Need to start handloading

Summerleas · 06-30-2007, 12:56 PM

Hello,
I have been shooting a ton of .45 acp ammo this past year and only plan to shoot more. I really need to start reloading my self to save on cost. So my question is this: Where do I begin? I am only interested in 45acp right now but want the opotion to expand to all pistol and rifle calibers. What is the basic setup I should search out, and what companies are recommended? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Duane

lefty o · 06-30-2007, 04:22 PM

i recommend you pick up a loading manual or 2 before buying any equipment. as for equipment, pick a brand. myself i hate lee, others swear by it. i prefer rcbs, redding, or dillon equipment.

Johnny_Revolver · 06-30-2007, 05:29 PM

Take your time in starting up, ask around friends to see who handloads and get some practical tips. Read all you can, but basically there are mistakes that everyone has to make for themsleves to learn. Rite of passage etc..

As you are no doubt aware, rounds for semi auto need to be done with care ( not that any round can be made slap dash ) as you want the gun to cycle reliably.

Lee equipment isn`t top shelf, but you can pick up an Anniversary kit that`ll contain all you need bar the dies, and obviously the reloading comsumables like primers, powder and projectiles and just go from there without expending a lot of dough.

If you decide you like it ( god help you if you do, it`s addictive ) you can, like the rest of us hapless schmucks, expand your reloading arsenal to include other coloured equipment. But there`s stuff in that Lee kit you`ll use forever.

Just remember, that first batch isn`t on a time frame, make quadrupley sure to get it right. You still spend the same on ammo, but you`ll shoot a lot more and the ammo will be better stuff.

Pumpkinheaver · 07-01-2007, 11:30 AM

My advice is to find a friend who alredy loads and have them help you out.

dgarfield · 07-01-2007, 05:36 PM

I have Lee 1000 it may not be the best but it loads very good ammo, you can load a couple hundred an hour after you get used to running it. They sell for around $135.in most places. you can all ways upgrade. Garf

Cyrille · 07-01-2007, 07:07 PM

I started out with the Lee "Classic Handloader", The set(s) where one uses a hammer for most of the reloading work. I finally broke down and bought a Lee Handpress with the various dies for .45 LC and .45-70 Gov't
which are the two cases I use. I am planning to purchase a .454 Causall around the holidays so that is one more set of dies I'll have to get eventually.
For the limited reloading I do the Lee Handpress is sufficent for now.

Pumpkinheaver · 07-01-2007, 09:11 PM

I would suggest you get a single stage O frame press by Lee, they are not that much. Later you can buy a sturdier press if you feel like it. If you have limited space you can mount the press to a plank and c clamp the plank to a table or work bench. I used to C clamp my rockchucker to the kitchen table when I lived in an apartment and had limited space. The reason I say start out with a single stage press is so you can learn what goes on during the loading process. With a progressive there are to many things going on at once for a newbie in my opinion. Once you get comfortable you can move up to a progressive.

ludwig1138 · 07-01-2007, 10:06 PM

All good advice. Spend the little bit extra and get carbide dies. No lube, means one less step and less mess.

Pumpkinheaver · 07-01-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludwig1138

All good advice. Spend the little bit extra and get carbide dies. No lube, means one less step and less mess.

I'll second that advise.

Johnny_Revolver · 07-02-2007, 02:19 AM

+1...

billy · 07-02-2007, 07:29 AM

Summerleas · 07-02-2007, 12:10 PM

Thanks for the info, Don't hve many friends who enjoy shooting as often as I do so it will be all me, plus no friends who reload. So overall I should end up saving money, once the tools have paid for themselves.

toolman · 07-02-2007, 06:12 PM

I don't know if they have a Cabelas in N.C. but if they do, the Lee Anniversary kit will run you less than $70. Like J.R. said, you'll need the dies (another $31.00), and you'll prob. want the case trim-length gauge ( another ($3-4). Over the years, I've compared costs at quite a few places and, as high as they are on most stuff, Cabelas has been consistently more reasonable than any place I've found. Wideners is about the cheapest place around for dies but you have to figure in shipping. Here are a few links for ya:
Cabela's Official Website - Quality Hunting, Fishing, Camping and Outdoor Gear at competitive prices.
Widener's Reloading and Shooting Supply INC
Graf & Sons - Welcome
Be sure to get more than one reloading manual as well-they all have good info and you can cross-check loads for safety.

ludwig1138 · 07-02-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Summerleas

Thanks for the info, Don't hve many friends who enjoy shooting as often as I do so it will be all me, plus no friends who reload.

