serious help please!!!
 

first off just let me say i am as beginer as they come. so bare with please and understand i have no idea what some of these terms i have been reading are.. i read the post above stating what all i needed but i have a couple more questions. first, am i really saving anything reloading 308,243 or 30-06 rounds. and how many rounds before it pays for it self (aprox.. say with 308 which is what im most interested in.)i love shooting my 308 but its getting kind of pricey and if i can dampen the price a little over time it would be great pluss i think it would be neat to taylor my own rounds. second question: is their a good kit out there that has everything i need to get started or am i needing to mix and match to get what you would call a decent setup. third i am wanting to save as much money as possible with out buying "junk"(if you know what i mean) tell me please where i need to go and what brand etc.i need to go with, cheap; again please dont mistaken cheap for junk.
i know responding to this might be a little hard and time consuming for you;but if you can answer any or all of these questions, you would really be helping me out because right now im shooting in the dark and i cant stand just throwing money out trying different things if people already know what i truely need(i know.. "money pincher" is right. college is killing me..lol).
again any info would be wonderfull greatly appreciated.
thanks alot
Jeff S.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

To start your answer; GET A COUPLE OF GOOD RELOADING MANUALS, second, you can reload nearly half the price of store-bought ammo, and taylor a better round. Next, get a RCBS Rock-Chucker kit, it will come with the press, scale,powder mesure, hand priming tool, and a few other things you will need to get started except for the dies,IMO it is the best kit on the market for the money, and will last a lifetime without problems. Ive been useing mine for about 20 years and I bought it used at a gun show, also RCBS has great customer service. Once you are ready to get started make a few dummy rounds to get the hang of it, makeing sure you have your dies set up correct and your results are to spec. After your ready make up a few rounds following the powder charge charts in the manual, start off on the lower side of the powder charges and work your way up until you find the most accurate set-up. Last, if your ever in any doubt, ask questions, the only dumb question is the one that was never asked!! CAUTION should always be your main concern, reloading is dangerous, but when done right it is very rewarding!.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

The manual recommendation is right on. Read a couple of manual's from cover to cover a couple of times. This time spent is the best advice you can get.

After you fully understand what you need, you are ready to go. My advice is to look in the classified's section of some different forum's. You can find some great deal's there. Also contact some mfrs., they sell a lot of reconditioned equipment at a great price. I just bought a blemished Lyman Orange Crusher(basically the exact same press as a RCBS rock crusher) for $65 from Lyman. I can not find a blemish on it.

You can save a little money by reloading, but you can get alot of money tied up in reloading equipment as well. Tom.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

First: Get and read several manuals. It is a big help and you will always have them as references.

Second: If you just want to shoot cheap Winchester ammo you really will not save any money. If on the other hand premium ammo performance is what you are looking for then you can reload each round for much less. The only problem is you will probably end up shooting more.

Third: Lee stuff is not junk. Will you want to upgrade later? Probably, but it will make you some good ammo until you are ready to piece together exactly what you want. $$$

Fourth: All of the basic kits leave something to be desired. You will sill want to get a few extra things to start that are not in the basic kits. Calipers, powder trickler, case trimming tools, Stony Point Products Bullet Comparator / Insert Set, ect.

Fifth: Reloading CAN be incredibly frustrating. Nothing worth doing is usually easy. There are literally thousands of combinations of components and lengths that can be tried for any caliber. Chasing down and figuring a round that each of you firearms likes is a challenge, but it has its reward at the end. (Giant smile)

I started with the Lee Anniversary kit and added a few things to start and more over the last couple of years. My next purchase is going to be a Foster Co-Ax press from cabelas. You might get in to reloading and decide you don’t like it, so watch how much money you put into it in the beginning. Good luck and welcome to the next level in gun nuttiness.

mello

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Lee Classic cast press- Are as good if not better than RCBS or Redding presses that cost 2-3x as much.

Lee Dies- In standard common calibers are good enough to get the job done (I've had a few issues with dies in oddball and obscure cartridges- die makers don't always get the specs right). For more obscure chamberings, I buy Redding.

Ohaus beam balance- These are branded by different reloading companies, most notably RCBS- they're worth their weight in gold or at least worth their weight in intact body parts.

Imperial Sizing Die Wax (now owned by Redding)- best sizing lube out there. Period. A $5 tin will last a very long time.

Lee case trimmer- for about $10 you get a trimmer that works very efficiently- add about $4 for each additional case length guage for different cartridges. Skip the zip trim and chuck the shell holder up in a drill.

RCBS chamfer/debur tool- Better than Lees, cost about $15 and will last a lifetime.

