Reloading setup for a begeinner?

[PatientZero762]

Hello all,

Due to my recent addition of my LMT MWS I figures instead of paying a dollar/rd or more, it would be best to finally get into reloading.

Since I know little to nothing when it comes to reloading I figured I'd ask you guys, what do you think would be the best reloading setup for 300-400$ and your favorite 165/175gr loads?

Thanks guys.



(Don't worry the Eotech is coming off)

 

[XLR308]

I started in the mid 90's with a similar situation, I bought my first 44mag and loved shooting it but feeding it was getting expensive.
I bought a Lee Anniversary kit to learn on and used up until about 2005 I think when I started noticing it was showing some wear and play in it.
I learned to reload on it and my brother did as well, between the two of us I feel like I got more than my monies worth out of it and started upgrading from there.
With the budget you stated I wouldn't bother with a whole kit since you will more than likely end up with items you won't use and that money could be better spent on dies and other tooling.
The powder measures that come in the kits are very good for ball and flake powders but can be a pain for stick powders but will work.
I use an RCBS RCII press but the Hornady and Redding presses of the same type are very good as well.
You could buy most everything you need from here if your not in a big hurry to have it all immediately and save yourself some money while your at it.
Regarding 308win loads with 165-178 grain bullets there are known powders that will be suggested very frequently that are exceptional.
My favorites are AR-COMP, Varget and IMR4064 for stick powders and WIN748 for ball powder.
There are many other good powders those are just the ones I've allways stayed with.

Should have stated to begin with get yourself a couple of good load manuals and read through the process info at the beginning to familiarize yourself with all the steps and proper techniques.
It might save you some headaches and help prevent some mistakes that happen frequently.

 

[Friday]

RCBS fan here but kind of hard to go wrong with Lee, Hornady, Redding, Lyman. Only one of these that I have had issues with was Hornadys Dies. But my reloading bench has something of everything, reloading is a hoarders game haha you kind of get something of everything over time!

 

[J McGriddle]

I wish I had started with this

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013036852/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

 

[Friday]

That’s the kit I started with

 

[cornhusker86]

The kit mentioned above will get you started. I would add a Lyman manual to give you some variety of loads. The Sierra #6 manual is due out soon. I would also recommend a set of small base dies for use with a semi-auto. Some guys say that they aren't necessary, but I've used them for close to 30 years and don't have feeding issues.

 

[SlowFarmer]

Another +1 for the rcbs kit. After you get going check out the inline fabrication stand and accessories they have for the press it helps with ergonomics and keep the mess down

 

[Milo 2.5]

I do not bring much to the table here, I can say do not go into CC debt to get started. Almost any loader who started with a kit will tell you the only thing he still uses from one is the press. You are paying for stuff that in less than a year you will want to upgrade from.
Even that ^^^ Rcbs kit, from the nosler manual, lube kit, goofy load tray, and even the powder thrower(maybe), you are paying for shit you will want to get away from.
Sorry, I'd find a friend, or a mentor and kiss some booty to help you load till you can figure out what you'll need.

 

[Milo 2.5]

Lol alright.

Actually, it was damn solid advice, spending Dumb money to get by is just that.

 

[Friday]

I do not bring much to the table here, I can say do not go into CC debt to get started. Almost any loader who started with a kit will tell you the only thing he still uses from one is the press. You are paying for stuff that in less than a year you will want to upgrade from.
Even that ^^^ Rcbs kit, from the nosler manual, lube kit, goofy load tray, and even the powder thrower(maybe), you are paying for shit you will want to get away from.
Sorry, I'd find a friend, or a mentor and kiss some booty to help you load till you can figure out what you'll need.

I use everything except the scale in my RCBS kit love it all have for years

 

[Milo 2.5]

I use everything except the scale in my RCBS kit love it all have for years

I'm pretty sure as more loaders chime in, you'll find yourself in a minority. I'm not saying anything you are doing is wrong, just entry level is entry level, in all of life.

 

[Friday]

I don’t disagree with you saying it’s entry level but it all works and works pretty darn good I might add

 

[Snuby642]

Many good presses out there.
Watch the videos on them.