You may find you have lots of "new friends" when people find out you're a reloader.

"Hey, load me up a couple of boxes of ??cal. It don't cost you much to do it"

or

"How about some hot loads for my _ _ _ . I want the bullet to get there first"

or any number of nonsense requests.

lefty o · 07-02-2007, 07:54 PM

recommend you stay away from loading for others, even once you are more experienced.

Oz n Bolivia · 07-02-2007, 08:26 PM

Summerleas, I'm still new to reloading. Supplies are hard to get here, in Bolivia. I had a friend help with the materials, but I had to purchase a press, dies, funnel, scale champher and pocket tool. All that stuff comes in the lee Annerversity kit which is not available here. Get a good scale I've had some variances in weights with the Lee scale. Finally taken a 9.mm brass cleaned it up then cut the length down to hold 4.2 to 4.3 grains of W231. I had to weigh the amount of powder several times to be sure the scale would give the same measure. Get a good powder measure device. The auto prime 2 is ok but I have manage to mangale several primers becaused the did not drop far enough or twisted under the ram. I do not have a trimer so I have to measure brass length then group the brass and load as a batch because the seating crimp die will not crimp if the die is set for longer brass.

I do not shoot much maybe 75 to 100 rounds a month and they are 38 Special, but at the cost of ammo here and the near impossible of buying any, reloading is the only way to go if I can get powder and primers.

Oz

Cyrille · 07-05-2007, 04:36 PM

Yep, have to go with Lefty 0 on that; even your best (reloading ) buddy can sue you if something nasty happens while he is shooting your reloads.

gandog56 · 07-07-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpkinheaver

I would suggest you get a single stage O frame press by Lee, they are not that much. Later you can buy a sturdier press if you feel like it.

Sturdier? Mine is about twenty years old and is still going strong.

Pumpkinheaver · 07-08-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandog56

Sturdier? Mine is about twenty years old and is still going strong.

There is nothing wrong with the Lee press or I would not have recomended it to him in the first place. But if he wished to do some heavy caseforming or load some larger cartridges such as .50 BMG then he would need a bigger/sturdier press.

06-30-2007, 12:56 PM	#1
Summerleas Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 28	Need to start handloading Hello, I have been shooting a ton of .45 acp ammo this past year and only plan to shoot more. I really need to start reloading my self to save on cost. So my question is this: Where do I begin? I am only interested in 45acp right now but want the opotion to expand to all pistol and rifle calibers. What is the basic setup I should search out, and what companies are recommended? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Duane

06-30-2007, 05:29 PM	#3
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,209 Blog Entries: 6	Take your time in starting up, ask around friends to see who handloads and get some practical tips. Read all you can, but basically there are mistakes that everyone has to make for themsleves to learn. Rite of passage etc.. As you are no doubt aware, rounds for semi auto need to be done with care ( not that any round can be made slap dash ) as you want the gun to cycle reliably. Lee equipment isn`t top shelf, but you can pick up an Anniversary kit that`ll contain all you need bar the dies, and obviously the reloading comsumables like primers, powder and projectiles and just go from there without expending a lot of dough. If you decide you like it ( god help you if you do, it`s addictive ) you can, like the rest of us hapless schmucks, expand your reloading arsenal to include other coloured equipment. But there`s stuff in that Lee kit you`ll use forever. Just remember, that first batch isn`t on a time frame, make quadrupley sure to get it right. You still spend the same on ammo, but you`ll shoot a lot more and the ammo will be better stuff. __________________ It`s a good life, provided you don`t weaken.

