Looking to reload, so it's time for silly questions

[Branxhunter]

Thanks for the help with the cleaning and press questions. I have a much better idea what to look for.

Now for new questions:

Scales, beam or digital? If digital what level of accuracy is needed noting some spec 0.1gn and others 0.01gn? I think a 0.1 is accurate enough assuming a quality bit of kit.

Dies, what's your preference? Do you F/L size each time or when you feel it's needed? I guess this leads into case trimming, how often is it generally needed?

Yep, I'm double checking all the advice here with a google BS detector, and then flipping a coin as to which to believe

Seriously, it's good to hear multiple opinions for a broader understanding of it all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

G'day Raven. Some good questions. I think reloading is one pastime where you have a number of entry points depending on what you can afford to spend, or how into,it you think you will be.

My thoughts are that the minimum you can get away with is a press, die set, a set of scales, a powder trickler and a set of vernier to check OAL.

You can find/make some sort of powder dipper (even a cut off case with a handle) to get most of the way up to you charge, then use the trickler to get to the final weight - particularly if you are experimenting with loads. I think you even get a plastic dipper in some of the Lee die sets (I am sure I got one with the collet .308 die set)

I think a beam balance is fine for checking powder charges (what I use), but an electronic balance is better for weighing and segregating projectiles or brass - so it depends on what you think you will end up doing.

The next step up is a powder thrower - I wouldn't be without one. Makes it a lot easier and quicker. I throw each charge then check each one on the beam balance, but for larger hunting chamberings this would be OTT.

A trimmer is great to have, but I was reloading for 1-2 years before I needed one (I did start with plenty of brass).

As the cases exceed max length become more resistant to chambering (which might be OAL related, or that the shoulder need bumping back through a FLS die) I put them aside until I have a reasonable number to do all in one go.

Hope that helps.

Marcus

[Branxhunter]

Something else to consider - when you do start to accumulate some gear, don't be in a rush to bolt it to your reloading bench. Use g clamps for a while till you work out how best to position the gear.

I have been reloading for 7-8 years now and still just use g clamps. That way I can punch out spent primers in the shed where it doesn't matter where they end up, and any breeze has no bearing on the process. I can then move inside onto the end of the kitchen bench to load out of the wind which can play havoc with sensitive balances.

Marcus

[The Raven]

Thanks for that info. I've been leaning towards digital scales for simplicity and repeatability even though beam scales are probably just as good.

The info on the dies helped me confirm a few thoughts regarding application etc. As a good die set isn't overly expensive it seems worthwhile buying a good set up front.

Powder thrower is a definite and I'm looking at the various brands an options. Surprisingly not a huge range to choose from (excluding the digital/electronic units).

Case trimming looks like something I wouldn't need to worry about much so a cheaper unit would probably be more than adequate.

I like the bench advice! I was watching YouTube and this guy was madly drilling and bolting stuff everywhere. While I'd like a dedicated bench it's more likely I'd use my existing "everything" bench.

So what else is there to consider before I start drafting an email to Santa?

[Branxhunter]

Raven,

Andy Montgomery also wrote quite a good article in the April-June edition of Guns & Game which had some good suggestions on how to set up a reloading area, as well as a basic step by step on how to reload. Send me a PM if you can't find a copy and are interested in reading it.

Marcus

[The Raven]

Thanks Marcus. I may have that issue at home (unread) so I'll try to dig it up when I get back. If I can't find it I'll drop you a PM.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[220]

I agree with all the previous comments bar one..... the Lee Challenger kit.....

I started with a Challenger kit, and still use the Lee alloy press, and I load a fair bit for the range. I broke it once (my fault with not enough lube on 7mm-08), replaced the link, and I'm still happily using it years later. I bought a secondhand Lyman Spartan press as a backup, but it just sits in the cupboard. I also like the breechlock system. I don't use the beam scales except to check my Lyman Gen 5 thrower every now and then. They're not great, but they work. I used the hand primer for a while, but now I prime on the press. The powder thrower is still in use by the second "new to reloading" bloke since I passed it on (they feel cheap, but they do throw a charge).

