30-06 45acp set

[ExpendableYouth]

I am new to this and was wondering what would be a good set up for 30-06 and 45acp. I have been doing a lot of reading and research on costs of start up, but haven't really found anything concrete on what would be a good set up. I would love some input on what I would need as far as a press and supply's would go. If you could pm me or just post it here that would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Start with a single stage, if you're new. I recommend either RCBS, or Redding equipment. I learned on RCBS but the Redding presses are NICE! I bought my brother one for his birthday (Big Boss II).

That being said, they are a bit more expensive. The RCBS Rock Chucker starter kit has everything that you will need, except dies, and something to trim with. This is the kit I mean:

http://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Chucker-Supreme-Master-Reloading/dp/B0078MWM2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390201435&sr=8-1&keywords=rcbs+rock+chucker+supreme+master+single+stage+press+kit

There are some things I would recommend beyond that kit, but it will get you going. After that, you will need components (powder, primers, projectiles) and you're good to go!

Also, that kit comes with a manual, so I don't want to see anyone regurgitate the usual "buy a manual, and read it from cover to cover" comment. It's really getting old...

[stand125]

If you are using a bolt action 30-06 then get a couple LEE classic loaders for $30.00 each and see if you even want to reload. They make great ammo and you will learn the basics and will always have the kits as back ups or reloading at the range. The best press setup hands down is the LEE CLASSIC TURRET KIT.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Get a book called "The ABC's of Reloading" and read it. Ask questions about what you read. Then read it again. Next, buy a reloading manual or two. I recommend the Lyman for one of them. Read them. Lots of good information in there.

45 ACP you can load with a Lee Loader at the kitchen table. It's slow but you learn the basics and gives you an idea if this is a hobby you want to continue.

Loading 30-06 will pretty much require a press. Get a nice single stage from any of the major manufactures. I've always used RCBS and it has served me well. But the other manufactures make quality equipment as well.

Buy your powders and bullets in small quantities at first. Work up your loads like the manuals say until you get the performance you are happy with. Then start buying in quantity to save money.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Get a book called "The ABC's of Reloading" and read it. Ask questions about what you read. Then read it again. Next, buy a reloading manual or two. I recommend the Lyman for one of them. Read them. Lots of good information in there.

Wow! "Sage advice"...

The RCBS kit comes with a manual. He can read that book when he orders the kit.

[Colt562]

RCBS makes a great single stage press, but so does Lee and Hornady. IMO any single stage press is a good choice.

I would look at a turret press however. Might also work for your situation.

[Full Clip]

Go for the turret press. You can set up and dial in all your dies for .45 and 30-06 at once and not be fumbling back and forth between them. When I was starting out, getting the dies properly indexed was a chore. Once you get them set, you can concentrate on other issues, like working up loads. (BTW, I went with RCBS.)

[alfred1222]

Ya see i was going to say go with a turret, something that you can do more with as opposed to a single stage. IMHO, you can get away with spending about $600 for all the equipment stuff, like the press, dies, scale, the like. Then you need a tumbler and media, and for 30-06, you need a good set of calipers. So add another $150 for that. Then you need components, which is brass, powder, bullets, and primers. Thats the part that will get expensive. Buy in bulk. If you do it right, you can get spend around $1000 and be good

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Wow! "Sage advice"...

The RCBS kit comes with a manual. He can read that book when he orders the kit.

So your "Sage advice" is to just jump in with both feet? Glad that worked for you but not everyone has that kind of money.

OP, educate yourself first by reading and asking questions. You can start reloading for as little as a $100 or you can spend much much more. Your money. Your choice.

[milotrain]

Wow! "Sage advice"...

Actually I think it's great advice. Reading through the Lyman 49th will inform you about what you need and want to buy that is not part of the RCBS kit. If I had to start over from scratch with what I know now I would NEVER buy a kit, too much stuff that I don't want.

I love a turret but I'd consider a 550 if you have the cash. 45acp on a 550 is a treat, .30-06 on a 550 is about the speed of a turret.

