new to reloading questions

[tnraines]

I am considering getting into reloading.  As I do not shoot huge amounts all the time I was thinking small scale.  Apart from a book and powder what do I need for bare bones setup?  I shoot .45acp currently but may want to move on to other calibers and perhaps shotgun shells.

I know I need a press, a shellholder, and something to measure and dispense powder. 

Any specific types/brands that is recommend for novice reloader?

[joec]

I am considering getting into reloading.  As I do not shoot huge amounts all the time I was thinking small scale.  Apart from a book and powder what do I need for bare bones setup?  I shoot .45acp currently but may want to move on to other calibers and perhaps shotgun shells.

I know I need a press, a shellholder, and something to measure and dispense powder. 

Any specific types/brands that is recommend for novice reloader?

I have Lee but I guess like everything it will depend on what you are willing to spend. Bare minimum you don't really need a press with something like the Lee loader kits this https://fsreloading.com/lee-loader-45-auto-90262.html. You should also check out ebay for presses but new single stages are reasonable also. I started with a completely used system of two Lee Pro 1000 progressive presses which I don't recommend to start as there is a bit of a learning curve. But have finally got them working and understand how they work. I also have a Lee Hand Press and Lee Reloader Press. Get a good scale also such as a Hornady GS-1500 electronic or Beam type scale. Lee is inexpensive and works however it isn't considered the best but what I have will last me a life time and then some.

Get some books first though and at least two. I have 4 plus a lot of older loading guides from various powder makers. It isn't hard at all but does require a bit of attention to detail. It is also a hobby unto itself which I find pretty relaxing.

[rickk]

The basic three or 4 hole LEE turret press (not the progressive version) is a very reliable, durable machine.

Caliber swaps take about 15 seconds, which is really handy if you do multiple calibers.

Shotgun is partly to mostly a whole different critter. While it is possible to load shotgun on certain models of conventional presses, the way to go is to get a press made for shotgun. There are shotgun presses that cost between a few bucks and a few thousand bucks. The MEC 600 Jr is probably the most popular shotgun press ever made.

Powder Measure... are you going to dabble at all with black powder? The Lyman 55 classic is rated by the manufacturer for use with black powder. Of course, it will work with smokeless as well.

Rick

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

"Trains" BTW Thanks for the PM.  I could have responded with more detail, but now it is out in the open where you will receive all sorts of valuable advice.  You question has popped up several times before, in cascity and at other places.

First of all; - READ!  LOTS!   A search on cascity kinda depends on your search words, and the good stuff is scattered about.

2d; Get a manual.  Start online with the powder companies and the suppliers of reloading gear.

Choice of level of reloading equipment;  Basic minimum, medium, and hi-production.

Minimal;  I acquired a LEE Loader waaay-baack.  OK, but a dead end in that you can't expand it as you need more sophitication.  Lyman 310 tool; This replicates the old tools of the 19th Century.  It is portable and works with a few limitations. It was out of production for awhile but was too good to die and is now available.  The trouble is that it takes a unique series of dies and shell holders.  It can't do a lot of heavy case sizing, either.

http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohlandl/310/Lyman_310_Tool.html

My choice at this level is the LEE HAND PRESS.  It is compact, economical, portable, accepts regular dies, and will do most any reloading chore, but somewhat slower than the next set of choices;         http://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html

Medium;  This is where you will find the starting point for most beginners.  There are many choices for single stage presses, and most will do the job.  They have a slight speed advantage over the Hand Press in that they are bench mounted.  My first press was an RCBS Junior I purchased from a US gun club store in Germany almost 50 years ago, and it is still in use. A slight majority of opinion will send a beginner to a single stage press.  Simple, intuitive, and you will always be able to use it for something.  If you finally outgrow it you can cascade it to a new young shooter, and it will work for another 50 years for them!

High production; There are many variations on progressive presses.  The experts, almost as numerous as those recommending a single stage press to a beginner, will argue that as you will inevitably end up with a progressive press as you become more active in shooting so why not start there. I am sceptical, and based solely on the KISS Principle, suggest that you start with one of the two courses of action, above.

