Newbie to reloading

[Calamity 223]

george no joke i added that too my cart before i decided i better ask around a bit, i thought it looked good as a starter!

[grousemaster]

This Lee works as a cheep starter kit and you will always use it even after going to a progressive. I use the press for my
primer pocket swagger for my .223 and my .40 bulge buster. It also works good to fix those mess ups every once in awhile. The scale can be set and easily pull a charge and check, I use it all the time even though I have the digital scale.
The hand primer is hard to beat.
Look it over. You can start reloading even before the kids get out of college. Have fun & good luck.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit

If you can spend an extra hundred and get a Lee turret you will be loading at a much faster rate....can still be used as a single stage.

[Calamity 223]

i guess thats the kinda advice that i waited to here, my grandpa always told me only rich people can afford to buy junk, as in spend the little more for something you can use for a long time rather than buying what you can and then upgrading later. I wanna get the right reloading setup rather than the cheapest, but i dont have the largest budget either!

[Eric Marleau]

One bit of advice.
Go SLOW.
Don't get pushed into starting off with anything but the RockChucker.
I have been reloading for over 40 years, and have a Lee Classic turret press, two Lyman All American turret presses, and a RCBS turret press in my reloading room.

I won't even think about reloading anything if I feel like I have to go fast.
Too many bad things can happen even to the most experienced reloader.

I'm at the range several times a week and shoot for hours at a time and still have a good supply of my reloads ready and waiting for the next trip to the range.

Just go slow and take old man's advice.

Eric

[Calamity 223]

oh trust me, i like to take my time and like i said this will be another hobby not just a way to acquire ammunition! This will hopefully be my escape from life's hardships and a way to relax! The main thing on my mind is i enter the hobby the right way... with no missing eyebrows!

[OldmanFCSA]

Okay now you've received lots of info here from lots of sources.
What it all boils down to is "Your Choice".
My recommendation was and still is, get your training first.
Only then can you make proper equipment choices.
let me know when you want training.

How many rounds of each caliber due you expect to be reloading each session, or per year?

[Calamity 223]

Well as of right now i dont think i would be loading more than 1000 rounds of each, but ive heard once u start loading you start shooting more and more. like i said its prob gonna be more hobby than anything, not gonna be pumping out like a factory does! Im sure once i start tho a few friends will be having me load for them too, you know how it works you buy a tool and everyone borrows it from ya!

[george]

Here is another to consider, I've got mine set up and done 9mm, 40s&w/10mm, 223, 38spl, 45GAP.
It also comes as ordered with the dies for one caliber. I have no complaints, but you can't load with your eyes closed,
It does need to be monitored or it will try to trick you, but for lite use it's not a bad priced unit.
If one uses the term, righty-tighty, lefty-loosey, this probably isn't the best choice.
Lee Load Master
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690922

[LarryFlew]

Im sure once i start tho a few friends will be having me load for them too, you know how it works you buy a tool and everyone borrows it from ya!

Don't do it. Not legal and lots of liability issues. The one shell you double load will be the one that blows you buddies face off. While he may not sue you his insurance company will.

[Calamity 223]

I see your point but i damn near trust myself more than most factory made things, including the guns themselves and ammo. I most certainly would put my most dedicated concentration into reloading especially when doing others rounds. I wouldnt even offer until i am proficient and confident in my skills. Even on this site ive seen people offer to shoot their hand loads. But i do understand what you are saying, with a sport like shooting you put your life in other peoples hands, just step up to the shooting line and you might be accidentally shot by your best friend standing next to you just cause he had to clear a jam or something of that nature. But i do agree with that statement and i guess i will have to reflect further once i finally start reloading.

[EJSG19]

Don't load for friends. Its not in either persons best interest for several reasons.

Your friend gets all benefit and no cost. You get all cost of buying equipment and time spent not to mention the liability of a bad round getting to your friends gun however unlikely.

