Thread: Wannabe reloader - gear advice please

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Ftx325,
Welcome to the world of handloading. This is an addictive but highly rewarding pastime. The main piece of advice I can offer is to see if you can find a mentor to start with, something I did not have when I started close to fifty years ago. Try to find someone with grey hair. These tend to have more experience and time and will know what kit you need for a start and will help you to set it up properly. You may also be able to start loading on their kit while you get used to the process. First purchase should be a loading manual. One from the manufacturer of the projectiles you are likely to use would be ideal. Read it several times, especially the opening chapters. Plan on getting a chronograph early on, the grey haired handloader mentioned above will likely have one. Finally, join a club. Your local NZDA Branch is into target shooting with their own range and likely well stocked with grey haired handloaders as well.
Happy to answer any specific questions on gear. Grandpamac.

+1

Everyone needs a reloading sensei, was lucky enough to make friends with someone like this who I still ask for help and consult on a regular basis.

Odds are if you are about to make a fuck up they will have been there, done it and paid a bill to have it fixed, so listen!

Originally Posted by Ftx325

thanks much for the input guys , really appreciate the advice. I think I will do as suggested and try and build up a kit piece by piece as that will also help spread out the cost. There have already been a few bits and pieces mentioned I hadn't factored in such as a chrony for example.
The reason for deciding to finally have a go is I don't appear to be able to purchase the rounds I use in my second favourite rifle anymore .... the 338 lap mag.
(as a side note if anyone knows where I can get a box or two of 338 lap mag in the federal american eagle 250 gr I would be eternally grateful ... i'm down to 7 rounds total left...)
So I would be looking at 338 to reload primarily but I also have but have five other calibres from 357 , 7.62x 39 through to the mighty 45/70
I am guessing should probably look at starting with a smaller less powerful cartridge to 'practice' before stepping up to the big boys toys in the interest of not blowing my face off?
And another possibly silly question , do the dies have a standard thread so different brands work in different presses or do hornady dies require a hornady press and so on ?

A 1,2,3 here to help.

1- Richard Lee's Modern Reloading, read cover to cover first then reference again later (full PDF here, free):http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manu...%20-%20ocr.pdf

2-Buy a Lee Loader first. They only make them in sensible chamberings so if you can't find a Lee Loader for your rifle's cartridges...

and watch the inventor (Richard Lee, probably around 80 here, now passed RIP) knock out a round: https://youtu.be/UeEl9wZyabc

3- Test fire

If still alive after 3 then you can buy a press and dies... and regret starting after you are down $5k in gear

The Dan Newberry has a good write up on the different tools you need and how necessary they are.
Tools of the Trade

Also the Hornady headspace comparator and bullet comparator are very helpful. The threaded case thingy is unnecessary.

Gunblue490 has a great series on YouTube for reloading from start to finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXnwM_T9BMg

Originally Posted by Ftx325

thanks much for the input guys , really appreciate the advice. I think I will do as suggested and try and build up a kit piece by piece as that will also help spread out the cost. There have already been a few bits and pieces mentioned I hadn't factored in such as a chrony for example.
The reason for deciding to finally have a go is I don't appear to be able to purchase the rounds I use in my second favourite rifle anymore .... the 338 lap mag.
(as a side note if anyone knows where I can get a box or two of 338 lap mag in the federal american eagle 250 gr I would be eternally grateful ... i'm down to 7 rounds total left...)
So I would be looking at 338 to reload primarily but I also have but have five other calibres from 357 , 7.62x 39 through to the mighty 45/70
I am guessing should probably look at starting with a smaller less powerful cartridge to 'practice' before stepping up to the big boys toys in the interest of not blowing my face off?
And another possibly silly question , do the dies have a standard thread so different brands work in different presses or do hornady dies require a hornady press and so on ?

Try and remember that there is rarely the chance to 'practice'. Always keep your finger well away from ya ass, as smaller rounds often have more pressure than the larger ones. The resultant explosion is just as damning as with any other. All dies, other than the small Simplex Ozzy ones seem universal in my experience.

Originally Posted by caberslash

+1

2-Buy a Lee Loader first. They only make them in sensible chamberings so if you can't find a Lee Loader for your rifle's cartridges...

and watch the inventor (Richard Lee, probably around 80 here, now passed RIP) knock out a round: https://youtu.be/UeEl9wZyabc

3- Test fire

If still alive after 3 then you can buy a press and dies... and regret starting after you are down $5k in gear

I had looked at a the lee loader in the 45/70 (assuming we are talking about the same thing) but was told not to waste my money and if you are going to do something do it properly.... so never got one in the end.
And don't tell the missus it is a money trap or that will be the end of it ....
She still doesn't know about the shotgun I bought then buried in the back of the safe and she thinks my latest , I can't live without it purchase , and modification of a t3x 308 is a thousand + dollars less than it actually is .... where she got her figures from I don't know ... honest..

Originally Posted by mimms2

Reloading is plenty safe if done with due care and attention. You'll be using a pretty bulky powder with those cartridges so double charging not going to be a worry. If you always seat to SAAMi spec and book loads then you'll be safe as. For an edge in accuracy, seat out to mag length/ closer to the lands.

