What I need to get started?

[CalWhit33]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

For reloading pistol, you don't need nearly as much paraphernalia as you do for rifle. For high volume loading, you will eventually want to get a progressive, but I have loaded hundreds of rounds at a time with just a regular single stage press.

I have loaded thousands of rounds of 45 ACP with just the following: (with current Midway Prices - I paid less when I bought them)

Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-Die Set - $39.99
Lee Reloader Single Stage Press - $28.99
Lee Auto Prime - $18.49
Lee Improved Powder Measure Kit (dippers) - $9.79
Lee Universal Depriming and Decapping Die - $10.99

Total equipment cost: $108.25

Eventually you will want a powder measure, scales, better press, funnel, tumbler, etc.

This would be a very good set up to start with if anything your out $100 if its not for you. Be careful with the dippers tho I have used a set that you had to have a huge pile on top to equal what it was said to be. Bet bet to reference with someone who has a scale to be exactly sure what the charge is. Within midrange loads not going to matter just something to be aware of.

I forgot there's an upgrade to the scoops but not quite a full blown adjustable powder thrower. I don't know who makes it but it has a powder tube that holds your powder and has a slider that throws a set amount of powder depending on type. To adjust amount of powder thrown you buy another inserted slider/scoop. At work ill post a link when I get home. Its on my wish list. But again want to verify with scale to be accurate.

Found it http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=545386

[titanse05]

I think some important questions that needs to be asked:

1. How many rounds do you shoot a week/month?
2. How much time can you set aside to produce said ammo?
3. What calibers are we talking about reloading?
4. Max budget?

[Grizzman]

Originally Posted by titanse05

I think some important questions that needs to be asked:

1. How many rounds do you shoot a week/month?
2. How much time can you set aside to produce said ammo?
3. What calibers are we talking about reloading?
4. Max budget?

Thanks for posting this.

I was attempting to say this last night, but kept getting my fingers tied up, so just deleted it without posting.

[NAMVET72]

Well here are a Couple Things for Sure:

1) Know how to Read
2) Have the patience
3) Have the time


Now the Bad Parts:

1) Money
2) Do you have any of the above? No.




BTW Also Brains............

[Thedragonslayer]

Originally Posted by NAMVET72

Well here are a Couple Things for Sure:

1) Know how to Read
2) Have the patience
3) Have the time


Now the Bad Parts:

1) Money
2) Do you have any of the above? No.




BTW Also Brains............

I HAD TO READ THIS ONE BEFORE I LEFT!!!!!


Man Chief, thats cold! Maybe true on a couple of counts though!!!

[NAMVET72]

Google is your Friemd, each setup is different prices, and then comes the Carbide Dies, Manuals, brass, bullets, Gun powder....................ETC.....

[Grizzman]

You asked for it.....so here it is.

This is the the entire collection of reloading tools and accessories that I regularly use. The bullet puller gets used as infrequently as possible.


Here's a list of what a person will very likely need in order to load for pistol and bottle neck rifle cartridges:

Caliper to measure overall length and case diameter (doesn't matter whether it has a dial or a digital display)

Case Lube if you don't use carbide dies. I use the pad and bottle lube with no desire to change. Spray lube is another option.

Case Trimmer is needed when it's necessary to trim the cases to the same overall length to start, and to shorten the case after it's been stretched beyond the max length. I've used this manual RCBS unit for my entire career and it's worked like a champ. Motorized units are available, but I think they cost over $200.

Case Deburring/Chamfering Tool is needed to remove any burrs left by the case trimmer and to chamfer the inside of the neck to make bullet insertion easier. This step isn't absolutely necessary, but I do it anyway. Mine is an RCBS, but I'm certain that most other brands would work adequately. This has also never needed to be replaced.

Dies.

For bottle neck rifle, a resizing/decapping die is needed. A bullet seating die is needed. A taper crimp die is optional. Most bullet seating dies are able to roll crimp as well as seat the bullet.

