How to get started reloading ammunition

[rtimgray]

First of all, I apologize if there's another thread about this, and I'll bet there is, but I'll be danged if I can find it. I tried searching several different ways, but couldn't find what I'm looking for.

Anyway, here is, in a nutshell, what I'm looking for:

How the heck do I get started reloading ammunition? I would like to do more shooting than I do, but the cost of ammunition (and availability) is tough. There's a couple of guys here at work that reload, and while they had some trouble finding powder/primers/bullets etc. for a while, they say supplies have opened up pretty good for those. I've posed the question to they about getting started reloading, but they are not forthcoming with information (I guess it's a guarded secret about how to get into the reloading club and they don't want me to join).

I know that I want to be able to reload 9mm, .40 s&w, .45 acp, .45 colt and .357 magnum in pistol calibers and .223 and .308 in rifle. There are several other rifle calibers I would like to reload as well, but I figure that may come later.

What equipment do I need? Do you use the same equipment for pistol and rifle cartridges or is it different? Are there good brands and bad brands? What are different methods? I've always heard of single-stage and progressive and I have no idea what the differences really are.

I would appreciate any advice on this and want to clarify that I don't know anything about this, so I really dont' think that you can be too simple with me - I promise I won't take offense.

If there is a good website that breaks it down as well that you might recommend, I would like to know as well. The problem is that when I'm at work (like now) most firearms-related sites are blocked.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[k0ua]

Everyone will have different opinions, but I have mine Go get yourself a Dillon Precision progressive RL550B and don't look back. yes it is a lot of money, but it is of excellent quality and you can reload anything except .50BMG. Single stage presses are set up to do one thing at a time, progressives do it all at the same time. Progressives are much faster. Dillon has a lifetime no BS warranty, and they are just a phone call away to help you with any problems you have.. You will also need a good scale.. I suggest a good digital, Dillon makes a nice one, and that is what I have.. The Dillon RL550B allows you to change the whole toolhead and keep all your adjustments set just one time including the powder measure. You have a different measure for each caliber and can keep the powder in them if you wish. The shellplates are very easy to change out, the priming change between small and large primers does take about 5 minutes but is easy to do. Fortunately .45acp, and many of the rifle cartridges like .308 win, and 30-06 all use the same shellplate and all use large primers. You will of course need large pistol for .45acp and large rifle primers for the rifle cartridges mentioned. Reloading requires a lot of study, and requires a "hard minded person". In other words, a serious, studious, person that is willing to be responsible for their actions. If you are one of those, then perhaps reloading is for you. If not, well best stick to the factory fodder!.

Lets start with some basics. There are 2 sizes of primers. Large and Small. There are small pistol, and large pistol and There are small rifle and large rifle. The rifle primers are harder to ignite, and take a harder strike from the firing pin..Yes there are magnum primers, with more power, you will not likely need them except for some magnum rounds and even then they may not be required.

Powders. There are hundreds of powders if not thousands. You must use the correct powders for the load you are attempting to assemble. You follow recipes in reloading manuals you buy or you can find this information online now from the powder manufactures. There will be a range of powder loads listed for a given bullet weight and type. Do not deviate, follow the rules.

Bullets, thousands of different sizes and types. Sometimes hundreds for any given caliber. Bullets must be matched to powder loads.

Cases. Must be cleaned and in good shape. No splits big dents or anything like that... The reloading manuals will go over how to inspect the cases.

Lube, You may or may not need lube. Pistol cartridges IF you use carbide dies (Dillon makes good dies) do not need lube.. Rifle cartridges need lube. I use the Dillon spray on.

Case cleaning. You will need a tumbler and media to clean the cases. I use the Dillon rapid polish added to the media ( I like corn cob).

Come back and I will help with any questions you have.

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

There are of course more tools you will need..Besides the scale I mentioned you will need digital calipers, and for Rifle you will need to trim cases, so you will need trim and deburring tools. Lots of ways to do this. I use the simple Lee trimming tools.. Cheap effective, but slow. The Dillon trimmer system is good, but expensive. You will not need to trim for pistol cartridges. You should start reloading pistol cartridges first, as they are the easiest in all respects. You will also need a set of guages to guage your pistol rounds for Over All Length, and for proper crimp. They are available from Dillon and other suppliers. They are not very expensive. The best way to get started is to pick a factory round that you want to duplicate. lets say a 230 grain .45acp round. Get a good high quality example of that round and keep it. Gauge this round in your gauge and notice how it falls into the gauge and falls right back out and does not stick out the front end.. NOW, your goal is to duplicate that round with the proper crimp and OAL. Notice how the primer is seated below the face of the primer pocket. Notice how the rim is free of nicks or burrs so that it seats in the gauge easily.

