Beginner Guide to Reloading - What equipment did you upgrade early on?

[mtmuley]

Definitely started way too focused on doing everything perfect. Lots of annealing, some neck turning, over prepping/sorting brass.. Upgraded chargemaster with an autotrickler. Wish I woulda just bought a progressive right off the bat and burned out 223 or 6 br barrels with thrown powder charges rather than dicking around with a million meaningless tweaks on magnum hunting rifle ammo.

Case prep sucks, anything that saves time there is a good place to start IMO.

I love dicking around with magnums. mtmuley

 

[brockel]

I’m rocking an old rcbs press, Lyman digital scale, Lee powder dispenser, Lee hand primer, foster case trimmer, dry media case tumbler and at the moment hornady dies.

 

[mtmuley]

I’m rocking an old rcbs press, Lyman digital scale, Lee powder dispenser, Lee hand primer, foster case trimmer, dry media case tumbler and at the moment hornady dies.

I'm using a Lyman powder dispenser that is probably at least 40 years old. Rockchuker and RCBS dies. Redding too. And Forstner case trimmers are awesome. And a beam scale. mtmuley

 

[Jbotto]

I started with the bare minimum but lucked out with my press. Bought a used Bonanza Co-Ax with a box of reloading odds and ends for $50. Went from the Lee Loader to a Co-Ax in one swift move. Had a Lyman beam scale that I upgraded to an RCBS beam scale. Used an RCBS trickler since day one and still prefer it with rifle ammo. I finally did try an RCBS uniflow powder measure and now have 3 set up for different favorite pistol loads. They have been a big improvement in volume. Still use the Co-Ax for most everything. Have a used Dillon sitting on pieces still that I haven’t set up yet and a handful of other single stage presses that don’t get used that I’ve picked up along the way. The Co-Ax is an awesome press for me and it’s done many thousand revolver rounds and a couple thousand rifle rounds for me already. Not getting rid of it!

I haven’t found a brass prep method/tool that I like yet but I’m cheap and haven’t bought a prep station yet.

I would like to get into annealing at some point.

I started with Lee dies and have switched out all of those sets to RCBS, Redding, and a lone set from CH4D.

My first advice to newbies is to read the ABC’s of Reloading (newest version is my Phil Massaro, whom I really enjoy reading) and then a good Lyman hardcover manual. I use multiple sources for load data but I started with a Lyman 49th and still buy and use the newest version as they come out.

 

[bucdoego]

Don't suppose you have had a chance to play with, or know someone who has played with that new FX Outdoors chrono have you? Supposedly reads more consistent that a Labradar.

You might be interested. Both beyond my current budget.
SKIP to the end for chrono comparison...

The Fastest Rifle Bullet (and the newest chronograph)
Backfire | FX Outdoors v Labradar...

FX Outdoors: "New King of the Hill"

 

[yakimanoob]

This thread is gold, especially for someone like me who's done a little loading with a borrowed setup, and currently saving towards my own. I had planned to get a FA M-Press but y'all have me thinking the RCBS is a better long-term option.

The only thing I have to add is to echo that when I first got started, I was way too focused on perfection. As a beginner I was obviously incapable of it anyway, but it took me a long time to settle in to the reality that I'm making hunting loads for a caliber that's good on deer and elk to ~500yds max. I don't need 2" groups at 1000yds.

I'm intrigued by some folks saying you don't need a chronograph. I need one. Or at least, I feel like I need one. Don't take my chrono away!

 

[kiwi hunter]

Cheapest in the world, lee whackamole. Got my latest one for 30 bucks a month ago for the 22 hornet and a hand me down one for the 222 rem. NoNof

 

[kiwi hunter]

Cheapest in the world, lee whackamole. Got my latest one for 30 bucks a month ago for the 22 hornet and a hand me down one for the 222 rem. NoNof

Big thumb. Anyway they fit in one hand and load n go hunting.

 

[Wildfan99]

Take all of this info, research everything, and buy the best stuff you can afford right from the start.

 

[300wsmreloader]

Powder delivery and scale, was the main item. Upgraded 3 times. Then it was prep equipment.

What power delivery brand do you recommend?

 

[300wsmreloader]

Was there a manual that you really liked? I'm getting a lot of stuff from youtube videos and reading blog posts or shooting forum posts. But I'm not really getting the 'complete package' in a walkthrough from first step to firing the shot (and post shot analysis) that I would like.

I have a nosler reloading manual and the reloading information is very helpful

 

[300wsmreloader]

Almost anything RCBS is worth it.
Some Frankford arsenal is good, I have their tumbler.

Anything Lyman I’ve bought has broken.

The Frankfort tumbler has done a good job for me for a long time

 

[WYWINCHESTER]

What power delivery brand do you recommend?

I have the RCBS Charge Master. It fills the cup while I place and seat the bullet and put it away. There are "better" set ups available, but this one suits my purpose. I actually have 2 of them. One for varmint loading, and one for big game.

 

[300wsmreloader]

Does anyone have some info on favorite loads ( type of power, bullet, & amount of grains) for 300wsm?

 

[300wsmreloader]

Looking for some 300wsm brass.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Does anyone have some info on favorite loads ( type of power, bullet, & amount of grains) for 300wsm?

165 gr Speer btsp, RL 17 64 gr to start. Superformance is good too.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Does anyone have some info on favorite loads ( type of power, bullet, & amount of grains) for 300wsm?

64ish grains of h4350 under 180 class bullets (180 accubond, Berger 185 classic hunter or juggs) and 66ish grains of H4831 under 200s (eldx, Berger 200.20x) in Norma brass.

 

[17remhunter]

So I'm going to be taking the plunge into reloading starting from absolute scratch. No equipment or knowledge on how to do it other than basic rifle and ballistic knowledge needed to use a hunting rifle(and of course what i've picked up through osmosis reading through HT).​

As I'm doing my investigating into the process and learning the 'how' to do it, it's looking like I'm going to be coming to a crossroads with this new hobby just like hunting/fishing. Needing to get all of the 'entry-level' equipment to even get into the game vs. getting equipment I won't ever need to replace. So my question is as follows:

For the serious re-loaders, what equipment did you find yourself replacing or wanting to replace right off the bat? I'm not rolling in cash, but have the discretionary funds to splurge on those 1 or 2 items that will eventually get replaced anyway. For a hunting comparison, going from the Bushnell binoculars to the BX-3s would have saved me $100 had I just bought the BX-3s to begin with. What have you found that you just "had" to replace eventually? I will likely get to a point where I will just "NEED" to replace certain things, but don't know what I don't know, yet. (Powder scale, press, calipers, etc.?)

As an example, is an Area 419 - Zero reloading press 'worth it' or is the Rock Chucker or Hornady Kit going to get me by for my entire reloading career? I don't shoot at matches and my reloading will only be for my hunting rifles, if that matters. I currently have 3 rifle calibers and 3 handgun calibers I would want to reload for. Thoughts on what you wish you would have bought from the start?

p.s As an additional question, what equipment did you find that the juice wasn't worth the squeeze for creating hunting rounds? I think of an annealer as possibly fitting into this category. Or maybe it was SOOO worth it? What else fits into/not into this category?

L E Wilson