Getting started reloading....advice? - Page 2

P95Carry · February 4th, 2007, 04:54 PM

Charlie ........ my thinking is - you can get a very reasonable caliper at a low price but, reckon there is some luck. Meaning, one might be real good and another way off.

That said - I bought a pair of digital ones from them or a similar outfit and they are fine for the job. I have pure mechanical ones which are top quality and all I did was take test readings to check. The tolerancing is well adequate for my reloading useage.

So - I think it's worth a try - but if at all possible ''calibrate'' the inexpensive ones against known standards or other quality measuring gear. That way if they measure + or - a smidgeon you can then take that into account as a correction.... as long as that is, they perform in a linear manner.

Bud White · February 4th, 2007, 04:58 PM

cheap calipers should be fine as chris said just try to see how close theya re if you dont have a set of higher end or access to a set

see if someone ya know does and can measure something and you measure same thing and compare

plus always error to teh long side and you will be safe

newmexiglock · February 4th, 2007, 05:56 PM

$500 for reloading equipment can be a lot of $$. I do not have turret (mostly because I first started loading for rifles but also cost). I load one at a time and it works for me. I have the RCBS Master Supreme kit which I purchased used for less than $200. I have everything that I need for it. As mentioned above, Lee is a good way to go. Certainly, they are the least expensive and their equipment works. I purchased the RCBS because this is what I learned on. I load for 9mm Mak/9mm/.38/10mm/.44/.45/30-06. Pistol cartridges are faster to load on the turret, but I don't mind. Afterall, we only pull the trigger 1 pull at a time.

+ on the book. I have a few and they all have a primer on loading. I think that Speer #13 is a good place to start. Additionally, get with someone whom you know personally that hand loads (safely). This will allow you to see the motions and ask face to face questions.

Good luck, and watch out for double charges.

Pete · February 4th, 2007, 06:06 PM

DarwinTe on YouTube has some interesting tutorials for the Lee presses.
You might not get a Lee press but the principals of handloading remain the same and it is an interesting watch even if you never intend to reload.

LINK to part one, other videos linked on page.

lowflyer · February 4th, 2007, 06:56 PM

Part of the enjoyment of rolling my own for me is that I don't have to spend a lot of time doing it. I find speed maximizes the economy of it for me. I can load a dozen boxes of .45 ACP in an hour. I go through about 4 boxes per hour at the range.

My free time is worth enough to me that if it took me an hour to make a box or two, I would sooner just buy factory loads and save myself the time. Reloading pistol ammo is not a hobby for me. Shooting it is.

Rifle ammo is different. YMMV

Pete · February 4th, 2007, 10:03 PM

I've just been fishing around and you might be interested in this as a starter set-up.

$167 if purchased separately, but as a package for $120.

LINK

homersimpson · February 7th, 2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias

I've just been fishing around and you might be interested in this as a starter set-up...

I bought that very set up because I wasn't sure how seriously I would be getting into reloading. I found it at Bass Pro for $75 I think. I have been very happy with it, especially at that price.

Pete · February 7th, 2007, 10:44 AM

Midway also has it on discount presently.

lowflyer · February 7th, 2007, 11:55 AM

I would caution against "dabbling" in reloading. This is not something to tinker with. It is deadly serious business.

It pays to make the investment in time and money to get set up the right way with the right equipment. If you aren't sure you are serious about reloading, then my advice is to decide now not to do it and don't waste your money on "starter" kits. YMMV

Tubby45 · February 7th, 2007, 11:58 AM

Get the Lee Classic Turret press kit from Cabela's for $149. Add dies and components. Lee dies are very affordable and come with a shellholder which the others charge up to $8 for. Cabela's is the only one that has the Classic Turret press in kit form.

It comes with the Classic Turret press, Safety Scale, Auto Pro Disk measure, riser (to clear safety prime), and Safety Prime attachments for large and small primers.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...847&hasJS=true

You can get extra turrets for $8-9 each and swap out calibers easily. I have five turrets total for mine. I load 223, 7mm-08, 45/70, 10mm, and 45acp. For rifle I can load about 125-150rds/hr and pistol I can roll about 200rds an hour.

