I am thinking about getting into reloading, but don't really know where to start. What are some good reference books for the novice? Also, could those of you who have reloading rooms post some pictures of your set up?

Thanks

Lots of folks will have lots of good info for you.
I only have a question: Are you married, and do you want to stay that way?

Reloading is a sly and seductive habit for which there is no known cure.

Kind of like a "gateway drug" You know, first it's just a single stage press. "Look, Babe I can load so much cheaper, I can shoot for free" Then you need the case tumbler, and then the power case trimmer, then it's on to the progressive loader. Along this path you will find You "need" that new gadget, and the superfast widget they just came out with.

My advice is to find a Divorce Lawyer and a Judge that you can load ammo for.

Great hobbie, lot's of fun, enjoy yourself, and teach the wife to shoot.

I have a girlfriend, but no wife. I figure if I get into reloading I might be able to keep it that way.

Acsteele is right on so many levels it is not even funny. But seriuosly get the Lee Modern Reloading book and the Hornady set of reloading manuals. If you are on a buget look into Lee products. They are very good I like the way they work. Lee makes it as simple as you want or you can get very complex and spend thousands of dollars on equipment. Take a look at www.Midwayusa.com they sell alot of Shooting supplies. Lee sells the Aniversey kit with the book modern reloading for 81.99. It contains everything you need except Dies, brass, bullets, primers, and Powder. Also a good Tumbler is a good purchase to keep your brass clean. But be very aware it is very addicting and you will spend money on new bullets or new equipment I started 3 years ago and I am up to 3 single stage press, a turret press and progressive press, 99 percent is Lee and I am up to probally close to 1000.00 then you have the supplies alll to brass the bullets and the powder. The powder is the worst I think because you will try other powders to get a little more accurate or a little more speed. So you will end up with more powder then you know what to do with. Then there is the time you will spend reloading or researching on the computer or reading. the truth hurts but it is fun the first time you put one of your own rounds you loaded in one of your guns. I was just warning you of the dangerous because I am a RELOADING JUNKY and you should know you will be one too. But I will never give it up. Also Follow the reloading number 1 rule be safe and pay attenion. Then never shoot factory ammo again when you can make it better

Lee does make good equipment......I ought to know, I have 3 of their single stage, and 2 progressives, and a Dillon. Midway is an outstanding source for a "fix" but there are lots of others, too. I bought one of midways Frankford arsenal tumblers, the small one. I works very well, so I bought a second one.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

And when reloading is so easy and "cheap" I just keep finding more guns that I can reload for......

Remember, the first step to recovery is admiting you have a problem.

And I know that I can quit any time.

Hey gotta go put the .45 brass in, and sort the .38 and size the .30/06 and load the 7mag and and and...oh hell, I give up

I started with the Lee hand press. I am blessed with a dedicated reloading room with a Rock chucker mounted on a table but find myself using the hand presses more. I reload 300 RUM, 30/338 Lapua and .416 Rem with no problems using the hand presses. I have to move to the Rock chucker for the 600 OK!! They are also portable! My 2 cents on presses

Good luck, Read and follow the manuals!!, and have fun!!! KP

Lee gets a bad rap, but I don't know why. I've loaded countless thousands of rounds with their Challenger and Turret presses. The single-stage press is a very simple mechanical device and so there isn't much to say about it. The turret press requires some attention, and some rough edges required knocking-off, but it really cranks-out pistol ammo and its nice to have a second press for rifle ammo. If you're not mechanically inclined you should consider the more expensive brands when you step-up to a turret or progressive.

To get started you should consider one of the "kits". The Lee Anniversary will serve as well as any of them and cost less.

I'd recommend that you also get a digital scale that will weigh grains. You can buy one designed for reloading, but they all cost about $100. You can buy a digital scale that will work just as well on Ebay for a fraction of that - just make sure that it will display in grains. To go with the digital scale I would recommend a set of the Lee dippers. You can find one just under the charge you want to throw, dip again and shake-out just the right amount of powder to make up your charge. For loading rifle cartridges this is a fast and accurate system. If you're going to reload a lot of pistol cartridges consider a turret press with a case-activated powder measure.

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:
I am thinking about getting into reloading, but don't really know where to start. What are some good reference books for the novice? Also, could those of you who have reloading rooms post some pictures of your set up?

Thanks

I would recommend that you check out CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD, both volumes of P.O. Ackley's Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders,, Bob Hagel's Game Loads and Practical Ballistics for the American Hunter, and the Lyman Reloading Handbook.
There are many good reloading manuals, but Lyman's is very good because Lyman doesn't make bullets, primers, brass, or powder, so they don't have any prejudices as regards any components. They use everyones'.

ABC's OF RELOADING is another good all around info type book.

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to try to run by the book store at lunch and pick up a couple of manuals.

Buy this kit,it rocks!!!!
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357

Lhook7
I am just getting into reloading myself and am starting with the Lee Loader kits in 375 H&H and 270 Win. I was going to buy a press but decided to go the Lee Loader route until I see if I like it. I loaded my first 270 ammo today (3 boxes) and am going to the range tomorrow to see if they go "bang!".

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Sullivan:
Lhook7
I am just getting into reloading myself and am starting with the Lee Loader kits in 375 H&H and 270 Win. I was going to buy a press but decided to go the Lee Loader route until I see if I like it. I loaded my first 270 ammo today (3 boxes) and am going to the range tomorrow to see if they go "bang!".

Good luck with the first batch Jeff!

I've just moved into a new house, so I'll have to build some benches first, but after that I think I'm going to give this a try.

MIDWAY also carries instruction videos on setting up,die adjustment, etc. A visual may help.

I second the Lee equipment. Check out www.bosesguns.com, they have decent pricing comparable or cheaper than midway. I would look into the new Lee Classic Turrent press. Get a turrent for each caliber and only set them up once then when you change claibers you swap the turrent and the dies are already set up for you. I use mine like a single stage when doing rifle and then install the indexing rod and powder measure and use it as a semi progressive for pistol. Their scale is sensitive and accurate, but does not have the capacity for weighing bullets so I bought a RCBS digital scale for that. My bench is 99% Lee and have only a fraction of the $$$ in mine that my friends have in their RCBS, Hornady, etc and my ammo has always been just as accurate as theirs even when shooting benchrest.

I think I'd recommend the RCBS beginning reloading kit but that's me. As for reloading books for data, I too would look at the Lyman but would also include the Hodgdon Data Manual. It list loads using powders from many manufacturers, not just their own.
Bear in Fairbanks

If you have interest in extreme accuracy, get a Sinclair's catalog and look at some of the books they offer on precision reloading. Also the basics of benchrest by Glen Newick is a good read.

I started with the Lee anniversery kit and it was fine. The scale is very acurate but requires a deft hand to adjust. I just bought and have now used their new classic (cast iron) turret press and I am very pleased with it. I bought the pro disk measure and it is dead on accurate as verified by my RCBS chargemaster (very nice scale and powder dispenser).

I will continue to use the challenger press that came with the kit for decapping before cleaning the brass.

I would recommend a turret press as it is so much faster and you only have to set you dies up once if you get extra mounting plates.

I also second the praise for the Lyman manual.


Mike