help a new guy get started...

[toomb]

i'm new to reloading. i reloaded 20 years ago on a friends single stage press. i have some dies, scale, trimmer etc. i don't have my own press. i'm looking to buy and don't quite understand the turret presses. i want to load pistol and rifle....i am more interested in precision and accuracy than volume. explain the turret press to me. i like the idea of leaving dies set up, but am not really interested in progressive reloading. i understand hornady has a quick detach type mechanism for dies? what do you think. let me take advantage of your experience.....chris

[rn22723]

Your first step is buying the best reference book or what I call Reloading for Dummies or The ABC's of Reloading from Krause Publications. Read it cover to cover, and then read it again while taking notes! Look for a mentor at your local club, range, or purveyor of supplies! Another more technical book, is Handloading for Competition by Glen Zediker.

There are several great reloading manuals of the real kind not the freebee ones! Freebee manuals are good for cross referencing data, at times. For meaty manuals a person can not go wrong with the Lyman49th, Hornady, and Sierra. One must always look up loads when you compare/cross-reference data. Especially in larger calibers as some data might be using different brass from yours. Case in point before the Hodgdon website upgrade they Hodgdon used WW brass to work up loads with, whereas Sierra used Fed cases in their 308 Winchester loading information. Now, Hodgdon does not list what brass the loads were worked up in.

Press - Single Stage or Turret presses are the best way to learn before advancing to any kind of progressive press. You will always have need for a single stage press. Redding and RCBS are good sources of all kinds of presses. RCBS Rockchucker Supreme for a single stage and Redding T7 for a turret press are basically the gold standard for the two different types.

Dies - I like Redding Dies, and I would get the carbide expander ball upgrade for bottle neck rifle cases. Dillon makes carbide rifle sizer dies, but you still need to use case lube and make sure you lube the inside of the case neck, too. I would just stick with regular dies for rifle cartridges. Dillon makes die sets specifically for their press so to speak, meaning that it does not come with a case mouth belling die; Redding makes a set of dies for progressive presses, too. I like Forster competition seaters, and they can be had as an individual item. Dies are pretty much threaded universally, except for Lyman 310 dies, and Dillon dies for the Square Deal B. Accuracy nuts will use hand dies, and they require an arbor press be used.

Shell holders (if the die set doesn't have them like Lee) or the appropriate shell plate for the progressive press. Remember that many shell holders work for more then one cartridge. I would do some home work, especially if you get a Dillon. Some cartridge conversions might only require you to get powder funnel for the new cartridge.

A tumbler will be a good investment, as clean cases will not harm you dies. There are vibratory and rotary tumblers out there. I like corn cob media treated with some Iosso case polish. You can get walnut in bulk at Petco or Pet Smart. Bulk corn cob grit is a great way to reduce the cost of commercially supplied media, because you pay through the nose for the treated media from other vendors.

MTM makes great loading block tray that handles most cartridges.

Case Lube is great for both conventional dies, and to treat your brass used in a progressive press even with carbide dies. That extra lubricity makes the cycling of the press a tad slicker! Dillon spray lube works well for shake and bake application. I like Imperial Die Wax for rifle cartridges when FL sizing.

Case Neck Brush to clean bottleneck rifle cases, copper bore brushes work well for this.

Dial Calipers either mechanical or electronic

Case Trimmer (Lee works, but Possum Hollow is better, Wilson makes the best hand powered Lathe trimmer, and Giraud is the best powered Trimmer)

Deburring/Chamfering Tool – like the Wilson one chucked into the Sinclair Deburring Tool Holder. I like the K&M VLD chamfering tool.

Primer Pocket Cleaner, reamer like the Hornady, and uniformer just remember that small primers are same size, where as large pistol and rifle are different sized in terms of height not width.

Primer pocket swager is an optional tool, RCBS makes one that mounts on single stage presses. Some will use the Hornady Reamer. Some will use the Dillon Super Swage.

Flash hole deburring tool is good tool to have

Primer Flip Tray is needed for loading pick up tubes for some primer systems like the Dillon.

Priming Tool (I like the RCBS (now even better with universal shell holder, but Sinclair makes the best)

Powder Scale - remember that is always better to have a mechanical scale as a back up to any electronic scale.

Powder Funnel kit with drop tubes especially if you intend to use powders like Varget.

Powder Trickler (used to tweak powder charges)

Powder Measure (nice for faster powder charges it does require a bit of learning curve to get consistent powder charges sort of rhythm thing) standard with progressive presses, but the RCBS Uniflow is nice! Redding makes a better one, and Harrell is the gold standard!

Hammer Type Bullet Puller (for taking down the boo boo's), and you will always need one of these. The Collet type work great for most rifle rounds, to keep from making a mess. The Hornady Cam Lock is nice tool.

Ammo boxes and labels, you can make your own labels with Avery Labels. I sometimes pick up the boxes from range trash, as the ones with plastic trays serve as a good loading block.

A notebook for recording your results! Saves covering the same ground twice!

A chronograph is great when working up loads, but is more a luxury in the beginning.

[toomb]

wow...thanks for taking the time to post. much appreciated

[Gun 4 Fun]

rn23723- Excellent job! All good recommendations.

[BigJakeJ1s]

Depending on your budget for a single stage press, I recommend Lee Classic Cast (iron) for budget, Redding Big Boss II for mid-scale, and Forster Co-Ax for the high end. The first two accept Hornady's lock-n-load adapter and bushings, while the Co-Ax has its own snap in/out floating die retention. All three do a much better job of containing spent primers and debris than the RockChucker.

I use the Forster Co-Ax, and highly recommend it if it fits your budget. The die retention, shell holder jaws, spent primer handling and handle/linkage design are all top-notch.

Andy

[CrustyFN]

The Lee turret works like this. http://www.leeprecision.com/html/Hel...20turret-1.wmv
Rusty

[The Terminator]

If you go to youtube, and search for lee reloading press, you will get many videos of different types of presses in you. Like you, I used to reload, I reloade lots and lots of 38/357. I had, and still have, an RCBS rockchucker. The dang thing is lost in my garage. However, I think that the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret is the cat's meow. I just got one ordered, it is supposed to ship on Dec 5. Nothing like waiting on a package. I just sold my older, but still super good, Lee turret press. It is the lighter weight, 3 hole model.

In my old way of thinking, 20 years ago, if it was not RCBS, it was garbage. I have seen the light. I watch my money a lot more, and Lee has some danged good products out there. Good luck.

Here is a review of the lee 4 hole press:
http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm

Here is where I ordered mine, $88 including shipping, and Midway is out of them for the rest of the year.
http://fmreloading.com/