I feel safe enough with my skills as far as the hands on part of the operation (I have engineering experience, mechanical experience and enjoy working with my hands and making stuff)
It's all the small details that you no doubt only pick up with experience that might trip me up and things like correct powder choice and learning the terms and technical info which might take a while to learn (old dog new tricks etc...I also have grey hair)

Originally Posted by Ftx325

I had looked at a the lee loader in the 45/70 (assuming we are talking about the same thing) but was told not to waste my money and if you are going to do something do it properly.... so never got one in the end.
And don't tell the missus it is a money trap or that will be the end of it ....
She still doesn't know about the shotgun I bought then buried in the back of the safe and she thinks my latest , I can't live without it purchase , and modification of a t3x 308 is a thousand + dollars less than it actually is .... where she got her figures from I don't know ... honest..

The Lee Loader gets a bad rap for no good reason.

It has limitations, only the pistol/straight wall cartridges will be full length resized, the bottle neck cases are just neck sized.

It's the only kit that will fit in a pocket allow you to reload a round from scratch with components.

It's based on the old benchrest 'hand dies' that people used to use when 'knocking up' a load at the range, on the fly. L.E Wilson dies are a high dollar version.

If you ask around for Lee Loaders odds are you will find someone has an old one they will let you borrow/buy/have.

I use the lee anniversary kit. I seat a bullet while the scale is swinging for the next one.

Have bought a hand primer and a trickler to go with it. Might get some better case prep tools but otherwise all good

Originally Posted by Ftx325

I feel safe enough with my skills as far as the hands on part of the operation (I have engineering experience, mechanical experience and enjoy working with my hands and making stuff)
It's all the small details that you no doubt only pick up with experience that might trip me up and things like correct powder choice and learning the terms and technical info which might take a while to learn (old dog new tricks etc...I also have grey hair)

You'll be fine then, the Rock Chucker kit that was auctioned off on here the other week goes good. Unsure if your big boy bullets fit?? Someone could confirm that. But I think I use everything that came in the kit, even has a Nosler manual in it. +1 for Grandpamacs advice of a mentor.

I have a lee loader in 45/70, have had it for nearly 40 years. Now I prime the cases on a lee ramprime but everything else gets done on the hand loader.
The look on hut mates faces when you haul it out and reload your empties on the floor or table has to be seen to be believed.

Originally Posted by caberslash

+1

Everyone needs a reloading sensei, was lucky enough to make friends with someone like this who I still ask for help and consult on a regular basis.

Odds are if you are about to make a fuck up they will have been there, done it and paid a bill to have it fixed, so listen!



A 1,2,3 here to help.

1- Richard Lee's Modern Reloading, read cover to cover first then reference again later (full PDF here, free):http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manu...%20-%20ocr.pdf

2-Buy a Lee Loader first. They only make them in sensible chamberings so if you can't find a Lee Loader for your rifle's cartridges...

and watch the inventor (Richard Lee, probably around 80 here, now passed RIP) knock out a round: https://youtu.be/UeEl9wZyabc

3- Test fire

If still alive after 3 then you can buy a press and dies... and regret starting after you are down $5k in gear

JESUS CHRIST! SCOTLAND!!!!!
Aye laddie!
Howdy, hows the haggis going?

hornady lock n load kit is a good start, everything you really need to get started
just remember to have good lighting where you load to see defects in cases etc

lee stuff is great...just not the toothpaste like lube......I can sort you out with lots of stuff....got some paper manuals, ....lee scales are AWESOME......you just need to know how to handle a teaspoon....or better still LEE spoons.
the aniversary kit looks pretty good value for money to me...recently bought set of LEE RGB dies...and they are a Really Good Buy....
any help you need just ask.....more than happy to answer any questions. pay it forward so to speak from the fellas who helped me out.
can make you some loading blocks...piece of piss not Ive bought some spade bits....was pissed the 45/70 shells couldnt fit in block I had....

I am no guru but here is my advice probably best taken with a pinch of salt.

Buy a cast iron press....second hand if need be, cast alloy is just junk.

The larger cartridges like you intend loading are much more forgiving of a bit of powder weight variance than say a smaller cartridge like 223 where a grain difference can go from safe to really really not safe......so big dollars on weighing and dispensing powder not needed yet. Scoop and trickle onto a beam or electronic scale willl do ya fine.

Dies are dies....buy some second hand if you can. If not some lyman/hornady/lee will do fine...micrometer seating etc can wait.....I am still waiting.

Get the dies first, then with dies any other loader should be able to help you out and run you threw brass prep, sizing, loading etc.

Do not buy "one shot" sizing lubricant ..its called that for a reason, some imperial sizing wax or lyman case lube will see you right.

If ya get some dies I am happy to run you threw with my very basic setup.
Even have a chrony somewhere.....up at Pengys I think.

Originally Posted by mimms2

Agree. Lee press=OK. Lee Kit= useless crap.
Their scales are fricken tiny, so unless you have girly midget hands, quite frustrating.

The thing with spending more is not only greater quality, and longevity, but comfort to use

If you're filling those 45-70 laundry tubs then the Lee may be underpowered. It'll do it, but you're stressing yourself and the gear.

beam scales

DIY a tumbler for stainless pins.

And I like paper, so a couple of reloading bibles. But if you're up with technology then you can get recipes on your tablet/laptop as above.

lee handles 45/70 fine..its actually a piece of piss round to load for....

Love the Lee Reloader Video that's where I started 40+ years ago. Memories the flatmates thought I would blow them all up.