Reloading - whats needed and what to avoid

[bradaz11]

You don't need to spend a £1000 to get started.

from having nothing to having something you will need about that...

LEE BREECHLOCK CLASSIC CAST KITLEE BREECHLOCK CLASSIC CAST KIT
£278.40
LEE 4 DIE SET 44SPL CARBLEE 4 DIE SET 44SPL CARB
£42.00
LEE PACESETTER DIES 223LEE PACESETTER DIES 223
£28.50
LEE PACESETTER DIES 308LEE PACESETTER DIES 308
£28.50
LEE CASE LENGTH GUAGE SHELL HOLDER 308 WINLEE CASE LENGTH GUAGE SHELL HOLDER 308 WIN
£4.20
LEE CASE LENGTH GUAGE SHELL HOLDER 44 MAGLEE CASE LENGTH GUAGE SHELL HOLDER 44 MAG
£4.20
LEE CASE LENGTH GUAGE SHELL HOLDER 223 REMLEE CASE LENGTH GUAGE SHELL HOLDER 223 REM
£4.20
22 HPBT Match 75gr PPU Bullet Heads Pack 10022 HPBT Match 75gr PPU Bullet Heads Pack 100 X4
£74.00
30 FMJ BT 174gr PPU Bullet Heads Pack 10030 FMJ BT 174gr PPU Bullet Heads Pack 100 X4
£72.80
Varget Hodgdon Extreme Rifle Powder (1lb/454g)Varget Hodgdon Extreme Rifle Powder (1lb/454g)
£44.50
Bullseye Alliant Shotshell Powder (1lb/454g)Bullseye Alliant Shotshell Powder (1lb/454g)
£36.00
Reloader 15 Alliant Rifle Powder (1lb/454g)Reloader 15 Alliant Rifle Powder (1lb/454g)
£42.00
Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-Ez Case Tumbler KitFrankford Arsenal Quick-N-Ez Case Tumbler Kit
£115.00
MTM Universal Loading TrayMTM Universal Loading Tray X2
£14.00
Electronic Digital CaliperElectronic Digital Caliper
£19.99
GM Lead Bullets .429 44Mag 240gr (RNFP) Pk500GM Lead Bullets .429 44Mag 240gr (RNFP) Pk500
£37.95
Sub-Total: £849.24

then add on
£35 large pistol primer
£35 large rifle primer
£35 small rifle primer
£115 rcbs 505 scale

that makes 1066.24

you could go for the cheaper press kit which doesn't have the nicer powder handling stuff for £125. but that is not the cast press. so if you want the inferior press you could save £150, this was also on the assumption he has brass, if he doesn't then that price climbs yet again. - bullet types were picked as middle of the road prices....

[dromia]

Second hand is a good route.

[phaedra1106]

Indeed there's usually someone "upgrading" their reloading gear :)

I wouldn't buy the Breechlock kit, £278 for a lot of stuff that you either don't need or isn't too good (scales). The breech lock challenger press will do all you want at £69 or £100 if you want the cast version. Add a Perfect powder thrower, an auto prime and a funnel for £46.50 and you have the basics, the on-press priming safety priming feed system works pretty well also.

You can get the Frankford Arsenal tumbler kit off eBay for about £85 delivered from the US, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Frankford-Ars ... 3641.l6368

[bradaz11]

all i'm saying is that it is not unreasonable to say you will be up near £1k to go from nothing. Especially as that is all lee kit, so if you were looking at other brands, its gonna go up.
I also did say that you can get a cheaper press to drop £150 on the kit.

I think if you want to get going and reloading, you can't rely on hunting out stuff 2nd hand as it may just not be there when you look. I don't think it helps anyone by saying you can get a semi decent set up for £300 all in. you might as well be realistic. then look around and see about shaving prices here and there.
I do also think people seem to forget components still cost money too, which is why i included 400 rounds worth.

[Alpha1]

You don't need to spend a £1000 to get started. If the guy is brand new to reloading I would suggest he starts with one caliber and learn the basics. I would avoid Lee stuff except for the cast press and dies.
For example a lyman trimmer can be had for £92 and it will trim all your cases with out all the add on bits you need to buy from Lee. A Lyman pro scale is £76 and will last you a life time.
I would not buy the Lee kit I would just buy the cast single station press for £100 you can prime on the press you don't need additional priming tools.

[legs748]

I agree, start with one calibre and develop from there. Press, dies, scales, bullets, powder and primers and some sort of guessing stick and you are away, assuming you already have brass. I think I got all of the above for under £200 and was turning out ammo. Stuff like trimming, powder measures, OAL gauge jobbies, hand priming tools, tumblers and other gizmos can all come as and when funds allow or when deemed necessary. I still don't own a tumbler and have no intentions of doing, just tie your cases in a sock and chuck em in the washing machine if you are that bothered, if not just leave em.

You have to find out if you can actually get on with the process first, if you are bored to tears after doing 50 rounds of .308 from start to finish maybe it's not for you.

[DanTheMan]

I still don't own a tumbler and have no intentions of doing, just tie your cases in a sock and chuck em in the washing machine if you are that bothered, if not just leave em.

Works surprisingly well, been doing it for years, 5KG at a time inside 2x pillow cases.

[dromia]

If you cannot find a mentor then a £27 Lee loader, soft faced hammer, Lyman scales £65, Loading trays and ammunition boxes £15, Lyman handbook, calipers £20, plus components will get you making high quality ammunition and practically understanding the process and interrelationship of the parts.

As the Lee Loader will only neck size then you will need cases fired in your rifle.

You can easily do 50 rounds in half an hour quick enough to start with, learn the process and the questions to ask before committing to a press and other stuff.

If you want you can sell on the Lee Loader when you develop your tools so the initial cost is minimal all the other kit will serve you which ever route you ultimately take.

I wouldn't bother with the breech lock mechanisms and the like, for all the much flaunted ease of use the time they say you save is neither here nor there and it is just a way for the maufacturers getting more dosh out of you as the sleeves are another thing to purchase.

[FredB]

??? i've been reloading for 45 years and I don't even know what a breechlock mechanism is!
Fred

[meles meles]

Ah, a muzzle-loader perchance?