reloading start..suggestions welcome

[SwampBuck]

Yep. Me too. Got mine used off of Craigslist for a couple of bucks. Works great, and I paid about a fifth of what the new ones from Hornady, Frankford Arsenal, and others cost.

All the best,
Glenn

Actually, i think the ol man has a good dehydrator hiding up in one of his attics. Been awhile so I'll have to go double check.

[cajuntec]

There's a couple of reloading groups on Facebook that I've got some good deals from. Some of it is overpriced, but every once in a while you run across a great deal.
All the best,
Glenn

[cajuntec]

Actually, i think the ol man has a good dehydrator hiding up in one of his attics. Been awhile so I'll have to go double check.

They work great. I used to just lay my brass out in the sun. But my two dogs liked the shiny stuff too much. I had to put it away every time I let them out or I'd find brass scattered all over the back yard. The dehydrator works pretty quick too.
All the best,
Glenn

[JakeGraves]

If you haven't bought a press yet, check out the Ferestor Co-Ax. It takes less than a second to pop out one die and put another in and there isn't any residual slop associated with turret press.
RCBS Chargemaster is an addition that I would highly recommend.

[Horitexan]

reloading start..suggestions welcome

I do like that turret head idea on the t7. But not sure Its needed for the low amount of ammo id be doing.



For dies. Are most of you sticking to two or three die sets?



A neck sizing die looks like it would be handy

Not sure what you mean by "2 or 3 sets of dies." Per caliber??


Personally, I use a Redding Type S full length die that I use with a bushing to set the neck tension and to bump the shoulder back .001"-.002", instead of actually full length sizing back to saami spec. Neck sizing is great for bench shooters but, since I load for hunting, I prefer knowing I will be able to chamber a round even if the rifle (or the cartridge) gets dirty. I think it's a pretty great balance between pure neck sizing and truly full length resizing.

If you haven't bought a press yet, check out the Ferestor Co-Ax. It takes less than a second to pop out one die and put another in and there isn't any residual slop associated with turret press.
RCBS Chargemaster is an addition that I would highly recommend.

If you get one with slop it will be extremely minimal and it can be easily eliminated by stoning the turret bushing back by .001" to (AT MOST) .002", so that there's over so slight contact between the turret and the frame of the press. Mine came with zero slop but I'd heard about this easy fix before I got the press. The Co-ax is no doubt a great press. I just prefer the turret because I have 3 turrets set up for my 3 favorite rifles and a 4th turret I use when I load for others. I love the quick changeover. Is it an extravagance? Yup! Worth it to me. I'll put the consistency of my loads up against just about anyone's. Any additional precision possible would only, maybe, be noticeable to a benchrest competitor.

Both are terrific presses and I'd have no problem recommending either.



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[cajuntec]

Not sure what you mean by "2 or 3 sets of dies." Per caliber??

Horitexan,
I think he meant 2 (a single FL OR neck resizing die and seating die) or 3 (neck and FL resizing and seating) die sets, vice "2 or 3 sets of dies".

SwampBuck,
It depends on the cartridge being reloaded, and for what weapon I'm reloading.

Most of my sets are 2 die sets - Usually a FL resizing die and a bullet seating die, but I usually add a Factory Crimp Die from Lee, and I crimp separately from seating the bullets.

Some, such as the 7TCU, .30 Herrett, and others I reload for in my single shot Encore's and Contender's, I have 3 die sets for. I start with a FL sizing die, fireform the brass to that weapon, and then use the neck sizing die for subsequent reloads, unless I'm seeing issues that require me to use the FL sizing die again.

I know I probably should use a neck sizing die with my bolt action rifles as well, but I haven't. I haven't seen any issues by doing so, but I'm sure I'm probably overworking my brass, which means I won't get as much life out of them.

All the best,
Glenn

[Mike D]

I too use Forster Co-Ax press, Redding dies and a Chargemaster with insert for 99% of my loading. I haven't upgraded to stainless media tumbling yet because of the extra drying step required and I'm impatient.


