Inexpensive reloading?

Lavid2002 · April 16, 2008, 10:42 PM

Hi everyone!
Im looking to get into reloading. Read up on it, ordered the ABC's of reloading, read it twice(about 2 months ago so ill have to read it again) Also read Lymans 5th reloading manual. I watched a bunch of videos online and have been reading up on forums for since I decided I would purchase a .308 : D The only thing is. Im on a tight budget. I dont get to go to the range allot. So I would be reloading about 50-100 tops, 150 cartridges at a time. Slow shooting from a savage bolt action. Ill be reloading to
*Save money
*Get my foot in the door so when i'm older and have enough money/time to really purchase some quality presses and shoot as much as I wish(Well this will never happen but when I can shoot more : D) I will have already had some past experiance in the field.
*Be at the range while not at the range, I love the sport of shooting. Even when I cant drive to the range, dry firing or training are still very entertaining for me.
Lets cut to the chase......
Do you have any recomendations for a
*Reloading press
*Recipe book
*Scale
*set of dies
*Trimmer deburrer
*Caliper
*Website for purchasing reloading ingredients
*Powder measurer

Anything I missed?
I appreciate any help or tips!
Thanks so much fellas!
P.S. Im currently in culinary school(Im going into the coast guard for aviation no need for lectures on how much the F+B industry sucks internships in ACs casinos has taught me that) So I appoogize for the food lingo like "recipe" or "ingredient" : D

Lavid2002 · April 16, 2008, 10:49 PM

Priming tool! Almost forgot : D

Gbro · April 16, 2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

So I appoogize for the food lingo like "recipe" or "ingredient" : D

No need to, as that is what they are.
I buy off E-bay, others here hate it. But it works,
Try sportsman's, or midway, of cabalas, They all have starter kits.
I started out on Lee hand loading kits 35+ years ago. I still pull out one of them and give them a go from time to time.
Good luck!
Your list is good and long for starters.

Lavid2002 · April 16, 2008, 10:55 PM

THEY HAVE KITS! Sweet thats awesome news!
Any reccomendations for some recipe books. This is for .308 win. and MAYBE I mean maybe a little .223 remington.
Thanks!
Daveh

freakshow10mm · April 16, 2008, 11:13 PM

The Lyman #48 is a good manual.

My first recommendation is buy the book: ABC's of Reloading. Read it cover to cover. Twice. Then go buy equipment.

jhansman · April 16, 2008, 11:35 PM

I can recommend the Lee Anniversary Kit, especially now that it comes with their new breech lock Challenger press. I've been reloading now for about a year, and I still use everything in the kit, and it all still does what I need. It's an inexpensive way to get into reloading so you can decide if you want to move beyond a single-stage press at some point. It's well made and will likely outlast you. For under a $100, you can't beat it.

zxcvbob · April 16, 2008, 11:57 PM

I have one of these, and I love it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120245528915 Much faster than most single stage presses. If all the pieces are there, it has a good priming station on the press; much better than the universal primer arm on a "C" style press that I bought.

The digital calipers at Harbor Freight are remarkably good (the battery that comes with them doesn't last very long, nor the spare that comes with it, but a real battery seems to last just fine.)

Lee dies are very good, and half the price of other brands. Their case trimmer is also good if you chuck it in a cordless drill.

You'll probably want to buy your powder and primers locally, even though they'll be overpriced. Keep your local dealer in business, and you avoid hazmat shipping charges. When you are ready to buy 8 pounds or more of powder at once and/or 5000 primers, check out http://powdervalleyinc.com

Lavid2002 · April 17, 2008, 09:44 PM

I think ill go with that, and some lee carbide dies, a few trays, caliper, tumbler, and a 48th lyman manual and call it a day. Thanks guys!

FishinggodBilly · April 17, 2008, 10:52 PM

I bought from a guy on craigslist. Got everything I needed for 170 bucks!! It was fate because it came with the dies I was going to reload also. Check there for sure!! Let me know what you find

Leeman · April 18, 2008, 08:24 AM

Get a Lee Classic Reloader from Midway for less than $20. http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/brandlisting
You can upgrade from there.
I have, and don't doubt I can still load a round in 60 seconds with a Lee Loader. It will shoot more accurately than a round loaded with the most expensive dies made, that full length sizes the case.
This is an unfair trick that I used in my younger days. Shooters would come to my range in the back of the farm. Mostly hunters in the fall to sight in. Usually 30/30 an 30/06 so I'd be sure to have my Lee Loaders and suitable componants. I would load their factory empties and shoot them in their guns. My group was alway better. The reason was simple. The used cases fit the chamber perfect and the reduced charge is more accurate because the gun is under less stress and barrel vibration is less.
I also was a better shot than the average hunter who used the same box of ammunition for several years.
I don't reccomend using ammunition for hunting that has not been full length sized and a firm crimp. The Lee Loader will not do that.

