im on the hunt for a 338express.an i want to reload .that said .can any one help me with a list of what to start buying .ive reloaded shot gun shells but never rifle.dont know what to get .i plan on reloading 338/243/223/- dont have to have anything fancey but want quity because ill keep it for a life time .thanks

Get yourself 3 or 4 reloading manuals read them and start there.

I would recommend reloading books first before you buy any equipment. I picked up a new one yesterday, it’s the new 49th edition Lyman reloading handbook. I plan on reading it cover to cover and I’ve been reloading for over 3 decades. I would suggest that you do the same. Like Gary Surko, I would also suggest you buy a number of reloading books and read them. A good handloader can never have too many books on the subject. The books well help you understand some of the talk that goes on in this forum and help you make decisions on what equipment you really need or want.

Good advice on the books.....also find someone local with experience....."One on one" and "eyeball to eyeball" communication is a very big assist.....

Hi Mountainboy-

Welcome to A.R.!

Hornady, RCBS, Redding, and others all have very complete reloading kits that pretty much have everything one would need to get started.

HOWEVER, as mentioned above, it would be very wise to do a little research on the subject first. Opinions will vary greatly depending on who you ask, so familiarizing yourself with the basics first will definitely help you sort through it all. What might be ideal for a person who likes to plink and save a little money doing his own reloading might not work very well for a benchrest shooter who is carefully handloading to eek the next .005" of an inch out of his groups.

Furthermore, you will find that there is a tremendous number of items out there that may make some processes more convenient, but certainly aren't necessary. These are the things that typically nickel and dime you to death later once the handloading bug has infected you.

Good luck!

Try a SEARCH. You'll find more than you can read in a week.

im lookin .can yall recamend anything ?sorta have trouble with something .my reading n comperhenshin s not very good .i can watch n do it once with help maybe and mostly i have it down pat .
thx

Moutain, kits are rarely complete. There's a difference between what you NEED and what you may want to add later. And I do not recommend sticking with a single brand for tools, no one has a lock on best designs for everthing we use.

Must haves:

1. Press (usually includes a repriming device.)
2. Die sets for each cartridge you wish to load
3. Shell holders for each cartridge (unless you buy Lee Delux or Pace Setter sets which include them).
4. Powder measure device to dispense powder
5. Powder scale to weigh powder charges
6. Loading block to hold cases as you work
7. Powder funnel
8. Case sizing lubricant
9. Reloading manual - one is enough


Should haves:

1. Dial caliper, steel, 6", reading in .001" to measure cases, bullets and cartridges.
2. Case length trimmer
3. Case Deburing/Chamfering tool
4. Stuck Case Remover
5. Powder trickler to help w/powder weighing
6. Hammer type bullet puller

Nice to have:

1. Micrometer
2. Tumbler case cleaner + media + sifter + polish
3. Neck sizer dies for rifle cartridges
4. Case head-to-shoulder measurement tools for dial caliper.
5. Hand held repriming tool

Mr. Buliwyf has some premimum (expensive) suggestions below which are no doubt great for him as a vastly experienced and well heeled reloader. But, IMHO, it's much like suggesting a Ferrai for someones first auto when a low end Ford will do all that's needed and at a much more reasonable cost. Bear in mind that we all like to recommend what we use, often without serious consideration of what the new guy really needs.

1. Forester/Bonanza Co-Ax Press (both jaw sets). I buy the aluminum Forester Cross Bolt Lock Ring to repalce rings that come with dies for use on Co-Ax. I don't use steel rings because i want the ring to have any wear not the press frame.
2. Harrell's Premium Culver Powder Meter Buy direct from Harrell)
3. RCBS 1010 Powder Scale to set clicks on Harrell's.
4. Whitetail Primer lg&sm Pocket Uniformer (Russ Hydon Supply)
5. Lee Auto Priming Tool with case holders
6. L.E. Wilson/Sinclair Ultimate Trimmer with case holders
7. Sinclair Poly Blocks to hold cases
8. RCBS Sidewinder Case Tumbler (wash cases with hot water and auto dishwasher detergent not walnut or corn cob hulls)
9. L.E. Wilson case mouth chamfering Tool
10. RCBS or Redding Case Sizing Lube and Pad
11. Best Quality Redding dies. Sizing die to have interchangeable neck bushing capability. I mostly partial neck size for bolt guns.
12. I like an Arbor Press with L.E. Wilson Hand Dies also (check out on the Sinclair International website)
13. Sinclair Flash Hole Deburring Tool
Simple RCBS Kinetic Bullet Puller tool for the ocassional revision.
14. Starret/Mitutoyo 6" Calipers
15. Starret/Mitutoyo Micrometer
16. Starret/Sinclair Case Neck Micrometer
17. Davidson Seating Depth Checkers for use with caliper (Sinclair site)
18. Hornady OAL Guage and Modified cases

That's about all for now. MidwayUSA and Sinclair international are good online stores to shop at. Only buy the best.

quote:

Originally posted by mountainboy:
im lookin .can yall recamend anything ?sorta have trouble with something .my reading n comperhenshin s not very good .i can watch n do it once with help maybe and mostly i have it down pat .
thx

This is not an activity for someone that is unwilling to read.

I think Midway USA has a video on reloading look at this. Check on YouTube and search for reloading videos as well. This should help some. If your reading skills are light, I would find an experienced re-loader to help you. Repeat, I would find an experienced re-loader to help you.

