The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: brosometal on April 13, 2008, 01:19:04 AM
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I am a new feller here. I have gleaned a lot of information reading through the threads. I would like to pick the collective brain here for reloading info. I would like to get into reloading mostly for pistols first, then work my way into rifles. I like shooting but my wallet doesn't.
What would I need to start reloading .45acp aside from the powder, brass and bullets?
Is the equipment a personal preferece or does quality vary? (I asked a guy at the range and he mentioned Lee. The way he answered seemed to remind me of a Ford/Chevy argument).
How much room would be needed?
Ya know all the good stuff.
Thanx in advance. I look forward to hearing from you.
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Most of the things you will need to get started can be purchased as a kit from various makers, this will generally include a scale for measuring powder as you adjust your powder dispenser, The dispenser,and a press, most presses include a priming tool You MUST have a current reloading manual which is basically a Recipe book for loads. You MUST have some reference information explaining how to SAFELY proceed.You will also need some things that are caliber specific, such as the die set for your caliber, shell holders for your press and priming tool if you do not do that in the press and a Dial or digital caliper for measuring case length and length over all of finished cartridges. The volume of reloading you wish to do will govern the type of system you use, ( single stage or progressive) for a beginner the best way (IMO) to begin is with a single stage press, I recently got back into reloading and what I did was to gather the materials I needed for the caliber I wanted to load, , shell holders, dies, etc.Then I sat down with a book for beginning re loaders and read it then when I actually began reloading I kept the book open to the section on what I was doing ( Lubing, De priming, cleaning primer pockets,Priming, setting powder scale, dispensing powder, seating bullets.) so I could refer back to it as I was performing the action, I also kept my reloading manual open so I could refer back to THAT for case lengths, and cartridge length information.
You are on the right track by asking for advice on this forum, Some of these guys have been reloading for decades and will happily give you far more detailed information than I can as my experience is limited. The best advice I can give you is 1) get a good book on reloading basics 2) ONLY use loads from published reloading manuals. 3) Get some one with experience to walk you through your first attempts. 4) before you EVER punch out the first primer, you should know EXACTLY what you need to do in what order.
As for space, I have my press set up on an 18 x24 inch work table with another 18 x18 end table for storage, my base is a Black and Decker work table, I replaced the top with a 1 inch thick sheet of Aluminum, and BOLTED my press to that, the press MUST be solidly anchored.
As you gain experience you will probably want to up grade to a progressive reloader as that will speed up the operation greatly.
One other thing that based on personal experience I must stress, Keep a note book of your loads and how each performs in YOUR firearm, and as you reload IDENTIFY YOUR LOADS, put a slip of paper in the box or write on the box things like caliber, bullet weight, powder and charge weight. That way when you go to the range you don't wind up shooting heavy bullets with hot loads with sights set for light bullets or light loads.
I hope this helps, I hope it's clear enough to make sense but it is late and I might be babbling. ;D Have fun and be SAFE.
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It is alot like ford/ chevy debate... some are better at some things then the others. Most hardcore reloaders I know have diffrent parts from diffrent companys. They all have thier reasons why this part is better then that part.
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It is alot like ford/ chevy debate... some are better at some things then the others. Most hardcore reloaders I know have diffrent parts from diffrent companys. They all have thier reasons why this part is better then that part.
I agree, BUT, (always a but in there ;D ) For a beginner it seems to me that one of the sets would be the best way to go, then as he gains experience and knowledge he can replace this and that to suit his needs and preferences.
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I agree with Tom in his first post about hew equipment that you will need to start out with. Equipment is a personal choice and really RCBS IMO makes one of the finest sets up there is and their customer service is excellent as I personally know they stand behind their products. That being said I would like to say somethings about safety, I have been re loading for over 22 years now and know many others that do also have seen quite a bit. First pistol cases can hold a lot more powder than the charge specified, up to 3 times the amount. 2) When you get into more different powders he more careful you need to be by that I mean each caliber can use 7 or 8 different types of powder but ONLY ONE TYPE AT A TIME. Never mix powders. When you have different types of powder around only open one at a time. I was at the range one day and a fellow reloader was there and we got to talking he had loaded some .44 mags and some .223 he wanted to try out , yep you guessed it , he got in a hurry( to go to the range) and put the pistol powder in the rifle cases , he got lucky, he did not get hurt but his NEW Colt AR-15 was no longer new. Now for something about reloads for defense.Do not even think about it for a nanosecond. The courts will eat you alive!
