New to reloading!

[riddler408]

Hey all,

My ol lady just got me a Lee Progressive 1000 .45 Kit for my birthday yesterday! I have been talking about doing this for a while now! I will be getting the stand for it since i don't have much bench space. I will be running through the forum to learn as much as i can. Maybe some of y'all can give me a some pointers to help the learning curve a tad. Any advise is much appreciated! I will be reloading for my XD-.45 acp and a 1911 .45. Cant wait to get started! I still need primers powder and bullets. i have saved a lot of brass to get me started. I was told about a harbor frieght tumbler. any good?

What kind of primers, bullets, and powder do you guys use and why?
Where are good online stores for the above parts?

[09cs]

Congrats, I'm new also and just got my stuff set up. Read your manual (or get one if you don't have one)! The thing I've learned is every powder, bullet, primer combo that gets the best results from in one gun may not be the best for yours, trial and error.

[sofa88]

Take your time setting up and get a reloading manual. I've heard the harbor freight tumbler will get the job done, the Pittsburgh Digital Caliper at harbor freight has been very reliable for me and not very expensive so that's another one worth looking at. Have fun and be safe.

[CAL.BAR]

Take your time. You WILL NOT find powder for .45 now anyway. Start signing up for e-mail notifications from various sellers. It took me 4 months at back in 2013 when I started reloading to find all the components to actually start reloading.

[SmokeWagon]

Here is a website of a fellow CalGunner (CowboyT) who has done a series of videos on the Lee Pro 1000 press. They should be helpful to you. Enjoy the new hobby.

http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/pro1000.html

[0321jarhead]

So, your ol' lady got you a reloading a Lee Progressive 1000. That's really cool! What reloading book(s) do you have?
I have the Lee and the Sierra. The Lee is fair and the Sierra is pretty good. I hear that there is one that is more informative. What one could it be shooters? Is it the Lyman or Hornady?
Anyway, take your time and never be in a rush reloading. Congrats your way!

[thai562]

Take your time, double check everything, if must, triple check. Harbor freight tumbler are fine to use, they are great for the money.

[Cowboy T]

Since you're starting out with a Pro 1000, I *strongly* suggest you go one round at a time. Don't start off progressively right off the bat; use it like a traditional turret press. This is not meant to be a race. Remember the old maxim, "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."

Pick up a beam scale and verify your charges. The chart that comes with the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure is a bit on the conservative side. The cavities will typically drop a little bit less powder than what's in the chart. This is to keep you, the beginning reloader, from accidentally overcharging the case and a resulting KABOOM.

In addition to the Lee book, I would also recommend Lyman's 49th Edition.

Note that if you're loading .45 ACP, there is a plethora of good powders for that round. My powder of choice is Titegroup, since it's what was available in my area. Bullseye, W231, Clays, and plenty of others will also do an excellent job.

Finally, note that if you're picking up range brass, there are now *TWO* primer sizes that you'll see. The official SAAMI spec is large pistol primers. However, the so-called "non-toxic", i. e. "lead-free" primed rounds use small pistol primers. Be sure to segregate those. Both work very well, and I use both. But I keep them separate.

[riddler408]

So, your ol' lady got you a reloading a Lee Progressive 1000. That's really cool! What reloading book(s) do you have?
I have the Lee and the Sierra. The Lee is fair and the Sierra is pretty good. I hear that there is one that is more informative. What one could it be shooters? Is it the Lyman or Hornady?
Anyway, take your time and never be in a rush reloading. Congrats your way!

Ya i am very stoked she got it for me. Surprised as well! Actually it is the first time anyone has bought me anything firearm related. I always get stuff myself.

Anyway, I don't have any reloading books yet. Total nube here! Had the day off work, and have done a tad of research. Found some bullseye powder, gonna try a pound of it. I am going for target shooting. I will invest in a reloading guide asap as well! I am not in a rush to get things going, i want to do this the right way! Thanks Guys!

[0321jarhead]

Take your time. To me it is relaxing time alone. Then when you produced a hundred or so, you will feel kind of jacked up.

[skosh69]

Since you're starting out with a Pro 1000, I *strongly* suggest you go one round at a time. Don't start off progressively right off the bat; use it like a traditional turret press. This is not meant to be a race. Remember the old maxim, "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."

Pick up a beam scale and verify your charges. The chart that comes with the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure is a bit on the conservative side. The cavities will typically drop a little bit less powder than what's in the chart. This is to keep you, the beginning reloader, from accidentally overcharging the case and a resulting KABOOM.

In addition to the Lee book, I would also recommend Lyman's 49th Edition.

Note that if you're loading .45 ACP, there is a plethora of good powders for that round. My powder of choice is Titegroup, since it's what was available in my area. Bullseye, W231, Clays, and plenty of others will also do an excellent job.

Finally, note that if you're picking up range brass, there are now *TWO* primer sizes that you'll see. The official SAAMI spec is large pistol primers. However, the so-called "non-toxic", i. e. "lead-free" primed rounds use small pistol primers. Be sure to segregate those. Both work very well, and I use both. But I keep them separate.

Great advice here ^^^^, couldn't have said it any better, especially about taking your time!

[brettkeating]

What one could it be shooters? Is it the Lyman or Hornady?

[Divernhunter]

Get the Lyman #49 manual and read it. It will answer most questions. I would be willing to help you once I get back next week from the SCI Convention if you want. PM me.
I use any brand large mag pistol primers and small pistol mag primers for the small primer 45ACP's. I use 700X since I still have a bunch of it from long ago. Otherwise I use Win 231. I use jackets 230gr hard ball or 185-200gr jacketed HP bullets

Start sorting your brass into groups of large and small primed cases. Keep them seperate.

[stilly]

Hey all,

My ol lady just got me a Lee Progressive 1000 .45 Kit for my birthday yesterday! I have been talking about doing this for a while now! I will be getting the stand for it since i don't have much bench space. I will be running through the forum to learn as much as i can. Maybe some of y'all can give me a some pointers to help the learning curve a tad. Any advise is much appreciated! I will be reloading for my XD-.45 acp and a 1911 .45. Cant wait to get started! I still need primers powder and bullets. i have saved a lot of brass to get me started. I was told about a harbor frieght tumbler. any good?

What kind of primers, bullets, and powder do you guys use and why?
Where are good online stores for the above parts?

Stickies! Stickies! Read the Stickies!