That's it!! I've taken the plunge!

[Pond, James Pond]

Five minutes ago, I just placed an order with a UK (!!) company for my first lot of reloading gear. I'm astonished they had handgun calibre dies!!

I negotiated with them and they did me a deal, building up a kit with the following, using the Breech Lock Challenger kit as a guide:

• Lee Classic Cast Turret (iron)
• auto primer
• powder funnel
• case trimmer
• chamfer tool
• safety powder scale
• primer pocket cleaner
• tube of sizing lube
• Lee Deluxe 4 Carbide Die kit for .357/.38
• Lee Deluxe 4 Carbide Die kit for .44
• Lee Pro Auto disk measure
• Spare 4-hole turret disk

All that for £300 delivered to Estonia. ($482, or €365)

That gets me my preferred choices, without any tax overheads, and without excessively high shipping costs!!

It is not cheap, but it is not as expensive as my previous calculations. And, I shouldn't really need anything else for the time being. I expect delivery in about 2 weeks, perhaps less.

OK. Now that really does need to be the last expense for quite some time!!!

[William T. Watts]

Congratulations, welcome to our hobby!! William

[GTOne]

That is a great bit of kit there. You'll not be sorry.

[daboone]

OK. Now that really does need to be the last expense for quite some time!!!

Wish you luck on that statement! Just admit the addiction and give up hope.

I'll start the nagging doubts about that statement with, Calipers.

[bossman]

Atta boy Mr. Pond. I don't know your powder choice's over there, but a mid-burn rate powders, W231, HP 38, Universal Clays, Unique and such should work for all your needs. Fast burning powders for light plinking loads, slow burning powders for the thumpers. Mid- burning is just right. The 38 spl and 44 spl are both great rounds to start with, low pressure and easy to handle. Learn with those two before trying the high pressure 9mm. I see you didn't list the 9mm die set but you will more than likey get those too The powders listed will also work with the 9 mm. No need to get a lot of different powders to start out with. Welcome to a fun hobby and be safe. It all sounds confusing at first but with time it all sorts out nicely, enjoy.

[Jim243]

Congratulations and welcome to the hobby. While you are waiting the two weeks for your equipment, it is now time to think of where and on what you will be mounting your equipment. A good strong work surface will be needed to mount your press.

There is a very comprehensive post on this that will give you some idea of what you can do.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...mounting+press

Good shooting and stay safe.
Jim

[Kayser]

Let's say you save $0.25 per shot, which is a super lowball figure for .357 and .44 mag. You'll have all that stuff paid for in 2000 rounds. Pretty much nothing in the grand scheme of things.

[Lead Express]

Now, you still have to order powder, bullets, primers, and cases (if you aren't already saving them).

[Ambishot]

I'll start the nagging doubts about that statement with, Calipers.

I second this statement.

[joe45c]

1 more item if you haven't already got it is a reloading manual or 2. That will give something to study while you are waiting for your kit and deceiding where to setup your operation.

[Pond, James Pond]

Quote:
I'll start the nagging doubts about that statement with, Calipers.

I second this statement.

Got them, already!! digital, 2 decimal place, metric calipers. So I'll need a calculator for converting inches into cm and mm

1 more item if you haven't already got it is a reloading manual or 2. That will give something to study while you are waiting for your kit and deceiding where to setup your operation.

Lyman's 49th: already looking dog-eared in places...

[Pond, James Pond]

Congratulate me once it has arrived, I've set it up without bending anything, and I've worked out how all these bits can be adjusted. Only then!!

Gotta a long way to go before my first reloaded round flies down range!!

[dyl]

(whoops, edited out "congrats" based on above post )

+1 one about the mounting and reloading supplies now.

If you can manage to rig up some of the fancier workbenches great for you! I on the other hand didn't have the tools to do it but I did have a large old desk in the basement. I screwed two 3/4 pieces of plywood to each other and clamped them to the desk. It works well. If I could do it over I would *glue* them to each other first and then do it. I can always go back and do it but I haven't had any problems.

When I started reloading, I was told that $30/1000 primers an acceptable deal (especially anything lower!) and ~$24 a pound of powder as okay. I'm newer to reloading so once I have a favorite load I'll buy in the larger containers to "save" more.

At some helpful forum member's advice, my first powder was Unique. I've since heard that Universal (or "universal clays") is about the same but in a ball format which may be easier to dispense. However my Pro Auto Disk hasn't had any problems with Unique at all. I could conceivably stop my powder experimentation right there and buy in bulk for 38 special and .40 S&W as they've both worked well. I've even run some slightly reduced loads using Unique (no cowboy loads) and FMJ without a problem.

Oh yeah, have you got a reloading manual? I chose Lyman. Eventually I may get a Lee manual since I have Lee equipment.

How about a Bullet puller? I chose the RCBS kinetic puller because it has a lifetime warranty. I've heard nice things about collet bullet pullers but since I don't have a single stage laying around (and I don't make THAT many mistakes ) I went with a kinetic instead.

I feel less guilty when I go shooting now knowing that I didn't pay anywhere from 16 - 25 USD / box of 38 special. Yes I've paid that much before for practice ammo. Have fun!

[CrustyFN]

Congratulate me once it has arrived, I've set it up without bending anything, and I've worked out how all these bits can be adjusted. Only then!!

