The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hello,

I want to start reloading and so I took my first step today. The process looks reasonably straight forward, but of course I accept there's considerable risk if you stray outside of the guidelines provided in the loading manuals, but perhaps that's best discussed later down the line.

Having read various threads and watched various youtube videos, I have some questions that I could do with some help with and also I've written down a tentative list of what I think I'd like to buy. Don't worry about the cost of my shopping list, I just want to buy right first time. The driving force is to produce match grade .308 ammo.

1) Why would you want your scales to auto dispense your powder when you have to put it back in your powder dispenser anyway? I thought scales were just used to verify/setup the powder dispenser.
2) What are the pros and cons for electronic sales for reloading? Both beam and electronic seem to measure up to 1/10th grain.
3) Can propellant be divided up to 1/10th grain or does slight irregularity mean you can still accomplish the exact weight?
4) Why not de-prime your brass before cleaning it in the tumbler? Wouldn't that save cleaning the primer pocket?
5) Why have a separate hand held priming tool when you can just use priming arm on the press?
6) What's a powder trickler for? Please don't say to trickle powder... :lol:
6) Is a pocket uniformer the same as a pocket deburrer?

This is my initial shopping list:
1) Forster CO-AX reloading Press - £300 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... ss&cat=741)
2) Forster case trimmer - £110 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... D_CALIBERS)
3) Forster 308 full length dies - £100 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... ter_Seater)
4) Forster powder measure - £137 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... ER_MEASURE)
5) Forster Powder measure stand - £22 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... SURE_STAND)
6) Lyman Pro 1200 Case Tumbler - £95 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... er&cat=525)
7) Redding Case Trimmer - £165 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... MMINGLATHE)
8) Universal RCBS hand priming tool - £65 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... iming_tool)
9) Chamfering and deburring tool - £24 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... rring_tool)
10) Pocket Uniformer - £22 (http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-e ... 34720.aspx)
11) RCBS Powder Trickler - £20 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... _2&cat=871)
12) Lymans 49th edition Reloading Handbook - £27 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... g_Handbook)

Things yet to find/decide on:
Scales (electronic or beam)
Hornady Unique case lube + brush
Load trays

What is the funnel used for? I haven't come across it in any of the videos I've seen. Do I need it?

1) Funnel - £12 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... it&cat=871)

Sorry for bombarding you with questions, but any/all help is appreciated.

Cheers,

Craig.

Wow that's quite a lot of questions my friend.
Think its best to start at the top and work through them.

1) Why would you want your scales to auto dispense your powder when you have to put it back in your powder dispenser anyway? I thought scales were just used to verify/setup the powder dispenser.
Think you are getting mixed up there are scales that you use to set up a manual powder dispenser like the RCBS one for instance. Then there are electronic powder dispensers that have a built in scale if you like. With the electronic type you dial in the charge you want and it drops it into a pan.

2) What are the pros and cons for electronic sales for reloading? Both beam and electronic seem to measure up to 1/10th grain.
Its down to personnel preference I would all ways use a good quality beam scale.

3) Can propellant be divided up to 1/10th grain or does slight irregularity mean you can still accomplish the exact weight?
You can drop charges up to 1/10 of a grain

4) Why not de-prime your brass before cleaning it in the tumbler? Wouldn't that save cleaning the primer pocket?
No you still have to clean primer pockets your normal tumblers don't get in to the pocket.

5) Why have a separate hand held priming tool when you can just use priming arm on the press?
You don't need a separate hand held primer you can use the one on the press. I prefer a hand held one because you get a better feel when seating the primer and its quick.

6) What's a powder trickler for? Please don't say to trickle powder... :lol:
A powder trickler is used for fine tuning your load for example if you wanted 43.2 grains of powder you can set your powder dispenser to drop 43 grains then trickle the .2 grains in so all your loads are uniform.

6) Is a pocket uniformer the same as a pocket deburrer?
No they are two different tools the uniformer swages the primer pocket to the correct size the de burrer just trims slivers of brass off.