Prosecutor: So you reloaded this ammo? You: Yes Sir Prosecutor: Do you believe your ammo is better than what is available? You Well according to my books it is. Prosecutor: Do you have a degree in ballistics? see where I am going with that? and it will be that way in civil court to. That is fact. Right now my best advise is use them for hunting and target practice. Any more qustion and I am sure all of us here will be glad to answer the , these guys on this fourm are great.
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Oh buy the way HAZCAT is a great guy but watch out for his kitty as he packs a mean rosce! ;D
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Thanks for all the info. I have known about the reloading defence ammo, but it is always worth repeating.
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Frtom Jm Shepherd's Shooting Wire today, Monday, 4/14/08:
Reloading A Lost Art?
The vast majority of American shooters do not reload their shotshells or centerfire rifle and pistol cartidges, according to a recent survey. Furthermore, among those relatively few shooters who do reload their own ammunition, most reload only small quantities—one to five boxes per month.
Of the shooters surveyed, a whopping 83% of shotgunners reported that they do not reload shotshells at all. The “no-reloading” figures for centerfire rifle and pistol shooters are slightly lower, but even so, almost three-fourths (74%) of centerfire shooters report that they do not reload any ammunition.
Among the minority of shooters who do reload their own ammunition, most (7.3% of shotgunners and 13% of centerfire rifle and pistol shooters) report that they reload only one to five boxes of ammunition per month. A scant 2.25% of shotgunners and 2.4% of centerfire shooters report reloading large amounts of their ammunition, 10 boxes per month or more.
Here are the reloading survey statistics in more detail:
Shotgunners Centerfire Shooters
No reloading: 83% 74%
1 to 5 boxes/month 7.3% 13%
6 to 10 boxes/month 2.3% 3.2%
10+ boxes/month 2.25% 2.4%
Source: HunterSurvey.com is a monthly national online survey of sportsmen and women providing industry and policymakers with information on hunting trends and activity. For more information, contact Rob Southwick at Rob@southwickassociates.com.
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Frtom Jm Shepherd's Shooting Wire today, Monday, 4/14/08:
Reloading A Lost Art?
The vast majority of American shooters do not reload their shotshells or centerfire rifle and pistol cartidges, according to a recent survey. Furthermore, among those relatively few shooters who do reload their own ammunition, most reload only small quantities—one to five boxes per month.
Of the shooters surveyed, a whopping 83% of shotgunners reported that they do not reload shotshells at all. The “no-reloading” figures for centerfire rifle and pistol shooters are slightly lower, but even so, almost three-fourths (74%) of centerfire shooters report that they do not reload any ammunition.
Among the minority of shooters who do reload their own ammunition, most (7.3% of shotgunners and 13% of centerfire rifle and pistol shooters) report that they reload only one to five boxes of ammunition per month. A scant 2.25% of shotgunners and 2.4% of centerfire shooters report reloading large amounts of their ammunition, 10 boxes per month or more.
Here are the reloading survey statistics in more detail:
Shotgunners Centerfire Shooters
No reloading: 83% 74%
1 to 5 boxes/month 7.3% 13%
6 to 10 boxes/month 2.3% 3.2%
10+ boxes/month 2.25% 2.4%
Source: HunterSurvey.com is a monthly national online survey of sportsmen and women providing industry and policymakers with information on hunting trends and activity. For more information, contact Rob Southwick at Rob@southwickassociates.com.
The truth of it is, up until just recently it was not worth most peoples time to reload. 2 years ago a box of .45 was $12.50 and 12 ga target loads were $2.99. Infact 2 years ago it would have cost me money to reload...Now with prices almost twice what they were 2 years ago and my hourly rate about the same. Its actually cheaper for me to take time off work and reload then it is to work and buy factory shells.
