Advice on what *not* to do when just starting to reload?

[VERT]

Other posters have suggesting starting with a single-stage setup, do you agree?

A good single stage press is perfect for loading precision rifle. If that is all you want to do with the press and your reloading journey then that is a great option.

A Dillon 550 is the most flexible and can be used as a single stage, turret or even progressive press. I have one and use it like a turret press for .308 (load a single cartridge at a time). I can also use it as a progressive to load large quantities of 9mm, .223 or .45 ACP.

 

[Michigan Slim]

A good single stage press is perfect for loading precision rifle. If that is all you want to do with the press and your reloading journey then that is a great option.

A Dillon 550 is the most flexible and can be used as a single stage, turret or even progressive press. I have one and use it like a turret press for .308 (load a single cartridge at a time). I can also use it as a progressive to load large quantities of 9mm, .223 or .45 ACP.

This is exactly what I do. The 550 is an extremely versatile press. I load from .32 S&W to .45-70 on mine. 27 calibers total.
I just saw a 550 sell for 350.00 bucks. The expense is changing cartridges.

 

[Creedmoor]

Yes to all, unless you have something special in a heavy slow bullet that’s difficult to find. Else save time effort and cleanup by purchasing poly coated or plated or jacketed bullets.
For example I cast my own 12 gauge slugs, and .58 caliber musket balls because you can’t find em.
Take from a shooter that’s been reloading for over 40 years, you asked for do not do suggestions.
Here’s a few tid bits that are aligned with some others on here.
You can’t save much if any “right now” reloading factory spec 9mm or shotgun gauges 12/20. All others you can save real money ( if you shoot a lot). I shoot uspsa and do not load 9mm to factory specs, I also load .40 to a longer than normal oal (over all length) for reliability in a 2011 handgun. So see that’s why others asked “what do YOU want from reloading”.
If it’s to save money you can do that but you had better shoot a lot, which is a good thing! Ymmv

I shoot all of those, my own cast and Hi-tec coated, cast Hi-Tek coated from Summit City " Great guy to deal with" and jacketed from Rocky Mountian Reloading.
Casting and Hi-tec coating your own is pretty simple process. You can save loads of money, don't let the nay sayers turn you off to doing it.
Lead can be easily gotten from mining the shooting club you belong to, buying off here and marketplace and snoop around for a small scrap yard and buy direct from them.
I just bought 535 lbs of wheel weights for a cool $52.00 this morning. Picture to follow after lunch and Steve Wilkos is over.
Say you buy 1,000 124 grain jacketed bullets for $110.00 shipped to you from Rocky Mountian, I can spend a few hours one evening casting them and the next night coating and sizing them. it might cost me $12.00 to $20.00 to do that. I cast in the winter when its dark and gloomy outside.
So to cast and load a 1,000 rds cost is around
9mm brass picked up at the range for free, if you dont have any let people know here.
primers on todays pricing $50.00
powder on todays pricing say $15.00 I'm being generous.
bullet lube or coatings, say $5.00 I'm being really generous.

One cant buy custom loaded 9mm ammo made to what you want for $70.00 a thousand.
Oh and I'm not much of a Lee Reloading fan, nothing wrong with it, its just not for me.
But Richard makes some great rifle crimping dies and has written two great reloading books, I suggest along with the Lyman mentioned above you get Richard Lees Vol 2 book.
Money well spent.

 

[Creedmoor]

I have three 650's with case feeders that I didnt pay over $650.00 each and two came with a few conversions. I bought my eight station for $1,200 dollars from a member here.

OP look at buying a new or used Dillon 550 machine, it can be used as a single stage when one is starting out and then roll into a great semi progressive machine.

Think about taking a reloading class if one can be found reasonably local.
Maybe if a few guys are interested Andy can be talked into giving a class for you guys. @Aszerigan

On another bench I still have the Dillon 450 machine I bought around 1982, a 550 and a few single stages.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

Do not buy a Lee press
Do not buy a non progressive press
Do not buy bullet casting components
Do not buy ginex small rifle primers
Do not use a barrel/chamber of a gun for a cartridge gauge ( added due to bad advice on here)

My Lee is going on 15 years. Not one problem……..just saying

 

[armalitesheepdog]

I actually saw primers on the shelf at Cabela’s along with powder today. That’s something I haven’t seen in years

 

[racegunz]

