opt for rcbs dies due to easy access to replacement parts without having to order parts on line...

with the lock and load ap you will need to buy the shell plates they are numbered 1-what ever and each one does a few different calibers. You will need to look what all calibers you want to reload and search for those ones you need, it is on the Hornady website.

I like Lee dies A lot but opt RCBS due to availability and parts replacement if I needed anything. like the de-capping pins.

things I would opt for as more of wants then needs are:

1. extra powder measure dispenser one for pistol and one for rifle
2. extra powder measure dials to measure the powder and keep it for the caliber you want to load after you find your pistol and rifles favorite load. saves time and headache.
3. Powder cop die made by hornady.

[jchappies]

Whats the diff. between a short and long base and with Lee dies what does Red, Grey and Silver mean?

[stilly]

Whats the diff. between a short and long base and with Lee dies what does Red, Grey and Silver mean?

I am no expert and I am sure the reloading expert/OT nazis will sniff out my statement and pounce on me, but it is cool, I am strapped for just such occasion...

Small base vs non small base just means one sizes your brass smaller than the other. The small base dies tend to resize your brass down maybe a tad smaller than saami specs so that YOUR BRASS will feed in all autoloading rifles. However, this causes much debates and gets people punched because OTHER people claim that you do NOT need small base dies. If you need small base dies then you do not know how to adjust your dies in the first place...

Personally speaking, try REGULAR dies first, do NOT get a small base die set, if you can get reloads to fit with regular dies then you are in a good spot. If you can not, then all you need to buy is a small base resizer (full length most likely). The problem is that metal can only be pushed back and forth so much before it breaks on you. Small base works your brass more (in my opinion) and therefore cuts the useage out of it. So instead of maybe 12 reloads from a .223/.556 you might get 6-8. But I just pulled that number outta mah butt. I do not know how many reloads vs die sets. Perhaps now that I have my X-dies in regular RCBS then I will get some and test it out...

And by the way, I dunno what anyone is doing to have to replace their dies so much. Once you buy a set of dies they are generally with you until you die. In fact, last I heard Heaven just started letting dies in as well so you can take them with you finally...

Okay, let the fighting begin...

[gunboat]

I feel deprived, my $4.95 30/06 herters dies are near 55years old and still work fine --
so much for getting what pay for and so forth --

[gemoose23]

I feel deprived, my $4.95 30/06 herters dies are near 55years old and still work fine --
so much for getting what pay for and so forth --

Inflation calculator.

What cost $4.95 in 1957 would cost $39.81 in 2012.