Gotta a long way to go before my first reloaded round flies down range!!

Congratulations James. The classic turret is very easy to set up and operate. Any questions or problems along the way just ask.

[Old 454]

Lyman's 49th is a great manual and so is the Lee second edition, the lee has a ton of loading data for lead bullets.

get yourself a set of dental picks for cleaning media out of primer pockets, you will find that you will need alot of small stuff along the way in the form of tools.

My wife cringes every time I tell her I am heading to the loading supply store. lol

[TheNatureBoy]

Welcome abroard

[orionengnr]

Glad to see you took the plunge.
Handloading will pay for itself quickly, then it's like getting paid to go shooting
I didn't see a scale in there, but they are readily available and reasonably priced.
How is the availability and pricing on primers, powder and projectiles over there?

[Pond, James Pond]

Welcome abroard

Thanks and that s for the info!

I didn't see a scale in there, but they are readily available and reasonably priced.
How is the availability and pricing on primers, powder and projectiles over there?

Scale is there: under the chamfer tool. In any case I may look at lab supplies: they will have the very accurate digital scales down to fractions of a gram. Perhaps an option for the future.

I can buy non explosive stuff, ie cases and bullets from anywhere without need of my licence. I only need my document for the powder and primers.

Bullets: locally I've only found a 240gr SJSP, or 240gr FMJ at €0.19 a piece for the .44, but I can probably get it cheaper if I buy 500 at a time: that will last me ages! I could order other types from Midway Germany too.
Ideally, I want to cast, as it really would save a fortune, but that is for next year: let's first see if I can reload without blowing my garage up...

Powder: pretty much the ony brand I have seen on sale is VihtaVuori, from Finland. It is listed in the Lyman manual. I need powders N110, N320 and N350 for .44Mag, .44 Spl and .38Spl respectively. The 110 costs about €85 for a Kg (2.2lbs). The others cost twice that!!

Primers: Remington Large Pistol Primers: they are on sale for €7 per hundred.

For cases, it is actually cheaper for me to buy 100 factory loads and shoot them, than the buy 100 starline from Midway, so I'm buying the last stock of a local shop: once bought and shot I'll have 250 Sellier Bellot .44 mag cases which should last me a while!

[Jim243]

The 110 costs about €85 for a Kg (2.2lbs). The others cost twice that!!

Ouch, no wonder Nobel can afford to give those peace prizes. That's $51.00 USD per pound. And primers what $92.40 USD per 1,000. No wonder you want to reload.

Make sure the S&B cases are brass and not coated (plated steel cases).

Are you going to use Berdan or Boxer primers?

Jim

[Pond, James Pond]

Make sure the S&B cases are brass and not coated (plated steel cases).

Magnet test, I suppose? They certainly look like brass....

Are you going to use Berdan or Boxer primers?

If only I knew what those are!! Having looked on wiki*, I think the ones they stock in the shop are boxer... Either way, I'll use what they have...

I simply checked the Lyman's manual for the primers they recommend, and then looked at what the shop had...

[bossman]

I'd really get to work on the powder issue. There is no way I'd use 3 different powders for the 44mag,44spl & 38spl. You should be able to find one that will work for all 3 loads.

I've never used that powder so I can't help with the loads, but maybe some info will come along. I still think a Mid Burn rate powder would do you. Looking at my chart N330 is right below Unique and Universal Clays. I might start checking load info for that powder. Might try the search and type in N330 and see if it brings anything up.

[Pond, James Pond]

This is where my lack of reloading knowledge really rears up its head.

All I know so far is what I've read in my manual and what people have said on here. One thing both agree on is start at the minimum charge load and the other seems to be do what the manual says!!

If I were to try to use N330 (26th fastest burner) fof .44mag, how would I know about the chrges needed for different bullet type and weights when Lymans say N110 (47th fastest burning)?!

What I'm trying to say is I wouldn't even know where to begin!
The N350 for .44 Spl is in 40th place. At least that is among the listed powders for .38Spl as well.

I tell you, this reloading is daunting! I think I may just stick to .44 mag for now. I've got the brass, I'll have the bullets and primers.

Once I can do that I can start to faff about with other powders, otherwise all they will find is a pair of smoking walking boots in my garage, directly below a gaping hole in the roof!!

[bossman]

Yup, it can really get the head spinning at first but it start to come together with the more you learn. Nothing is wrote in stone and the new reloaders want it wrote in stone.

The burn rate chart is a guide to give an ideal of what to expect with a powder.
Fast= light target rounds
Mid = usually covers more calibers
Slow= magnum thumpers

Trust me this really isn't hard at all. Just be well informed, read up own what you're wanting to reload.

Just start a tread saying you're wanting to reload for the 44's and 38 and the only powders choices are VV.

If you really want magnum power the slower powder will do best, if you want plinking loads for the 44 & 38 spl's find a mid rater powder and it will more than likey work for the 44 mag just not to the upper limits.

[Wyoredman]

Pond, do a net search for "reloading .44 mag with VV powder". Tons of loads come up for all three powders! Have fun cleaning your gun, cause you are going to shoot it alot more!

[bossman]

I'd be all over this sight.

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...Powder&Source=