Reloaders .. questions for ya (.500 magnum getting to be a lil expensive)

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I really honestly don't know what all is involed in the actual reloading process. I have a ton of shells (It's great to work at the range ) and well I would like to start reloading theese trash cans with a lead lid. I want to reload my big stuff like the 500 and casull and rifle.



So with that being said I have Q's.



What type of equipment do I need?

(I also have many other calibers that I Could reload as well including 30-06 , . 45 , 7. 62 , . 223 , 454)



I obviously want to go with quality so what brand?



How much space is needed to dedicate this new found hobby?



Is there REALLY a savings when doing it yourself?



Are the stories I hear about reloading true? (I mean what margin of error do I have with having the possibility of blowing up a gun or damaging a barrel?)



For the bolt action stuff And revolvers I have, the reloads I am not too concerned with ... it's my semi autos I am worried about.

 

[Boomer II]

Dillon and Lee are good brands.

 

[WDaniels]

TTT,

First of all, yes you will save a lot of money if you shoot alot. If you shoot just a little or hardly, no you will not save money. With that said;

Dillon progressive presses are argueably the best press on the market today. One thing tho. Do your research on them. They have lots of different ones. All presses can nickle and dime you to death but because the Dillon is a real progressive it can be more so. But it's worth it.

As for space, an entire warehouse isn't enough, and a small table is just perfect. It all depends on what you are reloading, the frequency ect...

One of their presses handles just about every common calibar made. Like I said, do your homework on them.

When reloading, there is a safety factor in the process. Just read the reloading manuals and you will not have any problems.

The dillion is perfect for semi-autos. You can crank about 3 to 500 rounds an hour on that puppy and for accuracy, second to none. Alot of the national match shooters do their reloads with dillion. Can't beat that.

And one last thing that Dillion has going for them that no one else does is that they are a family owned business located in Phoenix AZ. You know how Peter at Southbend is. These folks are more so. If you are not happy they really strive to make sure that you are.

Being as how you are in the North East it would be difficult to go and tour their facilities but if your ever down in AZ, call them and they give tours. Really worth it.

By the way, did you ever watch Monster Garage where Jessie blew up the project with a mini-gun? That gun belonged to the Dillion folks as I understand it.

WD

 

[Greenleaf]

I use all RCBS eqipment. I reload the 25/20 (does that sound right?) the 30/30 and the 45/70 I love it.



I weigh EVERY load as opposed to every ten or twelve and experiment with all brands and speeds/powder charges and bullet weights.



You can't beat RCBS but there are less expensive brands. I have two of everything and can set up shop for many different variety of loads. One press is a turret model and the other is the old faithful Rock Chucker single stage. Gotta love that thing.



A very sturdy workbench is required so you don't dump your work over onto the floor when your installing the primers into the big shells. Bolted to a wall is a good idea. That (Rock Chucker) press has tons of leverage



You'll need a file cabinet or the like to store the goodies in



Scott

 

[RDusch]

For the larger cartridges . 500, 454 ect, i've found that my single stage Lyman crusher II works well, and is relatively inexpensive, i usually load 100 - 150 at a time



For smaller rounds like 45 acp 44 mag 45 colt, sizes that i shoot allot i reload on a progressive press, i'll sit and load a 1000 at a time.



I use all LEE dies, never a problem



When reloading, for safetys i chose powders that will fill the case enough that an accidental double charge will overflow the case, this will eliminate pressing lead on top of a double charge and not seeing it.



Rick

 

[1smoknC]

forester (bonanza) is by far the best dies you can buy. if possible get redding or forester stuff. hornady is good stuff too, but if you cant find any of that stuff, go for rcbs... oh and Lyman is really good too.



pick up a nosler or sierra reloading book, and a press along with the dies youll need for whatever your reloading (if more than a 500 s&w). youll need a powder measure, powder dispenser, press, dies, a primer seater, and the cleaning tools for cleaning your casings. of course youll need the supplies of bullets, primers, and powder (of your choice).



hope i helped

 

[AKAMAC]

TMTT, If you have someone near that reloads, I suggest you do a sit-in on one of their reload sessions. Most gunnies I know are happy to show and tell.

