Reloading Kit Help
02-26-2014, 07:35 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 30
Reloading Kit Help
Hey guys, I have never reloaded before and want to get into it. The only thing holding me back is that I don't shoot a ton. If I were to buy a kit what would you guys suggest? Hopefully not looking to spend more than $250
02-27-2014, 03:42 AM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: North East PA. but not home.
Posts: 743
Look into the Lee loading outfits. These are not high priced but work just fine. Alot of folks have started with these. Lee dies work just fine,also. Then,once your hooked,if you like loading,then you can buy your way up to heavy duty tools.
02-27-2014, 07:04 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,445
Assuming you'r going to load for bottleneck cases (not straight-wall cases), and aside from your cartridge specific loading dies, powder, primer, and bullets you'll need:
A trimmer - a buddy just bought a trimmer (Lee I think) for under $15. It's a 2 piece thing, caliber specific, and can be powered by a drill. Seemed pretty handy for doing small quantities.
A scale to weigh powder charges. For small quantitites you can weigh all your charges. A powder measure can come later.
A press. I recommend a beginner's model, single stage, with a priming feature. If you get a press without a priming feature, you'll need to plan for another way to prime cases.
A way to lube cases.
Calipers. Really can't load rifle cases without a decent set of calipers.
A current or at least recent reloading manual. Be sure to read over the procedures for metallic cases a few times before loading cases.
There are plenty of other tools that can be used, but these are the minimium necessary. If you can find a kit that comes close to this, you can often get a better deal than buying separate items. Have fun.
A trimmer - a buddy just bought a trimmer (Lee I think) for under $15. It's a 2 piece thing, caliber specific, and can be powered by a drill. Seemed pretty handy for doing small quantities.
A scale to weigh powder charges. For small quantitites you can weigh all your charges. A powder measure can come later.
A press. I recommend a beginner's model, single stage, with a priming feature. If you get a press without a priming feature, you'll need to plan for another way to prime cases.
A way to lube cases.
Calipers. Really can't load rifle cases without a decent set of calipers.
A current or at least recent reloading manual. Be sure to read over the procedures for metallic cases a few times before loading cases.
There are plenty of other tools that can be used, but these are the minimium necessary. If you can find a kit that comes close to this, you can often get a better deal than buying separate items. Have fun.
02-27-2014, 08:00 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: WY
Posts: 2,056
You don't absolutely NEED a chronograph, but without it, feedback on your reloads will be the groups they print on a target. Of course, your shooting ability can also impact the size of those groups.
When you get serious about the quality and consistency of your reloads, you'll end up with a chronograph anyway. It's not like reloading components are plentiful and cheap like they used to be. If you're going to invest the money and time, you'd best get serious sooner than later.
When you get serious about the quality and consistency of your reloads, you'll end up with a chronograph anyway. It's not like reloading components are plentiful and cheap like they used to be. If you're going to invest the money and time, you'd best get serious sooner than later.
