Reloading Equipment

[White Buffalo]

Greetings,

I am just beginning with reloading and need to obtain a list of the equipment needed.

I plan to purchase a Lee manual loading press. I will be reloading 410 gauge, 12 gauge, 30-06 Springfield, 223 and/or 5.56mm, 9mm, and 45 ACP.

I need a list of specific items that I will need, including bullet molds, to reload each round. Any help or direction would be appreciated, including the best books and dvds to with which to begin.


Thanks.

WB

[hunter63]

I started with a "Lee Loader" for each cal.

It was a good way to start, but have since changed to the Lee Challenger Press Kit.
Has scale, press, lube, powder dispenser, cleaner for primer hole, and case reamer, auto prime.
You can look them up at Lee Precision, or use this link to Midway.
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=1&categoryId=19590&categoryString=9315***731***680***8604***

With this kit, instructions,
manual, you will have a good start.

You will need to order die sets for each, (carbide dies are excellent) and I would add:
neck sizer die, and full sizer die, (some sets have them, some do not)
case trimmer for each cal
auto prime case holder, (box set)

Then add
bullet puller
box of dippers
A good loading manual, I have Lee's and the Lyman's, both are good as well as several others.

Then if you going to pour your own bullets, you need to decide, caliber, type, gas loc's etc, and how you are going to heat/handle the lead.

Oh, order your primers now, as I have been waiting for an order since first part of May.
Have fun

[kawalekm]

Hi WB
Be aware that you'll likely need two presses, to load metalic cartridges and plastic shotgun shells. Like hunter mentioned, www.midwayusa.com is a good place to shop. I also like Lee dies, especially the carbide pistol sets you'll need, but I really am not a fan of other Lee equipment like Lee's press and bullet making equipment.

I myself am a RCBS fan, so what I would recommend is getting the RCBS kit
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=646599

To load your shotshells, you could buy an inexpensive Lee unit like this,
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=436640
or a MEC or other brand of shotshell loader. You may also get a conversion kit to make shotshells on your metalic reloading press, but I've never used one so can't say anything about the quality.

It's likely you'll be able to buy primers and gunpowder cheaper locally at your corner sporting goods store, but if you do order them on-line you'll have to pay for hazmat shipping charges. Primers are very dear right now, and I've seen the price more than double in just 6 months this year.

I would recommend you hold off diving directly into bullet casting. I cast all my own, but got into it about 2 decades after I starting reloading. I'd say you should start out buying commercially made bullets, either cast or jacketed, and start learning reloading first. After getting some experience, casting is an excellent way to branch out into more advanced aspects of reloading. One thing you can do now is start scrounging for lead. Next time you go to your service station for tires or whatever, as the manager for a bucket of scrap wheelweights. Mix a lb of solder in with 9 lbs of wheelweight lead and you have excellent bullet alloy (Lyman #2) for shooting in both handguns and rifles.

I should mention that the best way to get started in reloading is by picking up books and starting reading. Try going to your local public library and see if they have a gun section. Try to pick up a copy of the classic "ABC's of Reloading" by DBI press. The reloading guides published by RCBS, Lyman, Lee, Hornady, Nosler, ect also have a wealth of information.
Good luck,
Michael

[White Buffalo]

Thank you for the information. The RCBS is a bit rich for my budget right now. The Lee Anniversary Press is on clearance at Midwest USA for a great price. Unfortunately, two of the die sets (3 pieces each) are backordered. I noted that almost all of the primers are out of stock and not on backorder.

In addition, I'm not sure what is meant by box of dippers. By "bullet puller" does that mean a "bullet puller" handle and the a collet for each caliber? Are the sets of dies for each caliber (3 pieces per kit) include the reamer, neck sizer, and full sizer? I found a case trimmer and zip machine that works on a broad range of casing sizes rather than one for each size.

I do agree about casting. I think it is best to get the hang of loading first using manufactured bullets before diving into casting my own.

Below is my shopping list thus far. Am I missing anything or have things I won't need?

107333Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 223 Remington.
19121744Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press K
39140349Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 9mm Luger
79324170Lee Load-All 2 Shotshell Press Conversion Kit to 12 Gauge
352653Lee Zip Trim Case Trimmer Universal 3 Jaw Chuck Case Holder
357855Lee Load-All 2 Shotshell Press Wad Guide 12 Gauge
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 223 Remington
436640Lee Load-All 2 Shotshell Press 12 Gauge 2-3/4", 3"
439386Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 9mm Luger
459337Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 30-06 Springfield
515804Lee Zip Trim
520790Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 30-06 Springfield
566058Lee Auto Prime Hand Priming Tool Shellholder Package of 11
628834Lee Box for Auto Prime Shellholders
661032Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 ACP
772782Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Collet #9 35 Caliber 9mm (358 Diameter)
774576Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Collet #7 30 Caliber (308 Diameter)
780218Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Collet #2 22 Caliber (224 Diameter)
785515Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Collet #13 45 Caliber (451 Diameter)
851547Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller
880062Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 45 ACP

Thanks.

WB

[hunter63]

Box of dippers, Lee part number 90100:
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1250629746.3594=/html/catalog/powhan1.html

These come in handy when you are just setting up a load, or you can get real accurate just using the dipper's.
Note: each die set comes with a dipper, usually with a safe starting load, so the box of dippers @ about 9 bucks expands what you can do, and also has a real good conversion scale, like a slide rule, for different powders.

Bullet puller is just a hammer looking thing, that has a collet for the shell case.
You can pound out the bullet, and salvage the powder.
http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/#bullet puller____-_1-2-4_8-16-32_2_16_BrandName asc
Middle of page Frankfort Armory.

Case trimmer comes with a post for each case length, at least from Lee.
http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/#Lee%20case%20trimmer____-_1-2-4_8-16-32

Other than that, looks like a good start.

[hunter63]

Just wanted to add:
If you do your research first, you will come to realize that there are a lot of powders that can be used for different things.
H4895 -good all round rifle powder as well as H4831.
Universal- both pistol and shot gun loads

And if your going to pour your own , bullets, slugs, round balls, keep your eyes peeled for lead, wheel weights, lino type, lead pipe, whatever.

Gotta tell you that the days of stopping in your tire shop and asking, "y'all got any wheel weights to get rid of"?, are pretty much over as well as lino type.
Scrap goes to China now to make toys and paint.

[NotSoFast]

While I've never reloaded shot shell, I use the Lee Turret press for all my pistol and rifle loading. The thing I like about that is I can take our the indexing rod and do one step on a batch of components before moving onto the next. I use that more often on rifle than on straight side pistol ammo.