I tumble my brass every third reload, and put them through the ultrasonic about every 6th. Pockets are cleaned every timer (I use a 3mm Dremel wire brush in an old battery drill).

There are plenty who reckon Lee kits are cheap and nasty, and I'll agree that there is better gear out there at a lot of levels, but you won't do much better for the minimum price, and I reckon those that diss the Lee gear, would still be happy to use it if they had no better. And I reckon they've introduced more people to reloading than any other manufacturer.

Anyway, there's my two bobs worth.....

cheers, curan

I reckon your spot on, would have sold over 20 of the Lee kits and have had one broken linkage, for the price they can not be beaten.
Everything apart from dies for significantly less than the price of a press alone from anyone else.

The one item I have had major issues with is digital scales, at least 50% of what I have sold have come back under warranty. I don't even stock them anymore, if you want to use digital for weighing powder I would be looking at spending more than you will on a lee kit and buying a balance beam as well just to check the accuracy of the digital regularly.
They are great for batching projectiles, cases etc but I wont trust any of the cheaper ones for powder weighing.

[DSD]

Does your local range have a reliading/cleaning room?
Might be a good place to gang out for a couple of saturday arvos. Even ask the local RO when it will be busy

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Plowboy]

I have not done much reloading for a while now due to family and other stuff but I have a Lee anniversary kit and for me doing simple .223 it's fine. Make sure everything is lubed and off you go. It really depends on what you are reloading for I guess but if you are wanting to get the most accurate shooting home rolled ammo then maybe more up market is the go. If you were like me and just wanted to shoot a little cheaper per round so you were not always thinking "is this shot worth it" and not reloading shitloads get a Lee.

I have upgraded parts in my equipment too as I needed and wanted it. I have an auto thrower and had to replace my hand primer( with a Lee ergo prime) but I have not gone over the top.

I clean every shot but that is usually because the brass has been sitting around for a while.

Don't assume digital scales are better or easier. You have to calibrate them fairly often so I would get a good balance beam like the 505 mentioned earlier.

Reloading conversations are about as dangerous as barrel run in and cleaning conversations. Everybody has their own preference and opinion. Take some from everyone and choose what's best for your situation.

I am happy with my Lee set up and many many foxes are no longer on this earth because of ammo rolled by Lee gear. When I was shooting loads, I could land 5 shots inside a 5c coin at 100m day in day out with Lee loaded ammo so while it's cheaper than the rest it can still load accurate ammo..... Better than most factory.

[trevort]

Dave I don't have a problem with the ability for Lee gear to make accurate ammo. That was my first 204 (a ruger VT) Remington cases , RCBS 2 die set and Lee Challenger kit.

The kit I had, the press handle slotted thru two holes on the alloy housing. One on either side of the linkage. It wasn't secured in properly so I FL sized and the handle slipped out of the far hole and one piece of alloy frame supported the whole pressure and the handle just sheared thru. Operator error. Probably. But you couldn't do that to a rockchucker or the like.

My second problem was my mate had a batch of brass and federal primers and either the primer pockets were undersized or the primers were oversized. He forced about three in and the fourth, well the handle just snapped off the Lee hand primer. Again, probably operator error. With my knowledge now I wouldn't be forcing things like my mate did but still its built to a price.

Just another 2cts worth thrown into the convo

[stinkitup]

With scales its worth mentioning two things accuracy and sensitivity. See as the lyman/chargemaster etc are designed to pour the powder to the scales they scales are designed to be sensitive enough to accurately weigh while it is pouring. Other normal electric scales you might trickle in they will say the weight you want. Take them off the scale and put back on and it will be over usually as it is not sensitive enough to accurately display the weight while pouring but it will be accurate as in if calibrated etc.

I found this out with some little MTM scales. Good for checking projectiles and cases not for trickling cases.

