I want to get started in reloading. What to get?

[Scott Notaeh]

I want to start reloading 9×19. I might also want to reload 5.56x45 and 7.62×51 in the future. I want to reload because I am cheap and want to make certain my ammo supply is not interrupted in the future. I am quite happy with commercial ammo and am not really looking for match ammo. I would guess that most of my reloading would be for practice ammo similar to Winchester White Box. It would also be good to be able to make some hollow point higher performance reloads for practice and storage. I would estimate that I would want to make a maximum of 200 rounds per week of 9mm, 100 rounds per week of 5.56, and 100 rounds per month of 7.62 maximum. I would guess normal production would be half that.

I need equipment that is easy to use so when I sit down to reload each month or so I don't need to relearn too much. The press needs to be easy to maintain and have a long life without repairs. I only want to purchase one press and I don't want to pay for more than what will fill my needs. I want a good value and would want to purchase something from someone on the board here or order a kit from the internet. I am not in a hurry but I need to know what to look for. I have eliminated Lee presses from consideration.

Given all of these factors and constraints, what system would you recommended to me? What other equipment will I need?

[Mo_the_Mouse]

You will probably here this a lot. GunStop. I believe you want to talk to John.

[shooter]

My first purchases would be Metallic Cartridge Reloading, 3rd edition, by M.L. McPherson, The ABC's of Reloading 8th edition, by Bill Chevalier, and a good manual of reloading data such as Hornady, Lyman, or Speer. Ideally all 3. As for a press, The RCBS Rock Chucker is an industry staple and is probably the most popular press out there. It will serve you well.

If Seismic Sam posts on your thread, listen carefully to anything he says.

Good Luck!

[rugersol]

John @ Gunstop!

[Countryfried Frank]

If you're doing it to save money turn around and run. I have plenty of spreadsheets that I use to explain to Mrs. Country that we are saving money and it's all crap. We are saving money per round but we are shooting more. Not that it's a bad thing.


ETA: see John at GunStop

[ex-LT]

If shooter had added 'Go talk to John at Gunstop', I would echo what he said, but since he didn't....

1. Go talk to John at Gunstop. He will sell you what you need, and will show you how to set up and use your equipment. Most importantly, he will NOT sell you anything you DON'T need. Be forewarned, John doesn't tolerate "know-it-alls", and can be a bit gruff at times. However, if you ask questions and pay attention to what he's telling you, you'll get some of the best advice you can get this side of Seismic Sam.

2. Beg/Buy/Steal/Borrow the following books: 'The ABC's of Reloading', 'Lyman Reloading Handbook - 49th Edition', and at least one of the following reloading manuals - Hornady, Speer, Lee (lot's of people scoff at this suggestion, but I have found that the Lee manual has data on loads that some of the others don't).

2a. Read the Lyman manual and the ABC's cover to cover.


As for the press, John will guide you to the one that best fits your needs. There's a lot of good single stage presses out there - RCBS, Lyman, Hornady, etc. Once in a while, one even shows up in the Marketplace under the Accessories forum.

[LarryFlew]

Just got back home from GunStop - so +1 for sure!! Very Decent prices on low quantity supplies also.

[Stradawhovious]

There is this one guy at this one shop....... What's his name now........... Tip of my tongue....... I think the shop is called gun something....... The guys name is something like Josh or Joe.... Well, it begins with Jo . I forget.

[farmerj]

well da furst thang yaz gotz ta do is go find yersef a nice ol' 2 to 3 inch thick reloading manual.


Then yaz unplug frum da interweb and take yersef on down ta da Gunstop shop place dat has all da reloadin' stoof and talk ta dat dude who knows his stuff der.

[jgalt]

I wish you people would stop fartin' 'round and just tell him to go talk to John & Gunstop already...

[Seismic Sam]

Due to your relatively low volume of ammo that you want to reload (much like me...) you would be well served with a Lyman 6 station turret press. I have said it before and I will say it again - raw rookies getting a Dillon is asking for trouble, because you have not learned the basics of reloading before you start cranking out 100's of rounds per hour.

For 9mm make sure to get a carbide resize die (Lee is cheapest) because lubing cases is a PITA. For 5.56 amd 7.62 you have no choice , and will have to lube cases even if you have carbide dies. Get a Lee Perfect Powder measure, and a Lee Autoprime system (Both cheap). You will need a good beam balance (Like a Redding 505), and ABOVE ALL, avoid cheap electronic balaces like a bad case of the clap!!! There's nothing under $200 that works accurately, and if it's a powder scale instead of a jewler's scale, it's crap.

You will need a digital caliper ($25) and a blue or green plastic RCBS bullet puller, and neither of these are options!! Buy them or don't get into reloading at all!!!

You will also need a case mouth reamer, and getting a Lee Factory crimp die for the 9mm is almost a must.

Last but not least, get yourself at least ONE (and better two) reloading manuals, preferably Speer #14 and Hornady #8. Restrain yourself from setting up your stuff unitl you have read the WHOLE, ENTIRE, EVERY LAST EFFEN PAGE of the reloading instructions in the manual!!! This is where most new reloaders screw up, and a visit to the ER is about the same as a $3k Wilson Combat Nighthawk custom 1911. It's a real downer when you could have had a gun like that, and instead have to spend it on medical bills and wind up looking like me!! Reloading is no joke, and with .223 and 7.62x51 you are making up stuff that will generate 55,000 PSI of pressure, and if that genie gets out of the bottle and comes back at you, you will be in deep doo-doo.

Go see John-Boy (his name is actually John Walton, for real!), buy the manuals, and NOTHING ELSE, go home and read them, anf then come back and start buying stuff.

[ijosef]

It also helps if you know a guy who's been reloading for a long time that can help coach you through the process, almost like a reloading mentor.

[Pat Cannon]

Just how cheap are you really?

I'd second everything Sam just said except (especially the part about buying the book(s) first), except if you're broke like me, I'd say you might be fine with a Lee turret press like I got.

As you might imagine, this subject has been brought up before. Here's one thread: How much mula to start rolling my own?

[Scott Notaeh]

It also helps if you know a guy who's been reloading for a long time that can help coach you through the process, almost like a reloading mentor.

I think Vlad agreed to be my reloading mentor. It might have been that he feels guilty after getting me hooked on these weekly pistol league shoots that chew up my ammo stash. He was even kind enough to donate some brass to get me started.

[JJ]

It also helps if you know a guy who's been reloading for a long time that can help coach you through the process, almost like a reloading mentor.

I think Vlad agreed to be my reloading mentor. It might have been that he feels guilty after getting me hooked on these weekly pistol league shoots that chew up my ammo stash. He was even kind enough to donate some brass to get me started.

If you want some more cheap (free) brass for startup, remind me, and I will send it with Tutz next week.