First time...Reloading

[JimmyAGR 54]

Okay,

 

So I'm going to be purchasing some reloading equipment from Vinny of Hunting World. I've never tried reloading before, but ammo is so expensive! So I am going to get a Dillon 650, etc. Vinny made me a great list, of needs and wants. So my question is I plan on reloading 5.56 (55gr and Sierra 77gr) and .308 Sierra 175 gr. What type of powder and primers do you recommend? I have the Lyman's reloading book coming for Father's Day (a present) so I am looking for info from anyone who loads similar rounds.

 

Thanks,

[Shane45 807]

Unless you are a really high volume reloader and experienced at that, which I take it your not "First time...Reloading" I respectfully suggest you step down to the 550B. If down the road you find you really need the 650, you can get probably about 90% of your money back out of the 550. The 550 is easier to learn on and a little less complicated. Its a little easier to stop in the middle of a process and double check yourself and trust me volume is not an issue. I can easily crank out about 350 45ACP reloading very liesurly in about 1 hour.

 

Shane

[JimmyAGR 54]

Hi Shane,

 

I was going with what Vinny recommended. What do you see as a draw back on starting with the 650 besides being a little more complicated? You are correct that I am a newbie, but I am also mechanically inclined. I hate buying twice and would rather cry once but again I am looking for advise, so if there is a major reason not to go with the 650 I definitely appreciate the suggestions (not to mention the cash savings) . I have watched a ton of videos on youtube, but have no hands on experience. Thank you for your help.

[Sigman 41]

I suggest reading a couple of books and watching some reloading video's on you tube before you start. Scan the reloading forums also for tips. Rifle cartridges are a little more involved than pistol cartridges. Case length is more critical in rifle than pistol. I don't trim my pistol brass. You also need to lube the cases for rifle to prevent them from sticking in the die when sizing. I don't need to lube the pistol brass.

 

Sizing is also different in rifle depending on if you're loading for bolt action or semi-automatic. I use full length sizing when loading for the AR. If I was loading bolt action, I would full length size the first time, then neck size there after since the case will form to your chamber.

 

I've been using Hogdon H335 with CCI small rifle primers for .223. H335 meters excellent in my RCBS powder measure. H335 seems to be a common powder for .223.

 

Be safe!

[matt6669 71]

Get the 650 and don't look back.

 

Read a lot of reloading books until you don't think you can read another sentence.

 

Then start picking the experts brains and you'll do fine.

 

Depending where you live, I'm sure someone off of the board wouldn't mind walking you through the process as well.

 

M

[Shane45 807]

Pay particuler attention to the comments about correcting errors and caliber changes.

 

 

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html#550650

 

 

 

ps. I would say that I am extremely mechanically inclined. I went 550, TWICE. Money wasnt the issue. Mechanics wasnt the issue. Experience wasnt the issue. My volumes arent over 5k a month on 1 or 2 calibers so the 650 holds no advantage, only disadvantages.

[BullzeyeNJ 104]

I started on a Dillon 650 from knowing nothing about reloading and everything went very smoothly. Brian Enos has a video about reloading specifically on the 650 and that helped lessen the learning curve a great deal. I highly recommend it. My advice about reloading on a progressive is "measure twice and cut once". Remember you are mass producing ammo on a progressive press so if your OAL and/or powder measure is off at the start of your session you will have cloned your problem 1000 times before you realize it at the gun range.

 

I like Vita Vhouri powder the best for handgun. Some people complain that its too pricey and sometimes hard to it. To me its worth it. It runs really clean in my guns and shoots super nice. I also like Winchester and Hogdgen powders too.

 

Okay,

 

So I'm going to be purchasing some reloading equipment from Vinny of Hunting World. I've never tried reloading before, but ammo is so expensive! So I am going to get a Dillon 650, etc. Vinny made me a great list, of needs and wants. So my question is I plan on reloading 5.56 (55gr and Sierra 77gr) and .308 Sierra 175 gr. What type of powder and primers do you recommend? I have the Lyman's reloading book coming for Father's Day (a present) so I am looking for info from anyone who loads similar rounds.

 

Thanks,

[Old School 611]

Pay particuler attention to the comments about correcting errors and caliber changes.

 

 

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html#550650

 

 

 

ps. I would say that I am extremely mechanically inclined. I went 550, TWICE. Money wasnt the issue. Mechanics wasnt the issue. Experience wasnt the issue. My volumes arent over 5k a month on 1 or 2 calibers so the 650 holds no advantage, only disadvantages.