Here is the thing when it comes to reloading, you don't save money... you just shoot more for the same money.
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I'mjust starting to reload and it helped me a lot!
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I was reloading for 2 rifles, Traded them both Now I'm switching all my rifle components for the Calibers I've got now.
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I too am considering reloading and I would like to ask this question:
There always seems to be one thing or a couple of things one should not cheap out on no matter the hobby. For reloading, what are the items that one should really pay more?
Thanks!
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A good powder measure, a good scale, a good primer seater, the Lee is cheap and it works, but will wear out, but a new one is now days, 15 bucks, a good supply of good reloading manuals, not just one, I love pet loads by Ken Waters, his most accurate loads will save you time and money in a given caliber with excellent results, but you still need a modern manual for the newer powders. In pistol calibers, most dies will do fine, Although I highly recommend Carbide resizing dies for straight wall cases. I do like the Dillon taper crimp dies as well. For rifle, I might spend a little extra for a match seater die with a micrometer adjuster, only if the rifle I'm loading for had exceptional accuracy potential.
I have reloaded for Wow, now 30 years, and have used inexpensive and not so inexpensive equipment. They all work if you are confident in what you are doing, the main difference is speed. I still have a RCBS single stage press, that I use mainly for rifle, a Lee turret press, that I can't give away, but it has it's uses as well, 2 Dillon 550 b's, that take care of my pistol needs, and a MEC shotgun reloader, ( the original progressive reloader ) . I used to shoot a lot of pistol, 5,000 rounds a month, that's 100 boxes of 50, retail at that time you could count on $5 a box +, in .45 acp, 7.50 and in .44 mag 10 bucks +, now I've got sticker shock over everything, 13 bucks for bulk pack .22rf, $13 for 30 30, surplus .308 for .40 cents a round, .223 for easy .30 cents a round. Lead bullets for 9mm and .38 at over 60 bucks a thousand. Whew, but I squirreled a lot away in the old days, and I have casting equipment as well. I can mine the berms at my local club for lead.
If you shoot 100 - 300 rounds a month, you probably don't need to invest in a reloader, except as a back up for hard times or for producing the most accurate ammo for your particular needs. If you spend the time, reloaded ammo tuned to your pistol or rifle is the best.
A single stage press will wear you out to load 100 cartridges in a night, but there are methods to increase your production, maybe someone should start a thread and we can go there. A Dillon 550 will easily give you 300 rounds an hour, and is capable of 500 rounds and hour +. The 650 and 1050 will load what they say, but take more knowledge and some mechanical skill to keep running. By the way, the Dillon no BS lifetime warranty is EXACTLY that. Call them on the phone and tell them what's up, the part will be on it's way, and they won't ask you for the old one.
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ditto on the carbide pistol dies. Case lubing is the most time consuming part of reloading, especially for large volumes of pistol cartridges. Carbide dies take care of that for you on STRAIGHT WALLED cases only, as far as I am aware.
All good advice on the entire string. BTW, i still use a single stage RCBS for all of my reloading.
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I have been reloading pistol and rifle ammo for around 30 years. Lee, RCBS and Redding make good equipment. I have used all three and have gone completely to Redding. Get the best that you can afford. Lot of great advice given here on what you need, safety and legal. Have fun.
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Like M25Operator said, if you shoot a lot, follow his suggestions.
If you are more an accuracy or bench rest type shooter, subscribe to Precision Shooting Magazine and look at www.sinclairintl.com for equipment and components. I load more for accuracy rather than volume, so I use a Redding press, Redding bench rest dies, Redding scale and a good micrometer (a must). For priming, a Bonaza co-axial primer seater. I have a Lyman 55 powder measure, pain in the butt to set-up and Lee powder measure, nice and cheap ($25).
I measure cases and loaded rounds for straightness and alignment and have found that Redding equipment does a better job for that. For me a great shooting session is getting 5 rd group measuring .25" or better. Fun part (also fustrating) is developing a load that will do that or get close to it.