Reloading BS thread

Yes it is. I have done many times and never had one go off. Even if it does, its an empty case, so nothing will happen. I usually soak them in water for a few hours after before disposing of them though, dont watn to throw a live primer in the trashcan. (obviously make sure there is no powder around).

 

fellow TW's who are full of reloading knowledge. I would like to start reloading. i am complete NUUB! so please bear with me. I am requesting for your knowledge!

I have a small apartment, so space is quite limited, i can probably set something up in my room or maybe living room. Maybe something mobile is better! fold and go

I want to reload .223/5.56... I can get brass easily.

I HAVE NO IDEA (well kinda) where to start. a laundry list would be awesome and even better a link for the product

 

Another NOOB lurker.... Is the Dillion, almost all-in-one, system worth it? Especially for those of us with limited space (I do have a house with a garage... plus a wife, three kids and a dog... I have very limited space for me)?

Anyone have one (Square Deal "B", RL 550B, or XL 650)?

 

Depends on what you are trying to do and what type of gun you are shooting...precision bolt actions require a WHOLE different set of tools than a gas gun that you are just reloading to save money. Same with handgun. I actaully have three different reloading setup that have all different sets of tools (one for high precision hand made rounds, one for mass produced handgun rounds thruogh a progressive, and one for just bulk rifle ammo).

FYI Precsion loading requires a LOT more tools, a LOT more time, and a LOT more money, so only get into that if you are serious about long range shooting. It takes hours to make a single round.

 

I am into quality bulk rifle ammo... wouldnt that fall under mass produce as well? anyways, I want to be able to hit up the range often without having to worry sooooooooo much about putting holes in my wallet because im buying rounds instead of making them myself.

 

x2 I am a hand gun shooter, but enjoy some riffle and hope to get some more soon. That too I want to be able to take my kids out and teach them to shoot. So bulk hand gun and riffle shooting for fun and training.

 

Its for .243 and I dont have one of those.

I made this thread a while back and forgot about it until recently

There will be holes in your wallet one way or the other. all the equipment it takes costs $$$ haha

 

THANKS!

 

I'm in the same boat. I ordered the classic reload kit. I purchased some RCBS dies today, as I understand the dies are interchangeable between brands. I've also read a couple reviews that say bullets get stuck in the Hornady dies...probably user error, but i found a couple different people who stated that. So I bought the RCBS mainly because it was in stock.

If you got the kit, and the dies, I think you have the essentials. Well, at least the essential equipment. You obviously need the components to make up the round. There are a lot of other tools that would be nice to have, but i don't think they are absolutely necessary.

Keep in mind that I have zero experience with this, so don't take anything I say as truth. I'm just regurgitating the information that I've pieced together. As always, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Yeah reloading does not make shooting cheaper, you will spend the same if not MORE, but you will get more rounds to shoot. haha you do not save money , you just shoot more.

If you are just into bulk rifle/handgun rounds the following would be a min and suggested:

Case Prep:

- Inside and outside chamfer tool: lots and lots of options, just go toe brownells, sinclairs, etc and get what you like)

- Case trimmer (for bulk rounds, you can make them to SAAMI spec, so a lee case trimmer is cheap and will work...for precision, you need an adjustable case trimmer because you find tune the length, NOT to SAAMI spec) (this is the lee one: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/case-preparation/case-trimming/replacement-cutters/lee-cutter-lock-stud-prod54287.aspx)

- Tempilaq 650 deg and a torch for annealing (if you reuse brass a lot)

- Scale to sort brass (this is getting into precision, for bulk rounds, not really needed)

- Flash hole deburr (Not really needed for bulk rounds, but its cheap and effective: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/case-preparation/flash-hole-deburring-tools/lyman-flash-hole-uniformer-prod44714.aspx)

- Primer pocket reamer

- Ultrasonic cleaner (if you really want shiny brass, you can run a tumbler as well, but most ppl do not use them anymore..they do not clean the brass, simply make it shiny, and you spend hours picking out media from the primer pockets...i personally dont care if my rounds are shiny, as long as they shoot where i want them out past 1000 yrds).

