What to buy?

[Jackalope33B]

Hey Guys!

Im in the market to start reloading my .308. I have seen alot of articles on here on how to reload and what people are using. One thing I cant find is a topic on everything that is needed to reload a certain caliber. If this is listed on here, and someone has a link, please post it.

Thanks

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: What to buy?

Hide Reloading Link Honestly, this link will answer most of your questions on what to get and how to use it.

 

[Clark]

Re: What to buy?

There are two schools of thought on starting reloading forum advice:
1) Buy the best to start with, to save time and money.
2) Buy the cheapest to start with, to learn what you want and see if reloading is for you.

If you go for the good stuff up front....

Opinionated old a$$hole #1 might say, "Get a Forster Co-ax single stage press and Lee collet neck dies"
Opinionated old a$$hole #2 might say, "Get a Dillon progressive press and Redding "S" dies."
Opinionated old ..........

Choosing those things are a matter of preference, like Ford vs Chevy.

I am thinking that the cheapest is the way to start.
This may be the best, because many people do not take to reloading.
1) Skip cleaning the brass and the used brass you found lying around.
2) Lube the outside of the case with Redding Imperial die wax.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=519525
$7.79
3) Put the sizer die in the press and screw the press to your work bench.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=807734
$27.99
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=738184
$13.49
4) Take the decapping stem out of the sizer die.
5) Put a shell holder in the press:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=616684
$3.49
6) Put the case in the shell holder in the press and push down on the press handle until the brass goes all the way into the die. Pull up on the handle until the brass comes out. Verify that brass is not longer than 2.015". Set the ones too long aside for the day you own a trimmer.
7) Spin the decapping stem in a drill while you grind off enough of the expander ball, until the expander ball will fit in the sized case mouth without touching.
8) Put the decapping stem back in the die and size the die again so the spent primer pops out.
9)Put the primer in the priming tool:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=556149
$14.99
WOLF LARGE PISTOL PRIMERS - per 1000 in stock at Powder Valley $25.50
put the case in the shell holder.
Put the shell holder in the priming tool.
Put the priming tool in the press.
Seat the primer.
10) Weigh out 40 gr IMR4895 powder
IMR 4895 - 1 LB. in stock at Powder Valley
$19.00
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=712103
$21.99
11) Pour the powder into the case
12) Seat a bullet into the case until the cartridge length is 2.81"
Sierra .308 168 gr. HPBT Match (100)in stock at Powder valley
$27.92
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=128288
$25.99
13) Put the loaded cartridge in a plastic baggie with a post it with these words written, ".308, 2.81", 40 gr IMR4895, Sierra 168 gr HPBT"
14) Go to the range and shoot groups.
15) Return from the range and write up an email range report listing the date, the rifle, the scope, the wind, the rest, the group size, and the load data on the post it.
16) Print the range report and staple it to the targets.
17) File it under "range reports"

I am adding up that it cost you $162.65

 

[vman]

Re: What to buy?

Jackalope33B whats your budget?

 

[flashhole]

Re: What to buy?

Copied from boomtube 24 Hour campfire – 21 Nov 2010 and some additions by flashhole

Okay, IF I were just getting started and knew nothing, I'd get a kit. But, I'm not getting started and I've learned a lot about the tools of the trade in the last 45 years. I will suggest what I would buy for my brother if he was just starting out.

A noob's basic needs are as stringent as the old hands. Old hands often add a lot of extra fluff stuff but the better basic choices won't need replacing at all. That said, the current better choices of basic needs for both quality and price are:

1. Press - Lee's Classic Cast single stage; massively strong, precisely machined, excellent user features, very cost effective.
Press – Lee’s Classic Turret; excellent design, strong, easy to change turrets, has auto indexing rod that can be removed for single stage operation, extra turrets are inexpensive, very cost effective.
Press – The Redding Ultramag is a highly precise press and extremely strong.

