Thread: Newbie advice

Staring out from scratch but really would love to get into reloading. Sadly i am on a tight budget (arent we all). If i buy a kit like this from guncity does it have everything i need, apart from dies and consumables?

https://www.guncity.com/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-anniversary-kit-362164

I am wanting to reload .308 and .303. I realise this is probably not the best set but it according to google it is a good starting kit. Happy to upgrade over time to better stuff but want to know if i can do it with this.

Alternatively where should i look for a cheaper kit? Very happy for second hand but i have missed a few on the buy and sell page on this forum so am reluctant to post another WTB request!

Be patient and look on trademe. Guncitys prices aren't that great

Originally Posted by mimms2

Lee is fine.
Some things you dont need (EZ trim, 2/5 their case prep pack) Their scales are tiny and fiddly. Doesn't include stand for powder throw. You'll want sets of quick-change bits for each die set.
Need shell holder/set
Dont strictly need seperate priming tool.
Loading block not included, which I consider essential.

Generally you'd do better buying things individually.

Thanks, very good to know. What are the essential items? Press, scales, powder measure and loading block seem logical, am i missing anything?
Keen to get the essentials first then add the things that make life easier as finances allow

Originally Posted by Phil_H

Have a look at this recent thread here...

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....r-308-a-62710/

It could start you reloading both the .308 and .303 very cheaply

Cheers
Phil

Thanks that was the thread i mentioned that i missed out on on the buy and sell page. It has spurred me to actually get my a into g. Some good advice on it and there was a link to a website i have found very useful.

Although that thread also confused me as to wether i should gets press or just a lee loader. I was thinking press before i read it....

The Lee Loader looks like it would get very old, very fast, with the amount of time and effort involved in loading each round. Also, I fail to see how any ammuntion loaded with a hammer and a scoop is going to be anywhere near as consistent as ammunition loaded on a press with proper dies and a set of scales. Cheap - but labour intensive and Soviet grade agricultural. Eventually your neck sized brass might also refuse to chamber - then what?

Definitely buy a press. I have mixed opinions on their kit though.

I started with the kit 3 years ago. I've learned that there are some things where using better quality tools will translate to a better quality finished product, and some things not so much. And that there are some things where saving a few dollars (even in the short term) is not worth the cost in time and sanity. About half of Lee kit was upgraded very quickly because it was either difficult to use or because I wasn't happy with the results.

- Doesn't include calipers (which are IMO essential).
- The scale. Replaced with a Hornady one very quickly. The Lee one doesn't have magnetic dampening and takes ages to settle and doesn't always do so repeatably.
- Case prep tools. Replaced with Lyman ones that come with handles and aren't fiddly af.
- Cutter and QuickTrim. The cutter is slow, and the QT needs individual dies to be of any use. Replaced with a universal bench mounted one.
- Powder thrower. Functional, but upgraded to an RCBS which is smoother, easier to adjust, and leaks less with ball powders.
- The hand priming tool. Actually pretty damn decent. Still using it - but it's not necessary if you're only loading a small volume.
- The press itself. Still using it. Not a fan of the bushing system but doubt I could produce noticeably better ammo with an RCBS/Redding/Forster press. Just superglue the wooden handle on because the feckin thing loves to come off otherwise.
- The lube. Nasty. Case wax is the way to go.

The only Lee dies I am using are their collet dies these days. I get much better consistency in sizing from the likes of RCBS and Redding and a good quality seating die is a good investment if you're chasing tiny groups.

Depends how many rounds you are going to do at a time I sometimes drag out one of my various lee loaders from time to time and have a session on it I use a shot filled dead blow hammer with my ones try one out worst case will be you've got a back up set when and if you graduate on to a press and dont be fooled by people saying you cant load accurate ammo with one

Originally Posted by AWBates

Staring out from scratch but really would love to get into reloading. Sadly i am on a tight budget (arent we all). If i buy a kit like this from guncity does it have everything i need, apart from dies and consumables?

https://www.guncity.com/lee-challeng...ary-kit-362164

I am wanting to reload .308 and .303. I realise this is probably not the best set but it according to google it is a good starting kit. Happy to upgrade over time to better stuff but want to know if i can do it with this.

Alternatively where should i look for a cheaper kit? Very happy for second hand but i have missed a few on the buy and sell page on this forum so am reluctant to post another WTB request!

I started with that kit, but bought some small hornady gs 1500 scales, never used the balance beam scales that came with the kit.
The lee perfect powder measurer isnt perfect, but if if you set it to throw a little less than you want and use a powder trickler, to finish, it 'l get you there.

I also tried the lee lube, but didn't like it, wound up making my own.

To summarise,
Lee anniversary kit,
Hornady GS1500 scales,
RCBS powder trickler
Some other type of case lube.

You live very close to Workshop Innovations. Give Robert a call and explain what you need.