I shoot all of those, my own cast and Hi-tec coated, cast Hi-Tek coated from Summit City " Great guy to deal with" and jacketed from Rocky Mountian Reloading.
Casting and Hi-tec coating your own is pretty simple process. You can save loads of money, don't let the nay sayers turn you off to doing it.
Lead can be easily gotten from mining the shooting club you belong to, buying off here and marketplace and snoop around for a small scrap yard and buy direct from them.
I just bought 535 lbs of wheel weights for a cool $52.00 this morning. Picture to follow after lunch and Steve Wilkos is over.
Say you buy 1,000 124 grain jacketed bullets for $110.00 shipped to you from Rocky Mountian, I can spend a few hours one evening casting them and the next night coating and sizing them. it might cost me $12.00 to $20.00 to do that. I cast in the winter when its dark and gloomy outside.
So to cast and load a 1,000 rds cost is around
9mm brass picked up at the range for free, if you dont have any let people know here.
primers on todays pricing $50.00
powder on todays pricing say $15.00 I'm being generous.
bullet lube or coatings, say $5.00 I'm being really generous.

One cant buy custom loaded 9mm ammo made to what you want for $70.00 a thousand.
Oh and I'm not much of a Lee Reloading fan, nothing wrong with it, its just not for me.
But Richard makes some great rifle crimping dies and has written two great reloading books, I suggest along with the Lyman mentioned above you get Richard Lees Vol 2 book.
Money well spent.

You got a heck of a deal for that lead!!!

 

[Michigan Slim]

You got a heck of a deal for that lead!!!

I've paid for lead one time as part of a larger deal. I'm lucky in that I know plumbers, roofers, utility folks (hey, that's me!) and others. Once the word went out I was flooded with lead.
I enjoy casting boolits. I've been known to say CHA CHING! when they fall from the mold.

 

[Creedmoor]

I've paid for lead one time as part of a larger deal. I'm lucky in that I know plumbers, roofers, utility folks (hey, that's me!) and others. Once the word went out I was flooded with lead.
I enjoy casting boolits. I've been known to say CHA CHING! when they fall from the mold.

My scrap guy is good to me, I have scrap I just backup and dump it off and drive away and give his wife a wave on the way out.
He knows what I use and puts it off to the side for me.

 

[Michigan Slim]

My scrap guy is good to me, I have scrap I just backup and dump it off and drive away and give his wife a wave on the way out.
He knows what I use and puts it off to the side for me.

That's a good deal for both.

 

[Creedmoor]

That's a good deal for both.

This it today's haul. I miss my personal sorting slaves more each year.

 

[kennedy759]

don`t have two different powders on your bench at the same time, easy to mix by accident. also nothing wrong with lee presses and dies. I also like genix primers

 

[Hawkeye7br]

Another fan here of starting with a single stage, especially if you want to experiment with small batches of reloads of 20 or fewer. You can feel the primer seat, check it for flush, change the bullet seating depth, etc with so much ease.

Couple things you should have...a bullet puller to disassemble loads that aren't working, and a bullet comparator to maintain consistent bullet seating depth based on ogive instead of overall length. All my match ammo is measured with the comparator and calipers.

 

[42253]

Other posters have suggesting starting with a single-stage setup, do you agree?

I started on a progressive press. I just loaded one at a time at first. As I worked the bugs out, I started running 2,3,4,5 and so on. I do have a single stage that I run big rifle bullets on.

 

[VinceU1]

Keep all your primers in the flats the were shipped in.

 

[Nugget]

I miss my personal sorting slaves more each year.

I believe they prefer to be called "enslaved people". The term "slave" is derogatory.

 

[Creedmoor]

I believe they prefer to be called "enslaved people". The term "slave" is derogatory.

I been told now, that The Contractual Obligation Time, has passed.

 

[racegunz]

I’m sure the Op has figured out that there is no real consensus.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I have known several people in the same situation as you. I brought them to the house to see just what is involved. When they see how easy (handgun) it is, or more involved (rifle), they all got into the reloading game soon after. You just need to see the process for yourself. Wish you were closer.

 

[Creedmoor]

I have known several people in the same situation as you. I brought them to the house to see just what is involved. When they see how easy (handgun) it is, or more involved (rifle), they all got into the reloading game soon after. You just need to see the process for yourself. Wish you were closer.

That's why I wondered if Andy was going to chime in, he used to do classes years back.
I'm guessing he's to busy nowadays.