2. Dies - Lee's, (rifle or pistol) You MAY want Redding/Forster premium rifle dies eventually but it will be a long time before your skills exceed what you can do with Lee's.
Dies – Forster Benchrest or Ultra Seat Die is the best value in seating dies when considering minimal runout. With a seat die you get what you pay for.
Dies – The Lee Collet Neck Die is the best value in a neck sizing die and it has no expander ball that can distort the case.
Dies – The Redding S FL sizer gives you the flexibility of using a bushing to size the neck exactly to what is needed w/o use of an expander ball and it still allows you to bump the shoulder back when needed. A bit pricey but it works.

3. Powder measure - Redding 3BR OR Lee's "Perfect" adjustable, with a bench stand, NOT mounted on the press or edge of your bench.
Powder measure – Lee Dipper Cups but they don’t have sufficiently large cups for large capacity rifle cases.

4. Scale - RCBS 505 or Dillon beam scale

5. Powder trickler (for rifle loading)- Redding or Hornady

6. Case trimmer - Lee's, you need the Case Length Gage and shell holder and the Cutter. Get the ball handle cutter, a lot less hand fatigue.

7. Chamfer/debur tool - RCBS or Lyman, etc, "rocket ship" type.
Chamfer/debur tool – The Lyman or RCBS 50 BMG tool is much easier on the hands.

8. Loading blocks (get 2ea for each major caliber) - rifle/pistol) and a Powder funnel, any brand will do nicely.
MTM are hard to beat.

9. Hand primer tool (if you want it) - Lee Autoprime, and get the full shell holder kit if you will load for multiple calibers.
Primer tool – RCBS bench mount priming tool that uses standard shell holders.

10. Loading manual - Lee, Hornady, Lyman. And you really don't need more than one, us hard-core reloading geeks often have 10-30 (me) but extras can be more confusing than help for noobs.

11. Bullet Puller - RCBS' Impact type, it's MUCH more versatile than any collet type puller.

12. Precision Caliper - The low cost Chinese 6" Stainless Steel dial types are all made in the same [bleep] shop (MidwayUSA, Harbor Freight Tools, RCBS, Lyman, Hornady, etc.), and all of them are quite good for loading needs. Get the least costly you can find, HFT usually has them on "sale" for $12-15.

13. Shell holders - What ever, they interchange by brand. (Lee's "Pacemaker" and "Deluxe" die sets include a "free" shell holder and that significantly cuts the cost for each cartridge you load for.)

14. Case sizing lube - get Imperial Die Wax (Redding) or Hornady Unique, apply them with your finger tips.
Case lube - Nothing beats Imperial Die Sizing Wax. A single tin lasts for thousands of cases.
-------------------------------------------

Now, to continue with some "nice to have" items:

15. Case Tumbler - Lyman 1200 is rational priced, has a good ball bearing motor and does a fine job. Media type matters not, nor do you need any glitzy polish for an artificial shine.

16. Case Shoulder & Bullet Seating Gage (for rifle) - Hornady's LnL case and bullet tools that mount on your dial caliper's jaws.


17. Concentricity gage (for rifle) - Sinclair International, get the less costly dial indicator.

18. Primer pocket uniformer (for rifle) - any, Sinclair's is good, EJM, Possum Hollow.

19. Primer crimp remover (for military cases) - Lyman's reamer
Primer crimp remover – The RCBS die mounted tool is very good but will not work with presses that have a large diameter ram.

20. Micrometer, 1" - for more precise measuring of bullets, etc, any of the inexpensive [bleep] types, Harbor Freight again.

21. Case inside neck lubing - Sinclair's powdered lube kit.


It rarely gets mentioned but perhaps the most important reloading "tool" you can have is a sturdy bench at the right height and large enough to be comfortable with. You will likely have to build it yourself so make it as high as your elbows when standing and use a bar stool when you want to sit. Then elevate your press enough so you can fully depress the lever without bending over any at all, your back will appreciate that. (And make a shelf for your scale so it sits about chin high for easy and fast reading.)