Get an electronic scale.

I do not like Hornady dies.
Had trouble with them, could be just me but never got set right so replaced them.

Good results with all other brands of dies.

 

[Friday]

Many good presses out there.
Watch the videos on them.

Get an electronic scale.

I do not like Hornady dies.
Had trouble with them, could be just me but never got set right so replaced them.

Good results with all other brands of dies.

I hated my Hornady dies as well haha

 

[Snuby642]

We have a Lee, and a dillon 550.
Both work well.

If you're high volume shooting the dillon is the way to go.
IMHO

 

[XLR308]

I do not bring much to the table here, I can say do not go into CC debt to get started. Almost any loader who started with a kit will tell you the only thing he still uses from one is the press. You are paying for stuff that in less than a year you will want to upgrade from.
Even that ^^^ Rcbs kit, from the nosler manual, lube kit, goofy load tray, and even the powder thrower(maybe), you are paying for shit you will want to get away from.
Sorry, I'd find a friend, or a mentor and kiss some booty to help you load till you can figure out what you'll need.

This kind of mirrored my advice, if I had to do it again I would follow the advice I gave and piece together a kit with the items that are most used and never included in the kits.

Just to name a few of the most important items for properly setting up dies for your rifle and checking consistency of you ammo are as follows in no particular order but all very beneficial.

1) Hornady comparitor set to properly set up you dies for the necessary shoulder bump based on your rifles chamber dimensions semi or bolt and help you keep better records that will help you in the future for both trouble shooting and issues you wouldn't neccesarily notice without.
2) Get yourself a good set of calipers and learn how to use them ( Vernier, dial or digital ) a blade Mic and 0-1" OD micrometer are also nice but not absolutely necessary to begin with.
3) If you are OCD like me the Hornady bullet comparitor sets are nice for sorting bullets but are more critical in checking your CBTO measurement on loaded ammo. Most quality bullets have very little variation but knowledge is power right and any info as far as dimensions and variation you have just helps you diagnose problems better.
4) Devolop a good system for record keeping before ever starting reloading I can't stress this enough, no body is perfect and mistakes will happen and the better your documentation process is you will be steps ahead of someone that just plops down in front of a press and starts slinging shit together.
5) This item isn't absolutely necessary to a beginer but you will end up with one at some point if you are serious about reloading and consistency and meticulous with you documentation. Get a good concentricity gauge for measuring run out on loaded ammo, it can tell a few things that you wouldn't know otherwise and can help diagnose issues.

This is getting kind of long winded so I'll cut it off just trying to get you started in the right direction.

 

[Milo 2.5]

This kind of mirrored my advice, if I had to do it again I would follow the advice I gave and piece together a kit with the items that are most used and never included in the kits.

Just to name a few of the most important items for properly setting up dies for your rifle and checking consistency of you ammo are as follows in no particular order but all very beneficial.

1) Hornady comparitor set to properly set up you dies for the necessary shoulder bump based on your rifles chamber dimensions semi or bolt and help you keep better records that will help you in the future for both trouble shooting and issues you wouldn't neccesarily notice without.
2) Get yourself a good set of calipers and learn how to use them ( Vernier, dial or digital ) a blade Mic and 0-1" OD micrometer are also nice but not absolutely necessary to begin with.
3) If you are OCD like me the Hornady bullet comparitor sets are nice for sorting bullets but are more critical in checking your CBTO measurement on loaded ammo. Most quality bullets have very little variation but knowledge is power right and any info as far as dimensions and variation you have just helps you diagnose problems better.
4) Devolop a good system for record keeping before ever starting reloading I can't stress this enough, no body is perfect and mistakes will happen and the better your documentation process is you will be steps ahead of someone that just plops down in front of a press and starts slinging shit together.
5) This item isn't absolutely necessary to a beginer but you will end up with one at some point if you are serious about reloading and consistency and meticulous with you documentation. Get a good concentricity gauge for measuring run out on loaded ammo, it can tell a few things that you wouldn't know otherwise and can help diagnose issues.

