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I have a few hundred 6.5x55 shells at home, most still loaded but a couple box's are empty, any way I have been thinking about reloading all the ones I manage to keep but it seems expensive. Whats the gear I will need to do it. nothing fancy just the important things.
what results do you need? if you're a really good shot AND you want your groups really tiny you need the better gear like Redding. If you want lead downrange at ferral animals then go cheaper i reckon. Keep your eyes on TM for somebody looking to get out of reloading who uses your cal. I've just started myself and am relying heavily on my good mate for most of the gear. I do own all my own dies and shell holder but the press, trickler / powder measure, funnel, reamer, scale etc will all need to be bought at a later stage.
that stuff is worth quite a lot. If you only shoot like 60 rounds a year then good quality factory ammo (lapua) + reselling your spent brass on TM might be the way to go.
For me though i want absolute consistancy between rounds - just because im fussy. We're only talking 10mm reduction in group size at 100m though. I might actually get sick of this too if i get into short range hunting in any sort of big way.
Anyway there are ooodles of shops to hunt through. Lots of good guys to help you out at the counter as well. We're kinda spoilt like that in Auckland - I go see the guys Serious Shooters or Reloaders personally. Never been talked down to at either of those stores even though im a total reloading noob.
Atm it shoots easily within a inch. I dont mind if it opens out to an inch though, I normally dont shoot over 100m my longest to date is 120m. so as long as I can reload ammo that will stay around 1inch at 100m im happy with. would be nice if it shot to 200m though just so if I see something that far and dont have time to stalk or cant stalk.
Just get the lee anniversary kit
Lee 50th Anniversary Kit
You only need about to get dies, trimmer and you're away. People slag Lee gear them off but I reload my target ammo with it and it shoots as well as anyone else's. Just can't beat it for value. It's the holes in the paper that show how good reloading gear is. If it's just hunting ammo then you can't go wrong.
I was looking at that but heard you dont need all that stuff or something.
Do they still sell the Lee loader kits? They were fun, I used one as a student to reload 6.5x55.
Nah Toby, you need most of it, the scales are a pain in the arse, but they do work if you are patient, only thing I have upgraded is the scales to a digital one, the only other thing you need is the case trimmer for your calibre and I bought the lee autoprime because I prefer to do my priming separately.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby
So get that and get digital scales and a trimmer is the best thing? and is their a manual for it all and load data for what ever im going to use or do i just use internet for that stuff
The load data will come with the dies, suggest you get a loading manual too though, study it thoroughly before you start, it will make you feel more confident and you will know better what little things to look out for, then decide what powder and projectiles you will use and get specific data for those.
ok sweet, probably wont get it for a while as the ammo will last my a while and I have a Howa .233 to buy first
No mate, don't know where you hear this, but definitely not the case...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dead is better
Reloading is about consistency. If you slow down, and make sure your dies etc are clean etc, no reason on earth that even a Lee press can't produce competition grade ammo. Get a decent electronic vernier and you're sorted.
Toby, spudattack is spot on, scale is only part of lee kit that is a bit suspect. I shot national level ipsc for several years, and reloaded around 30-40 000 pistol rounds a year on a lee pro1000, and several thousand rifle rounds on a basic lee press. Try to get electronic scale (don't skimp, it's prob the most important part of the whole setup), or second hand RCBS or similar if manual. Go slow, measure and check !
Fair enough, love my howa .223, been playing with it all day!
I just got a trickler and that made the scales much easier to use, but they are the weakest part of the kit.
Thanks for the info, seems like a whole new part of shooting to me.
Be warned .... reloading is addictive
With the Lee kit you end up replacing most of what you get. I have replaced the scales and chamfer/deburr tool.
that sounds bad
But you're still using the press, power measure, primer cleaning tools, cutter & lock stud, safety prime, etc, etc ? :wtfsmilie:Quote:
Originally Posted by Beavis
I'll replace the powder measure and priming tool when I get round to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ebf
Whats the point in buying it if you are just going to spend more to replace it?
It gets you started. The press is ok. Lee dies are good,
oh ok, so its still worth getting?
I got mine 2nd hand for $100. If you can find one round that then yeah. Just be prepared to pitch the scales
ok
i just brought a lee kit, case trimmer, hornady projectiles, powder, and primers for $550ish from taieri arms.
it wont take long to pay for its self. The kit definitely getting.
i also brought a set of smart reloader digital scales but they are pretty shit so i have been taking my time with the lee ones.
Can someone give some advice on a good set of digital scales under $200 Cheers
Toby, seriously, Lee kit, even the scales are more than ok to start.
There are some really experienced guys on the forum, and they can correct me if I am wrong, but reloading for accuracy (and longer ranges) is much more about using high quality brass, projectiles, and getting ammo tuned specifically to your particular rifle, than about the quality or cost of the press or reloading gear.
My 5 cents...;)
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by ebf
Sweet, thanks guys when the time comes, A lee kit it is.
TobyQuote:
Originally Posted by Toby
Dont be discouraged by some comments on here, fact is You wont go wrong with buying and using ANY Lee reloading equipment.
The Lee Anniversary Kit is a wounderful place to start you reloading career.
That said I have to agree the scales arn't the "Best" but they are "OK".
You will hear people saying the Lee reloading equipment is substandard and wont last.... When this is plainly incorrect.
I own and use Lee reloading presses and dies that are older than most on this forum and are still going strong.
I also own very expensive susposidly better/more accurate reloading presses, The irony of this is the Lee ones tend to get more use.
Any manufacturer that sells substandard gear will not survive in business very long.
Lee Precision has not only survived, but is an innovator and market leader in this field.
I have owned and used Lee Reloading Equipment for over 30 years now and can tell you this from experience, not just from regurgitating what other have said.
Lee gear is great to start with because of its lower cost base.
And like everything in life, if you look after it, it will last a lifetime, abuse it and it will break tomorrow.
Welcome to the wounderfull world of Reloading.
Beg, Buy or Borrow a good Relaoding Manual before you purchase anything.
Learn how to Safely Reload and remember ...................
First comes Fascination followed quickly by Addiction. :)
Cheers
Pete
I've just started reloading this year so by no means experienced but I currently use a mates lee anniversary reloading kit and it's good as gold. He did buy some hornady electronic scales though and whilst quick, I still recheck my loads 2/3 times with it just to make sure as they do fly out a wee bit. The chamfer tool from lee is mud, but everything else is pretty good. As everyone says - it is addictive!! I'm as slow as slow could be. but that doesn't bother me as I make sure my loads are spot on and Ifind it's actually quite relaxing for some reason. lol I reload for one caliber so it's not really cost effective but I get to use different pills that aren't otherwise factory :)
Toby I can recommend the Nick Harvey reloading manual. I don't know what edition he's up to now but he's good. I'd have let you have it but I've already loaned my copy out to a young guy just getting started, along with my Lee turret press etc which I used for years for 30 Carbine, 223, 308, 35Rem, 300WM and 45ACP never had an issue. I use Dillon gear now but only because it's faster.
Ray.
My mate is going to get us a .300WinMag soon + my .223 Later next year so looks like im going to have loading now :) . Youtube vids make it look bloody fun
IF YOUR NOT IN A RUSH NEXT TIME YOUR IN TAURANGA GO SEE STACEY OR MARCUS AT HAMILLS THEY HAVE A FULL RELOADING SET UP TO USE FOR FREE YOU JUST HAVE TO BUY COMPONENTS FROM THEM.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby
Thats a pretty cool idea.
Current edition is 9th.Quote:
Originally Posted by ishoot10s
Would agree worth the money