This is my initial shopping list:
1) Forster CO-AX relaoding Press - £300 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... ss&cat=741)
A excellent press all though its not cheap it will last you a life time.

2) Forster case trimmer - £110 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... D_CALIBERS)
Fortser is good kit I prefer the LEWilson one my self.

3) Forster 308 full length dies - £100 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... ter_Seater)
Forster dies are fine but again they are not cheap.

4) Forster powder measure - £137 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... ER_MEASURE)
I prefer the RCBS one.

5) Forster Powder measure stand - £22 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... SURE_STAND)
You will need a stand no matter what brand you buy.

6) Lyman Pro 1200 Case Tumbler - £95 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... er&cat=525)
Yep this case tumbler is fine.

7) Redding Case Trimmer - £165 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... MMINGLATHE)
Redding is also good kit. As I said I prefer the LeWilson set up.

8) Universal RCBS hand priming tool - £65 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... iming_tool)
I don't like the RCBS hand priming tool my self. I prefer the old Lee hand held priming tool.

9) Chamfering and deburring tool - £24 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... rring_tool)
Any make will do.

10) Pocket Uniformer - £22 (http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-e ... 34720.aspx)
Again any make will do.

11) RCBS Powder Trickler - £20 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... _2&cat=871)
I prefer the Hornady one but RCBS stuff is good.

12) Lymans 49th edition Reloading Handbook - £27 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... g_Handbook)
You should deffo buy this book.

Things yet to find/decide on:
Scales (electronic or beam)
Beam scale every time.

Hornady Unique case lube + brush
A must buy Unique case lube is excellent stuff.

Load trays
A must have.

What is the funnel used for? I haven't come across it in any of the videos I've seen. Do I need it?
A must have.


Think that about covers it no doubt others will chip in.

1) Funnel - £12 (http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... it&cat=871)

First eaction is that you appear to want to spend / waste a lot of money. Find a fellow club member who reloads and get him to show you his equipment and take you through the processes.
Fred

Even if you can just answer one that helps!

Alpha1 wrote:Wow that's quite a lot of questions my friend.
Think its best to start at the top and work through them.

Why two case trimmers?

I'd rather waste money buying something over suitable for a job, than waste money replacing it when it either breaks or doesn't suite my needs. Either way, this thread isn't asking if this list represents value for money, I'm asking if these are the right tools for making the highest quality match ammo. Do you know?

FredB wrote:First eaction is that you appear to want to spend / waste a lot of money. Find a fellow club member who reloads and get him to show you his equipment and take you through the processes.
Fred

Just an oversight as I built up my list, thanks for pointing it out. I was planning on buying the Redding Case Trimmer, not the Forster model.

dromia wrote:Why two case trimmers?

For less that the cost of the powder measure, stand and trickler you would get a Targetmaster powder dispenser and a Lee perfect powder thrower. Combine that with a good balance beam scale (RCBS 5-0-5) and a set of cheque weights and you will have the most accurate and fastest powder dispensing system. The funnel is for pouring the powder from the pan into the case without spillage.

The Forster is indeed a fine press, I have and use one, but any good single stage press will do as good, also the Forster has its limitations in the size of case it will handle and the length of dies you use, this may be an issue if you go beyond just the 308. I have Lyman micrormeter adjust seating die that is too long for use in the Forster.

It is also prudent to try different press configurations for the ergonomics, some people I know cannot get of with the Forsters central handle and its high position. I don't find it an issue but better to find out before springing your dosh.

I'd go for the Forster before the Redding trimmer but that is again personal preference.

I would always go for a set of balance beam scales and set of check weights before a digital, there are good digitals out there but the can be finicky. I have a set of Pact digitals and very good they are too, I use them with the Pact powder dispenser and they are very handy for weighing bullets/boolits. Balance beams are nice and simple, you can see how they work, how to fettle them and they are just very reliable. Also you can use them with the Target Master which you cannot do with a digital.

Best thing I did was go on a reloading course at Bisley. Annoying at times but all your questions and more were answered. Probably the most important thing I bought and should also last a lifetime.