Load this cartridge with the correct amount and type of powder to achieve the velocity and consistancy you are trying to duplicate. Velocity you say? Whoops. you will need a chronograph. A Shooting Chrony will suffice..That is what I have, but of course there are better ones.
Amazon.com: shooting chrony

Boy this reloading tool thing just goes on and on doesnt it... Yep.

Can you do it on a shoestring?. yes...Do you need all of these things?.. nope.. will you eventually buy all of these things and more? .. yep. Might as well get started right in the first place in my opinion. Been down this road... When I started I wanted to start as cheaply as possible, and I wanted to "save money".. So I asked an old timer about getting into reloading and told him I wanted to save some money. He just laughed at me and said "Son you are not going to save ANY money, you will just shoot more" Truer words were never spoken.

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

James K0UA

 

[TripleR]

All good points by James k0ua, but I found starting out with a single stage press worked well for me and my budget, college student, new son and limited space. I now use progressives, but found when introducing friends to reloading, progressives really confused them and when something went wrong, frustration levels were pretty high.

Any reloading book on powders will have an introduction on all the steps, like most I have several, but just go to a good book store and look to see who has the clearest instructions.

I started reloading over forty years ago and crushed cases, set primers backward, no powder etc., so just take your time and worry more on quality than quantity, speed will come. It all sounds a bit more difficult than it is, but don't get careless or try to cut corners.

I can't say one approach is better than the other, it just worked well for me given my situation.

 

[k0ua]

All good points by James k0ua, but I found starting out with a single stage press worked well for me and my budget, college student, new son and limited space. I now use progressives, but found when introducing friends to reloading, progressives really confused them and when something went wrong, frustration levels were pretty high.

Any reloading book on powders will have an introduction on all the steps, like most I have several, but just go to a good book store and look to see who has the clearest instructions.

I started reloading over forty years ago and crushed cases, set primers backward, no powder etc., so just take your time and worry more on quality than quantity, speed will come. It all sounds a bit more difficult than it is, but don't get careless or try to cut corners.

I can't say one approach is better than the other, it just worked well for me given my situation.

I started with a Lee single stage, but Quickly outgrew that. I need large quantities of pistol ammo for USPSA competition and it was just was not up to the task. I like the RL550B because you still have to index the shellplate manually with your thumb and you can stop at any point in the process and examine what you are doing.. Unlike some of the slightly faster machines like the RL650 or Rl1050 or some of the other brands with automatic indexing.. You can wad up a lot of crap in a hurry if you are not watching close with and auto indexing machine. I have used them plenty too and like them but they are definitely for the more advance reloading guy.

 

[k0ua]

Rtimgray, if you want to talk to me on the phone to answer questions quicker, you can PM me, and I will call you if you like.

James K0UA

 

[TripleR]

I started with a Lee single stage, but Quickly outgrew that. I need large quantities of pistol ammo for USPSA competition and it was just was not up to the task. I like the RL550B because you still have to index the shellplate manually with your thumb and you can stop at any point in the process and examine what you are doing.. Unlike some of the slightly faster machines like the RL650 or Rl1050 or some of the other brands with automatic indexing.. You can wad up a lot of crap in a hurry if you are not watching close with and auto indexing machine. I have used them plenty too and like them but they are definitely for the more advance reloading guy.

James you probably shot more in a month than I did in a year, even casting my own slugs and reloading, it was tough going at times and I often bought primers by the hundreds not thousands until I got out of school and got a job.

I disabled the auto indexing on one of my progressives, RCBS 4x4 and prefer it that way. If I was buying new, I would likely go with Dillon, but I haven't really kept up as what I have works; well mostly.:laughing:

 

[k0ua]

James you probably shot more in a month than I did in a year, even casting my own slugs and reloading, it was tough going at times and I often bought primers by the hundreds not thousands until I got out of school and got a job.

I disabled the auto indexing on one of my progressives, RCBS 4x4 and prefer it that way. If I was buying new, I would likely go with Dillon, but I haven't really kept up as what I have works; well mostly.:laughing:

Here is a good high quality video of how the RL550B works.

Dillon Precision Presents the RL550B - YouTube

 

[murphy1244]

Rtimgray, if you want to talk to me on the phone to answer questions quicker, you can PM me, and I will call you if you like.

James K0UA

James, You da Man!

 

[TripleR]

Here is a good high quality video of how the RL550B works.

Dillon Precision Presents the RL550B - YouTube

James, you know my wife doesn't like me hanging out with, you...:laughing: