Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: nirvana on September 24, 2008, 04:59:24 PM
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I was thinking about getting into reloading since the prices of ammunition are going up. Probably .223 Rem. up to .45 ACP. The local place up here only has a DCPS starter kit for $339.99. I was looking at the other thread on reloading from a few months ago, didn't know if the Big Boss II was still recommended or if there was a better one that had come out.
Any advice?
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I never reloaded rifle/pistol ammunition but I did reload shotgun shells. I would highly recommend your first purchase to be a good book on reloading. Since it has been so long since I've done it, I'll defer to others for recommendations on a book(s).
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You can go budget with an RCBS Partner kit, or step up to the RCBS Rockchucker or Rockchucker Supreme kit. Any of those is VERY good for a beginner, and will stand you in good stead for a long time. I bought a Partner kit over 20 years ago and it all still works fine. I've added a few accessories, and I load 30-06, 30-30, 357, 44 Special, 44 Magnum, 45 Colt, 45 ACP, and 300 Winchester Magnum. I'm adding 270 Winchester soon. The Rockchucker stuff is bigger, and offers more leverage as well. Being 6'2" tall and over 220#, the Partner provides plenty of leverage for me. Smaller people may want a Rockchucker press. I may get a Rockchucker myself, if I get a good deal. I now have a nice powder measure as well to speed up the process, though I still weigh EVERY charge. I also have a vibratory case tumbler.
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I used a Lee turret press. All my other stuff (scale, powder trickler, case trimmer, etc) was RCBS.
No problems worked well.
A tip. If you're going to be using your own brass over and over, get carbide dies. It saves a couple steps in the process and is easier on your cases. Carbide dies only resize the neck of the case so if you're going to be using cases fired by others get normal dies for full length resizing.
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Yeah I like RCBS. They are a class company, back up their products, and are always a phone call away for help. They will replace problem stuff no questions asked.
But everything depends on what kind of reloading you do. I have a single stage reloader and tho I have the progressive upgrade too I almost never load quantity and leave it single stage. I do precise hand crafting of individual loads for maximum repeatable accuracy. If you want to go the progressive maximum output route Ive heard many speak well of Dillon progressives. But progressive will costya.
I dont think Id recomend a single stage for 5.56mm & .45 ACP. On the other hand buying a single stage first is the best way to start with reloading. RCBS puts out a good book for beginners. Heres their webpage. http://www.rcbs.com/general/downloads.aspx#catalog
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What Virgil said. I have been using the same RCBS setup for more then 40 years. Reloading is essential these days.
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You can go budget with an RCBS Partner kit, or step up to the RCBS Rockchucker or Rockchucker Supreme kit. Any of those is VERY good for a beginner, and will stand you in good stead for a long time. I bought a Partner kit over 20 years ago and it all still works fine. I've added a few accessories, and I load 30-06, 30-30, 357, 44 Special, 44 Magnum, 45 Colt, 45 ACP, and 300 Winchester Magnum. I'm adding 270 Winchester soon. The Rockchucker stuff is bigger, and offers more leverage as well. Being 6'2" tall and over 220#, the Partner provides plenty of leverage for me. Smaller people may want a Rockchucker press. I may get a Rockchucker myself, if I get a good deal. I now have a nice powder measure as well to speed up the process, though I still weigh EVERY charge. I also have a vibratory case tumbler.
Dead on, Capt. Hilts. I started with a Lee Loader, then Rockchuck Jr., and finally a Rockchucker. I too weigh rifle charges, but normally use a Redding measure for handgun cartridges. I also cast my handgun bullets and some rifle loads. Took my first deer with a cast 150 gr. RCBS Keith style SWC over 15.0 grains of Hercules (now Alliant) 2400 powder. One shot.
This load is hotter than the newer loading manuals reccommend (publishers have gotten wussified). :devil
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The newer RCBS presses aren't made with the same quality as the old ones. A lot of people have complained about the Rock Chucker Supreme being a little loose and pitching spent primers all over the floor. The latter being a large source of complaints. Several reviews on MidwayUSA are from folks who decided to replace their old RCBS press with a new one, only to be disappointed. Others have stated that while RCBS kits come with a lot of the items you need, they aren't of the best quality.
For $330 you could easily buy a Hornaday Lock-n-Load press kit. The dies screw into a bushing that simply clips into the press. Meaning you don't have to worry about the die not being set exactly the way you want it. With other presses you have to screw the dies in and out of the press head. If anything, they save time and Hornaday is a quality company.
Redding is another high-quality company putting out both kits and individual presses, though the price is a tic higher. Personally, I'd get a Redding press (either T-7 or Big Boss II) simply because of the manufacturing quality. That, and they've got presses that will catch 99% of spent primers without chucking them across the room.
www.midwayusa.com <-- check out their section of reloading press kits and be sure to read the reviews. Lyman, Forster, and Lee also make reloading equipment, but as I said, read the reviews before making a choice. Cabela's has a nice little selection of reloading kits, too, and the prices aren't too far off Midway's. Plus you don't get double-dipped for shipping if an item is out of stock.
