I want to Start Reloading

[titanse05]

Originally Posted by skosh69

Whatever press setup you get, just remember to always make sure there's powder in the cases before seating the bullet, otherwise you'll be known as "Mr. Squib", like me...hehehehe

I won't have to worry about being called that.....that is why I have a powder check die in the 3rd station of my LNL. This die will lock the press out if a case is undercharged or overcharged. Then on top of that I can see what's in the case when I seat the bullet since the 4th station is right in front of me.

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[Big Smoke]

I second the idea of reading all the information in the ABC's of Reloading, or a good reloading book. That's how I started, and found a guy who was selling his Dillon 550b and was getting out of reloading. I bought the press, tumbler, separator, dies, and some other miscellaneous items for $400, but that was over 20 years ago.
But knowing I was using a progressive reloader, I really had to mind my P's and Q's. I would (and still do) check every 10th round to make sure the charge is right and check the Overall Length (O.A.L.) of the cartridge for consistency. I use separate dies for seating and crimping. Some dies will do both.
I can definitely understand going the single stage route, especially if you are new to reloading. But if you have 1000 rds a month to do, that's going to take the whole month to do. You CAN start with a progressive as long as you understand exactly what each stage does, and keep a check on it for consistency, and don't have any distractions around you while your doing it.

[Dave Waits]

Well, when I started reloading some 30 years ago, I started with a single-stage press. Had quite a few I've tried over the years and I keep going back to the same Rockchucker I started with. Once you get everything down, you'll find out you can load a lot more with a single-stage than you think.

Granted, there are some upsides to a progressive press, it's a lot faster. But, there is also a downside to them, consistancy. Most guys,as a rule of thumb, check every tenth round that dumps into the bin. This means they know that one round out of ten is correct. What about the other nine? when you ask these guys they usually say,"Well...never had any problems." Well, there's a first time for everything, with ammunition it only takes once.

If you set up your operation correctly with a single-stage, you don't have to worry about that at all. While slower compared to a progressive, I can reload 200 45ACP in a five hour session and that's with taking a few breaks. Makes for a nice,relaxing, fun time. Plus, by using a single-stage each round is more precise,...consistancy.

The best way to use a single-stage is to do each operation to every case you want to reload at the same time. Take 100 cases, deprime/size them all, then expand all 100, then do the primer-pocket cleaning and prime all 100, then, using a tray, charge all 100. A tray is important because you can look directly down into it and see if any cases are under or over-charged at a glance. After that, you move the tray to the press and seat the bullets, checking each for Overall length.

The reason I can load that many in one session is the Powder-charging system I use, it's electronic. I use a Pact Electronic Dispenser/scale. After it's calibrated to the powder, every charge is exact and fast. It can dump a 5.2 grain charge in about ten seconds. Much faster than a Powder-Measure, Razor-scale and a Trickler. But, speed is not important when you reload, it's actually your enemy. The faster you try to go, the more room for error there is, with both a single-stage and a progressive.

Another time-saver I have is a Lyman Electric case-trimmer, it has a pto on the back you can chuck primer-pocket brushes in. I can clean fifty pockets in about three minutes

Like everybody on here knows, I'm old-school when it comes to a lot of things firearm. If, for example, like you, I'm only wanting about 1000 rounds a month, I can't see spending all that money on a progressive setup, using it for two hours and then staring at it for the rest of the month. Plus, I don't care how good a progressive it is, it won't load as consistant a round as a single-stage setup where you control each step. SD on my 45ACP loads is 7fps, you won't get near that with a progressive. Now, that said, if you're not worried about great accuracy, a progressive works fine because you're not checking and trickling each charge. A couple tenths off won't matter unless you're charging at near-max on your loads. All it will affect is groupsize.

Don't think by all this that I don't like progressives, they definitely have their place. If you're competing and need to fire 1000 rounds a week, they're great. Most of the sports like that don't require more than 4 or 5 inch groups at 25 yards, Bullseye being the exception. You just pick a load that's safely under max and run em! Me? I don't compete. Haven't in a long, long time.

