Stuff you don't need...
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
Stuff you don't need...
Vapodog mentioned in another post that there are alot of expensive reloading gadgets that are not needed for reloading. I thought its a pretty good idea, so I strated this thread.
True, alot of expensive gadgets make reloading much easier, but most aren't necessary.
My list of things not needed for every day reloading, but that I currently use or own:
-$75 case trimmers
-specialized tools for determining OAL of cartridges
-Cartridge headspace guages
-Hand priming tool
-Powder measure
-flash hole uniforming tool
-kinetic bullet puller
-collet crimp dies
The only items in the list that I would absolutely not want to live without are the hand priming tool, and powder measure however.
True, alot of expensive gadgets make reloading much easier, but most aren't necessary.
My list of things not needed for every day reloading, but that I currently use or own:
-$75 case trimmers
-specialized tools for determining OAL of cartridges
-Cartridge headspace guages
-Hand priming tool
-Powder measure
-flash hole uniforming tool
-kinetic bullet puller
-collet crimp dies
The only items in the list that I would absolutely not want to live without are the hand priming tool, and powder measure however.
#2
RE: Stuff you don't need...
For the most part, I agree... Except for the powder measure! I sure do love that powder measure when I start loading a couple hundred or more rounds of .45 ACP at a time. I can't imagine how long it would take to throw that many rounds one at a time by weighing them indidvidually. I have an RCBS powder measure and I can throw hundreds of rounds with Winchester powder and be in the same spot at the end (checking every ten rounds or so just to be sure).
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: Stuff you don't need...
I'll add to the list of unneeded tools.....at least for the reloader going hunting........Benchresters are different!!!
A collet type bullet puller.....use a fencing pincers.....it works on all calibers and will pull bullets from anything and any caliber!!!
Neck turning tools.....neat tools but absolutely unneeded
flash hole deburring tools
Primer pocket uniformers
Runnout gauges.....Big Country.....are you paying attention????
Micrometer adjusted super dooper seating dies........wow!!! What a gimmick!!!
Digital scales.......another neat tool that I can live without easily.....
A collet type bullet puller.....use a fencing pincers.....it works on all calibers and will pull bullets from anything and any caliber!!!
Neck turning tools.....neat tools but absolutely unneeded
flash hole deburring tools
Primer pocket uniformers
Runnout gauges.....Big Country.....are you paying attention????
Micrometer adjusted super dooper seating dies........wow!!! What a gimmick!!!
Digital scales.......another neat tool that I can live without easily.....
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oakland OR USA
Posts: 2,929
RE: Stuff you don't need...
When I first started reloading all I had was a press ,a set of dies, a loading manual and a scale . There wasn't a lot to choose from as far as equipment went then , that was 53 years ago . It does make you wonder how much of the equipment we have today is really necessary.
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Hampstead, Maryland
Posts: 179
RE: Stuff you don't need...
I do like the collet bullet pullers for this reason: There is a wealth of very inexpensive military surplus ammo out there. Much of this ammo will not shoot well for one reason or the other. I can pull a bunch of bullets, reduce the loads a bit and while doing that, make the loads more uniform and then, reseat the bullet to an OAL that suits my rifle. The resulting cartridges are very fine range burning ammo that groups close to match grade accuracy.
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: Stuff you don't need...
I do like the collet bullet pullers for this reason: There is a wealth of very inexpensive military surplus ammo out there. Much of this ammo will not shoot well for one reason or the other. I can pull a bunch of bullets, reduce the loads a bit and while doing that, make the loads more uniform and then, reseat the bullet to an OAL that suits my rifle. The resulting cartridges are very fine range burning ammo that groups close to match grade accuracy.