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Hi everyone im looking at getting in to reloading and would like to know what kit i should look at getting? Will be reloading for bolt guns and have 204,223,270,308,7mmRm that i would like to reload for and thinking i might start with the 223.
Thanks
Yikes, that's like asking what's the best rifle to start with !
Option 1 - single stage. Slower for individual rounds, handy for the various calibres you've got. Handy for low numbers of rounds. Cheap to set up.
Option 2 - progressive. Can do multiple calibres, can make loads of rounds and there's cost savings in the long run. Expensive to set up.
Some people swear by *their* set up but I feel a lot does come down to how much $$ you're willing to spend.
Single stage is cheap and changing calibres is cheapish, can be quite rewarding crafting each round if that's your thing. Me I use a Lee kit I picked up cheap from Reloaders for my 223 for target and rabbit shooting, but a Dillon progressive for 9mm as I'm churning through a lot more rounds.
RCSB kit - RCBS Partner Press Reloading Kit - Presses - Reloading - Reloaders Supplies Ltd
Lee kit - Lee 50th Anniversary Kit - Presses - Reloading - Reloaders Supplies Ltd
Both kits come with everything you'll need.
Get a kit with a decent cast iron/ steel press
The Lee single stage kit, about $230NZ.Quote:
Originally Posted by josh86
Ppl know more about reloading than me but I'd suggest loading the bigger 308w, 270 and 7mm08 cartridges is more forgiving for a person just starting out and not the 223 unless maybe you shoot it a lot.
Wow that RCBS kit looks a decent buy for $399.
If you can afford this rather than the Lee I'd suggest buying this, hell I'm tempted. Get Lee Ultimate dies though I think they are the best, especially for the money.
Thanks every one for the reply's. Im after best possible accuracy that i can get and don't mind spending a bit more to get something that will last and do its job well.
The rockchucker kit looks like it could be a go.
Buy the Forster co-ax press that Spanners has for sale so I dont.
Single stage press, with simple gear. Start with only one caliber and get that smokingly accurate before you buy anything for the others.
I'd suggest 223. Nice accurate calibre, and cheaper to load than the big calibres .. So cheap to learn on...
You will probably waste money on gear you wont need or use - I know I did ... So get that out of the way before you buy gear for other calibres.
The only other advice I can give is read heaps. And then some. There's is a wealth of info out there. Some of it shite some good and some fantastic.
The other thing would be find yourself a local mentor. Bloody useful to be shown the ropes.
Tim
I have the RCBS kit with the reloader special 5 press which I bought from Forlongs in Hamilton. Even though the press itself is cast alloy it is a pretty solid press and it is churning out some nice accurate ammo for my 270 and is way more solid than the RCBS partner press only thing that would make me upgrade the press is if I could afford a rock chucker other than that I would not give up the RS5 press for anything.
I dont think so, no. I use the Lee neck die to 1000yds target shooting 308winchester as do some others, so I wouldnt bother with "better" IMHO. If you want to do some tests the Lee gives very little neck runout and a very consistent neck tension but you do need a solid press to do it with. About the only thing worth considering is if you are shooting 308w bullets (and any others) with a secant ogive then the hornady setting die with the secant insert (amax?) wont mark the bullet.Quote:
Originally Posted by hamsav
I also prime off the press, I prefer it.
@kiw39 says reads also watch lots youtube, ammosmith is worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ammosmith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zSG804HwVk
I have the RCBS rockchucker its only disadvantage is the sucky way it deals with the de-primed primers, just about any other press I have looked at seems to do it properly. Otherwise I have mostly Lee kit.
Forlongs has the reloader special 5 press kit down to $405 from the $580 I paid for it at the moment and you can order online from them
Yep, he is ... Very knowledgeable sourceQuote:
Originally Posted by steven
Tim
Workshop Innovation has a very good selection of high quality reloading gear to choose from and Julian's prices and service are excellent. You could do worse than ask for his advice as he's not into pushing you into high end gear if he thinks you don't need it.
Workshop Innovation - Gunsmithing Tools: Reloading Stuff +
I personally prefer Redding and Forster dies.
Yup Julian is a top guy
Quote:
Originally Posted by 10-Ring
+1 ... hes a good bloke .. and gives excellent customer service :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Shamus
Workshop Innovation doesnt have that RCBS starter kit though, I looked.
yep, workshop Innovation, are good to deal with IMHO.
If you have contact in USA, this one is a deal hard to beat:
Bullets.com
I would buy that on a heart beat if I had someone to send it to meQuote:
Originally Posted by Friwi
people do swear by their set up ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Kscott
I swear by mine because it fits my purpose ... you need to figure out why you're doing this ..
If you're doing it to churn out ammo, then maybe a multi stage press is what you need.
Or maybe you're in it for the accuracy - or to produce a load you cant buy off the shelf.
You may not know yet exactly what your purpose in doing this is ...
regards
Tim
What surprises me is I see nothing on say youtube doing real comparisons on dies.Quote:
Originally Posted by 10-Ring
What I'd like to do at some stage is a group of us each with different dies get together and do some 600~1000yd loads and shoot to see if there is discernible difference between brands of dies. I know I am one of a few using the Lee neck die at my club V others using way more expensive bush dies and only necking 1/3rd the neck at that. Currently I have LEE dies and an expensive Redding bush die for my 303brit, no bush yet though, hoping to do some tests fairly soon once Ive fire formed the new privy brass and got the no4 shooting well, and/or the no3.