For straight wall pistol, a resizing/decapping die is needed. A belling die is needed to slightly bell the case mouth to accept the bullet. A bullet seating die is needed. A taper crimp die is optional. Most bullet seating dies are able to roll crimp as well as seat the bullet.

I've used RCBS dies for the first 12 or so years of my loading career, and recently tried out a Lee pistol and rifle die. I prefer the locking ring of the RCBS die, which ensures that the seating depth and belling amount doesn't change unless you want it to. The Lee dies work fine, and are cheaper.

Primer Pocket Cleaning Tool is used to clean the primer residue that collects in the primer pockets after multiple firings. This step isn't completely necessary, but I do it occasionally. It only takes a few seconds per round, and the tool was cheap. Mine is RCBS, but Lee, Hornady, etc should work equally well.

The Press is where a lot of the debate is centered. For loading 100 or fewer rounds per loading session, a singe stage press should be adequate. If the goal is to load several hundred rounds per loading session, a progressive is highly recommended, unless you've got TONS of spare time. Even if a progressive press is needed, it's a good idea to also purchase a basic single stage to load small batches, like when trying multiple different powder charges at different overall lengths. I've been using this RCBS Rock Chucker II continuously for 13 years, and it's ready for 13 more. Lee or Hornady should work fine also.

A Primer Insertion method is needed, and I'm now using an RCBS hand priming tool. I used the built in primer inserter of my Rock Chucker for a while, but needing to handle every single primer is a bit of a drag. The hand tool works much better and it's easier to tell how deep the primer is being seated. Again, I chose RCBS and am completely satisfied. I'm sure other options are also available.

A Powder Funnel is very helpful in pouring the powder into the case. The RCBS I use has a neck shaped to fit tightly around all diameters of case mouths.

A Scale is necessary to ensure that the proper weight of powder is being used. There are multiple options for dispensing the desire powder amount, but the scale is necessary to confirm that the dipper, charge bar, etc is dispensing the correct amount. I'm currently using a Pact digital scale, since I dropped my RCBS unit off the desk about 2 years ago. Don't do that as it's unlikely to survive. Had I not broken it, I'm sure it would still be working fine today. Any digital scale that's designed for loading or any balance beam scale should work adequately. The scale was one of the most expensive parts I bought.

A Powder Dispensing method is needed, and there are enough different options to warrant a separate thread. I use an electronic dispenser that I bought when I began loading, and I'm still using it exclusively. This dispenser receives an IR signal from the scale so that the dispenser knows when the correct weight of powder has been dispensed. To use it, it must be calibrated for the chosen powder and the desired charge weight entered. Pressing the dispense button trickles the correct amount +- .1 grain....generally +.1 if it's not dead on.

Case Blocks are nice to have to hold the cases. They're pretty cheap and they'll last pretty much forever. Brand isn't overly important. These are MTM.

A Bullet Puller is handy when a mistake is made and it's not wise to just shoot the round. There are a couple of different options, kinetic and collet that's used with the press. I use the kinetic kind. They're all pretty much the same, so you can choose it by color. I didn't.....it was in stock.

A Case Tumbler is optional, and I didn't buy this one until about a year ago. I generally only use it with old mil surp brass Ibuy and for when cases get thoroughly corroded.


Here are a few photos of my reloading bench and the tools I use.

[Thedragonslayer]

Originally Posted by titanse05

I think some important questions that needs to be asked:

1. How many rounds do you shoot a week/month?
2. How much time can you set aside to produce said ammo?
3. What calibers are we talking about reloading?
4. Max budget?

1. Maybe 100 to 200 max
2. Depending on Chatter at the table... maybe an hour a day.
3. .45 and maybe 556/223
4. Cheap

Im trying to formulate a budget and a list of parts and equipment to start pulling together.

[Thedragonslayer]

I havent had time to read yet, thank you guys for your replys!