Whichever way you go, read first. A lot of guys mentioned the ABCs of Reloading. It's a good book but, I prefer the reloading tutorial in the front of the Speer Manuals. It's the most complete and easiest reading tome on the subject that I've read. It also has a comprehensive trouble-shooting section that lays out every mistake you can make and how to correct it.

After you get done reading, ask questions! Any of us here would be more than glad to help you, these are a great bunch of guys here.

Have fun with it!

[DaFadda]

I'll weigh in here Sarge,

+1 to everything you see above. All the answers are "spot on."

My first press is the RCBS Rockchucker. It is everything a single stage press should be. It will outlive you, your children AND your grandchildren. The Rockchucker Supreme kit has all the tools you need. Weigh scale, press, powder dispenser, cartridge holders. All you need extra are the carbide dies and the shell holders. I still use the RCBS for 5.56/.223 rounds. $269 at Cabelas.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS-...h-All+Products

All this said..... my Second press is

The Lee Classic Turret Press.

http://www.cabelas.com/presses-dies-...:referralID=NA
It is a four hole turret press that will work in auto mode, OR single stage. A turret press is "inbetween" a single stage and a progressive. You CAN use the turret in auto mode and make one cartridge at a time. OR... you can set up the deprime die, the flaring die and the seating die and work in batch mode. The turrets are removable so that you can have your .45 dies set up, then with a simple twist, install the .223 dies for rifle. I bought the Classic fourhole turret for $89 on sale at Cabelas. That was the press and one turret only since I already owned the scales and powder charger. Additional turrets are about 10 bucks or so at Cabelas on sale, or 12.99 at Midway. The advantage for me is that once I have a setup for .45, and have locked it in... I NEVER have had to make an adjustment. Done is done.

I PREFER to do my reloading in "batch mode." Meaning that I spend a night priming 500 or so rounds. Next night I bell/flare the rounds, following night I load powder and seat.... following it ALL up with checking each round with a Dillon or Wilson depth and seating gage ( a DEFINITE PURCHASE). They are about 15 bucks per caliber, and worth every cent to a new reloader.

If you can find a special on the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret press WITH a package i.e. scales and powder measure... I would go that route. If you can't, you will NEVER go wrong with the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme. My actual preference, since I like the RCBS Scale and Powder measure, would be to purchase the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme above, learn the system, then buy a Lee Turret. Gee... wonder why.... OH... that's exactly what I did!

OH!!!! And if you go the RCBS route... CALL RCBS direct. They usually have Rockchucker Supreme kits as Refurbished at a discount!

Just sayin'
Da

[skosh69]

Originally Posted by DaFadda

I'll weigh in here Sarge,

hehehe...whenever I see the word Sarge, a great story comes to mind.

It was close to the end of the day and a bunch of us NCO's were gathered in the orderly room when 4 brand new privates walked in to report. I just happened to be near the front door and began to welcome them. One numbskull decided to greet me by saying, "hey Sarge" and at that very moment, you could've heard a pin drop! I had a drill sargeant moment and that boy spent nearly an hour alternating between push ups and the front leaning rest position for doing that. I never got called "Sarge' again!

Sorry , didn't mean to hijack your thread.....

[douglas_knott]

I just hand primed a couple hundred 45's my thumbs hurt. Lol

[Lane]

Originally Posted by skosh69

I never got called "Sarge' again!

At the risk of further hijacking...

My only exposure to military life is the movies - how should he have addressed you?

[/hijack]

[Sheepdog]

I agree with all of the above. I would just add that Dillon makes great reloaders and their customer service is second to none. They will stay on the phone and walk you through every step to get you started or if you are having a problem. The Dillons also have case feeders so all you do is set a bullet, pull handle, repeat. Drops a cartridge with every pull.

[DaFadda]

Pushups are easy. Stomach holds my back up!!!!
Da

[ArmyVetSgt.Adkins]

Thank you all so much for the great info..I'm looking online now for A press and also might be planning A trip to Cabelas this weekend if I feel up to it,I just need to build up A little strength as Laying in hospital for past month and A half believe it or not takes A toll on your body As I have lost nearly 35 lbs and feel as if I was drug behind A horse..Feeling better though and just happy to be home..