Reloading 101. [emoji50]

[Dunderi]

So, this is where we are at.

There's things we don't know what they are and some things we know we need on the shopping list for tomorrow (shell holder for 22-250, no 3?) And a priming tool...

Bearing in mind its a 90 min + journey on rare days where the stars align and shaun gets a day off and the LGS is also open, what if anything, should i also make sure we have?

Digital calipers also on the list, and new case lube...

[LoneRider]

powder
case length trimmer
nylon bore scrub brush
jag & patches
primer seat cleaning tool
cleaning rod

have you got a proj seating die ?
neck sizing die ?

[The Raven]

Primers - suitable for your caliber and/or brass
Powder
Projectiles
Priming tool - The "New" Lee auto-prime works fine for me. Get shell holders to suit the priming tool. For example, Lee uses different ones than the press (but often comes with the priming tool).
Case trimmer, debur tools etc.
Digital verniers - Note a 'cheap' $20ish set is probably the same as the expensive firearm branded models.
A means to clean the cases and primer pockets - Cheap ultrasonic unit (<$30) and the recipes found here work wonders. No need to scrape primer pockets etc.

You appear to have powder thrower, scales, funnel, dies, press.

Case lube
Shell holders to match calibre and press
Somewhere solid to mount the press. (Got bolts to suit?)
Decent lighting
RTFM and take your time to get it right.
Stop and ask if you're unsure of anything.

[justjeff]

Best lube you can get is Imperial sizing wax, NOTHING is better. With this you can make brass do just about anything, I should know, I can take a case which needs superglue to hold a primer in to new in one pass. Just a little too much pressure

Jeff

[Camel]

You dont need all the gidgets and gadgets to start off making very safe accurate ammo, things can add up quite quickly to a fair bit of cash, I started just buying the bits I needed as I needed them, scales are a must, good loading press and of course dies and shell holders.
A case trimming lathe while nice to have, is not needed for a while until your cases get a bit too long, I hate to say it as I dont like Lee stuff much, but they do make a cheap and very effective case trimmer, check them out. Case lube, yeah Jeff with his imperial sizing wax is the way to go, I have used a few different ones over the years, got a tin of this stuff and wont be changing any time, its brilliant.
Those little partner presses are handy bits of gear, but eventually you will need to get a good cast iron one, the cast alloy in them will stretch and wear.
Make a couple of lists, one consumables, projectiles, cases, powder, primers, and one for equipment that will last you years if not a life time.

the list of equipment can be as long as you want to make it, and of course can afford to pay for it.
Case cleaning can be done cheaply without worry about tumblers or sonic cleaners, get a bottle of Birchwood Casey Case Cleaning liquid, a 500mil bottle will last a few years when mixed properly.

Before you start make sure you read and understand the owners manuals for each different bits of equipment.

[mick_762]

You dont need all the gidgets and gadgets to start off making very safe accurate ammo,

Awwww crap, I am agreeing with the humpbacked one.

When I was pro shooting,
I had a press, dies and a beam scale.

That was it. I would use a tea spoon to "throw" the charge and trickle up.,
The press was secured to the kitchen table with G clamps.

I made a good living.




I earn "more" now, and bloody hell - the loading equipment list has grown. But the ammo I produce - isnt proportionately better.

[trevort]

rightio, that explains it.

I thought your reloading was already set up and Keachie was already rolling his own 223. you best buy a packet of ammo

The unidentified objects,
The black plastic tub looking thing attaches to your press and catches the spent primers.


The brush is to clean the inside of a case neck (if you don't have an ultrasonic or a tumbler to clean)


The little black space rocket is to chamfer the inside and outside of case necks .

Those bits of metal attach to the press so you can prime cases with the press. I don't know where mine are, only ever used a hand primer tool. I use rcbs but lee works and is cheaper.


so the 101 of reloading.

