Just Got The Green Light From My Boss to Get Into Reloading!

[HoneyBadger]

Woohoo! Mrs. HoneyBadger just gave me permission to buy my first reloading equipment!

[Ban1]


I want to start with just a basic Lee press to learn the basics, then maybe upgrade to something else later if I want to.
looking at maybe buying this starter set: http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-50th-Anniversary-Reloading/dp/B00162RM3E/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1382241738&sr=8-6&keywords=Lee+reloading+manual

Can anyone recommend a good beginners' reloading guide?

Actually, at this point, I'll take recommendations on just about anything.[Coffee]

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Congrats! The abcs of reloading is a must buy. My first press and I still have, is a rock chucker.

[OtterbatHellcat]

Congrats, HB.

I'm working with a Lee kit as well.

[cstone]

Start with a single stage press and start collecting reloading manuals. Lyman 49th is a good start. It takes time to accumulate stuff, so pick your first caliber and begin collecting components. As you get into it you will figure out things that work for you based on your needs, your budget, and your space available.

If a Dillon 1050 magically fell out of the sky into my backyard, I just don't have any place to mount it. I would really enjoy the opportunity to find a place if anyone would like to give me one. [Flower]

Read and get together with someone nearby to see what they do and why they do it. You will develop your own system because you need to understand and be comfortable with what you are doing.

[bogie]

Congrats!

I also recommend the ABCs, and the Lee Modern Reloading book for that Lee package. I also have hornady, RCBS, and lyman books. The more the merrier.

I bought the RCBS rockchucker kit when I got started, and it's been a great press for what it's worth.

[Great-Kazoo]

Start with a single stage press and start collecting reloading manuals. Lyman 49th is a good start. It takes time to accumulate stuff, so pick your first caliber and begin collecting components. As you get into it you will figure out things that work for you based on your needs, your budget, and your space available.

If a Dillon 1050 magically fell out of the sky into my backyard, I just don't have any place to mount it. I would really enjoy the opportunity to find a place if anyone would like to give me one. [Flower]

Read and get together with someone nearby to see what they do and why they do it. You will develop your own system because you need to understand and be comfortable with what you are doing.

I'm sure i could find some room for it up here.

[Fentonite]

Congrats! I'm jealous. I was putting an order together for my first reloading press, but then my dog needed emergency surgery, so my savings (and foreseeable future savings) disappeared. Still on the radar though. I was going to go with the Rock Chucker though.

[earplug]

Midsouth shooter supply has a decent deal on a RCBS kit. Catalog just came out.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Woohoo! Mrs. HoneyBadger just gave me permission to buy my first reloading equipment!

[Ban1]


I want to start with just a basic Lee press to learn the basics, then maybe upgrade to something else later if I want to.
looking at maybe buying this starter set: http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-50th-Anniversary-Reloading/dp/B00162RM3E/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1382241738&sr=8-6&keywords=Lee+reloading+manual

Can anyone recommend a good beginners' reloading guide?

Actually, at this point, I'll take recommendations on just about anything.[Coffee]

Nice, you should ask her if you could move in with Jim too.. you never know.

save money and all [LOL]

[nikolatesla19]

Congrats. The lee set up is really nice and user friendly. Enjoy the new hobby.

[ray1970]

The Lee starter kit is an economical way to get into it and learn. You can always upgrade to better equipment at a later date if you feel the need.

Just about any of the reloading manuals put out by the projectile manufacturers are full of good info. I have the ones from Sierra, Speer, and Hornady and they each have everything you need to know to get started.

In this day and age, if money is an issue, you can also find just about everything you need to know for free online.

[jerrymrc]

I was thinking this because it can be run as a single stage, is stronger, has a better powder measure for ball powder and he will wind up there anyway. http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B008M5TSCG/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1382270974&sr=8-21&keywords=lee+press


(http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B008M5TSCG/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1382270974&sr=8-21&keywords=lee+press)

The only thing I would add would be an auto-prime for single stage and training. Nothing like hand priming to learn the feel of it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Nice, you should ask her if you could move in with Jim too.. you never know.

save money and all [LOL]


he's got the wrong plumbing.

