Looking at reloading, what do I need?

Ok so I am looking at getting into this reloading thing and have a few questions, mainly about what gear is essential and or useful to have. First off I will probably only have 100ish cases so will not be reloading thousands of rounds. I would also like to have a play with heavy cast projectiles and subsonic loads at some stage.

Now from what I have seen, without spending lots of cash there is the Lee 50th anniversary kit which seems to have almost everything that is required, although from what I have read the balance and powder thrower are not that great. Would I be better off just buying the press and a better balance (either second hand or new) and weighing out each charge or are the components in the kit not too bad?

Then there are dies, for a bolt action it seems that a neck sizing die is the way to go, do the cases also need to be fully sized at any point in their life (only used in one chamber)?
When is a crimp die required (I realise that this may be a lot to do with personal opinion as well as specific case/projectile/rifle combinations)?
Basically what the two above questions relate to are, is it worth buying something like the Lee Pacesetter set and a separate collet die or just buy the collet die set.

Although not really necessary the calibres Im am looking at are .303 and 7.62x39 (which I know is cheaper to buy but hey...)
And I am also aware of the loading manual, powder manufacturer and projectile manufacturer data.

Following with interest. Probably don't do enuf to justify the initial startup cost, but long term could make some savings and accuracy should improve

Been down this rabbit hole (it's a deep one) factory ammo is getting better these days for accuracy, have to do a lot of shooting to be saving money, but it is a fun hobby

I started with a Lee kit.
Get extra die bushings to speed up changing of dies.

Added dies, projectiles, power.
Ultrasonic cleaner or tumbler depending on how you want to clean.

I use a couple of hundred cases in each calibre. Clean and reload 50-100+ at time.

Most useful is some friends who reload who can walk and talk you throught the process.
Never be afraid to asked questions, even the dumbest of questions.
Actually the only dumb question is the one you didn't/wouldn't ask.

I would go a tiny bit extra and for $600 get this. Many say Lee is good. I hate the shit!!

Gunsmithing &Reloading Tools - Redding Big Boss Pro-Pak, Reloading Kits

Get the lee kit and the lee deluxe die kits.

The scales are bad but perfectly serviceable, a trickler makes them a lot easier to use.

I've got a Lee kit and between me and @Nibblet it's loaded thousands of rounds and is still going strong, .223 .308 6.5x55 7mmRM 338Lapua Magnum 338Edge.

All I upgraded was the scales, but it produced perfectly accurate ammo before I changed scales too.

Nothing wrong with Lee can anyone tell the difference between Lee loaded ammo and say rcbs for example

All people with shit stuff defend the hell out of it :D

Get the Lee

Who said RCBS was any good?:P

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Originally Posted by zimmer

Who said RCBS was any good?:P

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:thumbsup:

My Lyman gear seems to work well.

Sent from my SM-G388F using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Gibo

All people with shit stuff defend the hell out of it :D

Get the Lee

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I remember that conversation with you a year or two back [emoji13]
Lee gear is shit end of story

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I have a lee press, it works pretty well, my rockchucker cracked right through the frame, been replaced but I cant be bothered swapping them back over, lee scales etc are bloody terrible though!
To start basic reloading you need:

A Press

Some dies and shell holder

A GOOD balance beam scale (rcbs etc)

Powder thrower, not necessary for small volume stuff, but a powder trickler is bloody good, I weigh every load and trickle it up to weight as im only loading my hunting ammo and sometimes a few for a gong session so I don't mind the extra time it takes

A powder funnel

Good calipers

Case prep tools, just a chamfer tool will suffice for a start

Some decent case lube, lee stuff is terrible, I use "Unique"

A hand primer tool, or press addition to prime

That would get you going, you can add and subtract from there.

what do you need for reloading? time, patience, deep pockets, meticulous atention to details... did i miss anything for those deeper down the rabbit hole than me?

A press is what you need
a 3 die set, youll need all 3
a set of balance scales
primer pocket cleaning tool
lee case trimmer
vernier calipers

consumables:
cases, you have those = free
projectiles, anywhere from 50-$120 a packet
powder, 60 for a tin of ADI
Primers, 10 bucks per 100

if your rifles shoots well with highland or PPU, id use that instead of buying all this shit!

Try Nathan Fosters book on reloading, it will answer a lot of your questions. It also runs through most brands pros and cons:thumbsup:
Well worth the buy before you descend into the abyss :O_O:

I've always used Lee lube never had a problem with it I've got 3 die sets but never use a crimping die my reloaded ammo goes fine if you want to go a different way I've also got Lee loading kits for a couple of calibres I shoot I drag them out from time to time as well just for the hell of it they make perfectly accurate ammunition as well accuracy is no different to my press loaded ammo

If you have always used lee how do you know its so good?

re: lee lube, have found it seperates when its cold and needs a good shake you you just get liquid coming out. never used my crimping die but guess it depends what your loading for.

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Originally Posted by 223nut

what do you need for reloading? time, patience, deep pockets, meticulous atention to details... did i miss anything for those deeper down the rabbit hole than me?

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Somewhere you can shoot.

My local range access has gone to poos so my motivation has dropped to zero, halfway threw a load development months and months ago.