It isn't legal to sell ammo you make without gov't approval.

What's best is to show that friend how to safely load ammo on the press and let them put in the time. Charge a fee for equipment wear to let them share the cost and appreciate the use.

[BigDog58]

If you still haven't decided which way you want to go, you are welcome to come by and try out my setups. I have all Lee. I have The old C-Press (Single Stage), Breech-Lock (Single Stage), Classic Turret ( Class of it's own) and a Load Master (True Progressive). This would allow you to actually feel what each feels like, and give you a chance to try out each, before you spend money.

I am in Edina, and retired. I'm home most time's. PM me, if you'd like to tryout the different Lee Presses. I use the Liad Master for Pistol Stuff and 30 Carbine, and .223/556. And the Classic Turret for loading Rifle ammo.

Jim

[Seismic Sam]

I see your point but i damn near trust myself more than most factory made things, including the guns themselves and ammo. I most certainly would put my most dedicated concentration into reloading especially when doing others rounds. I wouldnt even offer until i am proficient and confident in my skills. Even on this site ive seen people offer to shoot their hand loads. But i do understand what you are saying, with a sport like shooting you put your life in other peoples hands, just step up to the shooting line and you might be accidentally shot by your best friend standing next to you just cause he had to clear a jam or something of that nature. But i do agree with that statement and i guess i will have to reflect further once i finally start reloading.

Okay - to begin with picking a handle like Calamity 223 is just BEGGING for a .223 to detonate on you and have that wind up on your tombstone.

And this is just plain blatant denial and ignorance for a beginner to say this after being cautioned that making reloads for other people is a VERY bad idea:

I see your point but i damn near trust myself more than most factory made things, including the guns themselves and ammo. I most certainly would put my most dedicated concentration into reloading especially when doing others rounds.

Well, guess what: Seeing as you ARE a beginner, and don't even know a lot about handloading, how can you POSSIBLY say you will put your most dedication concentration into a process that you don't even fully know about yet??

Hey!! I'm going to cook up an H-Bomb in my basement. Don't know all the details or how to configure a high explosive lens, or the part about the beryllium/polonium urchin initiator in the core, but I'm gonna do it right!!

Oh, and you forgot to even look at the other side of the liability coin, which only goes to further illustrate how poorly you have though this through: So you give/sell some of your "divinely factory perfect" handloaded ammo to some guy who turns out to be an idiot, and gets mud in the barrel of his gun with your load in the chamber, then has the gun blow up and sues YOU for bad handload, when he's the slob and the idiot, and is too proud to admit it, and has a cheap slimy cousin who is a lawyer and needs to buy a new Mercedes.

So: You are a beginning reloader who doesn't want to listen to very good advice from multiple handloaders, and that's about as dangerous an attitude as you can have. I've had a bad feeling about you from the get-go, but I thought I'd just give it some time and behave myself. Now I've said my piece, you're going on my IGNORE list, and you'll never hear from me again.

He's all yours, guys!! Good luck!!

[Calamity 223]

First off, sam its been a pleasure to have never made your acquaintance! Secondly the name calamity 223 is derived from a famous person to our sport know as calamity jane, but i can see where you came up with your clever little jab! (must've taken awhile)
As for saying i trust myself, doesnt mean that i claim to know everything about loading, simply means im a tradesman and need to trust my hands everyday, and i pay attention to every step i make or it could be my last. I am not saying that you all dont know more than me, thats why i posted my questions here.
I haven't loaded one round yet so to say i might load for someone is theoretical, and i guess i just about made a big mistake...theoretically. I do agree with you one hundred percent tho, there are slime balls out there, people who are willing to take advantage of anyone.
When it comes time to me actually loading i guess i will just load my own, and if a friend comes along and wants me to do some for them i will simply say no but you can learn and borrow my equipment for a significant fee.

Too everyone else thanks for the helpful advice, in a more friendly demeanor!