HB CHECK YOUR PM, ASAP

[HoneyBadger]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I'm definitely on a restricted budget here, so I need to start cheap and I want to learn how to do things the most basic way possible before moving to a more automated setup.

I think I'll buy the Lee Modern Reloading book and the ABCs book and start reading them asap.

[HoneyBadger]

At the advice of several members here, I went ahead and bought this one instead:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008M5TSCG/ref=ox_ya_os_product

With Amazon Prime, it will be here on Tuesday. [Ban1]

[sellersm]

That's a good setup. Do you have dies yet?

Holler if u need any help, I'm not far from you.


Sent from my fat fingers using Tapatalk

[HoneyBadger]

I bought a set of .223 Lee dies as well. Can't wait to start reading the manual!

Thanks for the offer. I'll see if I can figure it out on my own, but if I need help, I know there are lots of quality folks here who can help.

[paddywagon]

I highly recommend the Lyman reloading manual. Not only does it have all sorts of different loads the reloading information is great. They update it every so many years and it is one I alway update when new revisions come out. It will take you step by step through theory and actually doing the reloading. They are one of the oldest and most authoritative on reloading. Sportsmans down in the Springs carries it. It is always good to have a few different manuals on hand.

http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-49Th-Edition-Reloading-Handbook/dp/B001MYEU0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382331293&sr=8-1&keywords=lyman+reloading+manual

[BuffCyclist]

Titanreloading.com for all Lee products, great prices, fast (and cheap) shipping!

Also, look into the Lee Breach Lock presses, the breach lock is a quick disconnect that saves a TON of time in setting up the dies between the various processes. They take a little bit to setup at first, but then its just like a quarter-turn disconnect.

eta: Didn't notice he already bought the turret version... wish I had known about that one as I'm hating loading pistol rounds on a single stage lol.

[cstone]

Titanreloading.com for all Lee products, great prices, fast (and cheap) shipping!

Also, look into the Lee Breach Lock presses, the breach lock is a quick disconnect that saves a TON of time in setting up the dies between the various processes. They take a little bit to setup at first, but then its just like a quarter-turn disconnect.

+1 I have a breech lock single stage and it is very easy to use.

[HoneyBadger]

Titanreloading.com for all Lee products, great prices, fast (and cheap) shipping!

Nice, Titan was about $6 cheaper than Amazon or Midway for a set of 3 .223 dies.

So the breach lock allows you to change out dies quickly?

[sellersm]

Watch this video, at about 6:25 he explains & shows the Breech Lock mechanism. It' a breeze to "set it & forget it".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrNXfOsNXM

[sellersm]

From Lee, talking about the Breech Lock system:
Best of all, it includes the Breech Lock Quick Change die system. Change dies instantly with a twist of the wrist, and you never have to re-adjust your die.

[MarkCO]

WAY glad you got the turret as opposed to the basic Lee. You will eventually want more stuff, but you have a good start. Only thing you NEED to actually load beyond the kits and dies is case lube. I use Hornady One-Shot.

Get yourself a large plastic salad bowl, put in about 50 cases and start tumbling them around. Spray for 6 to 7 seconds as tumbling then another 10 seconds after the spray. Ready to size after that.

[BuffCyclist]

Nice, Titan was about $6 cheaper for a set of 3 .223 dies.

So the breach lock allows you to change out dies quickly?

Yes, you basically do the same initial setup for the dies, but they have a lock ring eliminator (product, about $12 for 2 if I recall) which has a set screw where you can lock/clamp the die into place. Then, that LRE becomes what you screw into the press in a quarter-turn fashion, making die changes a one handed operation without any further setup. Granted, the bullet seat die and the crimping die still have the quick adjust dial at the top, but a few indicator marks with a sharpie and that is easy enough to monitor.

[BuffCyclist]

WAY glad you got the turret as opposed to the basic Lee. You will eventually want more stuff, but you have a good start. Only thing you NEED to actually load beyond the kits and dies is case lube. I use Hornady One-Shot.

