Newbie Equipment?

[Suicideprodigy]

I'm currently looking to get into reloading for my custom rifle coming in within the next few months. It's a 300 win mag and I currently own no reloading equipment. I'm slowly starting to understand the basics. I'm thinking I go with a single stage press and bushing style full length sizing dies. My question is do i just buy a starter kit and slowly upgrade as I need or do I piece one together myself. What you would you do? I want to learn before I make the same mistakes you long timers have made. I am more than open to suggestions as far products to avoid and the ones to get! Thanks guys.

 

[andrewsben]

I started with the Lee classic cast kit about 7 years ago. It had most of what I needed to get up and going. Sure there were some things I would have opted for instead of what came with the kit if piecing together, but it got me up and going until I could learn more and decide on what equipment to upgrade. Most of the kit I still use, although the powder thrower isn't crazy accurate I used it to rough my measurements then trickle on a fx120 scale.

For the dies I would definitely recommend splurging on them early on it you plan on reloading a lot. I have 2 and 3 sets of dies for some calibers as I would gradually get more anal about every little detail, only the bushing dies with micrometer seaters get used now, the rest collect dust.

 

[Suicideprodigy]

I started with the Lee classic cast kit about 7 years ago. It had most of what I needed to get up and going. Sure there were some things I would have opted for instead of what came with the kit if piecing together, but it got me up and going until I could learn more and decide on what equipment to upgrade. Most of the kit I still use, although the powder thrower isn't crazy accurate I used it to rough my measurements then trickle on a fx120 scale.

For the dies I would definitely recommend splurging on them early on it you plan on reloading a lot. I have 2 and 3 sets of dies for some calibers as I would gradually get more anal about every little detail, only the bushing dies with micrometer seaters get used now, the rest collect dust.

Thank you for the response, do you have any specific dies you would recommend? Also any recommendations for a brass cleaner? Just a simple tumbler with corn cob media?

 

[andrewsben]

I have a frankford arsenal rotary tumbler for wet cleaning and a Lyman standard media tumbler. I end up using the media tumbler with corn cob and polish more than the rotary. Rotary will get the brass cleaner but the vibrator media tumbler does quite well without having to dry the brass.

For dies I usually default to Redding. Do have some sets of the rcbs gold medal dies and really like them for the price. Redding does seem to give better results but cost quite a bit more than the rcbs gold medal.

 

[acudaowner]

I want to believe everyone that tells me to start with a single hand held press while I get stuck thinking about a progressive like maybe a dillon progressive press when I hear the old buy once cry once saying , I just am unsure which would be a better option to learn on and make thousands of rounds on and learn on at the same time . good luck with your venture in reloading .

 

[moaorbust]

Slowly research and buy a good set. Buy once cry once is a major lesson in this hobby.

 

[TheBoctor]

I'd slowly piece a set together because you'll end up pitching almost everything in a starter set.

For a press, I'd recommend something high quality that lets you change dies easy without having to re-set them every time, because that can be a pain in the ass especially if you're not doing one big run of brass at a time/bouncing around between cartridges. The rockchucker is a staple and with the hornady bushings you can swap dies out fast, and you can get into one cheap. The Redding T7 turret is a great option and you won't have to worry about having to set up dies every time you switch. I would honestly recommend the Co-Ax because even if you want to get into progressives, the Co-Ax will aways be useful for the odds and ends as well as the smaller volume work. Die swaps are seconds and you won't have to reset, you don't need shellholders, it has a lot of mechanical advantage, and the spent primer catching system is probably the cleanest of the single stage presses. That being said, I still have a rockchucker laying around for when i have to get western and don't want to tear up the Co-Ax (literally spent the last 3 hours beating on that rockchucker with a 2lb hammer hydroforming dasher brass and it's no worse for the wear).

Also, buy some description of auto-thrower. The RCBS Chargemaster Lite is $225 and is worth every single penny in my book. By the time you buy a Powder Measure, a trickler, and a scale, you're most of the way to the chargemaster and the convenience is almost priceless.

I'd research hard into trimming/case prep tools. Case prep by hand sucks the big one. With a lot of this stuff, you'll get something thinking it'll work and you'll not like it and go on searching for a better option and have the old shit sitting in a cabinet for the rest of eternity. If you see yourself reloading in any volume whatsoever, I would strongly urge you to look into a high quality case trimmer and just skip the manual tools. They're spendy but it will save you so much time.

As mentioned, redding are a sure bet for dies. Definitely get dedicated de-priming dies. This helps keep your sizing dies a lot cleaner.