If you dont have somwhere handy you can shoot at times that suit you reloading is not for you.
And dont get into it to save money...wrong end goal but can be leverage for the other half;)

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Somewhere you can shoot.

My local range access has gone to poos so my motivation has dropped to zero, halfway threw a load development months and months ago.

If you dont have somwhere handy you can shoot at times that suit you reloading is not for you.
And dont get into it to save money...wrong end goal but can be leverage for the other half;)

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yeah, had forgotten the 'easy access' range!

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Somewhere you can shoot.

My local range access has gone to poos so my motivation has dropped to zero, halfway threw a load development months and months ago.

If you dont have somwhere handy you can shoot at times that suit you reloading is not for you.
And dont get into it to save money...wrong end goal but can be leverage for the other half;)

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Im lucky there bro got a mates dairy farm 10 minutes away. Hes a good bugger too. Box of bourbons every second visit keeps him in touch :D

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Originally Posted by Gibo

If you have always used lee how do you know its so good?

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Because I haven't had any of the problems people on here have had with other kinds of lube

I got sick of dented cases using lee lube, use too little and get stuck cases, use a bit more and get dented shoulders. Went to unique and never had a problem again

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Somewhere you can shoot.

My local range access has gone to poos so my motivation has dropped to zero, halfway threw a load development months and months ago.

If you dont have somwhere handy you can shoot at times that suit you reloading is not for you.
And dont get into it to save money...wrong end goal but can be leverage for the other half;)

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One of the many benefits of being a farmer, get some loads loaded up, pop out the door, bang bang bang, nope, try something else, bang bang bang, yeap that will do, nip back inside and load up a few more and go smash the gongs.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Somewhere you can shoot.

My local range access has gone to poos so my motivation has dropped to zero, halfway threw a load development months and months ago.

If you dont have somwhere handy you can shoot at times that suit you reloading is not for you.
And dont get into it to save money...wrong end goal but can be leverage for the other half;)

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why didnt you say so, i could introduce you to a chap ?? I have kinda gone away from the range you speak of for the same reason unfortunately too.

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Originally Posted by mikee

why didnt you say so, i could introduce you to a chap ?? I have kinda gone away from the range you speak of for the same reason unfortunately too.

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Yea I know the chap I am pretty sure, used to use his range before trouble with the neighbors... not exactly rock up anytime either is it?

I have lee, lyman and rcbs die sets,the lee stuff works as well and produces as good ammo as the others. I have a lee collet crimp for the 3030 beats the rcbs by miles. Just get better shell holders, the lee ones seem pretty ordinary

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

One of the many benefits of being a farmer, get some loads loaded up, pop out the door, bang bang bang, nope, try something else, bang bang bang, yeap that will do, nip back inside and load up a few more and go smash the gongs.

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I so miss that.....all sorted this sat when I win lotto:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yea I know the chap I am pretty sure, used to use his range before trouble with the neighbors... not exactly rock up anytime either is it?

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no but has targets out to 700, you just need to call him first to check it available. Or in my case ask the owner if he wants to go shoot some stuff :)

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I so miss that.....all sorted this sat when I win lotto[emoji106]

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Sorry VC I'm winning mate. I'll make sure my range is available for your use though.. It'll be in central otago mind you. I'll pick you up in the jet..

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RCBS stuff isn't perfect but you can work with it. My powder thrower likes to jam half a load and drop it the nanosecond I remove the cartridge. I then like to quote Deadpool and scream "Ah CANADA"

Following :)

Just to clarify one thing....reloading for rifle is probably not going to save you any money. Pistol it will and is essential to reload, although need to get serious with Dillon gear.

It is a pastime that you will endlessly be buying more shit for, shit you don't need, stock-up on shit unless you run out of shit, latest shit that is similar to shit you already have. The list goes on.

Nothing wrong with Lee stuff, save some money here but suck it up and purchase a Electronic Powder thrower like a Lyman Gen 6 or something similar.


It is a great pastime and nothing like the satisfaction of making your own ammo specifically tuned to your rifle.
If you are just after some cheaper shooting, the current lot of German Geco ammo that Aoraki has bought in is outstanding and is another option to look at.

Thank for all the input, I hadnt considered the close acces to a range which would make life easier, although thats not deal breaker. The other thing I hadnt considered was brass life, it looks like the 303 wont take many reloads (it may just be the Winchester brass though, will try the Highland/PPU which is apparently much better).

Where do you live ?

Christchurch, so there are plenty of ranges and I do have a couple of other places that I can shoot at (if thats what you were asking about)

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yea I know the chap I am pretty sure, used to use his range before trouble with the neighbors... not exactly rock up anytime either is it?

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You can rock up here anytime you like Cam. I got the 100 yrd target pretty good now. Just need to knock up a bench

Well I have decided not to get the Lee kit and start collecting second hand bits an pieces as they pop up, although I may still end up with a Lee press. A secondhand set of RCBS 5.10 scales has been the first purchase.

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

Try Nathan Fosters book on reloading, it will answer a lot of your questions. It also runs through most brands pros and cons:thumbsup:
Well worth the buy before you descend into the abyss :O_O:

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I've just received this book and can highly recommend it to anyone. Nathan goes through all the gear and discuss pros and cons and what you need to get started, and improvements for experienced handloaders too.
Very informative. well worth the $57.