Lee perfect powder measure ($30)- it looks like a flimsy piece of crap but its the only measure for under $150 that will accurately and consistantly measure IMR powders. (You'll probably be using IMR or other hard to meter stick powders in .308, .243, and especially 30-06.

As far as saving money or breaking even- its not going to happen, noway, nohow.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

The Lee Anniversary kit works just fine and can be had for around $70 or less. It comes with a scale, powder measure, challanger press, auto prime and shell holders for it. The only thing really needed after that are dies, primers, powder and bullets. Sure, you will want to upgrade some of the pieces over time, but to get started and understanding what everything you have been reading about is for its a great way to go. To speed things up, I picked up a cheap basic lee reloader press for $20 for sizing bullets, depriming and some other tasks from time to time and it works great. Lee dies work ok too for the money, but I can foresee myself upgrading those down the road too. And you can save money on even cheap bullets if you shop. Right now Cabelas has Remington Corelokt bullets for $70 per 500 which is a pretty good from what I have seen so far. They kill deer very well. As far as cases, every case you save is savings back in your pocket since that is the most expensive part of reloading. 308 cases are about $20-30 per 100 from what I have seen so far this year. And they are climbing in price every 6 months from what I have seen. Powder is going up all the time too as well as everything else. Which I guess would be why the basic $6 a box of 30-30 that I was buying 3 years ago is now $13?

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Here is a list of what I consider mandatory for beginners.
1. RCBS-Rock Chucker or similar type press
2. Powder scale I have a RCBS 5-0-2 cheapest one I found at the time, works very well.
3. Table mounted case trimmer , I have useda Forster/Bonanza for years and love it.
4. Lee hand priming tool, simple and inexpensive.
5. Lee powder scoop set, this is a major alternative to a full scale powder measure. Use app. scoop and trickle in
to reach desired charge. I average 50 rds per about 25 minutes. These are dead on exact charges every time.
6. Stainless dial caliper, probably go digital nowdays, they have really came down in price.
7. Dies of your choice, I use RCBS (so do probably 80% of reloaders out there).
8. Deburring tool, primer pocket brush, case lube(I would go with the stuff in an aerosol can) simple and cheap.
9. Last but not least, Atleast one quality reloading manual. I can't believe how often I need to refer back to it.

Price out the stuff on this list and see what thecost difference is between buying these products individually as compared to buying one of the manufacturers kits. I don't think the average hunter/shooter will save very much coin by loading their own ammo after the initial investment, but if you are serious about wanting to tailor your own loads for each of your rifles, then jump in head first and enjoy it for what it is. Personal satisfaction and a great hobby. Good Luck and I hope this helps you out somewhat.;)

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I can't believe nobody mentioned Lee Loaders. A cheap and relatively easy alternative to a press and dies. It would be a good way to get a feel for whether or not you'll get into handloading. If you did decide that was for you, make sure you read the manuals everybody mentioned (especially all the info you can find on effects of high chamber pressure on casings, it will help you recognize a problem hopefully before it becomes something more), and you'll also need a decent powder scale (the Lee scale mentioned works great), case sizing lube, a debur tool, and a primer pocket brush. One thing to keep in mind with the Lee Loader is that it is a little more tedious work to load a round, but that is not neccessarily a bad thing when you're new to it. Another up side is that you can always take the gear to the range and load ammo there (never had that desire myself but it would be possible). Good luck and take it slow....

Here is a link to a .308 Lee Loader on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lee-Loader-308-W...QQcmdZViewItem

RE: serious help please!!!
 

thanks alot guys for all the help .. if i were to get all the stuff needed. who sells equipmentthe cheapes besides ebay. i had my credit card number stolen there so i refuse it.i am defanently going to get into this. what are some of the best manual's(i need one that teaches you the basics as well as advance if possible)
and where do i go and what do i get as far as powder and bullets to start out. i am wanting something that will be accurate as heck and not do much pelt damage.
i cant believe all the help i have recieved. i just built a bench todayin my garage and now all i need is the stuff to start.
i REALY appreciate all the help
Jeff S.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

after looking at reviews from this post and other post people have put up. i think i am going to go with the Lee Anniversary kit. besides a 308 die and primers powder and bullets, what do i need to get started right? i want to order everything at once as to save shipping
thanks guys.
Jeff s.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

The Lee Anniversary kit has pretty much everything needed to get started besides the dies. I used the old Lee Loader when I got started and it was a great way to get my feet wet before jumping head first into reloading. You can pick one of those up for about $15 new, or even cheaper used. Then you just need a mallet and hard surface to work on. You can always go to the Lee website and look to see what they offer. Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I am pretty much anti-Lee as you can get and do what I can to steer people away from them, and hve personally recieved PM's on several ocassions where the new reloader thanked me for steering them away when they got a nice rockchucker press or simular.