Go to your local gun store and see if they will let you put up a flier at the front counter asking for help. I bet you get several people that will call and offer help. Might cost you a dinner or something, but that will be cheap tuition for the learning you will get.

The Derek Zoolander School for People That Can't Read Good and Want to Do Other Stuff Good To.

I was advised 16 years ago to start with the Lyman manual and one or 2 other books. I was advised specifically NOT to get mixed up with more than one manual in the beginning.

• The Lyman manual has pressure test for most loads
  
• The actual rifles may need more or less powder charge to achieve the Lyman manual's velocity - but you have a tested base to compare.
  
• As long the components are the same, the loads can be compared. If you are changing any component, you will need to be even more careful with working up to maximum loads.
  
• I used to aim for maximum velocities until I had a blown primer with the old Barnes X bullet in a 243 Win. I was sure that the load was very safe (I was using a 85 gr bullet but using the powder charge for a heavier bullet and therefore it should have been safe.) BUT - the issue of seating depth for the old Barnes X bullets was not well understood in 1995 and I solved the problem by seating the bullets deeper.
  
• I ALWAYS make sure that primers are reseated in cases in a really firm manner. If primer seating is even a bit easy, I reduce the charge in the load and discard any case with such loose fit primers.

Now all my rifle ammo batches are reloaded at least 10 times before being discarded.

thanks .im willing to read .that sorta pisses me off.i looked at some videos an call my buddy that fools with alot of guns hes going to find me some one to reload with or watch n learn .thanks yall wheni get it down ill let yall no.sorry fow wastein you time reading SR4759.

Working direct with someone is the very best way to proceed. Handloading requires very close attention to details to perform safely and get top accuracy performance. It can take years to understand each aspect of advanced handloading. Take it slow and easy.

You didn't waste my time, its what I do for fun.

Good Shooting and pay attention to the details.

BTW, two great books I highly recommend:

"Precision Shooting: Reloading Guide" Book Editied by Dave Brennan

A-Square "Any Shot You Want Handloading and Rifle Manual" Reloading Manual

Both of these books are available at MidwayUSA.

Also, I recommend Precision Shooting Magazine, Dealing exclusively with extreme rifle accuracy. Here is the website http://www.precisionshooting.com/

well reloading buddy didnt work out .i went to wally world last knight ,bought the noselr (6) book .its slow but im reading it.started at 5o this morn ,got to proper bullet seating .but i think i undersatand pretty good so far .you know what yall if your kids play sports in school MAKE shure they get education first .dam football has rurent me as far as school stuff .i regret it every day .,try to help your kids with school .lol they dont even ask any more .anyway im dun winen.going back to my book .HAD TO SAY THAT .lol thanks for yalls help

Mountainboy---Glad you are doing the reading. Your comment that your reading comprehension is not good and you are just looking in effect for someone else to do your thinking would spur the negative comments that didnt set well with you. You'll get all kinds of varying opinions. So here comes mine. For MOST equipment I say RCBS. Really doesn't cost that much more, but you get the very best of warranty and customer service. They are slow, but the Belding & Mull powder measure seems to be the most accurate and works with any type powder I've tried. Not all measures do that. I also say go with single stage--even doing them one of a time, plenty can go wrong.

thx carpetman1/ got a ? hung up on how to adjust your bullet seating dye.in book said alow 1/16 between shell holder n face of the dye.recon might help to have equipment on hand ?so i can look at what im reading .or is there a video some were that shows set up of dyes?.

You tube has a lot of reloading videos. "Ammosmith" seems to have pretty sound information and good explanations of procedures as they are being done. Covers everything from case prep through sizing, priming, charging & seating. Just search "you tube AND ammosmith AND reloading AND your topic (seating or whatever)"

no own abc,s of reloading .im on my way

I'd recommend small-base RCBS dies for the .223Rem. Small-base dies make sure the case fits into whatever gun you might have that's chambered for the round. I learned my lesson about five years ago. I'll never resize .223 again in a die that is not small-base...

quote:

Originally posted by mountainboy:
thanks .im willing to read .that sorta pisses me off.i looked at some videos an call my buddy that fools with alot of guns hes going to find me some one to reload with or watch n learn .thanks yall wheni get it down ill let yall no.sorry fow wastein you time reading SR4759.

You seem to have a hot temper. I'm not slamming you, but videos and such are willing to show you common steps of reloading but rarely do they go into what you need to look for way before sliding a case into the press. They are just trying to help and reloading is no place for rushing and shortcuts! You can lose fingers or worse if you don't know what to look for. Just my .02.

quote:

Originally posted by mountainboy:
You know what y'all, if your kids play sports in school, MAKE sure they get education first. Damn football has ruined me as far as school stuff. I regret it every day. Try to help your kids with school. lol. They dont even ask any more. Anyway, I'm done whining. Going back to my book. HAD TO SAY THAT. lol. Thanks for y'alls help.

MB, the more you read, the better you'll get at it. Studying reloading may be a great opportunity for a secondary benefit. A dictionary will help. I'm an old man, have more education than you want to know about, and still use a dictionary every day. Take a look at your kids' English books; there might be something there for you. It ain't all that hard. Patience & Perseverance. They'll move mountains. Adult education could make it easy.