Reloading 101

Peachy · October 22, 2010, 05:34 PM

I am interested in learning to reload. I would be reloading handgun ammo
(.380, 9mm, .38/.357). I live in a small apartment in Atlanta for now, so I'm really not interested in casting my own bullets.

Please provide me with some get started info. I like working w/ my hands, so I do really do not want some fancy reloading gizmo. Cost effective=good, even if it takes more time.

Dumb it down for me, please.

Other websites or links would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance,

Peachy.

Action_Can_Do · October 22, 2010, 05:40 PM

There is a sticky directly above that would be a good start for you.

brow_tines · October 22, 2010, 05:43 PM

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089...sr=8-1&seller=

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=484416

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=423081

salvadore · October 22, 2010, 05:48 PM

Peachy, I'm betting a lot of folks will recommend a single stage press, a scale and a powder hopper for a beginner reloader, and it works. My advice would be to buy a Dillon Square Deal B, a progressive press designed to load pistol cartridges only. If that press would have been available when I started reloading it would have saved hours...weeks...months....years in front of a single stage press. Oh yeah, you'll still need a scale. A single stage will work out for you if you are like shooting up 50 rds a week. It would take me every night after work to reload the 500rds I fired up during the weekend. Am I babbling?

DiscoRacing · October 22, 2010, 05:50 PM

I like the lee turret press myself... you can get a disc for each caliber..then it only takes a second to change loading from one caliber to another because you can leave your dies in each disc.

Peachy · October 22, 2010, 06:57 PM

Thanks.

DMF38 · October 22, 2010, 09:00 PM

Lost Sheep · October 23, 2010, 12:18 AM

Not to blow my own horn, but it is getting late, so this will be a short post

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show....php?p=4109242

and

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

Good luck, always wear eye protection when especially when working with primers and don't pinch your fingers in your press.

Lost Sheep

gregjc9 · October 23, 2010, 06:23 AM

First, get the ABCs of Reloading, and read, read, read, before you buy any reloading gear. Read all the reloading forums you can find, expecially here.

I started out with the Lee Classic Turret, and it was great to learn on. I cant image starting out on a single stage, I think I would have given up on reloading if I had. I bought the LCT as a kit from Cabela's, included everything but dies, 4 hole turrets, and the components. I reloaded 380acp, 9mm, and 45acp on it.

DMF38 · October 23, 2010, 01:03 PM

Yep, the Lee Classic Cast Turret Press Kit from Cabela's is a super good deal. It has most of what you need to get started. This is the press I use and I presently reload .38 Special, .45 Colt, .30-.30, .45-70 and soon I'll be doing 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev. You can do anything with this press once you get the dies. In addition to this kit you'll need the dies, (and make sure to get the Lee Factory Crimp dies too), primer pocket cleaner, chamfer and deburr tool, tumble cleaner, caliper, case cutter and lockstud.

I also live in a small apartment and I cast my own bullets and balls for muzzle-loading. I do it with a Lee Pro 4-20 pot on my kitchen counter, and it works great! Doesn't cost much. Blood lead level problems come from shooting at indoor ranges and breathing in the primer fumes. You don't have to worry about casting indoors -- I don't always open the windows either. I've had my blood checked for lead twice in the last few years, and my doctor said I have no problem at all. I have the same low level of lead in my blood that a healthy little kid would have.

jmortimer · October 23, 2010, 01:24 PM

Lee Precision Classic Turret - it is no wonder Lee Presision is # 1 - Get Lyman's Reloading manual and "Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee. Go to Midway USA and Cabelas and check out owner reviews/ratings for the equipment you are considering. You will quickly see what a fantastic value the Classic Turret is. All the brands are good and will work. If you are on a budget then your only option would be Lee Precision. Otherwise the other brands are great as well.

g.willikers · October 23, 2010, 05:06 PM

ammosmith.com is a great web source for reloading info.

BigJimP · October 23, 2010, 05:28 PM

Before you decide on a press - think long term - in terms of what you need for volume / and your budget / and how long it will take you to load a box of 50 rds on each machine.

I like Dillon equipment ...and they have 3 machines ....a SDB , a 550 and the 650 which is a very high end machine. All 3 of their machines are well made / but everybody making presses these days makes pretty good equipment - Hornady, RCBS, Dillon, etc .....but they're all a little different.

Talk to some of the guys at your local range / get some input on what they're using for equipment and what they like or don't like / maybe they'll let you see their setup so you get a better idea on how to do this.

snuffy · October 23, 2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Please provide me with some get started info. I like working w/ my hands, so I do really do not want some fancy reloading gizmo. Cost effective=good, even if it takes more time.

Dumb it down for me, please.

Other websites or links would be helpful as well.

We already did. Read this first, then come back with the questions that WILL arise, we can then answer specific questions.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

October 22, 2010, 05:34 PM	#1
Peachy Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 85	Reloading 101 I am interested in learning to reload. I would be reloading handgun ammo (.380, 9mm, .38/.357). I live in a small apartment in Atlanta for now, so I'm really not interested in casting my own bullets. Please provide me with some get started info. I like working w/ my hands, so I do really do not want some fancy reloading gizmo. Cost effective=good, even if it takes more time. Dumb it down for me, please. Other websites or links would be helpful as well. Thanks in advance, Peachy.