But for your case of cheap, it might work. Just don't expect the straightest ammo or precision ammo with the lee.

I know some on here, who I trust, says the lee cast is decent. But I would definately stay away from thier pacer die sets.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

For a fairly complete list of what you need look at the top of the Relaoding forum for the topic
New to reloading? READ THIS FIRST!
It is a good list to start with. You should be able to drive down to Cabela's in Hazelwood,MO and pick up every thing at once. That way you can also see and feel the different kits before you buy. Look for carbide dies, just my personal pref.

Good luck,
mello

RE: serious help please!!!
 

thanks mello i have read that...

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I recommend you stay away from Lee. Their presses are made heavy enough to do the job OK but their accessories have a lot to be desired. The Lee's Safety scale works pretty good and seems to be accurate but only goes up to100 grs so using it to also weigh bullets and such is out unless your shooting some small bullets. The Lee's Perfect Powder Measurer is a joke and made very flimsy, I weigh every load anyhow but with the Lee's Perfect Powder Measure you have no choice. I have all these so I am speaking from experience. Buy an RCBS kit and you won't be upgrading your Lee stuffin just a few months and wondering what your going to do with it. Buy RCBS dies too, they are definitely worth the money and not even expensive anyhow. With the old saying you get what you pay for truly holds true with reloading equipment. You can definitely get by using Lee reloading equipment but you will enjoy it more with good equipment.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

+1 Tom.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Whut's a Lee...??

Never heard of 'em.

Grins...................

RE: serious help please!!!
 

The savings explanation is easy! Whenever you throw away a brass cartridge case from a centerfire rifle, you are DISCARDING ABOUT 75% of the cost of that round of ammo. If you only shoot a box or less (20 rounds) of ammo per year, it probably doesn't matter. But, if you are a shooter, a low-cost reloading outfit will save you money that is better spent on rifles, scopes, powder,primersand bullets.

In addition, you may discover that the challenge of making accurate, powerful ammo is itself a fun, rewarding pastime as well as just shooting! Like you, I started out reloading (1954) for the purpose of being able to shoot my cheapie M721 Rem. .30/'06 more. It wasn't long that I discovered that making GOOD ammo is challenging and rewarding. Many thousands of rounds of a great many different calibers have gone downrange since, and the amount of money I have spent thus far on reloading supplies and equipment would probably buy a boxcar load of factory ammo! (Well, NOT at today's prices!!) But if faced with the same proposition today, I would do it all over again exactly the same way!!

RE: serious help please!!!
 

You can not have enough manuals , you will see not every bullet and or primer , powder combo is in just one manual , but you need at least one to start out with. The choice of reloader is up to your budget , as long as your budget gets all that is required. Yes they all will make ammo and some will make better ammo then others.
I'm not sure when carbide dies came out (pistol) ,but I jumped on that band wagon as soon as they came out , I've tried the carbide expander balls and have broken a couple of them and quit using them . I have a Lee 1000 and it has served me well through out the years ,but I use RCBS dies for every thing and most are over twenty years old( more like 25 ) I use a single stage Pacific 007 only because I like the angle of the main body , makes it fast to put a case in the shell holder( my first was a RCBS rock chucker and its about the same as the 007 ,but the frame is in the way to me )I also have a RCBS Green Machine in 44 mag , how many remember that progressive reloader ?
As said above ,you can see where this is leading , you will never stop acquiring equipment if you keep reloading, Buy what you can afford and have fun and be careful.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I have to laugh about all the people who preach stay away from Lee, how many have actually used Lee products. While I admit they are not the highest quality, there is certainly nothing that would prevent you from loading quality ammo. If just starting out and on a budget then I highly recommend Lee to learn on, then when you have more of a budget to work with you can upgrade. The only exception I have is the Lee safety scale, don't waste your time, spend another $ 30 and get a Lyman scale.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Good gear sells itself....the rest is bought by bargain hunters.

To each his own...............

RE: serious help please!!!
 

You're probably going to end up with better stuff in a few years, so why not bite the bullet and get it now? I can't see wasting money on something you will be upgrading in a relatively short time anyhow. If you are serious about producing quality custom made ammo, learn how to do it right with decent equipment right off the bat. JMO........

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I have and currently have two presses by them, (not in use and need to go on ebay).

