Tools you have you should have started with.

J

Joey Dean

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 8, 2010
112
0
65
Oklahoma City
#1
I have been reloading since the late 70's. During that time I have bought some things that have helped and others that I have used as filler for my shelves. So in case I have missed something, I was wondering what tools you have now that you wished you had bought earlier in your reloading career?

Starting it off:

Dial Indicator
Neck Turner
Headspace Gauge
1200B Dillon Trimmer (high volume gas gun loading)
Chargemaster
 
#2
The chargemaster 1500 was a great addition to my bench. I even bring it to the range for a load development day.

Owning an actual headspace gage for each rifle cartridge you shoot is really nice. I find I use them all the time.

I just recently bought a collet bullet puller, and now I'm wondering how I ever managed to pull down ammo with my old kinetic puller.

Hornady/Forster split-type lock rings for all my dies. The setscrew style lockrings suck.
 
#4
Dan Newberry said:
Since I'm beginning to make more mistakes in my old age... :eek: (I'll turn 50 this year)... a collet bullet puller. Impact pullers are okay for half a dozen or so boo boos... but not 100. :eek:

Dan
Click to expand...

Funny thing is, I tried to figure out how to use my kinetic puller and couldn't. I guess I'm just stupid that way. Anyway, I bought the collet puller, and then after using it very happily, I did finally figure out the kinetic puller. Now, I pretty much only use the kinetic one to check if my neck tension is sufficient for my gas gun-----If it takes a lot to get the bullet to move in the kinetic puller, then it won't likely move from recoil in the magazine....

I think the tools I wish I'd started with are mostly measuring tools, such as the Chamber measuring inserts for a finding the actual max case length, and max COAL lengths, etc. I also wish I'd known a bit more about concentricity measuring tools----would have liked to get the Hornady one rather than the RCBS one, as one can adjust/correct the concentricity with the Hornady one, as opposed to just measuring it with the RCBS. Also, should have gotten headspace measuring kit, and inserts to measure ogives earlier.
 
#6
Wouldn't reload another round without either of these. Just got a k&m neck turner yesterday so we'll see how that goes.
1. RCBS Case Trim Center (wish I hada Giraud)
2. Chargemaster
 
#8
jsthntn247 said:
Just got a k&m neck turner yesterday so we'll see how that goes.
Click to expand...
A whole 'nother orbit of insanity. You can tell you've wandered into the deep woods when you're proudly describing a newly purchased weighted ball micrometer holder to a shooting buddy and he knowingly, sincerely replies," Oh, I'd like to have one of those!".
 
#12
Thanks to Joey for starting this thread. As someone newer to LR shooting and new to reloading this is really helpful. Maybe a little more context on why something is on your list for either quality or efficiency?

Regards......
 
#13
The things you guys are listing pretty much weren't available when I started loading. I more or less started twice, first time I reloaded for 5 years, then took a rest for 5 years, then bought back in. Doing so I pretty much had a grip on the quality of gear needed and purchased most of it. My one mistake was not buying an electric trimmer upfront, did 50 cases hand wise and got the credit card out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm adding to the collection yearly, but other than dies for calibers I no longer plan on shooting, I haven't sold much of anything.
 
#14
My list is this

1 Wilson Micrometer Seating Dies
2 Balance Beam Reloading Scale (I use a powwder measure for speed but weigh every charge)
3 Calipers
4 Bullet Comparator
5 Redding Type S Full Length Resizing die
6 Giraud Trimmer
7 Chronograph
8 Powder Trickler
9 Neco Concentricity Gauge
10 Good Brass and bullets
11 Reloading Manual

Future Buys include Neck Turner and a better powder measure
 
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#16
I started - basic - in '65 and now have quite a collection of precision loading tools. But nothing passed the basics would have done me any good until I reached the point of need. A lot of things today's reloaders take for granted were not available at any price back then - some not for a very long time.

As my battery grew, my needs changed and as my skills improved I could use additional sophisticated tools to advantage. I got the new tools I needed only when I found I actually needed them, not by someone else's "expert" suggestion ... and as they became available. Trying to put it all together before I was ready would have been quite distracting. Experts know what they need but new guys don't need expert tools, or methods; I suspect a lot of today's near mindless "expert advice" to new guys is more hinderance than help. IMHO of course.
 