The Lee site has a bunch of videos and how to's. You can see the classic turret in action there. Leeprecision.com

February 4th, 2007, 04:54 PM	#11
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	Charlie ........ my thinking is - you can get a very reasonable caliper at a low price but, reckon there is some luck. Meaning, one might be real good and another way off. That said - I bought a pair of digital ones from them or a similar outfit and they are fine for the job. I have pure mechanical ones which are top quality and all I did was take test readings to check. The tolerancing is well adequate for my reloading useage. So - I think it's worth a try - but if at all possible ''calibrate'' the inexpensive ones against known standards or other quality measuring gear. That way if they measure + or - a smidgeon you can then take that into account as a correction.... as long as that is, they perform in a linear manner. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

February 4th, 2007, 06:56 PM	#15
lowflyer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,162	Part of the enjoyment of rolling my own for me is that I don't have to spend a lot of time doing it. I find speed maximizes the economy of it for me. I can load a dozen boxes of .45 ACP in an hour. I go through about 4 boxes per hour at the range. My free time is worth enough to me that if it took me an hour to make a box or two, I would sooner just buy factory loads and save myself the time. Reloading pistol ammo is not a hobby for me. Shooting it is. Rifle ammo is different. YMMV __________________ Whatever doesn't kill you postpones the inevitable.

February 7th, 2007, 11:55 AM	#19
lowflyer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 1,162	I would caution against "dabbling" in reloading. This is not something to tinker with. It is deadly serious business. It pays to make the investment in time and money to get set up the right way with the right equipment. If you aren't sure you are serious about reloading, then my advice is to decide now not to do it and don't waste your money on "starter" kits. YMMV __________________ Whatever doesn't kill you postpones the inevitable.

February 7th, 2007, 11:58 AM	#20
Tubby45 Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In the reloading room Posts: 1,988	Get the Lee Classic Turret press kit from Cabela's for $149. Add dies and components. Lee dies are very affordable and come with a shellholder which the others charge up to $8 for. Cabela's is the only one that has the Classic Turret press in kit form. It comes with the Classic Turret press, Safety Scale, Auto Pro Disk measure, riser (to clear safety prime), and Safety Prime attachments for large and small primers. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...847&hasJS=true You can get extra turrets for $8-9 each and swap out calibers easily. I have five turrets total for mine. I load 223, 7mm-08, 45/70, 10mm, and 45acp. For rifle I can load about 125-150rds/hr and pistol I can roll about 200rds an hour. The Lee site has a bunch of videos and how to's. You can see the classic turret in action there. Leeprecision.com __________________ Freakshow Manufacturing LLC "You can kill it. We can help." 07 FFL/ 02 SOT

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February 4th, 2007, 04:58 PM	#12
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	cheap calipers should be fine as chris said just try to see how close theya re if you dont have a set of higher end or access to a set see if someone ya know does and can measure something and you measure same thing and compare plus always error to teh long side and you will be safe

February 4th, 2007, 05:56 PM	#13
newmexiglock Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 92	$500 for reloading equipment can be a lot of $$. I do not have turret (mostly because I first started loading for rifles but also cost). I load one at a time and it works for me. I have the RCBS Master Supreme kit which I purchased used for less than $200. I have everything that I need for it. As mentioned above, Lee is a good way to go. Certainly, they are the least expensive and their equipment works. I purchased the RCBS because this is what I learned on. I load for 9mm Mak/9mm/.38/10mm/.44/.45/30-06. Pistol cartridges are faster to load on the turret, but I don't mind. Afterall, we only pull the trigger 1 pull at a time. + on the book. I have a few and they all have a primer on loading. I think that Speer #13 is a good place to start. Additionally, get with someone whom you know personally that hand loads (safely). This will allow you to see the motions and ask face to face questions. Good luck, and watch out for double charges. __________________ America should have license to carry "children" laws... Mooo

February 4th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#14
Pete Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,572	DarwinTe on YouTube has some interesting tutorials for the Lee presses. You might not get a Lee press but the principals of handloading remain the same and it is an interesting watch even if you never intend to reload. LINK to part one, other videos linked on page.

February 4th, 2007, 10:03 PM	#16
Pete Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,572	I've just been fishing around and you might be interested in this as a starter set-up. $167 if purchased separately, but as a package for $120. LINK

February 7th, 2007, 10:44 AM	#18
Pete Ex Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,572	Midway also has it on discount presently.