Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Who here does it? my dad and I have been thinking about getting into it....problem is, we don't really know anyone who does it (only person we know who does it is my uncle steve, who is currently serving in Iraq) and have no idea what we need to get started. so my question is...what tools do we need to get? and is there a book or video that i could get to watch/read that would help us out any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Yep, I do. You'll need a handful of stuff. RCBS makes a great starters kit or you can surf Ebay for used stuff. There is also an older guy on EBAY that sales reloading DVDs. I think I payed around $12 for mine. Easy to understand and it will help, a lot. I tried to read a book on it but it was like stereo instructions. The DVD is far more down to earth. The Guy's name is David Curran. Good product! You'll need...... * A press (RCBS, Hornady, Lee, etc) * Die Sets for each Cal you wish to reload * Powder scales * Powder Trickler * Shell Holders * Case trimmer * Reloading manuals or Internet access. * and personally, I think you need a tumbler. ****(Almost everything listed will come in a complete set, such as the Rock Chucker starter Kit).***** There is a handful of other little stuff you'll need to get started but that is the "Big stuff". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 yeah yeah what he said. Just remember to use extreme caution while doing it. The outcomes can be very dangerous to yourself and/or your gun not just what ever your shooting at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
257bob Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 I have been reloading for almost 10 years. I started in college so I could shoot more for less. Since then I have realized the performance and accuracy gains that can be achieved. I started small (Lee Anniversery Kit), and then slowly upgraded parts as I found most of what came in that kit was junk. The RCBS reloading kit is an outstanding value. Most of the knowledge I have gained in the last several years has come from benchrest shooters and gunsmiths. Get a couple of good reloading manuals (Speer, Sierra, Hornady, or Hogdon). Read, read, and read some more. I read every thing I can get my hands on. Magazines, books, internet, and reloading manuals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Get a couple of good reloading manuals (Speer, Sierra, Hornady, or Hogdon). Yup have those same manuals great info in them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 oh yeah, its the only way too go have fun and save money. RCBS all the way they have some great products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 gO WITH rcbs AND GET THE MANUAL. yOU WILL GET THE HANG OF IT QUICK ENOUGH, i DID. gOOD LUCK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terminator Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Been loading now for 17 years and wouldn't shoot anything else! RCBS products are great, but Lee makes good dies at a much smaller cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 Just rifles and pistol rounds for 33 years now. Never got into reloading for shotgun at all. I addition to Jeramie's list you'll probably need a micrometer to measure the cases you trim. Other than that just some minor things to make things a bit easier like a uniflow powder measure, shell trays, primer trays, and a primer tool. I also agree with Jeramie about the tumbler too. If you get one, get a flash hole deburring tool since cleaning media occasionally gets stuck in the flash hole. Other than that and maybe a bullet puller all that's left is choices of powder, primers, and bullets to choose to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 If you get one, get a flash hole deburring tool since cleaning media occasionally gets stuck in the flash hole. Other than that and maybe a bullet puller all that's left is choices of powder, primers, and bullets to choose to use. I always left the spent primers in the case while tumbling. When it was time to re-load, the press would punch them out and any media if present! But a bullet puller is a good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I have been reloading for about 10 years here also. I don't monkey with too many different loads since I only load for my .06, but I do it for enjoyment. Every whitetail I have laid down in the last 10 years has been with a bullet I handloaded prior to heading afield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I always left the spent primers in the case while tumbling. When it was time to re-load, the press would punch them out and any media if present! But a bullet puller is a good idea! Same here. Ive never noticed a problem stuffing in a new primer. The flash hole seems to stay clean enough. Did anyone mention a powder trickler? Im to lazy to read above..... Most of the starter kits have everything you need. You can always upgrade later. The most important part (IMHO) is the press. As far as Dies, Lee does make some decent Dies from what ive seen. All I have are RCBS but that is what I picked up. Its not Label Bias in terms of dies. I do use Lee Shell holders! You can often find good deals on Ebay for different things. I found an auction a while back with a deburring tool, powder trickler, and a scale for $15 plus $5 shipping. It didn't have a single bid. For the most part, people who reload have that stuff but for someone looking to get started, that would have been a great auction to pick up some extras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Did anyone mention a powder trickler? Im to lazy to read above I am too lazy also....but I have never used one. Have always trickled with a small spoon! I am just too lazy to order one I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrAzYCoYoTe Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I am too lazy to reload period. Eactly how much money will you save reloading for yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 While I was only re-loading handgun rounds. For a typical box of 9mm Full metal jackets where costing anywhere from $10-$12 per box. I was doing them for about $5-$6! So for every 10 boxes you buy, I was making 20! On the cheaper truncated lead tips, they were about $2.50 a box! So I would think you will save some cash making your own rifle rounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Crazycoyote, with most folks that handload the general rule of thumb is..............you dont really save any money but you get to shoot twice as much for about the same price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Crazycoyote, with most folks that handload the general rule of thumb is..............you dont really save any money but you get to shoot twice as much for about the same price True for the most part. A lot of the bottom line depends on how often you shoot and how much. The cartridge makes a difference to. I can reload Hornady's V-max for my .243 FAR cheaper than I can buy them for. I can literally pick up 100 bullets for roughly $20. I already have the brass so the Primers and powder are all the additional cost I would have. I haven't done the math but I know its cheaper. The main reason I know its cheaper, the Vmax in that Cal are typically around $26 a box off the shelf. Im reloading 100 rounds for roughly the same price. Different Cals make a HUGE difference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hangunnr Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 You can save a bundle if you're shooting some of the exotic stuff. If you keep a keen eye on the sale fliers that come out you can get some smokin deals on components. For instance, I'm loading 458 Win mag for right at $1.31 per round. $26.10 per box of 20. This price is using new brass. The next loading be $.70 cheaper per round because the brass is already paid for. $.61 per round for 458 Win Mag can't be beat by purchasing your ammo. The cheapest I've seen this ammo on the shelf around here was for $79.99 per box of 20. Granted, I've gotten some of the components at rock bottom prices which kept the cost down but as you can see you can save quite abit by rollin your own. hangunnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 Hit that on the nose HG. Thats what I was pointing out about the even far cheaper VMax. You can load higher dollar rounds for far less. Even if you load something Cheap you will save money in the long run. It doesn't matter if it takes a day to shoot your reloads or two years. The point is, You are simply shooting more for less. Any way you look at that, you're saving money. The only exception or even close comparison would be cheap loads such as Corelokt or Super X. Both are adequate bullets and a great way to get brass. If you reload the Corelokt IMHO you dont save very much. However, you can take that brass and reload Barnes or something equivalent and save some $$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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