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[cajuntec]

Mike,
It's not bad at all, especially if you are using a food dehydrator like we mentioned above. But you probably load at a much higher rate than I do. I have time to kill between reloads. The nice thing about the dehydrator, is that it's a containment area for the brass as well. I just sit it on the counter in the spare bathroom and leave it plugged in for a while. When the brass is dry, I unplug it and sometimes will just let it sit in there until I'm ready to sort it and bag it up. I seldom start reloading it immediately. I'll sort it and bag it up for later reloading.

I hesitated to get into the stainless media for a long time. To this day, I have no idea whether it improves anything at all. But I absolutely love having new looking brass to reload every time - including the primer pockets. Stainless media tumbling is so much better than the old vibrating tumblers.

For a while, it was time consuming. I found a quick system that works for me that includes a 5 gallon bucket, a Frankford Arsenal strainer and magnet, and the guest bathroom's bathtub. I fly though the process now. But I have to admit - the initial couple of runs, before I had my process down, had me thinking "what have I done". Now I'm happy though. It just took time to figure out how to work it all.

All the best,
Glenn

[SwampBuck]

Horitexan,
I think he meant 2 (a single FL OR neck resizing die and seating die) or 3 (neck and FL resizing and seating) die sets, vice "2 or 3 sets of dies".

SwampBuck,
It depends on the cartridge being reloaded, and for what weapon I'm reloading.

Most of my sets are 2 die sets - Usually a FL resizing die and a bullet seating die, but I usually add a Factory Crimp Die from Lee, and I crimp separately from seating the bullets.

Some, such as the 7TCU, .30 Herrett, and others I reload for in my single shot Encore's and Contender's, I have 3 die sets for. I start with a FL sizing die, fireform the brass to that weapon, and then use the neck sizing die for subsequent reloads, unless I'm seeing issues that require me to use the FL sizing die again.

I know I probably should use a neck sizing die with my bolt action rifles as well, but I haven't. I haven't seen any issues by doing so, but I'm sure I'm probably overworking my brass, which means I won't get as much life out of them.

All the best,
Glenn

That's what I meant.
I see a lot of sets of two, then sets of three and even 4

[SwampBuck]

That co-ax is a slick setup!
Can't believe I looked over it, must have been the price

[Artos]

I have both the Co-ax & Rock chucker...prefer the co-ax for high volume but still go with the rock checker for my lower volume/precision rounds.

The one thing I would not trade for anything is my Bruno Measure...these benchrest measures like the Harrell's are fantastic. Once I get my load dialed in, I mark the clicks and never bring out the scale again. Simply no reason to weigh every powder charge unless you are doing extreme long range competition.

[SwampBuck]

I have both the Co-ax & Rock chucker...prefer the co-ax for high volume but still go with the rock checker for my lower volume/precision rounds.

The one thing I would not trade for anything is my Bruno Measure...these benchrest measures like the Harrell's are fantastic. Once I get my load dialed in, I mark the clicks and never bring out the scale again. Simply no reason to weigh every powder charge unless you are doing extreme long range competition.

Good point. I could see it being handy.

[M16]

I have both the Co-ax & Rock chucker...prefer the co-ax for high volume but still go with the rock checker for my lower volume/precision rounds.

That's interesting. My CoAx presses are used for precision. For volume it's Dillon.

I have two CoAx's mounted side by side. I made some mounting plates to give them a little angle for easier access. Also made some short handles. I have a third with the adapter for rcbs type shell holders. Changing the shell holder apparatus isn't bad but now I don't have too.

[Mike D]

That's interesting. My CoAx presses are used for precision. For volume it's Dillon.



I have two CoAx's mounted side by side. I made some mounting plates to give them a little angle for easier access. Also made some short handles. I have a third with the adapter for rcbs type shell holders. Changing the shell holder apparatus isn't bad but now I don't have too.

Same here, although the Co-Ax is the only press I own right now.

Dillon will be purchased when the new house is built.

Lol, Larry. I like the primer catcher on the left press.

[SwampBuck]

Same here, although the Co-Ax is the only press I own right now.

Dillon will be purchased when the new house is built.

Lol, Larry. I like the primer catcher on the left press.

Lol dang it beat me to it... nice primer catch