92xj Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 I am in the process of doing a lot of research and reading and am finally almost ready to pull the trigger on equipment to start reloading. I am going to load 22-250, 270, 308, 300 win mag and 338 RUM. What brand do you guys use and what reloading kit would you recommend for someone starting out. I am thinking I want to just purchase the complete kit to begin with and do that for a while to make sure I want to continur to do it for a long time and then step up to the higher price stuff when the time comes. So, recommend me some things please.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 i don't reload but everybody i know of uses RCBS stuff mostly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 I started with a Lyman T-Mag kit a few years ago. I have been very pleased with it. Lyman® T-Mag Expert Deluxe Reloading Kit | Bass Pro Shops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 I use the RCBS Rockchucker. I bought mine off of ebay back when people were allowed to do that... I got dad into it too. RCBS makes great equipment. I bought this DVD from ebay, got it cheaper and im sure it will come up again cheaper. Its just good old country boy easy to understand. Definately a good investment. 2009 Learn Reloading Handloading Beginners Video on DVD | eBay Reloading is very rewarding and fun too. Even with a single stage press you can bang out bullets pretty fast. I have several boxes of .243 handloads laying around. They are hot and hit WAY harder than a standard box of ammo. Dad literally has totes laying around full of .38spcl and .357mag. Definately worth the investment! Other than shotgun and .22lr I dont think ive bought a box of ammo in God knows when. Before too long I want to get into Steel Shot reloading too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted December 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 (edited) http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS-Rock-Chucker-Supreme-Master-Reloading-Kit/728426.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DRCBS%2BRock%2BChucker%26WTz_l%3DHeader%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=RCBS+Rock+Chucker&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS-Die-Sets/731753.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DRCBS%2Bdie%26WTz_l%3DHeader%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=RCBS+die&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS-Universal-Shell-Holders/731706.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DRCBS%2Bshell%2Bholder%26WTz_l%3DHeader%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=RCBS+shell+holder&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products This is the one I am thinking about.... What are you guy's thoughts on it and what else would I need to purchase to start? Also, how does the powder measurer work? Am I going to have to weigh everytime I get powder? If so, wouldnt i want an eletronic scale for ease and quicker loads? I am dumb to all this...sorry. Edited December 13, 2011 by 92xj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Youre off to a good start with this.... As far as the shell holders, I bought a cheap set of LEE that had something like 12 total in a set, cheap. Im not crazy about lee's stuff but for shell holders they are fine. The set was on ebay and was really cheap. It loads a ton of different rounds. You dont have to measure every single charge. However, I typically do. I bought a cheap digital scale at harbor freight so I can be anal. Also, the green powder charger will have to be setup for the load. Then every time you move the handle it should send out the charge in the correct amount. You techinically could check every few rounds, im just anal and like to check every one. Buy a digital caliper so you can keep up with the length of your bullets. Its important when setting up the dies so that you dont get the bullet too long when seated. Once the length is set in the die itself you wont have to move it very often. The set nut on the die also has a set screw to keep it from turning. One more thing, buy a media vibrator. You can technically boil cases but its easier to toss them in with some corn cob media and let them jiggle clean. Tip, dont pull the spent primers until you have cleaned the cases. The primer hole gets clogged with media and youll have to hand clean every one. I would like to buy a charge master but they are something like $300. You simply dial in the load amount and it spits it out. Nice but pricey. Ill stick to the charger for now.... Buy what you have listed and the things ive told you about and you should be well on your way. The video is a huge help. He talks about bad cases, lubing cases, etc. as well as reloading. Good information. reloading is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. You simply have to pay attention so you dont accidently charge one bullet twice, etc. You will enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 The choice of RCBS equipment is a sound one. Yes the powder measure will work fine with ball powders and short stick powders. It won't work well with long stick powders or flake powders. I use HS-6 in my pistols (45,40 and 9mm) and Varget and IMR 7828 SSC in my rifles with good results through the powder measure. I know that at the club I belong to we are always showing the newbies how to do most anything including reloading and giving them stuff too. Join a club if there's one in your area. One guy passed away and his stuff went free to anyone we felt needed it. The starving college students were pretty happy that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 I'll agree with the others about RCBS it's good stuff. With that said so is Lyman, Redding and Hornady. Lee also makes some good thing though alot of their smaller presses are made of aluminum and are which I consider light duty. They all make starter kits these days and you probably be happy with any of them. These kits will include the most basic tools you will need to get started. Once you learn the basic steps of handloading( which BTW isnt rocket science but can be dangerous if done wrong and can be overwhelming at first) you'll find acquiring other items that make things faster and easier. Things like digital scales, progressive loaders, primer pocket tools, case trimmer, neck turners etc can come later. Handloading can be very rewarding, it wont save you much money as you will find out you'll be shooting more for the same amount of money. I have been handloading for many years now and load for about 40 different cartridges. It's still as exciting to be able to work up a new load now as it was when I was new to it, though at times it's also just workloading for a match. Good luck with your new adventure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted December 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Thanks all for the advice and opinions. I will keep this thread updated once I get what I do, hopefully right after Christmas. I would like ot keep this thread alive with more advice and wisdom of all of you so if you think of more things reloading related, post away. It will be a good thread in the future for people getting started and gaining knowledge. All of your knowledge is very much appreciated. Thanks guys. I am sure I will have many more questions to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 i've got other stuff on my plate right now, but i've always had the itch to start reloading. Good luck and do keep us posted Ben! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 I reloaded for a while, my press ended up braking and haven't got another one yet. Had a Lee press, seemed fairly light duty but just wanted a starter setup. This time I'll get the RCBS press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 I have equipment from Lee, RCBS, Lyman and Hornaday. Most of my dies are hornaday. My case prep machine is RCBS, Digital powder measure by Lyman, Rock Chucker press from RCBS, smaller press from lee etc. I don't think there is a bad name in reloading. Dillon also makes some real good strong equip. A friend has Dillon and has never had a problem. I will offer some advice though. DO NOT take anyones advice!!! Hot loads etc. are DANGEROUS!!! Sound cool and all but you can get killed easily with a seemingly warmer than normal powder charge. There are many reloading manuals on the market. Invest in one. DO NOT experiment with your buddies " secret " loads or someone you chat with on the net. Many equipment companies do list load data on the net. I'd consider this data safe but like to compare it to printed data before trusting my life, limbs or eyesight to the data on the net. There are several powder manufacturers out there. Believe it or not some of them use the same numbers for different powders. Beware of this. If you are using load data calling for IMR powder don't confuse it with another brand. ( this is just an example ) Be darned sure of the brand called for. I always start on the light side and work my way up. Along the way I am checking for signs of overcharged cartridges. Often times I have found the lighter charges are more accurate than the heavier ones. Alot of the fun in reloading is developing the most accurate loads for your gun. Be safe, not sorry. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Hot loads etc. are DANGEROUS!!! Sound cool and all but you can get killed easily with a seemingly warmer than normal powder charge. There are many reloading manuals on the market. Invest in one. DO NOT experiment with your buddies " secret " loads or someone you chat with on the net. Many equipment companies do list load data on the net. I'd consider this data safe but like to compare it to printed data before trusting my life, limbs or eyesight to the data on the net. This is a great point. I always load light at first and see how it does. If the book calls for say 45grn I start at around 40. Load about 3-5 rounds, shoot and see how it does. I also record all of the data in the blank pages of my reloading book. I mark out old loads and keep the one I verify as the best. Works great. I havent loaded for .243 in a while and likely will fairly soon. When I do all I have to do is get in the back of the manual and there will be the loading information for that round.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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