April 16, 2008, 10:42 PM	#1
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	Inexpensive reloading? Hi everyone! Im looking to get into reloading. Read up on it, ordered the ABC's of reloading, read it twice(about 2 months ago so ill have to read it again) Also read Lymans 5th reloading manual. I watched a bunch of videos online and have been reading up on forums for since I decided I would purchase a .308 : D The only thing is. Im on a tight budget. I dont get to go to the range allot. So I would be reloading about 50-100 tops, 150 cartridges at a time. Slow shooting from a savage bolt action. Ill be reloading to Save money Get my foot in the door so when i'm older and have enough money/time to really purchase some quality presses and shoot as much as I wish(Well this will never happen but when I can shoot more : D) I will have already had some past experiance in the field. Be at the range while not at the range, I love the sport of shooting. Even when I cant drive to the range, dry firing or training are still very entertaining for me. Lets cut to the chase...... Do you have any recomendations for a Reloading press Recipe book Scale set of dies Trimmer deburrer Caliper Website for purchasing reloading ingredients *Powder measurer Anything I missed? I appreciate any help or tips! Thanks so much fellas! P.S. Im currently in culinary school(Im going into the coast guard for aviation no need for lectures on how much the F+B industry sucks internships in ACs casinos has taught me that) So I appoogize for the food lingo like "recipe" or "ingredient" : D __________________ Math>Grammar

April 16, 2008, 10:49 PM	#2
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	OOPS! Priming tool! Almost forgot : D __________________ Math>Grammar

April 16, 2008, 11:35 PM	#6
jhansman Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2007 Posts: 680	I can recommend the Lee Anniversary Kit, especially now that it comes with their new breech lock Challenger press. I've been reloading now for about a year, and I still use everything in the kit, and it all still does what I need. It's an inexpensive way to get into reloading so you can decide if you want to move beyond a single-stage press at some point. It's well made and will likely outlast you. For under a $100, you can't beat it. __________________ Blessed is the man who has nothing to say, and cannot be compelled to say it.

April 16, 2008, 11:57 PM	#7
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I have one of these, and I love it: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120245528915 Much faster than most single stage presses. If all the pieces are there, it has a good priming station on the press; much better than the universal primer arm on a "C" style press that I bought. The digital calipers at Harbor Freight are remarkably good (the battery that comes with them doesn't last very long, nor the spare that comes with it, but a real battery seems to last just fine.) Lee dies are very good, and half the price of other brands. Their case trimmer is also good if you chuck it in a cordless drill. You'll probably want to buy your powder and primers locally, even though they'll be overpriced. Keep your local dealer in business, and you avoid hazmat shipping charges. When you are ready to buy 8 pounds or more of powder at once and/or 5000 primers, check out http://powdervalleyinc.com __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

April 17, 2008, 09:44 PM	#8
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	That lee 50th addition kit sounds great I think ill go with that, and some lee carbide dies, a few trays, caliper, tumbler, and a 48th lyman manual and call it a day. Thanks guys! __________________ Math>Grammar

April 16, 2008, 10:55 PM	#4
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	NICE! THEY HAVE KITS! Sweet thats awesome news! Any reccomendations for some recipe books. This is for .308 win. and MAYBE I mean maybe a little .223 remington. Thanks! Daveh __________________ Math>Grammar

April 16, 2008, 11:13 PM	#5
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	The Lyman #48 is a good manual. My first recommendation is buy the book: ABC's of Reloading. Read it cover to cover. Twice. Then go buy equipment.

April 17, 2008, 10:52 PM	#9
FishinggodBilly Member Join Date: March 31, 2008 Location: Golden -Colorado Posts: 29	I bought from a guy on craigslist. Got everything I needed for 170 bucks!! It was fate because it came with the dies I was going to reload also. Check there for sure!! Let me know what you find __________________ Colorado Native

April 18, 2008, 08:24 AM	#10
Leeman Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Posts: 58	Get a Lee Loader Get a Lee Classic Reloader from Midway for less than $20. http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/brandlisting You can upgrade from there. I have, and don't doubt I can still load a round in 60 seconds with a Lee Loader. It will shoot more accurately than a round loaded with the most expensive dies made, that full length sizes the case. This is an unfair trick that I used in my younger days. Shooters would come to my range in the back of the farm. Mostly hunters in the fall to sight in. Usually 30/30 an 30/06 so I'd be sure to have my Lee Loaders and suitable componants. I would load their factory empties and shoot them in their guns. My group was alway better. The reason was simple. The used cases fit the chamber perfect and the reduced charge is more accurate because the gun is under less stress and barrel vibration is less. I also was a better shot than the average hunter who used the same box of ammunition for several years. I don't reccomend using ammunition for hunting that has not been full length sized and a firm crimp. The Lee Loader will not do that. Last edited by Leeman; April 18, 2008 at 08:28 AM. Reason: spelling