Alright i have wanted to start reloading for a wile now and i finally have the chance. I think I'm going to buy a LEE Anniversary kit, anyone have any complaints about them ? what else will i need to buy so i have everything i will ever need ? I'm going to be loading for a variety of calibers i would like to buy more surplus military firearms and would like to load for them as well as all my other guns. Anyway right now i plan on loading a bunch of .308 and .223 for a couple rifles I'm going to get they are semi and i just want to be able to plink with them. Hopefully at a lower cost than what box ammo will cost where are good places to buy like say once fired brass and pulled bullets that kind of thing ? Also i really have no idea what the process of hand loading intails where can i find information on that sort of thing i would really appreciate some help =) thanks you guys you are great James

First off: Welcome Jim!!!!

Second: I would like to recommend you get yourself the Lyman 48th (or newer) reloading manual.

Third: READ IT!!!

Fourth: REREAD IT!!!!

This is in my opinion one of the best manuals to get you going on what does what and what goes where.
The other nice thing about this manual is it is not dedicated to one powder or one bullet like most others are.

The last thing I would like to say is: If you are not sure, ASK!!!!!

Again Welcome and enjoy!!

Ditto, smedely.

Any good manual will do to get you started, but haveing more then one is prefered. 1 from the bullet maker you plan to use most,Nosler, Speer, ect, and 1 from Lyman, Hodgdon, ect. You can never have too many.

Yea i was going to get a book but i wanted to order it with my equipment. This is why i was asking what else i should buy when i get this kit. What about people opinions on this LEE kit i really don’t want to get a lot of money tied up in this. Maybe, should i try to find some better quality used stuff off of e-bay instead ? or will this kit be fine thanks you gus for the help

Plan on 500 to get set up.
Press, dies, shell holders, debur tool, neck cleaning tool, trimmer, scale, powder, primers, brass, bullet, caliper, primer tool, primer pocket cleaner, manual, funnel, trickler, loading blocks and case lube.
Those are the basics and then you can go on up from there with upgrades later. My personal preference is RCBS.

Jim, you've gotta learn to crawl before you can walk. The kind of equipment depends on what you want to do with it. None of us can make a reasonable suggestion unless you have a better idea of what you want. Long term, not right now.

Everyone who starts just wants to make some ammo to shoot. It goes downhill fast from there for nearly everyone.

Just figure on spending a couple of nights at your local library. Many have a surprising selection of books on reloading and shooting. Educate yourself, figure out what you want out of the hobby: it'll keep you from buying stuff twice. HTH, Dutch.

Yea i want ammo to shoot but i also want to reload for accuracy, right now i don't have a bunch of money to dump into it so i think i will start with the basics then down the road i will buy much better equipment when I get better guns that deserve it , right now I don’t have anything to special so I’m not really worried about the quality of my hand loads as much. Thanks again
p.s. im 22 and not even done with college yet if that gives you an idea of where im at for now i won't be updating my equipment for a wile

One simple thing to remember every time you put powder in brass:

"Reloading is the easiest thing you can do that will kill you if you you get complacent"

I started with the anniversary kit about 6 years ago and it was fine to start with. You really need to match the equipment with your shooting needs. Benchrest, IPSC, BMG, hunting... You will be able to do all of them with the anniversary kit, but there are better suited set-ups when you get the $$$. Read and when you have questions, ASK!

If your funds are limited, then the Lee is ok , but IMO, their quality is average at best. Before you buy anything, you should get the Lyman book &/or The ABCs of reloading & read them several times. Then you'll have a better idea what you want to get & what you NEED to get. Right now it's like you want to buy a car but can't drive. Do some reading then decide.
Do that, buy the gear you want then ask some more questions, do some more reading & get then going.
Best places for once fired brass; local ranges where cops shoot is good. Do a search on the web for brass & you'll find several reputeable dealers, here is one:
http://www.brassmanbrass.com/
These guys sell mil spec pulled stuff:
http://www.wideners.com/ You have far to go "grasshopper", time to do some studying.

Step ONE...
Find someone who reloads and is willing to help you!

Then start on the other stuff...

I started on the Lee Anniversary model and have been pleased.

I would recommend that you pick up a caliper, trickler, loading blocks, and whatever else you think you'll want.

Read the 48th edition Lyman handbook and then read it again.

quote:

What about people opinions on this LEE kit i really don’t want to get a lot of money tied up in this.

Lee may not be the best by any means but, they build products that work. I personally bought that little kit and use the press every once in a while when I travel sometimes. The little cheap scale stays in my Muzzleloader bag (Smokeless Savage). The lee kit is cheap but really does have enough for a beginner to get started in this wonderful hobby of reloading. I've use the Lee book for load data from time to time and it actually is a descent read for someone wanting to learn to reload. The book really praises Lee products but, if you can get past that, it would be helpful to teach a newbie about reloading.

Buy the Lee Kit and get started. The only other things you will need are:

-Loading block
-trim length pilots for each cart you intend to load(They are cheap)
-set of dies for each cart(For the money RCBS is probably the best bet on dies. However, the Lee dies will work and give many years of service)
-brass
-powder
-bullets
-primers
-Lee Dippers

That's really all you need to get started. It will take you a while to learn the dos and don'ts. Just ask us here and we'll help you out.

Once you really get the process of loading down and start building some good loads for your rifles you can start picking up pieces of better equipment as you go. You can get good beam scales, presses, dies, etc from ebay pretty cheap from time to time.

I'd suggest you get a Lee Classic Cast press or a RCBS Rock Chucker for an upgrade after you've been loading a while.

I actually like a few of Lee's products such as the Collet dies BUT I do not suggest a new reloader start with them because they take alittle getting used to and I feel they work better in a better press than the Challenger that comes in the Lee kit. I use their cutter and lock stud trimmer set-up on my Dewalt drill for all of my case trimming. The Lee powder measure actually works quite well for my pistol reloading and it throws a pretty accurate rifle charge as well with small stick or ball. If I sit down to load a couple hundred rounds of rifle and want them precise, I use the Lee Measure to throw a charge just alittle light and then trickle up to the exact weight I'm after. It speeds things up a bit. When I just load a few dozen rounds at a setting, I just use the Lee dippers to scoop charges into the pan. I even use the dippers to trickle so I don't have to fool with the trickler.

So, if you are truely on a budget, yes the Lee will get you going and it's not going to fall apart on you as some here will have you think. Sure the RCBS kit is definitely better but, the Lee will work.

Good Luck

Reloader

All right thanks a bunch reloader I’ll order my stuff tonight and hopefully be in production in a couple weeks.

All dies are pretty much universal between presses right?

I'm really excited to get started thanks you guys for all your help

Jim try a gun show in your area, you might someone getting out of it or someone that is clearing out some older stuff as they have progressed.
You can also go to E-Bay (or even AR-Bay) and see if can find the kit you are looking for or another kit.
Gunbroker.com
RCBS master kit

That would be a great idea if there wasmore than 1 gun show a year here =(

i have looked on e-ba and around i think im just going to get the lee kit i did find a turret kit they had but im just going to go with the single stage im sure i will be happy it won't be to much slower once i get moving with it

thanks for all your help

p.s. anyone know where i can find a bunch of once fired berban primed 7.62x39 ? im sure some of you guys have a bunch laying around

quote:

All dies are pretty much universal between presses right?

Yep, most dies are standard.

Good Luck

Reloader