I need some help planning

[ShooterComputer]

I am purchasing a Henry Single Shot rifle in .243 Winchester here in a week or two. I've always loved single shots and Henry's fits the bill for my preferences. My plan is to purchase a lee loader, powder scale, and priming tool to try reloading. I am on a student's budget. I would like to toy around with finding the most accurate loads for this rifle. Any tips or items I should purchase for this?

 

[lordmorgul]

I am purchasing a Henry Single Shot rifle in .243 Winchester here in a week or two. I've always loved single shots and Henry's fits the bill for my preferences. My plan is to purchase a lee loader, powder scale, and priming tool to try reloading. I am on a student's budget. I would like to toy around with finding the most accurate loads for this rifle. Any tips or items I should purchase for this?

Forget the Lee Loader and go with a single stage press, carbide die set, Lee powder balance scale and funnels, Lyman case prep hand tool set, a powder trickler if you want to pursue most accurate loads.


Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / CRPA / FPC / USCCA member

 

[berettaprofessor]

What lordmorgul said. The easiest way to start is to buy a lee reloading kit such as this one:

https://leeprecision.com/50th-anniversary-breech-lock-challenger-kit.html

It's everything you need to load, buy it and a few extra Breech Lock bushings. Eventually you'll buy a new scale, then a new powder measure and then the floodgates will open, but this will always be your go-to single stage.

 

[lamarw]

If you ever have any thought of expanding your reloading capacity, then go with a turret press vs. a single stage. You can always use the turret press like a single stage and have the turret available to expand your reloading capacity.

The first rifle round I ever reloaded for was a. .243 Winchester. I was in the Military and on the cheap at the time. I bought a $10.00 whack a mole kit and made a lot of rounds for my .243 Remington 600 rifle.

 

[std7mag]

Don't forget to get a Lee case length gauge. It lets you trim your brass to a consistant length. You'll probably want/need to trim about every 2nd reload.
I used the Lee wack a mole for my 7mm Rem Mag for 2 years before i bought the Classic Turret kit. Does everything for me except forming duties. For that i use a Lee single stage.

Another thing to think about.
What is the twist rate of the barrel, and how heavy of a bullet do you want to shoot?

I've used Alliant Reloder26 with 100gr Sierra BTSP GameKings, and Hornady 105gr HPBT Match bullets with good accuracy and velocities.