There are several manufactures out there. Lee is the least expensive (2 year warranty). RCBS has a great lifetime warranty and their products are built so you don't need it. Those are the only ones I have used.

I have Hornady,RCBS and Lee carbide dies. The Lee I use for my 45 super so I don't have to use case lube. I started with the RCBS press and learned a lot about loading before going to a progressive unit. I still use the RCBS press for my rifle loads.

If you start, you will get hooked! This is especialy true when you start to tune loads to your rifle.

Have fun and Merry Christmas, Mike

http://www.rcbs.com

http://www.leeprecision.com

 

[WDixon27]

i reload a ton of pistol with my dillon 650 progressive i have tool heads set up and ready to go for 38 super, 357 mag, 357 sig, 44 mag, 45 acp so i can quick change calibers in 5-10 minutes (10 if i need to go from small to large primers which adds a step) and extra powder bars so i don't need to readjust every time. a 650 with it's automatic case feeder is a bit much for a small time shooter but it does process ammo quickly and precisely, you can belt out a couple hundred rounds for a quick trip in a few minutes, if you are only loading pistol a square deal B aka sdb is a good little press if you want a progressive (place a shell on one side and a bullet on the other and pull the handle and out pops a completed round, on my 650 it has a auto case feeder so you drop a bullet and pull the handle and out comes a completed round) you can load pistol and rifle on the 550 and 650, the sdb is a little over $250 and the 650 is a little over $450 without the auto feeder you can get by fine with a piece of pvc pipe to feed extra shells (the pipe it has that goes from the feeder holds like 17 357 mags and the pipe i stack on that holds another 35-40) and the 550 is between those in price. a single stage press like a rcbs is a good and cheep way to start for a hundred or two depending on how many goodies you get with it, i think a starter set with everything you need to load but powder/primers/projectiles runs $250 but that gets you a manual, scale, mic and some other essentials

 

[WDixon27]

that's is how i do it too, i was standing next to a guy when the top 3 chambers blew off of his s&w performance center 357 mag, he bought some reloads that aparently one got double charged with bullseye, i don't like throwing that small of a powder charge and leaving that much air space

When reloading, for safetys i chose powders that will fill the case enough that an accidental double charge will overflow the case, this will eliminate pressing lead on top of a double charge and not seeing it.



Rick

 

[WDixon27]

i am loading 45 acp with hard cast lead for a little over $3 for 50, premium jacketed bullets would add a couple bucks to that and copper electroplated or moly coated bullets would add about a buck, the prices could get a little lower if i bought supplys in larger quanitys (like 10k bullets at a time instead of 1 or 2k) i use to shoot a couple hundred rounds a week when i was competing in the local fun matches i figure after a few months the press paid for itself

Is there REALLY a savings when doing it yourself?

 

[KBennett]

I started out about 12 years ago with a Lee Anniversary single stage press kit that included everything but dies and calipers for $70. 00. Lee dies were $20 and calipers were $20. It was a good "starter" press that I made lots of ammo and broke a $2. 00 part on once.

Midway usually has good sales on them:MidwayUSA



I got a deal on a used RCBS Rockcrusher (single stage-built like a Cummins) and so the Lee rarely gets used.



I jumped to a Dillon 550B (progressive) about two years later after a friend had terrible headaches with a Lee progressive. He ended up selling it and buying a Dillon 650B. I liked my 550B so much I bought a second one used to keep two calibers setup at the same time. Dillon's stuff is lifetime guaranteed with no questions or hassles.



I reload 9MM, 357, 38, 40, 45ACP, 45LC, and 223 on the Dillon. I use the RCBS for 30-30, 6mm, 17-222, and 30-06 because I shoot so little of it.



There is a good book out about reloading called the "ABC's of reloading".

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Wow thanks guys!! I don't have anybody that *I* know near me to sit in on. I can sure ask a few customers if I can and I am sure that wouldn't be a problem.