Another is whether a scale is definitely accurate what I mean is you work up a load eg 40 gr, it might read 39.8 on my scales or 40.2 as long as yours is consistent it will mean charges are the same for every load if that makes sense. I know my loads I think have improved since using my lymen gen5 and weigh easier (pun intended ) when working up loads that are .2 or .3 different for 10 or more loads. I do have a balance beam and still use at times but with a little 12v sealed lead acid battery and a wiring harness I can take the lyman shooting with me Oh and works in a black out

Loading for my little MMJ 15 gr of powder takes around 7 seconds for it to spit out. Way faster than I can put a projectile in.

Ryan

[Plowboy]

With scales its worth mentioning two things accuracy and sensitivity. See as the lyman/chargemaster etc are designed to pour the powder to the scales they scales are designed to be sensitive enough to accurately weigh while it is pouring. Other normal electric scales you might trickle in they will say the weight you want. Take them off the scale and put back on and it will be over usually as it is not sensitive enough to accurately display the weight while pouring but it will be accurate as in if calibrated etc.

I found this out with some little MTM scales. Good for checking projectiles and cases not for trickling cases.

Another is whether a scale is definitely accurate what I mean is you work up a load eg 40 gr, it might read 39.8 on my scales or 40.2 as long as yours is consistent it will mean charges are the same for every load if that makes sense. I know my loads I think have improved since using my lymen gen5 and weigh easier (pun intended ) when working up loads that are .2 or .3 different for 10 or more loads. I do have a balance beam and still use at times but with a little 12v sealed lead acid battery and a wiring harness I can take the lyman shooting with me Oh and works in a black out

Loading for my little MMJ 15 gr of powder takes around 7 seconds for it to spit out. Way faster than I can put a projectile in.

Ryan

Yep do not trust digi scales unless they are designed to be trickled into(like auto chargers). Nearly came to grief in my easy days with an MTM and luckily I looked at it and thought " that case looks pretty full".

[curan]

Honestly Raven, if you get the Lee kit, the money you save will let you get one of these......

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17161&p=208558&hili ... +6#p208558

Just a thought.

.... and if you PM me your email address, I will send a scanned copy of an old (1960s?) reloading handbook. You can have a read and take a trip down memory lane at the same time!

[The Raven]

With scales its worth mentioning two things accuracy and sensitivity. See as the lyman/chargemaster etc are designed to pour the powder to the scales they scales are designed to be sensitive enough to accurately weigh while it is pouring. Other normal electric scales you might trickle in they will say the weight you want. Take them off the scale and put back on and it will be over usually as it is not sensitive enough to accurately display the weight while pouring but it will be accurate as in if calibrated etc.

I found this out with some little MTM scales. Good for checking projectiles and cases not for trickling cases.

Another is whether a scale is definitely accurate what I mean is you work up a load eg 40 gr, it might read 39.8 on my scales or 40.2 as long as yours is consistent it will mean charges are the same for every load if that makes sense. I know my loads I think have improved since using my lymen gen5 and weigh easier (pun intended ) when working up loads that are .2 or .3 different for 10 or more loads. I do have a balance beam and still use at times but with a little 12v sealed lead acid battery and a wiring harness I can take the lyman shooting with me Oh and works in a black out

Loading for my little MMJ 15 gr of powder takes around 7 seconds for it to spit out. Way faster than I can put a projectile in.

Ryan

Yep do not trust digi scales unless they are designed to be trickled into(like auto chargers). Nearly came to grief in my easy days with an MTM and luckily I looked at it and thought " that case looks pretty full".

That's great info. Would hate to get it wrong.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Raven]

Honestly Raven, if you get the Lee kit, the money you save will let you get one of these......

http://ausvarmint.com/forum/vie ... +6#p208558

Just a thought.

.... and if you PM me your email address, I will send a scanned copy of an old (1960s?) reloading handbook. You can have a read and take a trip down memory lane at the same time!

Ugh! I can't get PM to work on Tapatalk despite having done it before. I'll pm you when I'm back at Raven's Nest.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[curan]

No worries mate, I'll send it when I get the address.