October 22, 2010, 05:50 PM	#5
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	I like the lee turret press myself... you can get a disc for each caliber..then it only takes a second to change loading from one caliber to another because you can leave your dies in each disc. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

October 22, 2010, 06:57 PM	#6
Peachy Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 85	Duh.. Thanks.

October 22, 2010, 09:00 PM	#7
DMF38 Member Join Date: November 9, 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 41	I think a Lee Classic Cast Turret Press would serve you well, and it's not too complicated. Here's a list of most of the stuff you would need. I've probably forgotten a few things though, but you can take a look. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=814175 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=292460 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=712103 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=484416 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=309802 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=832923 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=318658 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=885350 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=439386 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=283141 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=346472 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=114080 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=348753 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=548630 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=414369 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=604242 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=851547 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=772782 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=837228 __________________ “The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of Reason.” -Ben Franklin

October 23, 2010, 12:18 AM	#8
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	Start here Not to blow my own horn, but it is getting late, so this will be a short post http://thefiringline.com/forums/show....php?p=4109242 and http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171 Good luck, always wear eye protection when especially when working with primers and don't pinch your fingers in your press. Lost Sheep

October 22, 2010, 05:40 PM	#2
Action_Can_Do Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Posts: 227	There is a sticky directly above that would be a good start for you.

October 22, 2010, 05:43 PM	#3
brow_tines Junior Member Join Date: October 18, 2010 Location: Lake Cumberland, KY Posts: 12	http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089...sr=8-1&seller= http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=484416 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=423081

October 22, 2010, 05:48 PM	#4
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Peachy, I'm betting a lot of folks will recommend a single stage press, a scale and a powder hopper for a beginner reloader, and it works. My advice would be to buy a Dillon Square Deal B, a progressive press designed to load pistol cartridges only. If that press would have been available when I started reloading it would have saved hours...weeks...months....years in front of a single stage press. Oh yeah, you'll still need a scale. A single stage will work out for you if you are like shooting up 50 rds a week. It would take me every night after work to reload the 500rds I fired up during the weekend. Am I babbling?

October 23, 2010, 06:23 AM	#9
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	First, get the ABCs of Reloading, and read, read, read, before you buy any reloading gear. Read all the reloading forums you can find, expecially here. I started out with the Lee Classic Turret, and it was great to learn on. I cant image starting out on a single stage, I think I would have given up on reloading if I had. I bought the LCT as a kit from Cabela's, included everything but dies, 4 hole turrets, and the components. I reloaded 380acp, 9mm, and 45acp on it. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Greg

October 23, 2010, 01:03 PM	#10
DMF38 Member Join Date: November 9, 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 41	Yep, the Lee Classic Cast Turret Press Kit from Cabela's is a super good deal. It has most of what you need to get started. This is the press I use and I presently reload .38 Special, .45 Colt, .30-.30, .45-70 and soon I'll be doing 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev. You can do anything with this press once you get the dies. In addition to this kit you'll need the dies, (and make sure to get the Lee Factory Crimp dies too), primer pocket cleaner, chamfer and deburr tool, tumble cleaner, caliper, case cutter and lockstud. I also live in a small apartment and I cast my own bullets and balls for muzzle-loading. I do it with a Lee Pro 4-20 pot on my kitchen counter, and it works great! Doesn't cost much. Blood lead level problems come from shooting at indoor ranges and breathing in the primer fumes. You don't have to worry about casting indoors -- I don't always open the windows either. I've had my blood checked for lead twice in the last few years, and my doctor said I have no problem at all. I have the same low level of lead in my blood that a healthy little kid would have. __________________ “The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of Reason.” -Ben Franklin

October 23, 2010, 01:24 PM	#11
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	Lee Precision Classic Turret - it is no wonder Lee Presision is # 1 - Get Lyman's Reloading manual and "Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee. Go to Midway USA and Cabelas and check out owner reviews/ratings for the equipment you are considering. You will quickly see what a fantastic value the Classic Turret is. All the brands are good and will work. If you are on a budget then your only option would be Lee Precision. Otherwise the other brands are great as well.

October 23, 2010, 05:06 PM	#12
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	ammosmith.com is a great web source for reloading info.

October 23, 2010, 05:28 PM	#13
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Before you decide on a press - think long term - in terms of what you need for volume / and your budget / and how long it will take you to load a box of 50 rds on each machine. I like Dillon equipment ...and they have 3 machines ....a SDB , a 550 and the 650 which is a very high end machine. All 3 of their machines are well made / but everybody making presses these days makes pretty good equipment - Hornady, RCBS, Dillon, etc .....but they're all a little different. Talk to some of the guys at your local range / get some input on what they're using for equipment and what they like or don't like / maybe they'll let you see their setup so you get a better idea on how to do this.

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