So I take it if you are not careful a double charge can happen quite easily

 

[WDixon27]

a good automatic thrower is very very unlikely to double (i tried everything to make mine double when it was new and couldn't) but anything can happen, a nearly full case has the potential to be more acurate as it's less dependant on position to get even ignition, now if you are running a single stage press with a block of cases it's all your fault, using a powder type that can not be fit in the case in excessive quanitys is just cheep insurance

So I take it if you are not careful a double charge can happen quite easily

 

[rubberneck]

As far as savings go, i agree with earlier comments. If you just plink a few rounds once in a while, no way. You will probably come out on the short end by the time you buy all the equipment. If you shoot a lot, you will save a ton. I load everything i shoot. Long gun, handgun, shotgun you name it. I even cast my own lead. (wheel weights are a great source of lead) and Swage jacketed bullets. I would probably not get in to swagging again, because it was a relatively large outlay, and i have not gotten the results i desire, plus it is relatively time consuming. The other thing to mention is the accuracy gains. I have not met a weapon that i could not dial in a load and cut accuracy in half over store purchased ammo. I have a couple of dillon 650's and had a 1050 at one time. I prefer to do most of my long gun stuff single stage, and use an rcbs rock chucker with with redding dies. Like said earlier, it becomes very addicting. To put it into cummins speak, some guys are happy with an EZ and BHAF. Then there is those of us who want a twin turbocharged, oringed, studded smoking monster. reloading can be the same way. I enjoy the process and the quality gains, so i put in a lot of time doing it. You may find you just want to save some money and time. In that case i dont thing you can beat one of the dillon progressives.

 

[Carlsummers]

When I was shooting competition, several years ago, I did all my loading with a Lee single stage and press. The cost savings was there, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, I controlled the rounds. When I shot round #200, I knew it was shooting the same as round #10. The importance of control is not just in the handling of the weapon, but just as much in the loading of the ammunition. Besides that, 4 or 5 hrs of reloading can be very theraputic... just be careful... . knew a guy that lost a finger thanks to a "slip up"... .

 

[JLEONARD]

Toolman. . I know someone nearby that reloads that you might be able to hook up with. I may see him today so I'll ask and let you know.

I used to reload... I also used a RCBS single stage as was mentioned above. I reloaded . 243 , 38/357,45 Colt. Sold everything several years ago thouogh.

Also loaded 12 ga... on the kitchen table using a rotary pres... . that was fun especially when the #9 spilled :-laf :-laf

Jay

 

[Bloomy]

I can only add a few other opinions. I don't have a progressive, but if I did I would go for one of the Dillon's. Right now I get my handgun ammo at state contract prices for LE loads which I cannot load for less when using same bullets. I am not a fan of LEE products, but they are less money. The most recent weapon I purchased is a 458 SOCOM. There are two die makers. LEE made a limited run and CH Tool and Die offers them. $60 from Lee and $145 from CH. I chose LEE since I'm not bench rest shooting with the SOCOM. If you want the best dies go with the Forester (Bonanza) Bench Rest. The micrometer seater die goes a long way. I have those dies for all of my bench rest calibers. Otherwise I use RCBS. The rest of my purchases will probably be Redding or Forester. If you are looking at getting started the RCBS kit gives you just about everything you need at a decent price with good quality equipment. Enjoy and be safe.



Thomas

 

[WDixon27]

i can't really find anything wrong with lee dies, about half of my dies are lee left overs from my single stage days, i like they a little better then rcbs but now that i am on a progressive all of my new die purchase are dillon, it's nice to be able to pop the centers out to clean the lube out when loading cast with no tools or readjustments, and the spring loaded decapper is great no more drawing the spent primer back into the case and getting the shell stuck

I am not a fan of LEE products, but they are less money. The most recent weapon I purchased is a 458 SOCOM. There are two die makers. LEE made a limited run and CH Tool and Die offers them. $60 from Lee and $145 from CH. I chose LEE since I'm not bench rest shooting with the SOCOM.

 

[d906670]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you get into reloading you really don't save any money and most times you spend more. But you also get to spend alot more time on the range compaired to store bought. :-laf

 

[rubberneck]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you get into reloading you really don't save any money and most times you spend more. But you also get to spend alot more time on the range compaired to store bought. :-laf

Valid point. :-laf Like i said earlier, I started with just an EZ and a leveling kit on my truck. Now look at me. Shooting same thing. It just snowballs.