Reloading anyone?

Bullsnake

Adventurer
I have been a gun enthusiast for a long time, and have been shooting for decades. My oldest son is now at the age where he likes to go out and shoot with dad, and we have begun burning through a TON of ammo as of late. I have almost always saved my brass over the years, and have a sizable stockpile of .223, .308, 9mm, and .45 ACP. I am finally to the point where I want (read NEED TO!:Wow1:) to start reloading, and other than the books I have started to read about it I am totally lost.

I have been doing some digging over at Sniper's Hide and Ar-15.com, but I was wondering if anyone here is reloading, and if so what are you using? I would like to set up the absolute BEST setup I can, and I have roughly $3-4,000.00 to throw at this project. I have always been of the thought to buy it once and buy it right, so if any of you have any suggestions out there as to what I am going to need to get completely set up please chime in. Also, if any of you have pictures of what your setup looks like on your bench I would love to see that as well-I am starting with a clean sheet of paper, so lets see how you guys organize your shop and get things done!
 

65 scout

New member
I can't comment on the best set up for the money your talking. I started with the most basic single stage kit you can buy and have stuck with it for 10 years. It serves my purspose well. I would however spend some time here: http://www.handloads.com/

It's not the biggest site on the web but has some excellant resources and in my experience good forum help and attitudes.
 

targa88

Explorer
Reloading

I don't think there is such a thing a best set-up. Part of the issue is establishing the primary function of reloading: 1) economics, 2) precision; 3) volume.
There is plenty of information at:
Rifleman's Journal - German Salazar is very knowledgeable competitive target shooter.
Accurate shooter - lots of information and forums

For precision reloading (target shooting) the general consensus is single stage presses.
Personal preference Forster Co-Ax
Dies Forster or Redding.

For volume - typically handgun cartridges: progressive presses ( which have mutliple stations)
Dillon Precision or Hornady Lock'nLoad

Making life simpler:
Giraud Case trimmer
RCBS Chargemaster

Good reading:
Handloading for competition by Glen Zedliker
 

Wyowanderer

Explorer
I
I have been doing some digging over at Sniper's Hide and Ar-15.com, but I was wondering if anyone here is reloading, and if so what are you using? I would like to set up the absolute BEST setup I can, and I have roughly $3-4,000.00 to throw at this project. I have always been of the thought to buy it once and buy it right, so if any of you have any suggestions out there as to what I am going to need to get completely set up please chime in. Also, if any of you have pictures of what your setup looks like on your bench I would love to see that as well-I am starting with a clean sheet of paper, so lets see how you guys organize your shop and get things done!


I bought a Redding Ultramag press, and I've wished every time I've used it that I'd bought a Bog Boss or RCBS Rockchucker press. The former is stronger for resizing wildcat cartriges, but almost all of my use is simple reloading; decapping, neck sizing, putting the primer and powder in, then installing the bullet.
The former is better for ease of use- you can feed the brass into the press from the side, whereas with the Ultramag you are forced to install the bras from the front, which might seem trivial, but after two or three hundred round of ammo get very tiring.

Unless you mix and match cartridges between different firearms of the same caliber, you don't need to full length resize unless you're streching the brass from heavy loads. So always pay a couple bucks extra for the neck sizing die; you brass will last longer.

I'd also suggest Redding's BR-30 powder measure and a #5 powder trickler (or a bent spoon). For a powder scale I prefer MTM case-guard's small reloading scale #DS-1250.
I use a Black&Decker shop mate vise to hold all my stuff, as I'm in an apartment and don't want to devote a lot of roof to it.

If you need specific load info, I have plenty of info I can share, and I've got a brand new MTM scale for sale for 25.00 shipped CONUS.
 

Bullsnake

Adventurer
Thanks for all of the responses everyone! The main reasons I am looking at reloading is volume, and ancillary to that is cost. It is not uncommon for the boy and I to run through a 1000 rounds on a Saturday morning just out working on accuracy and shot placement. that doesn't even count the "home from work early enough and ran 200 rounds down range right outside the shop. (It's nice to live on 100 acres out in the middle of nowhere:sombrero:)

I am starting COMPLETELY from scratch, and although I have a rudimentary knowledge of what goes into the process, I am clueless as to what "good" equipment is.

