Post by: deweyc on September 15, 2018, 09:11:23 PM
Post by: Oh Mah on September 15, 2018, 09:20:09 PM
LOOK ON HERE AND CRAIGSLIST TO FIND USED RELOADING GEAR. :tup:
Post by: wadu1 on September 15, 2018, 10:46:34 PM
Always worth getting into a healthy habit. :tup: The equipment and supplies will add up quick for reloading in the beginning but once you have the basics over time you will be happy you load your own.Most people i know with a .308 Norma do reload,I'm surprised a little your grandfather didn't.There will be a day when buying store bought ammo will get very difficult.:yeah:
LOOK ON HERE AND CRAIGSLIST TO FIND USED RELOADING GEAR. :tup:
Oh Mah is right on, start with used gear and a good manual. That's how I started first with 30-06 and now .223, 6.5X55, .308, 45ACP. 9MM, 45LC, 9.3X62 and 45-70, I also load shot shells from .410 to 10GA. :twocents:
Post by: jasnt on September 16, 2018, 06:49:04 AM
This isn’t mine and I haven’t finished editing it to my preference but it will give you an idea
I offer my canned response regarding what a new reloader needs to get started (with my recommendations):
First, read lots of books and manuals:
The ABCs of Reloading
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1440213968
The Beginner's Guide to Reloading Ammunition
http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Reloading-Ammunition-Apartment/dp/148207379X
Lyman 50th Edition Reloading Manual
http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-50th-Edition-Reloading-Manual/dp/B01N76GD2F
Lee Precision - Modern Reloading
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Modern-Reloading-Format/dp/B000N8OKAU
And watch videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ammosmith/videos?flow=grid&view=0&sort=da
t=58s
And conduct other research:
http://rcbs.com/Resources/Introduction-to-Handloading/Step-by-Step-Reloading.aspx
http://ultimatereloader.com/
Equipment: Start out with a single-stage press. A single-stage press will force you to focus on each step. You should master each step before you attempt to combine them into a single-pull of the lever. Further, turret and progressive presses add complexity and points of failure that single-stage presses don’t have. You will always have a use for a single-stage press on your reloading bench, and you may find that you never need anything more than a single-stage, so get a good one (I loaded everything on a single-stage for 30 years before adding a progressive).
The Bare Minimum:
□ Books & manuals (You can never have too many books and manuals)
□ Reloading press* (Single-stage - RCBS Rock Chucker)
□ Scale* (Balance beam scales; pref. Ohaus, RCBS, Lee, etc.)
□ Priming tool* (Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Priming Tool)
□ Case lube* (Imperial Sizing Die Wax)
□ Funnel*
□ Calipers ($10 eBay Stainless .001")
□ Shell holders (Lee Universal Shell Holder set)
□ Dies (for the specific cartridges you will be loading)
Near Essentials:
□ Bullet puller (Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Impact Bullet Puller)
□ Primer crimp remover (Dillon Super Swage 600)
□ Case trimmer (Lee Deluxe Quick Trim)
□ Chamfer/deburring tool*
□ Case headspace gauge (L.E. Wilson; for each cartridge you will be reloading)
□ If loading .223/308 for AR platforms: Small base sizing die(s).
Note: If you need them, you need them; regardless, highly recommended, particularly if reloading for semi-autos.
Very Nice to Have:
□ Powder measure*
□ Loading block*
□ Plastic cases for your loaded rounds
Other stuff to make your job easier:
□ Hornady Lock-n-Load bushings (adaptable to many presses)
□ Digital powder measure (RCBS Chargemaster; 1500 or Lite)
□ Brass tumbler (Rotary/wet: Cheap - Harbor Freight Dual Drum; Best - Extreme Rebel 17. Once you go wet, you never go back)
* Included with most starter kits (RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Kit)
Note: The RCBS Rock Chucker is probably the best-selling single-stage press ever made. The other tools in the kit are also top quality and, no matter how far you “advance” in the reloading game, you will always be able to use every component in the kit and they will outlive you. It is a little more expensive than some of the other kits but remember that this is a lifetime investment; it is not money wasted but a solid foundation to build on. RCBS customer service is as good as any.
Things you do NOT need first rattle out of the box:
A Dillon Super 1050 or XL650 progressive press (yes, they really have been recommended as a first press) no matter how hard the blue fanboys try to convince you that your life will be miserable and wasted, and your crappy reloads will kill you if you settle for any other inferior "junk".
A Forster Co-Ax single-stage press. The Co-Ax is a great press (I have one) but it has some frustrating limitations that the Rock Chucker doesn’t. Converted to use the Hornady LNL bushings, the Rock Chucker can do everything the Co-Ax can do for less money, and then some.
Post by: yorketransport on September 16, 2018, 09:08:28 AM
308 Norma ammo is on sale at a couple places online right now for a decent price considering the quality of the ammo.
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/25201
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/954452/norma-usa-american-ph-ammunition-308-norma-magnum-180-grain-oryx-protected-point-box-of-20
Grab 3 boxes of the Norma ammo and you’d be good to go this hunting season. Sell the brass when you’re done and the cost per round with be around $1.50-1.75.
Post by: deweyc on September 16, 2018, 08:09:49 PM
Post by: kselkhunter on September 16, 2018, 08:21:11 PM
My reloading setup cost less then $100 for the basic gear: press, trimmer, primer tool, scale, etc. I bought my dies new. It's far cheaper to load my own ammo for some calibers that cost $3/round for factory ammo. So, folks have good advice above....but if you're willing to work with used gear and reloading for a hard to find/expensive factory caliber, it can indeed be less expensive.
I can reload my 35 Whelen for far far cheaper than factory ammo now that I have my used cheap setup. And I reload for my other frequently shot calibers. Some calibers I don't bother. For example, I can get 30-30 ammo from BiMart on sales for dirt cheap so it's not worth reloading that caliber. Etc....