As for brand preference, I seem to be able to load as well with LEE dies as with the other colours.  I have almost all brands in my collection.  I'd say LEE is cheaper, and commonly available.  Get carbide dies for any staight-wall case.

Apres mois Le Deluge!

P,S;  I have just acquired a LEE 4-hole press.  I agree with rickk and jefro that a beginner can learn to work it fairly quickly, and I think it fits into the "medium" category.

[Jefro]

The basic three or 4 hole LEE turret press (not the progressive version) is a very reliable, durable machine.

Caliber swaps take about 15 seconds, which is really handy if you do multiple calibers.

Rick

Howdy tnraines, I agree with Rick. IMHO the best low cost starter set up is the Lee Classic Turret Kit, can be used as a single stage or turret, plus the kit comes with one set of pistol caliber dies. Check my reply about the combo set ups at Kempf's Gun Shop on this other thread, post #13, it will save me a bunch of cut n' paste. Good Luck
Kempf's Combos


Jefro Relax-Enjoy

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Bottom Dealin' Mike is the blackpowder editor of guns Of The Old West magazine.  He has many short videos on youtube under the handle "duellist 1954".  Here is the link;

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=duellist+1954&oq=duellist+1954&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=youtube.12...2241.8568.0.12209.13.13.0.0.0.0.288.2448.2j2j9.13.0...0.0.

Three of his videos cover the same 3 levels, but for shot shell reloading.  When you get some time go through his video library as you will find a visual presentation on many aspects of frontier action shooting, weapons , and reloading.

[joec]

I would also agree on the Lee Classic Turret press as a start and in some cases an only press. That is where I was planing on starting however fell into a great deal on a lot more to start. I did a year of research on what would suit my needs before I even considered starting in reloading. I'm also still learning and going slowly. If you have something in mind I also suggest you view several videos available on the net for about every piece of reloading gear made. Those also help a lot in deciding if you want to invest in a given product or not based on your needs.

[tnraines]

thank everyone for the replies and info so far.  I must honestly say this is probably the best place far as friendly people helping others out who are just starting.

[joec]

thank everyone for the replies and info so far.  I must honestly say this is probably the best place far as friendly people helping others out who are just starting.

Addicts love company, don't you know. 

[longinosoap]

I got started with a Lee Anniversary single stage kit given to me my my brother who bought it new and never used it. Worked well for cowboy shooting for 2 years. I read a lot, watched videos on U-Tube and asked my shooting companions lots of questions. Have progressed to the Lee Classic turret and will probably never go to a progressive. Shooting 200 or so rounds per week the turret does enough for me.
As for shotgun, I started simple and cheap with the Lee press. Reloads 25 or so a week very easily. When it breaks will get another Lee.
Just my .02 cents.

[Trailrider]

I, too, would recommend a single-stage press for you at this time (presuming you have room for any bench-type press). My RCBS Model B, Jr. has been serving me well for over  52 years! Although a slower than a progressive, it is better suited to a novice, as you will have few problems getting into the sequence of reloading. The Junior press isn't made anymore, but RCBS has a lower end model, and IIRC, can be had in a package that includes, I believe, a scale, powder thrower and one set of dies. Check with your local "toy store".

As was stated. get ahold of several manuals, including the Speer and the Lyman #49th Edition. Read the sections on reloading. And then read them AGAIN! If you have questions, be SURE to ask them here.

Safe shooting, Pard!

[Mule Ear Mortensen]

I'm no "EXPERT" but I would add my +1 to the Lee Classic Turret set. A good pard recommended it to me recently when I started reloading and It was money well spent. If I was going to do rifle ammo and needed that added precision and consistancy I could see a single stage first but for pistol caliber reloading the flexibility of the turret wins big!

When starting I used it as a single stage press but once I got it set up and felt comfortable I was able to gear up and make ammo much faster in turret mode! Today I can set up a new set of dies and then churn out 100 plus rounds in my first hour on the press! For me that is probably all I'll ever need.