Yep, agree, economically for instance you need to be looking at 2000 rounds of say winchester 308w for it to make sense to buy a reloading kit. I figured out 2 to 2.5 years/seasons to do it. Then its incrementally about $150 per caliber, just dies and maybe a prep die for the quick trim. What I did find was, it is fun to do. I just wish I had more time....Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwi39
Actually in the last 2 years I think that reloading kit has got cheaper relative to ammo. Gunshops do seem to be struggling however 3? closed in Wellington so far in 12months and I dont think Petone will last long.
I couldn't agree more. The worst example of that is the people who go to a NZ retailer to try something for size and then order it from overseas.Quote:
Originally Posted by small_caliber
Actually I dont agree. In effect you are saying NZers should be forced to pay up or do without and more and more it is the doing without I am seeing. Sure components have gone up as has ammo but I think many NZers simply cant afford these prices as they are struggling. We have had 6 not so good years IMHO that's telling in the shops. Some justification of this view is a) interest in archery to hunt with. b) multiple and many comments Ive received, c) observations and economic data trawling I do. As an example, have a look at the prices of Ar15s, in the region of $700~1000US (and that is retail pricing). Sorry but $2300NZ+ seems rather over the top for a basic AR, times change. Like computers we have moved on line to cheaper, no excessive commercial rents with online presences. NZar15 and gunsnz, workshop inovation are examples of the new businesses selling guns and kit at a price that looks far more reasonable. As a business you have to move with the times, I have had to for 35 years being made redundant 3 times and had to move jobs and careers that many as well. I mean look at the tariffs we used to have, on say shoes. When I came here 20 years ago I was gob smacked at the price of decent trainers etc. Was it fair that the many NZers who earned/earn little are forced to pay an excessive amount for the basics just to keep a few un-skilled in work? So $180NZ for a basic NZ made shoe or $40 from china? that is a huge thing/problem for some.
Hi Josh,I've always reloaded since the early1970's with a single stage press with excellent results & have Lee, Hornady, Redding, Rcbs,Lyman & Simplex dies all of which work great. I've used an old Lee set of dies for the 303 Brit for years with no problems although I did break a decapping pin when resizing a Berdan primed shell once by mistake which I now use to resize military brass anyway. Get a decent reloading manual, especially one that has a picture of the cartridges with it's dimensions ( eg; Lyman) & a bullet puller just in case you make a mistake, A set of scales as well, & perhaps later a vernier caliper & case trimmer to trim any cases. the list is almost endless depending on what you're reloading for. then there's bullet casting etc etc etc.
Well one thing is for certain and that is that gun shops as we know them in NZ will eventually disappear and be replaced by online businesses. Where most kiwis get bitter and twisted is when they compare NZ prices to US prices. The reality is that NZ just hasn't got the population to support online businesses let alone brick and mortar stores with the low margin high turnover low prices that are available in the U.S. with it's massive 300 million population.Quote:
Originally Posted by steven
Anyway, this is getting off track.
This might help. There is part 2 as well.
The Rifleman's Journal: Basics: A Few Reloading Hints and Tips Part 1
There is a complete reloading set up for sale on the fishnhunt forum for $695, got everything you need plus some - a bargain. And there is another complete set up on the buy sell on here, $775, well worth looking at. You shouldnt need to buy anything else for years except dies.
So i took a bit of a different track to the norm when i started reloading. I just started pistol shooting, and had a 223 as well. So instead of learning on a single stage, a brought a dillon 650. My view ( right or wrong) was that i would get pay back for the kit over time, and the learning would be easy ( it was).
The best thing for me was the guys from the pistol/shooting club. They helped out with advice and came around to show me the ropes, plus also the guys that sold me the press ( dixs - muzr and gary) also help me set up my tool head on garys press, and let me load a few, show me the 650's issues/issues to be aware of, etc.
Now i load 9mm and 223 on it and its been worth every cent to me. I value my time and dont have alot to spend adjusting dies etc for every step, etc...
I have brought a single lee for loading other calibres and also to prep the 223 as then i can just load on the 650 without having to mess around after cleaning cases etc... As i full length size with lube
For 9mm though, the 650 rocks! The only better i think would be a 1050 with motor drive( or maybe a 650 with motor drive and a projectile feeder - only have the case feeder)
Any way, the press depends on what you are loading for. Volume get a progressive. Low volume get a single.
I dont think making a accurate round is dependant on single or progresive - that comes down to knowledge, prep and repeatablity
The thing about a progressive is that one step in the progression is the powder throw.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beaker
For me a big part of accuracy is consistency - putting all of those factors over which you do have control - on your side.
Unless its a very accurate piece of kit (= expensive), I would doubt that a progressive press would throw a powder measure down to 0.1gn consistently like my Lyman does.
Happy to be proven wrong - in fact I'd be interested to know what sort of consistency you get out of a progressive press.
regards ...
I have to agree with you on the powder throw.
I do have some doubts that the dillon is that accurate
Having said that, the 223, is giving clover leafs at 100m. The 9mm, well its a bit harder to tell, but when i'm in the groove i seem to hit things ok, ie its either a good or bad day shooting over all, rather than me being able to tell individual rounds ( shooting ipsc, so a bit of lead flying and 100 rounds upwards on stages) but i'm also a shit shot!
Id only use the 650 for the bulk stuff at the moment - specifically to do with the powder throw, (using stick powder on both, so hence concerns) but may start looking to up the accuaraccy on the powder somehow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwi39
Nice work .. that would do for most hunting situations :yuush: :thumbsup: .Quote:
Originally Posted by Beaker
Mine does that at 150yds, and I can reliably headshoot rabbits and hares out to 230 yds. Consistent powder is however only on piece of the puzzle .. but then I have been know to get a little obsessed about things like this :wtfsmilie:
Apparently ( @ebf ) powder charge weight is a lot less of a factor with Pistol .. but quantity is ... I have no idea , I dont shoot pistol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beaker
T
Por que ?Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwi39