I've got an Amazon gift card for about 400 bucks.
I've been wanting to get into reloading, and I think this about the right time to do it. I was looking around and found a few reloading sets in the 200-300 for a starting kit. Is there anything that anyone can recommend? Books or equipment wise.
What are you looking to reload? High volume?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zSG804HwVk
This was one of the most useful vids for me when i first got into reloading 30-40 krag. Also, Hickocks vids on reloading are good to to decide if you want to get a progressive press, which has multiple slots for dies, or a single stage press.
Rarer calibers. 8mm Mauser. 6.5 Swede, .38 S&W and some less rare calibers like 7.62x25.
Yeah probs go for singe stage press then.
I was looking at something like so:
https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-85003-Classic-Reloading-Press/dp/B000PD9YTU/
or
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Breech-Lock-Challenger/dp/B003ISVWC6/
I recommend RBS Rock Chucker press kit with LEE dies. Great value for those two. Also pick up a Complete Reloading Manual of the caliber of your choice.
When you get a complete manual for a single caliber, it gives you all the info from all published sources from companies so you don't have to hunt through 5 books for a possible loading.
Those both look fine. One thing to keep in mind is that not all companies make things like shell holders or dies for all cartridges though. For example, I could really only choose Hornady because I could only find a shell holder and dies made by Hornady, and I believe, at least shell holders, are proprietary. Dies sometimes have conversions so you can use them with other presses.
The lee press looks like it comes with shell holders, which is a plus. You don't have to go buy a bunch separately. But they may not include the rare cartridges you're looking for. It also looks like it needs less work to assemble because the powder dropper doesn't need to be bolted down (I think) like the Hornady one does.
The hornady one, on the other hand, looks like it comes with a reloading manual, which is something you will need no matter what. It also comes with case lube, which you'll need with Hornady dies (some dies are made with carbide or something so they don't need lube. Don't quite know much about that) It also looks like it comes with a case trimmer, which will prove useful after a while.
But both kits look good for a starting kit! But they are not complete. You'll still need dies, shell holders, and calipers, along with one or two things depending on which one you choose.
https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-9354-Supreme-Master-Kit/dp/B00T9YKW60/
Is this what you're referring to?
Yep I believe thats the one. At least thats the press hes recommending.
You also will probably want some way to clean brass, such as a tumbler if you plan to reload spent brass. It'll keep your dies from getting dirty.
I would personally start with a single stage. Greater control over how the rounds are loaded, and a great way to understand the basics. RCBS has been a lot of my friends choice.
Yes, this is the kit you want to start with, Gives you almost everything. This single stage will do every caliber short of .50 BMG. I would also recommend a tumbler w/ media, and a hand primer. The primer press built into the single stage presses kinda suck unless you are reloading military brass with crimped primer pockets. It's just awkward and has a greater chance of causing a primer to pop than handheld priming.
I would have recommended the smaller Partner press, but they discontinued it a few years ago. It's smaller press that can do almost every cartridge and it took up less space, but was a little weaker than the Rock Chucker.
My stepdad wants to reload .50BMG, are there any single stage presses that can reload normal length centerfire cartridges and .50BMG?
I got that Lee kit when I started out a year ago. I'm looking to upgrade to either a turret or inexpensive progressive soon, but the Breech Lock is still holding up just fine.
A couple of notes on that particular kit:
You still need a load manual. I haven't tried Lee's, but I have Hornady's, Lyman's and Sierra's current manuals. I'd start with Hornady's, they offer a wide selection of bullet types and loads, and have a number of fairly obscure cartridges. If you want to be sure though, I can double check for you if it has data for the cartridges you have in mind.
As mentioned by others, you need a die set. If you're reloading for a semi-auto, a Lee Pacesetter die set should do the trick. It includes a decapping/full-length sizing die, a seating die and a crimp die (for rifles, I have no experience with Lee pistol dies). If you have a bolt action, you might consider an ultimate die set - it includes a neck-size only die in addition to the others, allowing you to fireform your brass.
The kit includes a case-trimming kit, minus the case-length gauge and shell holder needed for your particular case. You'll need to order that separately.
The included case lube is garbage. Toss it and get some Imperial Sizing Wax.
You'll need a set of calipers for checking case and overall cartridge length. I leave selection of a particular model up to you.
You'll need a case tumbler. There are plenty of good options on the market for that. Lyman's pretty popular, as are Frankford Arsenal's and Hornady's. My Rangemaxx has held up pretty well for the year I've had it. I leave selection of media up to you, though you might want to check out this video.
You'll want a way to pull bullets in case you fuck up and seat them too deep. I'd recommend an RCBS collet bullet puller. You'll need to order the correct caliber collet separately.
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