I think you will find most people on here started with lee and learned thier lesson. I have to laugh at people who does not know better.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I have a Lee handpress, and it is good for seating bullets. It is tough to try to resize with it, unless you are the 800-pound gorilla in the room! In addition, you can't prime cases with it. I also have a Lee Turret press. It works OK, but it is no Redding, Forster, or RCBS! Same with Lee dies. About all I can say about them is that they work-but I would want another brand for precision ammo!

I started reloading in 1954 with a Lyman 310 tong tool with a .30/'06 die set. I currently have 310 dies for .45 Colt, .45/70, .30/06, 308 Win., 6.5 Jap, and .280 Remiongton. With the .308 and '06 dies, I can reload all .30 cal. rounds that have a case diameter no larger than the 7.62X54R Russian, and the others lend themselvces to loading other cartridges as well as the one thy were made for. For example, I can load 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer, 6.5X52 Carcano, 6.5X55, 6.5X57, 6.5/'06, and 6.5 Gibbs ammo with the 6.5 Jap dies. I can also load 7X57mm Mauser ammo with the .280 Remington dies. Yes, I have a set of 7/8X14 dies for all these rounds too, and many others as well. But it is sometimes amazing what you can make do with!

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I'm still using both Lee presses I have and they work very good and I like my Lee's easy primer very much and the safety scale works fine but like said earlier it only weighs up to 100grs is my only gripe on it,but Lee's other stuff is just not worth buying. I would never use Lee's dies for any reason when I can buy RCBS dies as inexpensively as they are. I wish I would have spent the money I spent on the Lee stuff and just used it on better stuff right off the bat. Now I have some Lee stuff I don't like and reselling it will net nothing. I will have a Lee safety scale and perfect powder measure for sale real soon if anyone likes Lee reloading stuff a lot.;)

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Started out here shootin' a tang safety M77 in 7X57, a beat up old relic I aquired on the cheapoff the used rack...too many moons ago.

Couldn't afford factory ammo and promptly went into reloading for the sole reason to save money. Problem was I couldn't afford reloading gear either.

Picked up a Lee Loader and a Speer manual at a gun show...for next to nuthin'.

Started hammering loads together andwas pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

When money loosened up and I could afford a press and dies, I chose tospend a few extra dollars on an RCBS starter kit, I'm still using that press today.....over 25 years later. Worth every nickle I spent on it.

I added a few things over the years that made life easier, RCBS, Forster, Hornady, Lyman, Redding...PACT. Nuthin' though, Lee.

Maybe Lee has stepped up to the plate and is now producing adequategoods, but when I started out it was mostly junk.

Those old Lee Loaders, though, did get me started out pretty fair.................

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Hey I'm getting in late but here is my two cents worth, I was always an RCBS man (cannot say one thing bad about there equipment) ,I also have a Dillion Progressive Press(again cannot say anything bad) but both Brands are expensive but they will last a lifetime( I've had Rockchucker for years and It still performs flawlessly) I would never even look at Lee because it was so cheap it couldn't be good and all my friends had RCBS and Dillion and laught at the mention of Lee,long story short I purchased a Lee Progressive press and dies at a garage sell and WOW...I hate to say it but my Lee performs as well as my Dillion and the Lee dies are as well built as the RCBS buy Lee save money, but most importantly buy good reloading manuals and read them! I use Nosler, Hornady,Speer,Sierra and Lee in that order, your first one should be the brand of bullet you think you will use most Good Luck

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I was running out of room so here's rest, Lee Dies(carbide) ,press and primer loader are fine but I would recomend a RCBS scales and powder measures, Lee is good at the big stuff but your more precise instruments I would go with RCBS, REDDING,LYMAN any of the big names......Compare Natchez, Midway and Midsouth Shooters on line for best prices,Good Luck and be careful its very safe and lots of fun as long as you pay attention to what your doing, I haven't fired a store bought round since 1976...

RE: serious help please!!!
 

You are about crazy to think the Lee1000 performs well. I hate mine. If you miss a primer, all cain breaks loose. If you forget and get below half full on the powder hopper, you got a dangerous situation. And if you try to crimp and set COL, your shells are going to be all over the place on the Lee. Not so with the 550B.

RE: serious help please!!!
 

I must be crazy, I spend a lot less time keeping my Lee Loadmaster running than my B550, who said anything about a Pro 1000, I was suggesting Duckdog would be just as happy with a Lee single stage as anything else as a beginning loader ,are we debating personal preferences for progressive presses now

RE: serious help please!!!
 

Sorry, thought you were talking Pro1000. I never tried the loadmaster, so I can't dog it. But if its anything like the 1000, or thier dies. tossit:D