Thread: Looking at reloading, what do I need?

Ok so I am looking at getting into this reloading thing and have a few questions, mainly about what gear is essential and or useful to have. First off I will probably only have 100ish cases so will not be reloading thousands of rounds. I would also like to have a play with heavy cast projectiles and subsonic loads at some stage.

Now from what I have seen, without spending lots of cash there is the Lee 50th anniversary kit which seems to have almost everything that is required, although from what I have read the balance and powder thrower are not that great. Would I be better off just buying the press and a better balance (either second hand or new) and weighing out each charge or are the components in the kit not too bad?

Then there are dies, for a bolt action it seems that a neck sizing die is the way to go, do the cases also need to be fully sized at any point in their life (only used in one chamber)?
When is a crimp die required (I realise that this may be a lot to do with personal opinion as well as specific case/projectile/rifle combinations)?
Basically what the two above questions relate to are, is it worth buying something like the Lee Pacesetter set and a separate collet die or just buy the collet die set.

Although not really necessary the calibres Im am looking at are .303 and 7.62x39 (which I know is cheaper to buy but hey...)
And I am also aware of the loading manual, powder manufacturer and projectile manufacturer data.

Following with interest. Probably don't do enuf to justify the initial startup cost, but long term could make some savings and accuracy should improve

Been down this rabbit hole (it's a deep one) factory ammo is getting better these days for accuracy, have to do a lot of shooting to be saving money, but it is a fun hobby

I started with a Lee kit.
Get extra die bushings to speed up changing of dies.

Added dies, projectiles, power.
Ultrasonic cleaner or tumbler depending on how you want to clean.

I use a couple of hundred cases in each calibre. Clean and reload 50-100+ at time.

Most useful is some friends who reload who can walk and talk you throught the process.
Never be afraid to asked questions, even the dumbest of questions.
Actually the only dumb question is the one you didn't/wouldn't ask.

I would go a tiny bit extra and for $600 get this. Many say Lee is good. I hate the shit!!

Gunsmithing &Reloading Tools - Redding Big Boss Pro-Pak, Reloading Kits

Get the lee kit and the lee deluxe die kits.

The scales are bad but perfectly serviceable, a trickler makes them a lot easier to use.

I've got a Lee kit and between me and @Nibblet it's loaded thousands of rounds and is still going strong, .223 .308 6.5x55 7mmRM 338Lapua Magnum 338Edge.

All I upgraded was the scales, but it produced perfectly accurate ammo before I changed scales too.

Nothing wrong with Lee can anyone tell the difference between Lee loaded ammo and say rcbs for example

All people with shit stuff defend the hell out of it

Get the Lee

Who said RCBS was any good?

Originally Posted by zimmer

Who said RCBS was any good?

My Lyman gear seems to work well.

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Originally Posted by Gibo

All people with shit stuff defend the hell out of it

Get the Lee

I remember that conversation with you a year or two back
Lee gear is shit end of story

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I have a lee press, it works pretty well, my rockchucker cracked right through the frame, been replaced but I cant be bothered swapping them back over, lee scales etc are bloody terrible though!
To start basic reloading you need:

A Press

Some dies and shell holder

A GOOD balance beam scale (rcbs etc)

Powder thrower, not necessary for small volume stuff, but a powder trickler is bloody good, I weigh every load and trickle it up to weight as im only loading my hunting ammo and sometimes a few for a gong session so I don't mind the extra time it takes

A powder funnel

Good calipers

Case prep tools, just a chamfer tool will suffice for a start

Some decent case lube, lee stuff is terrible, I use "Unique"

A hand primer tool, or press addition to prime

That would get you going, you can add and subtract from there.

what do you need for reloading? time, patience, deep pockets, meticulous atention to details... did i miss anything for those deeper down the rabbit hole than me?

A press is what you need
a 3 die set, youll need all 3
a set of balance scales
primer pocket cleaning tool
lee case trimmer
vernier calipers

consumables:
cases, you have those = free
projectiles, anywhere from 50-$120 a packet
powder, 60 for a tin of ADI
Primers, 10 bucks per 100

if your rifles shoots well with highland or PPU, id use that instead of buying all this shit!