For the little stuff, just pony up. Will a $10 powder funnel work? Definitely. Are you the type of person that will eventually want a funnel with a caliber-specific bushing set? If so, go ahead and spend the extra $50 now, you'll be $10 ahead and not randomly stumble on that stupid funnel and think back on all the money you've wasted.

My $.02

 

[WildBill3/75]

Lee classic cast with Hornady bushing for lnl inserts is a good affordable option that produces low run-out. Best dies you can afford, generally Redding or Forester are good choices. I like bushing dies but that's up to you. Rcbs chargemaster 1500. Chamfering/deburring tool, calipers, Tumbler, I like stainless steel but that's your choice. Powder, primers, bullets, brass, case lube.

Initial costs are expensive no matter how you cut it. Do lots of research and your own cost analysis.

 

[Powder_Burns]

First thing to get is the Lyman handbook. 90% of your questions can be answered in the first few chapters, and it has enough cartridge load data to be a useful reference for a long time. I’ve been handloading for over 15 years and I still open that book at least once a week. Also have books from everyone else; Lee, Hornady, Sierra, Nosler, even PO Ackley’s.

Lyman and Lee’s books are the most thorough in terms of bullet/powder combinations, but Lyman’s is a bigger book with color print and Lee’s is a smaller (dimensionally) book in black & white.

 

[Gustav7]

1. Lyman 50th edition book
2. Read all the sticky points at the top of the reloading forum

If I had to do it all over again, I would have bought a Dillon 550 from the start. I load for 2 pistol calibers and 3 rifle calibers and I can do it all on the Dillon. Don't let anyone tell you you can't make quality ammo or precision ammo on a Dillon...they're wrong.

Dillon sells their 550 basic model as well. It comes with the powder die w/ funnel instead of the whole powder measure setup. If you use a chargemaster to manually drop powder this would work perfectly for you. Like man have said, buy once cry once, except the Dillon 550 basic isnt much more than a single stage.

If you really feel a Dillon isn't what you want, I would either get the CO-AX or a turret press. I started out with a Lyman Turret years ago and its far superior to a single stage, as you can just leave your dies in place. The T7 recommended above seems to be the winner.


AS far as a kit... I'm not a fan. I bought the Lyman Turret kit when I first started and it worked for me, but I was never a member of a forum like this one back then. This forum and others like it are HUGE asset to get the right equipment first. So i'm in the boat for piecing together your kit.

 

[Powder_Burns]

Awwww yeah.

 

[want2learn]

I too would suggest purchasing pieces individually per preference. i wasted a bit of money in the process by not choosing carefully or perhaps not considering evolving preference. I guess i didn't figure on enjoying this sport as much as i do and so compromised a bit too much early on.

Big fan of the book Top-Grade Ammo a step by step guide to creating quality ammunition
by Glen Zediker

I really do like the Forster Co-Ax press for rifle. I prime on it, deprime on it, load on it. Very pleased with it.

I purchased a progressive reloader that still lives in the original box unopened. If i start back on pistol or if i find i'll have more time to shoot larger volumes then i'll start up the progressive press. A Dillon 550 would probably have been a fine choice and cover a lot of bases.

I've stuck with the Forster dies because the company is great to work with and they will custom hone the dies to your fire formed brass and preferred projectile for a very small cost.

I think the Forster Datum tool is nice to have...maybe not essential but i do use it from time to time especially when changing projectile profiles.

I use a digital caliper constantly, get a decent one. I started with a Harbor Freight one and it was fine for this but wore out after a year or so...i replace it with a higher quality one i found cheap in a garage sale.

Get a decent scale, i wasted some money early on on junk and regret it. I was gifted a balance scale which has proven helpful as a second look check. Kind of wished i'd have gone ahead and purchased the lab grade scale or the FX120I Scale & AutoTrickler so many use here. I still measure each load by hand with a powder spoon...slow but it works...i'm saving up.

You'll need something to hold the cases upright while reloading...they're cheap

Make sure you have very good lighting and a clean working space...it helps.

People speak highly of the Hornady chamber depth gauge....unfortunately i could never get it to read consistently. There are videos that show how to check gain this info without the tool.

I got a cheap vibrating cleaner and sifter, use it only outside for dust, it works fine but were i to do it over again i would do what my neighbor does...he uses rock polisher and lets it run over night (not the wet system). it does a great job and no dust.

I use the the Frankford Arsenal Case Trim & Prep Center and it's fine, many prefer individual tools optimized for these functions.

My most recent purchase is an expander die....i like it.

For case lube...i've used the 10% lanolin and 90% alcohol home made spray...works fine...I've also use the One Shot spray and works fine as well.