The best thing is that when an emergency crops up in my reloading time, that requires a pause or full stop, I can pull the lever at most four more times and have a finished round to put in the ammo box. Then dump the powder and primers and cover components followed by a sweep of the work station and I'm set till the next session - No matter how far away that might be. I don't have any partially filled cases to store safe from contamination that might cause a spill or fire hazard in my work area. No sorting of partially worked cases and unstarted ones to deal with.

Like I said, I haven't tried any other way but this has worked really well as a starting point for me and I don't consider myself smarter then anyone else on most anything and especially the topic of reloading. I'm saying if I can do it I would expect anyone else to have success too.

[joec]

I'm no "EXPERT" but I would add my +1 to the Lee Classic Turret set. A good pard recommended it to me recently when I started reloading and It was money well spent. If I was going to do rifle ammo and needed that added precision and consistancy I could see a single stage first but for pistol caliber reloading the flexibility of the turret wins big!

When starting I used it as a single stage press but once I got it set up and felt comfortable I was able to gear up and make ammo much faster in turret mode! Today I can set up a new set of dies and then churn out 100 plus rounds in my first hour on the press! For me that is probably all I'll ever need.

The best thing is that when an emergency crops up in my reloading time, that requires a pause or full stop, I can pull the lever at most four more times and have a finished round to put in the ammo box. Then dump the powder and primers and cover components followed by a sweep of the work station and I'm set till the next session - No matter how far away that might be. I don't have any partially filled cases to store safe from contamination that might cause a spill or fire hazard in my work area. No sorting of partially worked cases and unstarted ones to deal with.

Like I said, I haven't tried any other way but this has worked really well as a starting point for me and I don't consider myself smarter then anyone else on most anything and especially the topic of reloading. I'm saying if I can do it I would expect anyone else to have success too.

I've bought a pair of Lee Pro 1000 presses for a very good prices as well as many other things in the deal. I would love to trade one for a Lee Classic turret press. Now that I've learned how to keep the Progressive working right even using BP it is fine but it did involve a learning curve. But would still love to have the turret press also. Though the Progressive running right is a bit faster that isn't my style of loading as I sometimes prefer a single stage also.

[Cookie]

Another +1 for the Lee Classic Cast Turret (notice a trend here?) 

It was my first press. (I first bought a Lee Loader kit. That lasted about a week.) The directions were incredibly straightforward, setup was simple, and once it's dialed in - it STAYS that way. And as already mentioned, once you start loading multiple calibers, switching takes about 5 seconds.

Now I'm reloading about 200 rounds a week (plus the time it takes to cast my own bullets), and I've never felt the Lee Turret has held me back.

PS - I also recommend having a dedicated secondary press for misc. tasks such as depriming or bullet sizing.

[cpt dan blodgett]

18 Years ago when I started reloading (not counting a lee load all for 30-06 in 72 or 3) I did comparison shopping which was hard to do without the internet or maybe had internet but the 300 baud dial-up was way to slow to research with, I selected the Lyman TMag Expert Kit from Midsouth Shooters supply added a tumbler and some other case prep stuff.  Kit itself came with powder measure, scale, press, Lyman #47 manual and case trimmer.  Think I also ordered the shell holder kit.  Was shooting high power at the time.  Kept my .308 dies in place all the time and swapped out caliber of the day dies in the other 4 holes.  Started shooting CAS a few years back, decided changing dies and setup was a pain, so ordered a couple of extra turrets from lyman.  Much quicker to swap turrets than change dies.  Still have to do a little work to go from 44 spec to 44 mag or from 45 ACP to 45 colt.  A couple of sample rounds simplifies and speed process.

Most of my dies are hornandy new dimension or lee.  Do have a few lyman m dies (neck expanders for cast bullets)

Do also recommend multiple manuals.  Have an older lee manual either bought it or the cheapy lee single stage c shaped aluminum from press (at the time there was a deal buy one (forget which) and get the other free.  Use the press with my Lee Ram Prime II (no longer made) to seat primers.  Recently came of the dime for an RCBS hand primer, but routinely use the Lee despite a problem with flipped primers once in a while.

[Cumberland Mtn John]

Plus one for the Lee Turret press.  Used as a single stage for 60,000+ bullets.

Cumberland Mtn John