As far as books, ABC's of Reloading (ISBN: 0873498518) is probably the best choice. $22 gets you the basics of how, when, where, and what reloading is all about. Bench setup, organization, powder brands/types, primers, pressure signs, all the good stuff you need. The back half of the book is littered with different articles about handloading for this or that sport, hunting, and reloading in general.
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Flakbait [Delta6]
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Thanks guys, birthday is coming up and I've been looking at them for a while. My friend shoots a 45 long colt and it's $50 a box, figure I can drop that price down a fairly large amount and make some money too. 50 cents a pop is getting pricey for the Bushmaster too, shooting as much as I do. Choices are really limited on stuff on the island, funny thing they have a ton of choice for powder, bullets, and primers but all the other equipment like dies is pretty much RCBS.
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This is the direction I was going to go for my .223 and 9mm needs...
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044122216337a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=18&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&Ntk=Products&QueryText=lee&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1 (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044122216337a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=18&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&Ntk=Products&QueryText=lee&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1)
Its got everything except dies and the normal case prep stuff. I'll probably pick my kit up in October. I've got about 5000 rounds of 5.56 brass from this years shooting trips that need to be reloaded.
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I have a rockchucker that came in a kit like 30 years ago... it had a manual and a scale and a press and a powder measure and some other stuff that was sorta useful. Still use all those things.
Over the years I have spent thousands on reloading stuff including bullet casting stuff.
The RCBS stuff is great but I use a lot of lee stuff too.. it is cheap and clever.. I use a few of their primer seaters.. one in small pistol/rifle and one in large.. I can just grab one instead of changing em out..they are cheap enough.. I use their new "ziptrim" for case length.. it is the handiest and best working and fastest on the planet..
Anyones dies are good.. get carbide every time.
The new RCBS primer seater with universal shell holder and strip loading is fantastic.
A good case tumbler and media seperrater is something you need to buy right away... any brand will do. bullet pullers and neck trimmers and primer pocket swaggers and all the other stuff you will rarely use and just buy it as you need it.
The internet is great.. you can have a few manuals and get other loading info from the internet (with caution).
For the 45 colt you will do well to buy or make your own cast bullets.. about half or less the cost of jacketed and just as good or better for 99% of what you would use em for.
once you find a powder you like... buy it in 8 lb lots.
lazs
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$50 a box for .45 Colt? "Pleeeeeze dont say Long Colt". :pray
This must be for ultra premium hunting loads. Ammo cant be that expensive now can it?
Actually .45 Colt is one of the real Honeys of handgun cartridges to load for. Most of all if you own a S/A Ruger or a Freedom Arms, or even a new Taurus. Its the most versatile of the hunting/self defense wheelgun loads and you can whip up everything from light paper punchers to Elephant killers.
If you want a real lethal hunting Colt, and its a model built for it, then load 300 grn Speer JSPs with H110 powder. I dont have my notes handy but in a wheelgun like a Vaquero or a Bisley you can easily, and safely, launch that 300 grn JSP at 1,300 fps. Thats .44 mag performance with less chamber pressure and a larger diameter bullet. For self defense at home you can dial down a 260 grn silvertip to about 1050 fps. For an all around load a bullet like a 260 grn Hornady XTP would be fine.
Ive done a lot of testing on the .45 300 grn Speer JSP and it penetrates as good or better as a cast bullet and has good expansion on game.
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I have been useing this press for around 10 years and love it...
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25237/catid/1/Dillon_Square_Deal___039_B__039_
I purchased this press 2 years ago and have it set up for 45acp.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/23594/catid/1/RL_550B
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Yep, 45 colt. Although prices up here are a bit higher than down in the lower 48. And we can't get ammo shipped up here so you make do with the selection and prices here...or just don't shoot.
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Yep, 45 colt. Although prices up here are a bit higher than down in the lower 48. And we can't get ammo shipped up here so you make do with the selection and prices here...or just don't shoot.
Order online in bulk from MidwayUSA and they will ship via FedEx or UPS up there. Get several of your buddies together and split the costs and you'll come ahead for factory loaded ammo. They also sell all the reloading supplies you need as well in bulk. Just have the stuff shipped to the Coast Guard base work address and not your home address. Makes it easier.
How are you enjoying Alaska and the Guard by the way?
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From what I always heard no one would ship up here because it has to be on a plane or a barge and they couldn't or wouldn't ship that way. I'll look into it though, thanks.
Really enjoying Alaska, the island is really small now but there's fishing or hunting pretty much all the time. Enjoying the Coast Guard quite a bit, it was 8 months on Monday and I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. Fully qualified, just waiting for a flight physical date...that's been a long process. Hope you're enjoying the little bit more freedom out in the civilian sector again, Hornet.
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Ahhh not so much, wish I was still in. Private sector pay is pretty good, but I miss the sense of mission. I just don't feel that excitement anymore when I wake up and go to work. At least in the Guard you could count on every day being a little different, and some days being down right exciting. The most excitement I've had since I got out was when the fire alarm went off in the office a few months ago, and that was a false alarm. That and the traffic going to and from work since I have to take the interstate now.
I'm happy your enjoying it though. You came in at the right time with all the new equipment from Deepwater coming online. Take every opertunity you have for training and travel, and go see the world and do some good in it. I really envy your opertunities right now so make the most of it. It'll be over before you know it.
By the way you trying to go swing wing or fixed wing?