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#20
I have lots of tools that make life easier, like my Chargemaster, Giraud trimmer, and Giraud annealer, but they were not available when I started loading. But the one tool that I recently bought that has been around awhile is a runout gauge. All of a sudden, the unexplained flyers that I was manfully taking credit for were explained! I've also graduated from a "C" frame press with standard linkage to an "O" frame press with compound linkage. Theres no comparison! I also now have some bushing dies, a few straight line seaters, a custom powder meausure, and more gadgets than I can name. This did not happen overnight, more like over 35 or so years. Lightman
 
#23
P7id10t said:
Common Sense.
Ungodly expensive and comes only in tiny portions.
Click to expand...

^That's funny right there:p

Back to the thread topic, I recently bought a digital scale. I of course still use a beam/magnetic scale, but the digital is fast, convenient, and accurate. Ever tried weight-matching cases and/or projectiles with a beam scale? What a PITA.

Years ago I wouldn't have had as much use for a digital scale as I do now, as back then I was handloading mostly pistol cartridges. Now, it's opposite; mostly rifle stuff, occasionally pistol stuff. Even still, the digi scale is super handy. I wish I'd bought one long ago.
 
#24
One more thing...

I've always had precision measuring instruments (micrometers, etc) but the guy just getting his feet wet with all this madness needs, at minimum, a good quality 4" or 6" dial caliper.
 
#25
"I started - basic - in '65 . ------- Holy crap!! Did they even have guns then. Man I wasn't even born for another 50 years. "

Yeah. Clubs had already phased out.

You're joking but it's occasionally amusing when some inflated ego kid implies some of us are too old to know anything! Guess they think all the great tools, equipment and techniques they use and love simple sprang forth by themselves when the world was finally blessed by the new kids arrivial. I think a lot of our web experts who 'know' exactly what is "best" for everything but remain devoid of common sense for application rise from that group.
 
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#26
Fuzzball said:
I started - basic - in '65 and now have quite a collection of precision loading tools. But nothing passed the basics would have done me any good until I reached the point of need. A lot of things today's reloaders take for granted were not available at any price back then - some not for a very long time.

As my battery grew, my needs changed and as my skills improved I could use additional sophisticated tools to advantage. I got the new tools I needed only when I found I actually needed them, not by someone else's "expert" suggestion ... and as they became available. Trying to put it all together before I was ready would have been quite distracting. Experts know what they need but new guys don't need expert tools, or methods; I suspect a lot of today's near mindless "expert advice" to new guys is more hinderance than help. IMHO of course.
Click to expand...

I'm new to reloading and can agree with you. I'm sure there are tools out there to aid me in efficiency and/or speed, but that can hurt me as well. I believe in developing strong fundamentals and if that means prepping and pressing one bullet at a time, so be it. Not that this is relevant to this thread, but it's unfortunate that new reloaders may never really learn fundamentals because they are starting out with more experienced tools and practices. Things that are beyond their skill/experience level.

Still enjoy reading these types of threads because I actually research the tools mentioned and see how they benefit an experienced reloader.
 
#27
Monmoth: "I'm new to reloading and can agree with you. I'm sure there are tools out there to aid me in efficiency and/or speed, but that can hurt me as well. I believe in developing strong fundamentals and if that means prepping and pressing one bullet at a time, so be it."

You're quite wise. I really get irratatied by 'experts' who tell new guys to get loads of tools like progressive presses, costly comp dies, high cost case trimmers, scales, etc, because it's what they use and it works for them. What matters is what the questioner needs for his own uses and his needs are NEVER the same as mine - or the expert's - difference is, I have sense enough to know it. I rarely say and no one should care what I use and I don't suggest anything because "it works for me"; that's nonsense. It all works and I have enough experience that I can make anything "work for me"; what I strive to do is suggest what will actually help the questioner, not make little clones of myself to feed my own ego - that's already too big. :)
 
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#28
Fuzzball said:
"I'm new to reloading and can agree with you. I'm sure there are tools out there to aid me in efficiency and/or speed, but that can hurt me as well. I believe in developing strong fundamentals and if that means prepping and pressing one bullet at a time, so be it."