 

 

Shane= I like the 550 because it is a Kind of semi auto progressive machine. When developing loads or culling bad rounds I can back it up or skip stages. Manual handling cases, bullets and looking in the cases as they pass helps me obtain an additional level of QC. But then I'm OCD. :geek:

[Shane45 807]

Exactly the same reasons I bought a 550 again instead of a 650.

[zeenon 0]

My crystal ball says your also thinking about a tumbler and the SS media

 

Z

[JimmyAGR 54]

Pay particuler attention to the comments about correcting errors and caliber changes.

 

 

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html#550650

 

 

 

ps. I would say that I am extremely mechanically inclined. I went 550, TWICE. Money wasnt the issue. Mechanics wasnt the issue. Experience wasnt the issue. My volumes arent over 5k a month on 1 or 2 calibers so the 650 holds no advantage, only disadvantages.

 

 

Shane, thanks for the link. Very enlightening. I think I will go for the 550 first. I have seen videos of the 550 and looks simple enough and I don't plan on loading more than several hundred rounds per month. Also cash saved could start pistol calibers sooner. I will eventually reload all 5 calibers I currently own, and whatever I buy in the future.

[JimmyAGR 54]

My crystal ball says your also thinking about a tumbler and the SS media

 

Z

 

Can the SS media be used in a dry tumbler? The tumbler from Dillon is a dry one. I read your post on the SS media and looked great, but not sure if it will work on a dry media tumbler.

[Old School 611]

Pay particuler attention to the comments about correcting errors and caliber changes.

 

 

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html#550650

 

 

 

ps. I would say that I am extremely mechanically inclined. I went 550, TWICE. Money wasnt the issue. Mechanics wasnt the issue. Experience wasnt the issue. My volumes arent over 5k a month on 1 or 2 calibers so the 650 holds no advantage, only disadvantages.

 

 

Shane, thanks for the link. Very enlightening. I think I will go for the 550 first. I have seen videos of the 550 and looks simple enough and I don't plan on loading more than several hundred rounds per month. Also cash saved could start pistol calibers sooner. I will eventually reload all 5 calibers I currently own, and whatever I buy in the future.

 

 

Smart move!

[Old School 611]

My crystal ball says your also thinking about a tumbler and the SS media

 

Z

 

Can the SS media be used in a dry tumbler? The tumbler from Dillon is a dry one. I read your post on the SS media and looked great, but not sure if it will work on a dry media tumbler.

 

 

Go Old School!!! Corn cob media and a little dope and 1/2 a dryer sheet.

[PeteF 1,044]

This is a good sight that has reviews and tips for many different presses. I found the videos to be really helpful.

http://ultimatereloader.com/

 

The lyman is good. ABC's of reloading is another good guide. It goes into more of the whys than hows.

 

Hodgdon, Winchester and IMR have a combined website for load data

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

 

Alliant

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

 

This is a link to a database that contains many different loads

http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/

 

Things you will need:

A good press (your choice I have a hornady lnl but have heard good things about the dillons)

A good scale that measures in grains.

A cheap tumbler to get started (Harbor Freight sells one for ~50 bucks) with media I use

Walnut shells (Lizard Bedding from pet smart)

A caliper for measuring length

A case trimmer to trim the brass

Inertial bullet puller

Primer flip tray

 

Most other things you can get as you need them

 

Take your time, double check (from different sources) your load data, be safe and have some fun

[JimmyAGR 54]

This is a good sight that has reviews and tips for many different presses. I found the videos to be really helpful.

http://ultimatereloader.com/

 

The lyman is good. ABC's of reloading is another good guide. It goes into more of the whys than hows.

 

Hodgdon, Winchester and IMR have a combined website for load data

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

 

Alliant

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

 

This is a link to a database that contains many different loads

http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/

 

Things you will need:

A good press (your choice I have a hornady lnl but have heard good things about the dillons)

A good scale that measures in grains.

A cheap tumbler to get started (Harbor Freight sells one for ~50 bucks) with media I use

Walnut shells (Lizard Bedding from pet smart)

A caliper for measuring length

A case trimmer to trim the brass

Inertial bullet puller

Primer flip tray

 

Most other things you can get as you need them

 

Take your time, double check (from different sources) your load data, be safe and have some fun

 

 

Pete thanks for the links. So much to learn, sooo little time.

I'm going to be extremely safe, keep it to just a couple of loads, mostly military copies (mk262, m118) to begin with.