07-01-2007, 11:30 AM	#4
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,340	My advice is to find a friend who alredy loads and have them help you out. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

07-01-2007, 05:36 PM	#5
dgarfield Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: N.Vermont Posts: 1	Reloading I have Lee 1000 it may not be the best but it loads very good ammo, you can load a couple hundred an hour after you get used to running it. They sell for around $135.in most places. you can all ways upgrade. Garf

07-01-2007, 09:11 PM	#7
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,340	I would suggest you get a single stage O frame press by Lee, they are not that much. Later you can buy a sturdier press if you feel like it. If you have limited space you can mount the press to a plank and c clamp the plank to a table or work bench. I used to C clamp my rockchucker to the kitchen table when I lived in an apartment and had limited space. The reason I say start out with a single stage press is so you can learn what goes on during the loading process. With a progressive there are to many things going on at once for a newbie in my opinion. Once you get comfortable you can move up to a progressive. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

06-30-2007, 04:22 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,807	i recommend you pick up a loading manual or 2 before buying any equipment. as for equipment, pick a brand. myself i hate lee, others swear by it. i prefer rcbs, redding, or dillon equipment.

07-01-2007, 07:07 PM	#6
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,851	I started out with the Lee "Classic Handloader", The set(s) where one uses a hammer for most of the reloading work. I finally broke down and bought a Lee Handpress with the various dies for .45 LC and .45-70 Gov't which are the two cases I use. I am planning to purchase a .454 Causall around the holidays so that is one more set of dies I'll have to get eventually. For the limited reloading I do the Lee Handpress is sufficent for now.

07-01-2007, 10:06 PM	#8
ludwig1138 Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 35	All good advice. Spend the little bit extra and get carbide dies. No lube, means one less step and less mess.

07-02-2007, 02:19 AM	#10
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,209 Blog Entries: 6	+1... __________________ It`s a good life, provided you don`t weaken.

07-02-2007, 07:29 AM	#11
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,183 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	+2 __________________

07-02-2007, 12:10 PM	#12
Summerleas Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 28	Thanks for the info, Don't hve many friends who enjoy shooting as often as I do so it will be all me, plus no friends who reload. So overall I should end up saving money, once the tools have paid for themselves.

07-02-2007, 06:12 PM	#13
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	I don't know if they have a Cabelas in N.C. but if they do, the Lee Anniversary kit will run you less than $70. Like J.R. said, you'll need the dies (another $31.00), and you'll prob. want the case trim-length gauge ( another ($3-4). Over the years, I've compared costs at quite a few places and, as high as they are on most stuff, Cabelas has been consistently more reasonable than any place I've found. Wideners is about the cheapest place around for dies but you have to figure in shipping. Here are a few links for ya: Cabela's Official Website - Quality Hunting, Fishing, Camping and Outdoor Gear at competitive prices. Widener's Reloading and Shooting Supply INC Graf & Sons - Welcome Be sure to get more than one reloading manual as well-they all have good info and you can cross-check loads for safety. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun! Last edited by toolman; 07-02-2007 at 07:44 PM.

07-02-2007, 07:54 PM	#15
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,807	recommend you stay away from loading for others, even once you are more experienced.

07-02-2007, 08:26 PM	#16
Oz n Bolivia Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: La Paz, Bolivia Posts: 112	Summerleas, I'm still new to reloading. Supplies are hard to get here, in Bolivia. I had a friend help with the materials, but I had to purchase a press, dies, funnel, scale champher and pocket tool. All that stuff comes in the lee Annerversity kit which is not available here. Get a good scale I've had some variances in weights with the Lee scale. Finally taken a 9.mm brass cleaned it up then cut the length down to hold 4.2 to 4.3 grains of W231. I had to weigh the amount of powder several times to be sure the scale would give the same measure. Get a good powder measure device. The auto prime 2 is ok but I have manage to mangale several primers becaused the did not drop far enough or twisted under the ram. I do not have a trimer so I have to measure brass length then group the brass and load as a batch because the seating crimp die will not crimp if the die is set for longer brass. I do not shoot much maybe 75 to 100 rounds a month and they are 38 Special, but at the cost of ammo here and the near impossible of buying any, reloading is the only way to go if I can get powder and primers. Oz __________________ Education gives us a data base of knowledge, what and how we use that data base is wisdom. Last edited by Oz n Bolivia; 07-02-2007 at 08:32 PM.

07-05-2007, 04:36 PM	#17
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,851	Yep, have to go with Lefty 0 on that; even your best (reloading ) buddy can sue you if something nasty happens while he is shooting your reloads.