Advice for starting reloading

[Rab4025]

Ok, be gentle very very new to reloading and looking for some advice where to start. I know it can be a rabbit hole in terms of equipment and cost. Looking at getting a starter reloading kit. Used a Lee loader in .243, for the past couple of years but want to move to a press as starting to reload a bit more frequently. I’m not looking to spend silly money for my first press and will be looking to reload around 500 rounds a year in 243 & 22-250. With potentially adding 6.5 Creedmor in the future. I have been looking a the Lee 4 hole turret kit, looks decent value for the money to me around £300-£350 and it has most of what I need as an introduction to press reloading. Main plus for me is I like the idea of setting the dies for each calibre and just swapping out the heads when reloading other calibres. Think I like the idea of this over a single press I know I need other items on top of the kit to get the full reloading experience, Would I be far wrong getting the 4 hole press kit as a starting point for press reloading. Am I missing any others in a similar price bracket. What’s people’s thoughts for a newbie

Thanks

 

[Klenchblaize]

I' not sure you need a progressive press for the volume you mention, but others may know better.

K

 

[tackb]

i now use a single press , for the amount you are reloading that will be fine , buy a good s/h RCBS or Lyman etc and it will last you a lifetime

 

[Sampo]

Stay with the single press for the amount you are reloading. Done in batches of 100, it would possible be a lot more faster than the progressive press.

 

[3595wilk]

Just buy the press not a kit that way you can test the water.....

The Lee turret press isn't a true progressive press due to the need to work the handle for each stage.

A progressive press loads cartridge with virtually every pull of the operating lever, once the machine is set up.

The Lee is a good choice if you reload multiple calibres as you just switch out the plates and can leave the dies set up in the plates for shoulder bump, neck tension, seating depth etc. I've even used it to load powder too...though prefer to use a loading block. Definitely has made it easier...


I have 4 plates - one for 6mm BRA , .308, .6.5x55 and . 222 set up. I'm looking at .284 Shehane...and if I do get it, a new plate is about £15. Not a massive amount to set up the dies and forget about them.....

Not having to faff about resetting dies on a single stage all the time, was why I got it. I use an old Lee press to de prime and if needed, FLS any SH brass I get too on it. Both are on a Lee triangular stand.

I don't shoot a massive amount but for £130 second hand to try out the turret press, I can definitely say been a good investment.

My Forster co ax I actually sold as had become effectively redundant.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Don't.

Regards

JCS

 

[ashray]

IF you do shoot 500+ rounds a year it will take 3 years to cover you kit cost ,if you shoot a lot less buy the factory ammunition ,you can sell ONCE fired cases and get some money back, reloading is an enjoyable hobby but time consuming and can become expensive. powder ,bullets ,primers have up gone up in price in recent years. make your own rounds MAY save you 1/3 of the cost of factory rounds but the outlay will cost you more to start.

 

[Foxyboy43]

IF you do shoot 500+ rounds a year it will take 3 years to cover you kit cost ,if you shoot a lot less buy the factory ammunition ,you can sell ONCE fired cases and get some money back, reloading is an enjoyable hobby but time consuming and can become expensive. powder ,bullets ,primers have up gone up in price in recent years. make your own rounds MAY save you 1/3 of the cost of factory rounds but the outlay will cost you more to start.

Very wise words indeed. Read this, digest it then just like the rest of us set off down the reloading rabbit hole….
A lowly Lee press and Lee dies will give you all you want unless you are bigly into serious long range target shooting. I have two plus a Progressive - all have seen many thousands of rounds through them in everything from .222 through to 8mm - pretty much faultlessly. Make sure the press/dies you buy are compatible with the locking rings then you will never have to worry about fiddling each time…

Lee Ultimate Lock Rings - 4 Pack : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Shop Lee Ultimate Lock Rings - 4 Pack. Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Tikkat1x]

And reloading components seem to go up every month, last December i bought a 3.5k tub of viht N-140, £320, picking one up today for £380.
CCI primers were £109 per thou, today £167. fking joke

 

[Jonmci]

For low volumes of rifle cartridges you can get away with using a Lee Hand Press. Cheap and compact.

 

[markyw]

3 elements mentioned in the above that have been picked out by various posters, but recap below, and one maybe not ....
1. A turret press is not a progressive press.
2. Single stage presses can use lock rings (Lee Breech Lock Challenger) and so changing dies is easy and they do not need to be setup each time (within reason).
3. Reloading does not offer a lower price point in many cases, but is a passion/rabbit hole in itself and does let you tune your ammunition.
4. The OP may just want to learn to reload as an extension of his hobby, so cost may be a factor but lower priority.

For #3 above, if you are not a target shooter, then tuning may not be warranted BUT as a hunter and with the lead ban coming in it may also offer lower priced ammunition.

I have a single stage and a turret press. While the turret offers the convenience (as the OP pointed out) of having the calibre specific dies all mounted together, if the lock rings are not adjusted correctly they can still come loose and need periodic fettling. I also use a Lee Loader (loading rounds with a mallet!) from time to time and produce just as good ammunition, so do not fixate on the make or model of the kit if you do go down the reloading path and work on a proper process. Also get yourself a good reloading manual (or 2!) and do some reading first.

Regards

Mark

 

[plumber01]

ask nicely, and I am sure there is a club, or a local person who reloads, and will let you observe them, or possibly a club will run reloading courses.
Try and get at least couple of people to show how they do it. For what its worth, by simply talking to there reloaders, almost everyone does things a little different, and often swear their method is the only correct way.
Also be honest with what you want to achieve, getting good accurate ammo is fine for some, target shooters ( some of my friends) will take enormous amounts of time working for perfect pressure spreads and are possibly anal about brass prep etc. Others treat it just as an interesting part of their hobby, and simply enjoy the science of it all.
If you are shooting at shooting lass than a couple of hundred yards, simply look at what your factory rounds do, and replicate the speed of the factory bullet for a given weight .
My favourite reloading saying, ...its a really expensive way to save money!
good luck.