Weird things:
I'd get satern funnels.
I'd get extra primer tubes and a filler.
I'd get a Gempro 250 scale and skip the beam.
I'd get RCBS check weights.
I'd get the lee ergo primer (I like shell plates and I like the square primer box)
I'd get the lee perfect powder measure.
I'd have three 550 tool heads, one for 45acp with a powder drop, one for .30-06 with a powder drop and a competition seating die from RCBS and, and one for sizing .30-06. I'd consider a dillon trimming system for the .30-06 unless you don't shoot a lot.
I'd get the LE wilson trimmer system for the .30-06.
I'd get a Frankford tumbler or some decent cheap one. (nu finish and lizard bed)
I'd get a used cheap single stage and a lee universal decapping die.

[Bumslie]

Start with a single stage, if you're new. I recommend either RCBS, or Redding equipment. I learned on RCBS but the Redding presses are NICE! I bought my brother one for his birthday (Big Boss II).

That being said, they are a bit more expensive. The RCBS Rock Chucker starter kit has everything that you will need, except dies, and something to trim with. This is the kit I mean:

http://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Chucker-S...tage+press+kit

For the money, you can't beat the rockchucker kit thatCEDaytonaRydr linked. I have that same exact kit. I just picked up a Redding Big Boss II at show show, and yeah they are amazing, but also pricier. If you're on a budget, the Lee kit will serve you well, just trash their "safety scale", it is garbage. The only other things you will really need to get started would be a caliper ($20 at harbor freight will work just fine), a tumbler (just don't but the berry's one, it's loud as hell) and a case trimmer. I'm partial to the forster original trimmer. I talked with them at shot show, and will be getting some free goodies from them.



We can only recommend so much without knowing your budget and needs. As with every new reloader, I will always recommend starting out on a single stage (or turret) to learn the basics. There is no need to start springing out of the gate. Take your time and learn to do it right.

The RCBS kit comes with a manual. He can read that book when he orders the kit.

I agree with CEDaytonaRydr, you can order the kit and read along while learning and watching youtube videos. There is no point in buying a book and just reading it with nothing in front of you to help understand what you're reading.

This is from a previous post I have regarding books...

For pre-reloading reading. I think the hornady 9th and the Lyman 49th are probably the best. It's well laid out with lots of pictures if you need visual aid like me.

For load data, I prefer the Speer #14 and Sierra books. From my testing, prefer their numbers. If you're mainly shooting Xtreme plated pistol bullets, go with data direct from Speer (per extremes recommendations)

Any die brand will work. I'm partial to Hornady, Forster and Redding, but I also have Lee and RCBS.

You'll need a shell holder for the press. 45 ACP and 30-06 use the same shell holder.

BTW, if you're loading for the Garand, get the Hornady book. It has garand specific loads.

[Full Clip]

OP, educate yourself first by reading and asking questions. You can start reloading for as little as a $100 or you can spend much much more. Your money. Your choice.

+1 I started with a Lee loader kit for $40, some primers, a pound of powder and 200 bullets. That's a little over $100. Ha, I didn't even have a tumbler, so I washed the brass as best I could in a bucket...

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

30-06 45acp set

Picked up a copy of Modern Reloading Second Edition by Richard Lee today. The unrelenting pushing of their products aside, it's a pretty good reference. And less than $20

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Reading through the Lyman 49th will inform you about what you need and want to buy...

Lyman's 49th is arguably the WORST reloading manual I own! It doesn't have load data for half the C&R calibers I load for. It's useless to me...

Not everyone learns well by reading. Telling someone to read a book, and expecting that to save their life is not good advice...

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Well, if they don't learn well by reading, this is probably not the best forum for them, ya think? Your advise would be what exactly? Spend a couple hundred on equipment? Add the cost of components and the frustration to find them only to discover it's not for him? Might be better to dip in a toe, try it or hook up with a mentor to find out if it's really something he wants to pursue.

Doesn't cover half the C&R calibers YOU are interested in?? When did this become about you? He wants to reload for 45 ACP and 30-06. Hopefully those C&R cartridges are covered.