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Hi, I am new to reloading and wish to start.
Looking currently onto options for reloading kits.
I would be interested into any advice and opinions of suitable kits and where to start with going down this rabbit hole of reloading.
Or would it be best to compile a list of tools and simply purchase slowly over time.
Would like to start mid range.
Cheers in advance.
Plenty of used gear out there.Quote:
Originally Posted by EFriz
If I started all over again, I would buy the bits I needed rather than a kit.
In my opinion, and I'm just looking at my bench and what I use regularly.
You need a powder trickler, a good set of scales, a press, something to trim cases with, deburrer and something to seat primers with (most presses will do this part). Some vernier calipers are essential. A scale check weight as well. And I use the Lee spoons to scoop powder and a powder funnel. Get a good case trimmer, one that deburs as it trims would be my advice, deburring by hand is my least favorite part of the process.
There are an endless amount of gadgets and toys that are cool and useful. You can go as flash or basic as you like but if you add up what you spend on used gear for what you actually need, you'll spend about the same as the mod range kits and have really good quality, user friendly stuff.
Keep an eye on the forum and trademe and you'll have enough stuff pretty quickly.
A correction, before you even start looking at gear buy a reloading manual, preferably one of the more recent publishings but there's plenty of value in the older ones as well just they won't have the modern cartridges or propellants listed in the data section.
@Rated M for MagnumQuote:
Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum
Some great advice there thank you. Do you have any good recommendations for reloading manuals preferable modern. I guess the likes of hornday is a great start as I have had good success with their projectiles.
I got the RCBS kit with the beam scale not the digital scales in it. I wana say it was the Rockchucker Supreme Master kit or something like that for $850. Still have the box with the price somewhere. I have to say I still use everything in that kit but I have cerrainly added extras to it. There are no boundaries to what stuff you can add to your bench......
The Lyman one has been good for me but I also have two hornady books as well. Digital copies are good but you just can't beat a hard copy. Nathan Fosters books are good too, he does a reloading one that'd be worth a look, impartial and lots of experience with reloading for hunting. You pretty much can't go wrong but if you plan on shooting hornady bullets, that'd be a good choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by EFriz
I have digital copies on my laptop as the books can be quite expensive. I don't use a trickler just a teaspoon and a steady hand. I do however need new calipers but being of no fixed abode for a while from this Friday its not urgent as I won't be reloading over winter.
the offer to stop at my humble abode and reload what you need ,when you need it still stands bud.Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Jack
Thanks Micky, think we are heading North to over winter then probably start coming back down around September. But no fixed plansQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Greetings @EFriz,
Probably more important than anything else is to find an experienced handloader to mentor you in the beginning. They will guide you on what kit you need and lots else. A good start would be to join your local NZ Deerstalkers branch. There will almost certainly be someone there that can help. Good kit will last a lifetime and kit you replace early on is just money wasted.
Same old good advise again. I'd be doing this before rushing off and buying a load of manuals of which some will just sit on a bookshelf. The "how to manuals" have been well documented in previous threads.
My preference is to acquire what you need when good equipment becomes available at good prices.Quote:
Originally Posted by EFriz
Despite the fluctuation in prices and availability of components, there is still good used gear for sale at decent prices if you collect the stuff over time.
Search is your friend too. I use google instead of the search on here and just put nzhuntingandshooting at the end.
Here’s a good post from the other day where @Oldbloke did a good list of things to start with:
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-advice-92830/
Very good point there @zimmer and @grandpamacQuote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
Mentors are fantastic and I wish I had one when starting out with reloading.
Thank you for the input. Does anyone have a hornady manual on their computer they are willing to share.
I think I may start with reading first to develop a list of tools required and then slowly chip away at purchasing items.
Have spent time trawling through how too post today and compiled a little list.
Reloading for
Tikka 6.5x55, Sako 75 300wm and Remington model 7 223.
get a paper one.....or two...or three
This was posted in the resource section a while ago link to site here has quite a few.I downloaded them into my Google drive so can access them on any device I own
EFriz might be a bit more 'modern' than you MD and is quite comfortable with an E versionQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
I would say it's important to know exactly what you wish to accomplish and just start gearing up to do that.
See if there's any gear you can loan to try before you buy as well. No need to rush into any purchases
By that I mean, what cal and what grade of ammo do you wish to make?
Option 1. Cheaper but fairly accurate hunting ammo
Option 2. Target grade OCD level stuff.
See, if you wanna make Option 2 ammo you can't do that with cheap dies. Maybe look at intermediate level dies like hornady. You can swap out the seating stems in those if your bullets are obviously having issues staying straight (concentric) due to shape.
Lee seater dies are a pain in the arse to customize if you need to later unless you can use a lathe. They have pointless features too and hilarious powder scoops. Yeah I said it haha.
Cheers guys, I sure have plenty of good reading that is keeping me going and coming to terms with it all. Started a small list of gear I will look to keep an eye out for on here.
Will try to free up some more time to get along to the local NZDA club nights and see if anyone is willing to take me under their wing with reloading.