Reloading help

J

Jmcdaniel

Inactive
Hey all,


I am pretty much new to reloading. I used to help my grandfather reload back in the day, but I have forgot alot of the stuff he taught me. I am wanting to get my own reloading bench set up. As of right now, I only intend to work on pistol calibers, 9mm, 45 acp, and 357 mag to be specific. Eventually, I want to move into rifle calibers as well. Mainly 300 Black Out, and 5.56/.223,

I have assembled a list of equipment, if you fine folks would be so kind please review what I have. Let me know if I need to add anything, or if there are better tools than the ones I have picked out. I really appreciate the help guys

Graf Bullet Puller with 4 Collets
Item #: GR19
In Stock $18.99

HORNADY 45 ACP 3-DIE SET AM SERIES w/FREE S/H #45
Item #: HRN486554


HORNADY 9MM LUGER 3-DIE SET AM SERIES w/FREE S/H #8
Item #: HRN486515

LEE 357 MAG/MAX CARBIDE 3 DIE SET, S/H #1
Item #: LEE90511
In Stock $30.99

LEE CLASSIC TURRET PRESS STEEL LINKAGE/IRON BASE
Item #: LEE90064
In Stock $114.99

Lee Ergo Hand Priming Tool
Item #: LEE90250
In Stock $36.99

Lyman Pocket Touch Electronic Powder Scale 1500 Grain Capacity
Item #: LY7750725
In Stock $24.99

Lyman Reloading Manual - 50th Edition Hardcover
Item #: LY9816050
In Stock $27.99

Hornady M-1 Brass Tumbler 110 Volt
Item #: HRN050202
In Stock

Graf Walnut Untreated Tumbler Media 10 Pound
Item #: GR11
In Stock
 
Jmcdaniel said:
Hey all,


I am pretty much new to reloading. I used to help my grandfather reload back in the day, but I have forgot alot of the stuff he taught me. I am wanting to get my own reloading bench set up. As of right now, I only intend to work on pistol calibers, 9mm, 45 acp, and 357 mag to be specific. Eventually, I want to move into rifle calibers as well. Mainly 300 Black Out, and 5.56/.223,

I have assembled a list of equipment, if you fine folks would be so kind please review what I have. Let me know if I need to add anything, or if there are better tools than the ones I have picked out. I really appreciate the help guys

Graf Bullet Puller with 4 Collets
Item #: GR19
In Stock$18.99

HORNADY 45 ACP 3-DIE SET AM SERIES w/FREE S/H #45
Item #: HRN486554


HORNADY 9MM LUGER 3-DIE SET AM SERIES w/FREE S/H #8
Item #: HRN486515

LEE 357 MAG/MAX CARBIDE 3 DIE SET, S/H #1
Item #: LEE90511
In Stock$30.99

LEE CLASSIC TURRET PRESS STEEL LINKAGE/IRON BASE
Item #: LEE90064
In Stock$114.99

Lee Ergo Hand Priming Tool
Item #: LEE90250
In Stock$36.99

Lyman Pocket Touch Electronic Powder Scale 1500 Grain Capacity
Item #: LY7750725
In Stock$24.99

Lyman Reloading Manual - 50th Edition Hardcover
Item #: LY9816050
In Stock$27.99

Hornady M-1 Brass Tumbler 110 Volt
Item #: HRN050202
In Stock

Graf Walnut Untreated Tumbler Media 10 Pound
Item #: GR11
In Stock
Click to expand...
Looks good. You can pick up the walnut shells in the pet stores. It's used for lizard cages. You will need a powder drop of some kind as well.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
If your 300 BO and 5.56 loadings are ARs I suggest a case guage. It helps from having to clear a stuck case due to not meeting spec.
 
Everyone makes an error from time to time so you should have a bullet puller handy. The inertia (hammer) type is the most versatile.
 
Suggest you buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading too. About $30 from your local gun shop or Amazon. Mind you, reading the Lyman manual's How-to chapter will cover the same info.
The tumbler should come with media(walnut shells or crushed corn cobs), but that will cost more down the road if you buy media that comes from a gun shop. The pet shop small pet bedding stuff(walnut shells used in abrasive deburring blasters is the same thing as well.) is a great big bag(usually 20 or 40ish pounds) for far less. Crushed corn cobs run $14.99 for 20 pounds in Pet Valu. Does the same job. Vs $10 plus 7.95 shipping for 5 pounds from Graf's. All this stuff is better to buy locally(that applies to components too. Bullets, primers and powder.)
Oh and you'll need loading blocks(https://www.amazon.com/Round-Universal-Reloading-Loading-Blocks/dp/B074SYGC5Z Buy 'em locally though.), a couple plastic bins from a dollar store(one for each side of the press.), a plastic colander also from a dollar store(easiest way to clear cases from media after tumbling) and a solid work bench.
You won't need a trimmer, and a chamfering/deburring tool for hand guns. You will for rifle. Just keep that in mind for now.
 
