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blackbear · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Northern Minnesota

I have not reloaded since I was a teenager on a trap shooting team back in the 60's. Now I plan to reload revolver and rifle ammo. Any advice on equipment, dies etc. would be appreciated. I am thinking a single stage to keep it simple.

JCalhoun · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:02 am Post subject:

I suggest going with a starter kit from Lee or RCBS. They will have most everything you'll need to get started minus the dies, case trimmer, and shellholders. You should also get some manuals from the various bullet and powder companies.

Oh yeah, get a notebook to keep all your notes in. Good notes will come in handy.

Fisher King · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 195 Location: Muskoka Ontario

JCalhoun wrote: I suggest going with a starter kit from Lee or RCBS. They will have most everything you'll need to get started minus the dies, case trimmer, and shellholders. You should also get some manuals from the various bullet and powder companies.

Oh yeah, get a notebook to keep all your notes in. Good notes will come in handy.
I have to agree If price is an issue lee would be the way to go without draining the bank acount.
I started with lee aniversery Kit and as I got into it more I replaced some of the components as I could aford them. The aniversery Kit comes with a book as well with minimum and max loads.
I would also recomend a powder dribler, saves a lot of frustration.
My 2 cents.
Merry xmass F.K.

CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

I recently entered the world of reloading and purchased the RCBS rockchucker supreme kit. I think it was less than $300. Completely satisfied with it.

blackbear · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Northern Minnesota

Does it make any difference what caliber I start out with ?

JCalhoun · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

Nope. All dies (except the really big ones) use a standardized thread. This is great as will aloow you to use different brand dies even in the same caliber.

If you buy Lee dies, they come with a shellholders. Other dies you'll have to buy it seperately.

blackbear · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Northern Minnesota

So far the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme looks like a good deal.
Does anyone have suggestions on a reloading journal ?
The largest caliber I will be reloading so far is .450 Marlin.

Ripstop · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 63 Location: Peyton Co

I would get the new Nosler manual. They usually have a lot of good information in their manuals. If you are going to shoot Barnes bullets you will have to get their manual.

JCalhoun · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject:

The Lee kit comes with a complete manual on how to use the gear and a loading guide. Not sure if the RCBS does.

You should also get a manual/booklet from the powder and bullet makers you want to use.

CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

JCalhoun wrote: The Lee kit comes with a complete manual on how to use the gear and a loading guide. Not sure if the RCBS does.

You should also get a manual/booklet from the powder and bullet makers you want to use.

The RCBS comes with a Speer manual.

I agree with getting he manual from the powder and bullet makers too. Hodgdon/IMR has data online.

blackbear · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Northern Minnesota

Who makes a good journal ( data book ) to log information on different loads and results at the range ?

WesternHunter · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Western USA

Stay away from Lee equipment, their basic starter kits are real junk. You'll end up slowly replacing all that Lee stuff with RCBS, Redding, or Lyman anyway. Actually I'd spend the extra cash and get an RCBS kit. You'll also want to add some precision instruments and other tools like a good pair of calipers, case trimmer, and tumbler. Build or buy a good solid sturdy reloading/work bench. I built mine, and you can get plans for them online or even out of a carpentry book. Get manuals from Speer, Nosler, Hodgdon, etc. Also take a class for metallic cartridge reloading. It's well worth it as shotshell and metallic cartridges are a bit different in reloading.

blackbear · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Northern Minnesota

I wish I could take a class but I am too far from a town big enough to have such things.

Hammer1 · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 1519

The RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme would be your best bet. The press is the tool that does the work, always used, takes the stress etc. Don't compromise on a press.
A metallic cartridge manual will have the most popular load data for the most popular bullets and powders. Start with one. Remember you have Internet and access to some of the most technically advanced minds in the reloading community, and then there is us :D
You need a good set of calibers.
If you are only going to reload a case once/twice, you may not need a case trimmer. I've been reloading over three decades and don't own one.
You will need a scale. RCBS make several beam scales. I use an RCBS 5.10 model.
I would get a deburring tool
Dies, shell holder etc. I'm not sure what comes in the kits.
You could easily spend a couple of hundred bucks on manuals, but don't. Make sure you absolutely need it before you buy it

:P :P

blackbear · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Northern Minnesota

Sure appreciate all the advice. My main "hobby" is Black Bear research. Living in the boonies has pluses and minuses ( mostly pluses) but access to advice like this is great. Much obliged.