Anyone do hand reloading?

[dclifton]

Most presses are good quality. You won't go wrong with the RCBS reloading kit to start out with. I used one for a long time and still do. My favorite press now is the Forster CoAx. I like Redding dies for rifle reloading. For pistols I use Dillon Dies and loaders.

I know some guys using the Forster, and there getting very consistent load with it. As far as OAL.

Love the Dillon presses you couldn't pry mine out of my cold dead hands!

The rcbs and hornady kits come with alot of good stuff don't get me wrong.

Don't forget you will need a way to clean your brass. Stainless is Becoming the new THING.. You can build a stainless tumbler for about $100. Walnut or corn cob tumblers do great also. U can catch them on sale quite often. Frankford arsenal makes a few decent things for the beginner. Some of there stuff is better than lee imo.
You might also check into smart reloader on eBay. I've heard good things about there stuff for the money. It's all imported stuff that looks like rcbs and others just different color.

[kikn]

Just because you'd kit is $320 don't expect that us all you will need. I'm pretty sure it took about 1k to get started on mg hornady kit. If I had to do it all over again I would not have done the kit as the electronic scales are junk. As **** as I am I should have just got the press and the autoloading powder discharger.

Other items needed not listed in the kit.

Bullet puller (hammer shaped device)
Tumbler, media and solution
Dial calipers
Dies
Powders
Primers
Projectiles
Cases
Case prepping tools (if you plan on doing a lot of reloading get the power tool case prep per can't recommend any but ever time I do it manually life sucks for a LONG time)
Its late and I'm sure I missed a few items

oal length gauge (measures jump needed to lands, or you can do it the mcguyver way)

[coldgas]

I have the lee kit. Press is great but the scale sucks. Powder measure is ok. Lee makes great dies. As far as presses go, I have used redding, hornady, rcbs and lee.if you go with lee make sure it is the challenger press.
You won't regret reloading your own loads. Good luck!

[SmTx]

There is a real simple but satisfying feel when you shoot something with a hand loaded bullet.

[Mudshack]

Wow. Didn't know I was walking into a $1k start up.

[Buck-N-Rut]

Wow. Didn't know I was walking into a $1k start up.

You don't need 1000$ worth of stuff to get started.

[ColinR]

You don't need 1000$ worth of stuff to get started.

X2

I do recommend the RCBS kit. For $320 it has everything you NEED to get started except powder, primers, and bullets. I assume you already have cases from your factory loads. All the other stuff you can get down the line as you get more into it.

[RemMan700]

After using several brands of presses, dies, and accessories here is my start up suggestion.

Press:
Any cast iron press. Redding, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Lee
Redding being the best/ RCBS, Hornady, Lyman being middle grade/ Lee Classic cast being bottom but very solid for the money.

Dies:
I find that if I am loading for bolt guns I like to use Lee Collet neck sizing dies and pair that with a Redding body bump die (this die sizes the body but does not size the neck).
Do a search on Lee Collet dies and you will find that many benchrest shooters use this set up. I load very concentric ammo with this set up.

Pistol dies: I dont think you can beat the Lee deluxe carbide set for the money.

Brass trimmer:
Lee hand brass trimmer is hard to beat for the money. You can chuck it up in your drill to make the process go faster.

Tumbler:
I like the Cabela's tumbler kit that comes with corn media and some polish. I dont think you can find a kit any cheaper.

Powder scale:
Get a RCBS scale balance scale, but I suggest a digital because it is a lot faster.

Manual:
Get the Lyman and Lee manual. They both have a ton of great info in the front of the book that will teach you pretty much everything you will need to know.

Primers: I like CCI and Remington Primers

Powder: for the rifle calibers you listed you will want medium burn rate powders. So I would start with some versatile powders like Varget, IMR4895.

Pistol: go for Unique or Bullseye.

Bullets: I like Sierra and Hornady

Brass: Remington, Winchester, Federal seem pretty equal.

[ezypikns]

You can't beat RCBS.

Quality product.

I ended up with a Dillon 550B because all I reload is pistol ammo. A progressive (or semi-progressive) press is much faster than a single stage.

Reloading rifle ammo on a single stage press makes good sense.

[RemMan700]

Another thing I thought of is a Classic Lee Loader. It is basically the most "primitive" way of handloading and a kit will cost you like $25 and add a lee brass trimmer for $15. That way you can try reloading to even see if it is for you. Also lee makes an hand held reloading press for $45 in the event you dont have space to mount a press to a bench.

[Rodster71]

Can't go wrong with RCBS.. I like their dies but also like the Lee four die set for my Dillon progressive loaders. My single stage RCBS press was my dad's from back in the 70's and still rock solid. I'll load all my match grade rifle rounds on it and use my Dillon's for my pistol loads. Get you a good manual either a Lyman or a Hornady, I have both.

Good luck man..

[Tommyh]

Lee has a two year warranty, and rest assured, you will end up using the warranty at some point. the big reloaders all have lifetime warranty, no questions asked. ive used it on my 505 scale because it wouldnt balance. sent it in, got it back, and great customer service.

[grizzman]

I used an old Lee Handloading kit when I was a teen-ager to hand load 30-30. I think it cost me $10 back in 1974. Only complaint I had is that the measure was a scoop and when changing powders to experiment, it was a little iffy getting it right. A good powder measure with a loading book is essential, IMO.

[Randy]

Nothing wrong with the Lee Anniversary kit. That's what I started with and I still use the Lee single stage press.

[muzzlebrake]

After using several brands of presses, dies, and accessories here is my start up suggestion.

Press:
Any cast iron press. Redding, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Lee
Redding being the best/ RCBS, Hornady, Lyman being middle grade/ Lee Classic cast being bottom but very solid for the money.

Dies:
I find that if I am loading for bolt guns I like to use Lee Collet neck sizing dies and pair that with a Redding body bump die (this die sizes the body but does not size the neck).
Do a search on Lee Collet dies and you will find that many benchrest shooters use this set up. I load very concentric ammo with this set up.

Pistol dies: I dont think you can beat the Lee deluxe carbide set for the money.

Brass trimmer:
Lee hand brass trimmer is hard to beat for the money. You can chuck it up in your drill to make the process go faster.

Tumbler:
I like the Cabela's tumbler kit that comes with corn media and some polish. I dont think you can find a kit any cheaper.

Powder scale:
Get a RCBS scale balance scale, but I suggest a digital because it is a lot faster.

Manual:
Get the Lyman and Lee manual. They both have a ton of great info in the front of the book that will teach you pretty much everything you will need to know.

Primers: I like CCI and Remington Primers

Powder: for the rifle calibers you listed you will want medium burn rate powders. So I would start with some versatile powders like Varget, IMR4895.

Pistol: go for Unique or Bullseye.

Bullets: I like Sierra and Hornady

Brass: Remington, Winchester, Federal seem pretty equal.

Pretty good info here and covers about all you will ever need.
I have RCBS Magnum press for big calibers and the Hornady Lock-n-Load AP for pistol and small rifles to .308. If you plan to do a lot of reloading as in hundreds of rounds at a time then you will like the auto progressive presses like Hornady or Dillon