Get yourself a large plastic salad bowl, put in about 50 cases and start tumbling them around. Spray for 6 to 7 seconds as tumbling then another 10 seconds after the spray. Ready to size after that.

Or make your own case lube with 4oz liquid lanolin (amazon for $6) and 16oz 90% rubbing alcohol. Its nearly the same thing as Dillon spray lube and I have yet to have a stuck case with the stuff. Plus, its much cheaper than Dillon or any other lube out there.

[sellersm]

Or make your own case lube with 4oz liquid lanolin (amazon for $6) and 16oz 90% rubbing alcohol. Its nearly the same thing as Dillon spray lube and I have yet to have a stuck case with the stuff. Plus, its much cheaper than Dillon or any other lube out there.

^This. Or else I use Imperial products. I've never had much luck with Hornady One Shot, but YMMV.

[jerrymrc]

So the breach lock allows you to change out dies quickly? Since you bought the turret you just need the turrets. One for each caliber. set up the dies and your done. About $10 each. The only thing I change is the powder measure and swap the rifle drop riser. takes about 5 min to change caliber. [Flower]

[HoneyBadger]

Since you bought the turret you just need the turrets.

Wait, what? [Shock]

[Lurch]

Wait, what? [Shock]

Don't worry it will come with one https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-4-hole-turret-90269.html and when you buy more dies just add one on and you will be gtg. It's the same press I have and it works great. I would start with a pistol caliber first to get the hang of things.

Also https://fsreloading.com/ is another good source for Lee stuff.

[sellersm]

The turret setup you purchased doesn't use the Breech Lock system. Your turret press uses a turret: the silver thing at the top that holds 4 dies. You can take a turret out, and put another turret in that holds different dies... Thus, you can swap out the dies for a 'caliber change' in a heartbeat. The extra turrets are inexpensive.

[jerrymrc]

Turrets and more turrets. Only way to fly.[LOL] http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/toys/Picture475Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/toys/Picture475Medium.jpg.html)

[HoneyBadger]

Thanks guys, it makes a lot more sense now. It showed up on my doorstep today, but I only had enough time to pull everything out of the boxes. I probably won't have time to really play with things until next week because my parents are in town to see their grandbaby this weekend. [Flower]

[OtterbatHellcat]

Enjoy the visit...and then enjoy your new machine.

:)

[losttrail]

Congrats! I've been reloading since about 1972 when I was 11. Currently using a Lee Turret Press that I've had for about 28 years and a Lee Challenger Breech Block press.

Looking at replacing the turret with a Lee Load Master.

Read, read, read some more and ask questions.

[BuffCyclist]

Thanks guys, it makes a lot more sense now. It showed up on my doorstep today, but I only had enough time to pull everything out of the boxes. I probably won't have time to really play with things until next week because my parents are in town to see their grandbaby this weekend. [Flower]

Hopefully you already have prepped brass (at least cleaned), powder, primers and bullets so you can start playing with when you get time!

In case you didn't know either, check out xtremebullets.com for both .223 55gr FMJ and all sorts of pistol caliber bullets. The pistol bullets are copper coated, but I haven't had a single problem with any of them and they're much cheaper than FMJs. For rifle though, DO NOT get copper coated (the ones xtreme sells are actual FMJs), at velocities over 1600fps, I've heard they'll spin apart. Granted, that could just be heresy...

[HoneyBadger]

Hopefully you already have prepped brass (at least cleaned), powder, primers and bullets so you can start playing with when you get time!

I have some bullets on the way... These ones: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/655304

Picking up some cci SRPs on Saturday from a member

I don't have any powder yet because I honestly don't know where to start or what I want.

I don't have any brass prepped because again, I don't know where to start. I'm doing lots of reading, but I haven't had a lot of free time this week. I have lots of dirty brass, but probably won't have it cleaned for a few weeks. With my busy work schedule and low budget for this, I can't afford to be in a hurry right now. I don't expect to have my first reloaded round for at least a few weeks.