You need to get the case back to the way it was before you fired it. Thoes 22/250 cases have been totally prepped (as long as they chamber)


you need to get the right amount of powder into the case, which means you have to dispense it, measure it (volume using a thrower, weight using scales) and tip it into the case (thru a funnel)

Then you need to seat a pill.

Now we can complicate it

[trevort]

have you read a manual, are you comfortable with the process or do you need the guidebook posts

[LoneRider]

im still using a set of ebay pocket digital scales [<$20 that do grains] and a teaspoon for throwin powder
works for me.....
buy what you need and upgrade as needed...
i also use one of these now to trim for length
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8N0b8EsJ2M
alot easier than the lathe camel....
which is available for a new home..

[trevort]

im still using a set of ebay pocket digital scales [<$20 that do grains]

well known for their fine accuracy

[LoneRider]

im still using a set of ebay pocket digital scales [<$20 that do grains]

well known for their fine accuracy

if its repeatable it works....ive never had a problem with under or over loads trev...and ive used em since 2004

[Camel]

So, this is where we are at.

There's things we don't know what they are and some things we know we need on the shopping list for tomorrow (shell holder for 22-250, no 3?) And a priming tool...

Bearing in mind its a 90 min + journey on rare days where the stars align and shaun gets a day off and the LGS is also open, what if anything, should i also make sure we have?

Digital calipers also on the list, and new case lube...

In your first photo, you have a small bottle of case lube, left hand side in front of the box, use it, its not too bad, you also have a case lube pad on the right end of the scales, dribble some of the lube on in, rub it around with your fingers, then you can roll your cases on the pad to get them lubed, a little bit goes a long way, they dont need to be dripping with lube to work or you will end up with creases in your cases.
Shorn needs to adjust the die in his hand so that only the decaping pin(the pointy bit) is sticking out the bottom of the die, if you leave it as it is, you wont be able to get your case all the way into the die and you will bend or break the rod that holds the decapping pin and expander plug.

Photo 2 is your priming system for your press, the manual for the press will have detailed instructions as to fitting and using it, the small cup is used for small primers (223), the big one is for large primers (22-250)

3 is the spent primer catcher so primers dont end up all over the floor and you get little round cups cutting round bit out of the bottom of your feet.

4 is case neck cleaning brushes also can be used to apply powdered graphite to the inside of the necks before you run them into your sizing die, this gives dry lubricant for when you pull the case out and stops stretching necks or getting them stuck, also de-burring tool for case mouths, inside and out side, used after you trim your cases to length it gets rid of the burrs left after trimming also the inside puts a bevel inside the case mouth making it easier to seat projectiles.

Mount your press on a piece of 3/4 inch or 1 inch ply that is long enough so you can clamp it onto your work bench, it is a better more secure way of temporary set up than just clamping the press to the bench.

[Camel]

im still using a set of ebay pocket digital scales [<$20 that do grains] and a teaspoon for throwin powder
works for me.....
buy what you need and upgrade as needed...
i also use one of these now to trim for length
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8N0b8EsJ2M
alot easier than the lathe camel....
which is available for a new home..

Yep, those lee trimmers are good things, I dont have any, but wish they were available 30 odd years ago when I bought my RCBS lathe, would have saved me a fair few bucks and a hell of a lot of turning the handle and ending up with cramped hands.

Ill go out on a limb and say, it doesnt matter what the reading on your scales is compared to some one else's, as long as they are repeatable and what ever the load is works in your rifle, that is the main objective of all reloading, making ammo that is the same time after time. Scales after all are just another gauge

[The Raven]

im still using a set of ebay pocket digital scales [<$20 that do grains]

well known for their fine accuracy

Yep, I have one. It drifts all about the place...between the automatic shutdown just as you need it. About .2 to .3 grains drift.

[220]

I wouldn't even worry about a priming tool, those little RCBS partner presses are great to prime on and offer better feel than just about any press when it comes to seating primers.
If you have a set of verniers I wouldn't worry about upgrading to digital.

Powder, primers, projectiles shell holder and dies are about all you need to add to the partner press kits to start loading.