You're quite wise. I really get irratatied by experts who tell new guys to get loads of tools like progressive presses, costly comp dies, high cost case trimmers, etc, because that's what they use. What matters is what THEY need for their uses and their needs are NOT the same as mine - difference is, I have sense enough to know it. I rarely say and no one should care what I use and I don't suggest anything because "it works for me"; that's nonsense. It all works and I have enought experience that I can make anything "work for me"; what I strive to do is suggest what will actually help the questioner, not make little clones of myself to feed my own ego - it's already too big.
Click to expand...

I cannot agree more. Having said that, in working and learning to reload, I wish I had gotten several measuring tools earlier, such as comparators, chamber measuring devices, etc. I have learned the importance of knowing chamber size, max-COAL with different bullets, actual max-case length, etc as if you don't trim at the needed time, or seat bullets to long and jam the lands, you could do serious damage.


Cheers,
Tim
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms Shall NOT be Infringed
 
#29
P7id10t said:
Common Sense.
Ungodly expensive and comes only in tiny portions.
Click to expand...

^^best advice

New here, but not new to reloading - experience has taught me to be patient, pay attention to detail and keep records. That way you can reliably repeat the good and avoid wasting time and materials - A poor mechanic blames his tools.

Dan
 
#30
What fills me with a laugh, is 28 posts later and only two posters even mentions a Chronograph. When I stated reloading in 1972, the only chronographs were at laboratories like HP White. It wasn't until the early 1990's that the average reloader could buy one at an affordable price. A chronograph is more of an essential reloading tool, (not to mention absolutely necessary to compute accurate ballistics for LR shooting) than all of the bullet comparators, run-out gages, electric powder throwers, trimmers and scales combined.

Everybody wants to reload speedily and easily, and forgetting that the two of the most essential products of your reload are it's accuracy and the speed of the bullet......
 
#31
the m700 project said:
Nothing like starting with really clean brass.
I finally picked up a big dawg tumbler Biggdawg Tumblers stainless wet tumblers
Like mentioned above RCBS prep center, chargemaster is great, dillon trimpro.
And i love my dillon 550
Click to expand...


See now this is interesting, because I could care less about clean brass, especially out of my bolt guns with good chambers because the brass comes out almost as clean is it went in. I give the necks a quick twist in some steel wool on the outside or use the Krazy Cloth and hit the inside of the necks with some steel wool wrapped around an undersized bronze brush chucked into a drill and then load away. If I were reloading in volume for brass that came out of a suppressed gas gun it'd be a different story!

Oh and yes, I should have mentioned the chrono! Amazed at how often I'm at the range and guys come over and ask if they can run a few rounds over it because they don't have their own. I like my CED Millennium.
 
#34
Monmouth said:
What do you guys recommend as a decent chronograph for a new reloader? I don't need to hook it up to a computer and don't mind writing my own notes.
Click to expand...

I use a CED M2 and love it. Also if something were to happen to a part their site sells replacement parts and IR screen upgrades
 
#36
Taking into account the reason for starting this thread and the fact that I hate borrowing stuff just slightly less than I hate setting up skyscreens, I just ordered my Magnetospeed V2.

Should have done this weeks ago, but I squeeze dimes so hard they bleed pennies.
 
#38
Imperial Sizing Wax
Redding S-type bushing dies
Case headspace gauges (made my own)
chronograph

I'm in the market for a beam scale I think. I had a RCBS 750 that worked great until a few months ago when it shit the bed. I bought a replacement and it is giving wonky results from the get-go. If I'm going to have to calibrate it every 5 charges, I might as well just use a beam scale and know that gravity has my back.
 
#39
My tools I wish I bought earlier are the hornady ogive measuring set cause it was driving me nuts not being able to measure a constant oal. Didn't make my ammo night and day more accurate but I felt better being able to have a repeatable measurement. And the second tool is my giraurd trimmer. After trimming a few thousand 223 cases for the monthly 3 gun match I broke down and bought one. Once I used it I asked my self why did I wait so long. A few seconds and my case is trimmed and chamfered.
 
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