Thanks again for all the responses, please keep them coming, and now it's off to do some more digging!
 

Wyowanderer

Explorer
Thanks for all of the responses everyone! The main reasons I am looking at reloading is volume, and ancillary to that is cost. It is not uncommon for the boy and I to run through a 1000 rounds on a Saturday morning just out working on accuracy and shot placement. that doesn't even count the "home from work early enough and ran 200 rounds down range right outside the shop. (It's nice to live on 100 acres out in the middle of nowhere:sombrero:)

I am starting COMPLETELY from scratch, and although I have a rudimentary knowledge of what goes into the process, I am clueless as to what "good" equipment is.

Thanks again for all the responses, please keep them coming, and now it's off to do some more digging!
If you're going through a thousand rounds in a session, a Dillon progressive press might serve you better. They're not cheap, but it'll save you plenty in the short (at this volume) run. I'm no fan of Dillon's paper catalog as the pages are filled with soft porn, but their equipment is great.
 

Bullsnake

Adventurer
Thanks again for the reply!

I am leaning towards the Dillon or RCBS stuff at this point, and hearing from a few other people it seems as if the Dillon progressive reloading systems are fairly popular / bomb-proof. I am also looking at case trimmers, tumblers or sonic cleaning systems, and dies as well. If you have a "beginner's checklist of equipment" laying around anywhere that would be great to see as well.

Thanks again!
 

Bullsnake

Adventurer
Wyowanderer-

I may shoot you a PM when it's all said and done to get a few starter tips on getting things measured right and getting consistent loads. I hope to have everything up and running in the next week or two, and it should be a fun learning experience!
 

007

Explorer
You really should have two, a progressive and single stage.

The progressive loaders will not match the single stage loaders for accuracy, the powder throw isn't as precise amongst other variables. My dillon press about doubles my group size.

Much of reloading is testing small batches of different sized brass with different projectiles seated at different depths with different powders at different charges using different primers.

A single stage is faster at producing different 5 to 10 round batches and the precision is better which gives you more control on the experimental loads.

Once you find a good "Pet load" it can become your sniper grade ammo through the single stage, or be mass produced from the progressive.

The single stage will teach you the feel and mechanics of cartridge making a whole lot better.

Think of reloading the same way you think of shooting. Its like duplicating a science experiment over and over and over with the exact same result.
 

Hill Bill E.

Oath Keeper
I agree with 007, you'll get better precision loads with a single stage.

As far as getting started, grab reloading manual (or 2 or 3)

I have 2, and while they vary slightly on some loads, the info is great.

The SPEER manual (came with my RCBS single stage 'starter' kit) is very thorough, going through the exact steps to set up the dies, powders to use, what to watch for, etc.

I'm fairly new to the reloading game, but I'm finding out it's a blast!

For the .223 round, you can load them for between .08 and .12 cents a round! (if you buy the powder/primers/bullets/ in bulk)

I can load 200-300 necked case rounds a session with the single stage, once I have a formula I like.

For the striaght wall cases (like the .357 and .44) I can load about 100-200.

Straight case requires 3 dies, so it adds a bit of time.

I would say it's best to start with a single stage press, use it to learn the basics and all the 'ins & outs' of reloading, then go to a progressive set up.

Like 007 said, the single stage will still be of value, when working up a new load formula.

I'm still working on a permanant solution for my reloading. Right now I use a small table at the cabin. You'll need at least 15-20 sq ft of area, plus a place to store the other dies/powders/primers you aren't using at the time.

IMG_20100925_171252.jpg
 
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Scott B.

SE Expedition Society
I'd agree with 007 - multiple presses are nice, since each as its specialty.

I don't have a progressive yet, so I reload a little slower - it's still enjoyable.

I have an RCBS Rockchucker Press for loading and an RCBS Partner Press for priming (using the APS system.)

The reality is you can't go wrong with any of the major players - they all have good reputations and lifetime warranties.

As someone said, get a reloading manual or 3 and read them.
 

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