This is getting kind of long winded so I'll cut it off just trying to get you started in the right direction.

Haha, thanks. It is so tough to set a $$$ limit and then even come close to staying under. The measuring tools add 100 at the least right off the top.
When I started, in 1986, there were no comparators, no bump gauges, and my snot green plastic
RCBS caliper were actually good enough for base to tip measurements.
I really do not like spending others money though, and with some addons the kit will work, for awhile.

 

[JTinMO]

Coming from a buy once/cry once person, I went the path of buying items that I will have forever. Or at least not want to change immediately. First item was a Redding T-7. I love it. Loaded rifle and pistol on it. Now have 4 turrets for it loaded with dies and universal decappers on each. Bought a Redding powder thrower, $20 digital scale, and eBay NOS RCBS manual scale, and Redding dies for 308 and 9mm. Yes, in about 7-800 up front.

From there figured out I burned through way too much 9mm and 223 for the turret and my patience, so then bought a Dillon 550c. Now load all 9mm and 223 on that with dedicated powder drops and setups for each caliber. This is not needed though. The T-7 can load it all, but I got done in ¼ the time on the Dillon.

Lastly, I wanted to get faster on the loading 308 and 6.5, so bought a Chargemaster. Some people complain about it, but I modded it from the start with input on this board, and it throws excellent drops. Maybe 1 out of 100 will go over charge weight.

You can get by with the basics, but you will eventually want much more, or better quality. The important thing is to be safe, check weights, and don’t get distracted.

 

[DaleGribble82]

I just got my first reloading equipment myself. Stumbled upon a deal where a guy was looking for a Glock 42. I sold him the Glock for the items pictured below and an additional $180. He also kindly gave me 1,000 SPPs, and 1,000 Missouri Bullet Company 40 S&W bullets to get myself started.

Pretty good score if ya ask me.

 

[JT1178]

RCBS has my vote to.

Look forward to driving yourself mad on trying to get everything perfect to accomplish them 1 whole groups.

 

[Steel head]

I'm still perfectly happy with my Lee classic turret after 8-9 years of reloading.
Dies are pretty important for great ammo though.

 

[Jsmith410]

I have a RCBS RC for my rifles and a Dillon 550 for 223 and 9mm. The Dillon takes a lot to get it set up but if you shoot a lot it’ll pay off. The dies, caliber conversions etc are expensive but quality. Another pro for Dillon is their customer service is top notch in my experience. I have a Lee single stage sitting in a box. It did fine as well but prefer my RCBS.

 

[Rillhurst]

Still running a RockChucker circa 1982 and a Dillon 650 from 1991. Cant go wrong with either.

 

[RNWRKNP]

RockChucker, Chargemaster and assorted hand tools but as others touched on, a mentor and reloading manuals before you do anything. Personal favorites are Nosler, Sierra and Hornady.

 

[SporterII]

RockChucker, Chargemaster and assorted hand tools but as others touched on, a mentor and reloading manuals before you do anything. Personal favorites are Nosler, Sierra and Hornady.

This is what I did.
I studied , had my mentor go thru the mechanics with me and he sold me a RC kit some basic tools and this is what I like to use. I did purchase a chargemaster light to throw light.
Easy button.

 

[sissupr]

I’m kind of in your same boat.

If I go single stage.
Rock Chucker over Lee and others. Due to price vs feel. A lot of reading and YouTube (lol) has the Rock Chucker just having a better overall feel, e.g. seating the primer.

If I go Progressive.
*Hornady LnL over Dillon 550

I’m reloading for 6.5CM, so to my understanding a Dillon is not easily modified to charge the round in flow. I could be wrong, but when I called Dillon the tech told me I would have to use a funnel and weigh the powder externally. Maybe someone can confirm this or not. Another reason I would go with Hornady is because it will auto index the shell plate... maybe not a huge benefit.

Please, if I have any of this incorrect... please let me know! I’m definitely a newbie! I apologize if I’m incorrect!

*FYI it’s only my 3rd post on Snipershide!

Cheers from the Bay Area!