if you were a total beginner

[Alpha1]

My guess is you have confused him all ready single station/turret press. Specific manual general re loading manual.
Good luck my friend.

[dromia]

Firstly I would get a good manual, I recommend the Lyman as the best how to currently available avoid the Lee manual, whatever you get ensure that they have tested their own load data and not just copied the lowest loads from other people like Lee do.

Read the books how to reloading sections first and they start asking questions about that which is unclear, once you have your head round the process see if you can get other hand loaders to show you you their set up kit and procedures this will give you a feel for the kit and what feels best and works best for you rather than that which just looks best.

If you do this then you will know what you want rather than buying everyone else's preferences.

[ovenpaa]

I agree with Dromia, see if you can find a club member that you trust and that is local to you and watch the process. Reading about the process is essential however reading does not tell you how much pressure to expect or use when seating a primer, or when full length sizing a case. I ripped the base off a cartridge case during the full length sizing process in the early days due to lack of experience and not knowing what to expect.

For the record I am not a fan of a lot of the Youtube videos on reloading and some of them have me positively cringing.

[greenshoots]

lee manual and a lee load all in the calibre you want to shoot


greenshoots

[dromia]

lee manual and a lee load all in the calibre you want to shoot


greenshoots

????

The Lee Load All is a shotgun reloading press, how will that help him if he wants to reload pistol and rifle calibres?

[Countryman]

He means a Lee Loader. It's a calibre specific kit with a dipper for measuring charge.

I'm not a fan of any Lee kit bit their lock stud and cutter for case trimming.

Where did you hear that they just copy manufacturers load data Dromia? What is so wrong about that?

As a Deer Stalker I learned to reload from my Nosler manual and the Internet was in its infancy. I have to say if you are a club shooter you are bound to find someone to help you, maybe a few and if you get the chance to try a range of kit then it will help you build the right shopping list for you.

[dromia]

The Lee loader is a fine piece of kit if that will meet your needs.

Also you don't need the crappy Lee manual if you go that route but it has its limitations.

Regarding the data I asked Lee if they pressure tested it.

By copying it they have carried over original typos and added few of their own.

I'd sooner go to the horses mouth and if I want to review all the printed data around then my Load Data subscription does that better for me.

The Lee book is about promoting Lee kit and the Lee loading systems which do work to a point if you follow them, like their cast bullet theories. However they work within their parameters and don't really help anyone get the broader fundamentals to reload across the piste, the stuff is there but other books show it better without the propaganda layer that Lee adds.

[WelshShooter]

Some good points in this thread. If you're in doubt over which manual to buy (do you buy an equipment manufacturers or a bullet manufacturers?) you could always check the published data presented by the powder manufacturer.

For example, Ramshot lists three different 155gr projectiles for the .308 winchester calibre using Tac powder (Berger VLD, Hornady A-max and Sierra Matchking) and you'll notice that the powder load, velocity and pressures are slightly different between the three.

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploa ... -23-14.pdf (Page 42)

I started out with the RCBS Rock Chuck kit 5 years ago and found it was a good choice. The only changes I've made now is that I've just bought a Lyman Gen6 powder charger to speed up the powder charging step. This kit is quite pricey compared with the Lee kit though but other than that I can't find any faults with it.

I'd also recommend spending some time with an experienced (and safe!) handloader so that you can see and "feel" the process. It sounds stupid but how do you explain to something how hard to seat a primer or how much pressure you exert on a deburring tool used for chamfering cases? I also bust my first Lee neck sizing die because I couldn't gage how hard 25lb of force was... The top part popped off stripping all the threads, that was funny.

[Martin]

Cartridge headspace is important to understand - see this (note need for good calipers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UrMTyJ1_E


This manual is very good.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nick-Harvey- ... 1660597988

Martin

[StangGT]

OK guys, thanks so much for your replies. Work is a bit hectic at present so forgive me for not replying properly (especially to your kind offers Ovenpaa!)... I will get my ar5e in gear at some point and do a proper response.

I do understand the difference between single stage and turret; I was given a demo by some club members (and RFDs) and I liked the idea of the turret best. Any recommends on brands?

Lots more research needed by me. Need to understand headspace better as this seems an important safety factor.

thanks again chaps...