- This is pricy and not needed but its VERY useful, you can run the lee trimmer, your inside and outside deburr tool, primer pocket reamer and flash hole deburr all on this, so it makes it a one stop shop for case prep..VERY nice: http://www.brownells.com/reloading/case-preparation/case-lube/rcbs-trim-mate-case-prep-center-prod37922.aspx?ttver=1

Bullet Prep:

NOTE: If you are not into extreme precision, this section can be ignored. most match grade rounds (sierra match king, etc) are off teh shelf good enough for most ppl use. this is just for SUPER long range.


- Meplat trimmer (in the world of long range precision, its about consistency, each bullet being EXACTLY the same, and not all are created equal in the box..this helps makes them equal: (http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/meplat-uniforming/sinclair-meplat-trimmers-prod36562.aspx)

- Nice scale to sort bullets by weight

Building the round:

- Priming tool (if you have progressive press, its build in, some single stages have it build in as well, however if not, grab a simple hand primer: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/priming-tools/hand-tools/lee-auto-prime-xr-hand-priming-tool-prod34047.aspx)

- Powder dispenser (again, if you have progressive, its built in, if not grab a simple one…for handgun rounds I use my progressives built in..for rifle rounds, I still hand charge each round: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/powder-handling/powder-measures-dispensers/lee-perfect-powder-measure-prod54291.aspx)

- Powder trickler (used to fine tune your charges. Again if you just use your auto one, not needed, but if you want to ensure charges are exact, it is needed: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/powder-handling/powder-tricklers/hornady-powder-trickler-prod44707.aspx)

- Powder scale (even if you use your automatic progressive dispenser, this is useful to calibrate it..i consider it a must (I have like 4 scales haha))

- Progressive press (single stage or turret will work, but for pumping out hundreds of handgun rounds, progressive doesn’t get any better..for precision rounds I use a single stage press…basically for progressives, its either dillon or hornady that are currently considered the best…basically ford or chevy pick which you like, they will all perform nicely. For my progressive I personally run the hornady lock n load…and LOVE it…my dad runs a dillon 650..I prefer mine, but he prefers his haah.)

Dies:

NOTE: most die manufactures sell cal specific kits that have all dies you need. For bulk rounds I
suggest this.

- Bullet seat die (caliber specific)

- Sizing die (cal specific, and several options here. Really it depends on what you are doing, for everyday rifle, neck sizing works and does not cold work (wear out ) your brass. However, for precision, you want to bump the neck back to exact tolerances for your action (more important in bolt guns than gas guns) so you full length size them)

- Expanding die (for handguns)

- Crimp Die (needed for certain calibers only)

- Case Lube (this depends on dies. for carbide hadngun dies, not needed, for full length rifle dies, DEFINATELY needed).

For Precision:

There are a LOT more tools you use if you are doing precision rounds, bullet comparators, OAL gages, metplat trimmers, bump gages, neck uniform trimmers, custom made dies, etc. These are really not needed unless you are truly trying to reach out a LONG distance (talking 800 yrds or so) and be consistent out there. If you are really interested in this, PM me and I can get you details on this..but know its a LOT more invovled than just pumping out rounds through a progressive.

 

Sorry, I was refering to the depriming of live primers. Why not load and shoot that brass.

 

I inherited some primed .243 brass but no .243 rifle is what I was trying to say

 

So your trying to salvage the bullets, correct? The way I read Kevin's post (maybe I'm reading it wrong) he wanted the primers out of some brass, not loaded ammo.

 

Gotcha. Crystal clear, now...

 

So is reloading truly cheaper in the long run? or is it more about having control of the process and being easier to source all of the components than the assembled bullets?

I have seen multiple times people say it's cheaper, and I'm curious who has actually done the math to see if it is. even if the components are cheaper, just from glancing at stuff the equipment needed is quite an investment. so even if it is cheaper, how many rounds do you think you have to produce before it pays itself off?

 

All true, but what usually happens is, you just shoot more.