Buy the best value for money (not cheapest) that matches your needs and you're much less likely to want to replace it as your knowledge/expectations grow.

Greetings AWBates,
I wouldn't discount the Lee Loader kit too quickly. I load most of my .303 ammunition using a Lee Loader to neck size the cases. There are a couple of things that I would be inclined to add to the kit. First some scales. I would go with Hornady or better balance beam scales rather than the cheap electronic ones. My old 5-0-5 Ohaus scales are still going strong 40 plus years after I bought them. Second a Lee hand case trimmer for the calibre you are loading. These come in two parts. Cutter and lock stud which are universal and pilot and case holder which are specific to the cartridge. Third and finally a hand primer. I have primed cases with the Lee Loader, carefully and wearing a full face shield, but won't be doing any more.

This kit is certainly slow to use which is an advantage for newbie hand loaders. It lets you think about what you are doing. It would also be ideal if you could find someone local to act as a mentor as you are starting out, preferably someone with some grey hair. This class of person generally has experience that can head off some of the beginner mistakes that you could make. They also often have time and are happy to assist the less experienced. PM me any specific questions if you like.
Regards Grandpamac.

My 2 cents...if its worth that much!

You don't need a lot of gear to get started. Some gear you don't need, but is useful and cheap so is worthwhile buying reloading blocks, powder funnel, lube pad and a powder trickler I put in this category).
Must haves
Press
Dies
Scales (I greatly prefer beam over digital)
Some form of measuring device (calipers or Lyman E-zee gauge).

I use a hand priming tool. I primed on the press for years, but I think for some presses that isn't an option.
Case trimming only needs to be done occasionally. For some of my cases it's only needed after 4 or 5 reloads, others are after 2, one brand needs doing after its first firing. You could get by using someone else's trimmer a few times a year.
Tumbler, nice to have but not essential, clean rags and paper towels will do the job.

I mostly use a lee anniversary kit I bought from reloaders works for me I’ve had no dramers

I have posted previously that I have used a Lee Challenger Press Kit since the mid '80's, as well as a Lee Loader Kit which I gave to Dan88 the other day, still got another one. Over the years the only exras that I've aquired are: RCBS champher tool, Lee powder thrower, Lee case length trimmers, primer pocket cleaner and a cheap set of electronic scales which I use as the mood takes me. as syated prviously the Lee Loader isn't that slow when you get in the flow, 20 rounds in 20 minutes or a bit less.
These days I reload maybe 60-100 rounds of .308 ammo per year and average about 20 rounds per week of .223. Still buy bulk .223 from time to time.
Either of my setups is capable of loading consistant, accurate ammo that meets my needs. Shooting over day pack with no or little wind, .223 consistantly hits a standard clay target (110mm diam) out to 400 yards. .308 out to 300 yards, I don't waste too much 308 ammo doing this these days.
So you can go as fancy and tech. as you want to but 'cheap shit' like Lee is plenty good enough , IMO.

Originally Posted by Pommy

The Lee Loader looks like it would get very old, very fast, with the amount of time and effort involved in loading each round. Also, I fail to see how any ammuntion loaded with a hammer and a scoop is going to be anywhere near as consistent as ammunition loaded on a press with proper dies and a set of scales. Cheap - but labour intensive and Soviet grade agricultural. Eventually your neck sized brass might also refuse to chamber - then what?

Definitely buy a press. I have mixed opinions on their kit .

Thanks. Perfect advice throughout. Just what i wanted and you confirmed my thinking re the press as well Very grateful

Originally Posted by woods223

I have posted previously that I have used a Lee Challenger Press Kit since the mid '80's, as well as a Lee Loader Kit which I gave to Dan88 the other day, still got another one. Over the years the only exras that I've aquired are: RCBS champher tool, Lee powder thrower, Lee case length trimmers, primer pocket cleaner and a cheap set of electronic scales which I use as the mood takes me. as syated prviously the Lee Loader isn't that slow when you get in the flow, 20 rounds in 20 minutes or a bit less.
These days I reload maybe 60-100 rounds of .308 ammo per year and average about 20 rounds per week of .223. Still buy bulk .223 from time to time.
Either of my setups is capable of loading consistant, accurate ammo that meets my needs. Shooting over day pack with no or little wind, .223 consistantly hits a standard clay target (110mm diam) out to 400 yards. .308 out to 300 yards, I don't waste too much 308 ammo doing this these days.
So you can go as fancy and tech. as you want to but 'cheap shit' like Lee is plenty good enough , IMO.

Thanks it does sound like the anniversary kit is a good starting point for me unless i can find the press etc and a few others going cheap on trademe. I already have some accurate scales and calipers! I imagine i would only do 100 rounds of .308 and maybe 20-50 .303 a year so i realise i am probably not doing volumes to justify loading Myself but i am always interested and i like the idea of improving accuracy.