Starting reloading - what to get next?

[Forkyfinder]

Recently found a smoking deal on a complete RCBS supreme master kit - and im looking to get some tips on which dies, cleaner, trimmer, to get? Otherwise - not sure what id be missing besides compontents. Looking to almost entirely load for bolt action rifles and want to have a focus on accuracy.

Feed me your opinions on what to get - open to higher end stuff if its something that is useful or beneficial.

 

[kodiakisland]

I prefer Forster bench rest dies, but everyone has their favorite. I use Hornady bench rest dies if I want non standard neck diameter.

 

[Steiny77]

A good solid, bench with plenty of work surface and stout enough to mount a press on without it moving.
Good storage system for all of the misc. components and tools.

 

[kodiakisland]

John Barnsness has some great books on practical reloading, for both volume and accuracy with every day products. There are better references for true benchrest, but Gun Gack 1and 2 have a lot of practical knowledge.

 

[Darkside]

What all cartridges do you want to load for.
I like Redding, Forster, RCBS I think it really depends on intended purpose.

Good book: The ABC of Reloading 9th edition.

 

[Potsie]

Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you intend to go:

Forrester or Redding bushing dies - buy once cry once.

Annealing is worth it.

Get a high quality caliper with a comparator set.

Wet tumbler with SS pins, Dawn, and Lemi-shine.

If you’re going to be doing volume reloading, case prep will be a huge time suck. Money spent on making that process quicker and easier will be money well spent.

 

[Forkyfinder]

What all cartridges do you want to load for.

308, 300 prc, 223 rem, 45 lc

In that order of priority.

 

[Redmt]

I have always used RCBS dies. Maybe they are not the best but they are readily available and carry a no questions asked lifetime warranty. They are plenty accurate for moment of golf ball shooting.

 

[Darkside]

308, 300 prc, 223 rem, 45 lc

In that order of priority.

Nice. There's nothing you can't Hunt with what you have, including out to 1000yd Targets. I have 308 in RCBS and Lee if your interested, I forgot to mention Lee earlier, all dies have pro/ con, I used Lee for a long time before I switched to Redding. They worked very well for me, but I got into building Wildcats, so I moved on to Bushing dies, bushing dies are not needed if you are not necking up / down.
Do you have a mentor close to you to help learn this stuff? If not I can try and help you with questions. But having someone to be with you is great help.
Hope this helps.
PM me if you have questions.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Nice. There's nothing you can't Hunt with what you have, including out to 1000yd Targets. I have 308 in RCBS and Lee if your interested, I forgot to mention Lee earlier, all dies have pro/ con, I used Lee for a long time before I switched to Redding. They worked very well for me, but I got into building Wildcats, so I moved on to Bushing dies, bushing dies are not needed if you are not necking up / down.
Do you have a mentor close to you to help learn this stuff? If not I can try and help you with questions. But having someone to be with you is great help.
Hope this helps.
PM me if you have questions.

Ive reloaded quite a few times and am comfortable with the process for the most part. Thank you though - ill keep that in mind.

 

[N2TRKYS]

RCBS full length 2 die sets(full length sizer and seater die) are all I use. Washing brass is a waste of time. I’ve never needed an annealer, ever. A digital powder dispenser/scale combo is definitely worth it. A case prep station is worth getting. An electric case trimmer is also worth it.

I wouldn’t waste my money on buying books, unless you just like having books laying around. Everything can be found online for free.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

I grew up reloading, so I had thoughts already and got most of my stuff used like you just did. I really didn't pay all that much. I like redding dies the best and that's what I use, but that's a preference. I have an RCBS trimmer. I don't love it and like others better. I load for accuracy and weigh all my charges with a balance scale. This year I finally bought a cheap black friday special low end throwing scale. I should have bought one years ago. It's always been within the tolerance it said it would be.

I wet and dry tumble. I haven't noticed a difference between vibrating tumblers unless you overload them. For wet tumbling I did upgrade to a rebel 17 and think it was worth it.

I do need an annealer for some of my hard to find brass, but I haven't made a decision yet on that.

Amazon has this super cheap digital jewlery scale guys buy for reloading. It's like $15 or $20. I bought one and it comes in super handy all the time for double checking things, archery, etc. Just do a google search for the model. I even use it for weighing spices for smaller sausages batches. It's one of those stupid things i bought on a whim that's worth well above it's price to me.

I'd disagree with the books, but I do some wildcats, etc and shoot some weird weights and stuff. I like having references and comparing powder charges.

#1. Make a good bench. I bought a 12 foot damaged countertop from a big box store for like $20.

I primarily hunt. For some rifles where I mostly shoot cheap lead bullets it's worth my money to get a second seating die. One for the monolithics I hunt with and one for the plinkers. It makes my life easier.

A collet puller is worth it IMO.

 

[cgasner1]

Ive reloaded quite a few times and am comfortable with the process for the most part. Thank you though - I’ll keep that in mind.

I haven’t blown anything up yet.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Get a brass prep station. I have a Lyman.

 

[idahojoe]

Brass prep station, ss tumbler, I like hornady dies personally I just think they have the best lock rings.

 

[Jnasa]

Part of it depends on how much column you anticipate doing. Case prep is by far the largest time factor. A semi automated case prep center would be a worthwhile investment. I don’t do a ton so Injust trickle my charges. However, anytime I do a big batch I start considering an automated powder dispenser.

Dies depend on how precise you want. If you want to emphasize accuracy you may consider ones with a micro adjust. I just stick with the standard RCBS. I full length resize all of mine. However, you do get better brass life and can get better accuracy with neck sizing.

 

[44hunter45]

Lee Factory crimp dies. Cheap as heck and worth every penny.

RCBS Primer Pocket Swager II. More and more .223Rem and .308Win brass has the primers crimped these days.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Oh man.

I’ve got years of learning to do…



I’ll just start buying from Forky Finder’s Precision Munitions Company.

 

[Forkyfinder]

RCBS Primer Pocket Swager II. More and more .223Rem and .308Win brass has the primers crimped these days.

Great tip. Lots of my 308 brass is LC so ill need it.

 

[Dakotakid]

A good caliper and the case comparator from hornady is helpful, I wish I had bought one earlier in my reloading.

I like the design of the Henderson casetrimmer but for the trim length gauges. If that improves I think I would buy one. Might still. I think tri cutter is the way to go.

Ultimate reloader on YouTube has pretty good videos of the higher end stuff.

Area 419 does a funnel set that is expensive but has been a solution to a frustration I had.