Per Unclenick I see you do have a collet type bullet puller. Especially with handgun rounds, depending on bullet type, collet pullers may be unsatisfactory. You may still want to invest in an inertia puller that can handle most everything.
 
I am a black smith so I have calipers already. Ill look into the inertia puller. Do i need shell holders for this press. Ill also pick up the extra book.
 
If you are asking if the inertia puller requires extra shell holders, no it does not. They come with their own holders that may seem odd at first but do work well. Three sizes are included that are expandable to cover all cartridges.
 
Everyone makes an error from time to time so you should have a bullet puller handy. The inertia (hammer) type is the most versatile.
Click to expand...

Also the most annoying. The collet type are good. I got the Hormady and with the handle on top it looks like the best setup (I cold not be happier with it though I am unhappy to need to use it). Need to pull a lot of bullets and its a wonder.

I used to pull a random one, now its usually 5 or 15.

Both are usefull.
 
The Lee Classic turret is the winner in that list. You could not make a better pick as a first press.
Everything thing else seems okay too. Don't bother with the ancient ABC book, all the main manuals cover it as well and are up to date.
The collet puller is for if you screw up a whole session, or you plan on pulling apart cans of milsurp. The kinetic pullers are more than adequate and easier to use for the occasional mishap.
 
I would strongly suggest the Lyman or RCBS Turret kits. Everything you list, you likely want to load at low volume to start or develop loads and high volume with a set load.....the turret can help you close that gap. The kits are $400ish. Lee makes usable equipment, but you will upgrade, if you want to produce any sizeable volume. Buying Lyman or RCBS or Hornady seems expensive, but you can sell off if you get out for good money too.

You need:
Good data sources
Good method sources
***this could be a couple manuals or a mentor and the internet. Even with a mentor, do your reading. A mentor can help someone eager to learn, but reading gives you a better by the book foundation.
Tumbler & media
Calipers
Press
Shellholder
Dies
Scale
Bullet puller....I like inertia type
Case prep tools for rifle


You really want:
Priming tool....the hand held ones usually are easier to use
Case trimmer for rifle
Scale isolation shelf, another bench, etc
Powder trickler speeds weighing. ..you will give up without this
Case gages for semi-auto end sizing frustration before you have loaded rounds
OAL gage for bolt guns
Powder measure for volumes over 50 per week
Check weights for safety and quality
belling die for rifle calibers with flat base bullets
primer crimp removal tool powered

Nice additions:
High volume case trimmer like WFT
Powder Dispenser
Progressive press
Something to measure fired case headspace (neck to datum) length
Other high volume or high accuracy goodies
 
While I was browsing the interwebs, i stumbled across this kit. It seems pretty complete. Ill still need a tumbler, but is it missing anything else, besides dies of course.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007L...ock+n+load+kit
Click to expand...

I'm a fairly new reloader and I looked at that link. Wow -$400+ ? Seems high plus it looked like a single-stage press when you're already talking about getting a turret model. That's a higher volume press than the Hornady in that "package." I could be mistaken but it looks like you've already got most of the items for less money in your list. I'd also think shell holders for each caliber would be required if not supplied. I have an RCBS setup with dies and had to also separately buy each shell holder.

The Lee Perfect Powder Measure is what I use and it is a decent product. Been using mine for about a year and a half with no complaints.

And do get "The ABC's of Reloading." It is a fact-filled book with a LOT of information I find myself referring back to from time to time. Excellent resource and reference.
 
I used a vibrating tumbler for about 18 months before I set it aside and it's gathered dust ever since.

I used a Lyman wet tumbler with stainless steel pin media and LOVE it - never looking back - FAR Superior results and I'm not going through corn cob and walnut shell media like crazy.

What I hated about the vibrator tumbler is it was terrible for removing GSR from inside the case. I do not have that problem with stainless steel pin media in a wet tumbler. ( why is gsr in the case a problem you ask? - if it flakes off and plugs the primer hole you can have a dud or a hang fire )

Only down side to wet media tumbler is you MUST plan to be there when the tumbler stops to wash the brass or all the GSR re-deposits evenly in a uniform coat on all the brass.

Now if you do stick with the vibrator tumbler, get a xmas light timer to go with it and have it shut itself off after 4 or 5 hours. That you can leave sit until whenever you get back to it.
 
oh yeah - one more thing I love for pistol lyman flash hole uniformer

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/case-prep-tools/case-prep-tools/flash-hole-uniformer.html

I find in .40 winchester brass especially there's almost always a burr on the inside of the primer hole that I believe to be the root cause why their brass always comes off the range with a lot more gsr in the case than remmington or federal - I've cleaned up a lot of my stock brass with this adjustable tool to improve my results.

Also, as I'm working through my brass, this quickly lets me know when I have a piece of european spec brass in there as their flash hole is a tiny bit smaller to metric spec - and central american brass as their flash holes are often not centered - this goes into my swage pile and becomes a future metal jacket.
 
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