I consider a bench top of 20" by 4' to be a minimum. Longer and as much as 4" wider is even better if you will ever want to load for shotshells and/or work on your guns at the same bench; mine is 8' and it's none to long.

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: What to buy?

JST- I have read that link. Very good right up I must say! Im looking to get the best bang for my buck. I would hate to buy something now for $50 knowing I could have spend $75 and it made life alot easier lol

Clark- I would rather spend the $$ now, and get good stuff rather than spending more in the future. I have been on Midways site everyday for the past several weeks lol

VMAN- Im looking to spend about $600 for everything

FLASHHOLE- Nice write up. As far as the "bench issue" goes, I have a somewhat new computer desk that is more of a book desk. Im thinking of cleaning it out and using that as a reloading bench. It has 2 shelves, and a big drawer.

I appreciate all the responses guys. I just got a reloading catalog from Sinclair. I guess Ill be going through it writing down what I need..

 

[madd0c]

Re: What to buy?

$600 starting budget will get you a nice set-up. However regardless of what you get, you will likely become VERY familiar with the Midway site, and also will likely end up spending quite a bit more if you get bitten by the reloading bug.

When you get set up, you will discover that you "need" a better case trimmer, you "need" a chargemaster scale, you "need" a trim mate, etc, etc, etc.

There are lterally at least 100 posts on THIS forum alone with the exact same question and as many answers as there are threads.

http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=010955838166721108978:qcbx5qqy10o&hl=en

use this page to search the Hide and have fun reading for about a week.

My recommendations (quickly) for $600 to spend for 308 reloading:
RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=646599
it is currently on sale for $289 and when you add another $11 of RCBS gear, you get a $50 mail in rebate - not bad. Until you go nuts upgrading items, everything in the kit is useful and of good quality and RCBS customer service is very, very good.
Redding type S bushing dies - if you really just want to buy once.
Sierra reloading manual
Decent to good calipers
Some method to clean your brass - Vibratory tumbler is used by a large majority of people, but if you really want to buy once, U/S or SS will completely blow your $600 starting budget, but you won't need to buy again.

those along with components will get you started,
Good luck,
madd0c

 

[Clark]

Re: What to buy?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jackalope33B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Clark- I would rather spend the $$ now, and get good stuff rather than spending more in the future. I have been on Midways site everyday for the past several weeks lol </div></div>
I have spent $$.
Most of the stuff I bought, I do not use.
This is what I still use:
1) Forster Co-ax press
2) Quickload software.
3) Redding imperial die wax.
4) RCBS 5-0-5 scale
5) RCBS Uniflow powder measure
6) RCBS Inside outside neck chamfer
7) Forster case trimmer
8) MTM funnel
9) Wilson Case gauge
10) Sinclair concentricity gauge
11) Lyman Moly coating kit
12) Vibrators, ultra sound, and stainless steel media in a tumbler
13) Forster priming tool
14) Lee Collet neck dies
15) Forster FL dies
16) Forster seating dies
17) Dial calipers
18) Enco set of pin gauges .0610" to .2500"
19) Enco set of pin gauges .2510" - .5000"
20) Optivisor magnifier headset
21) Dillon Super Swage 600 military crimp remover
22) Lux lamp magnifier
23) Bullets, brass, primers, and powder
24) Berry's bullets plastic ammo boxes
25) 3M Post-its for labeling.
26) Forster headspace go-gauge

Today I am putting up enough shelving for 100 file folder boxes filled with reloading stuff. Reloading requires little space, but storing all the stuff takes a lot.

27) Richelieu Hardware White Heavy Duty Shelf Brackets 1000 pounds Model # 494W16B
28) SPAX 1/4 x 3" BZ Hex Head Lag bolt Model # 4571010700759