Okay, you want to start a new hobby and you have wisely chosen reloading. Great choice, but where do you begin? I know exactly how you feel. When I wanted to learn over 20 years ago, I did not know where to turn and this thing called the Internet was not that good. There was no such thing as Google—just these things called books.
Lee Precision 50th Anniversary Kit
I purchased a bring-back SKS and was trying to find this odd round called the 7.62×39. I know, you cannot go to any good sporting goods site or store without tripping over that cartridge today as it is the AK-47 caliber. However, in the mid to late 1980s, it was very hard to come by. I got one book made a few purchases, never looked back. The purchase was a Lee Starter Kit. The book, Modern Reloading by Richard Lee; sits at my desk everyday.
While this is not an article about reloading, you can get all you need in these two items to get you going. You will need to get the correct dies and the actual components for the cartridges you are reloading.
Lee has always been the best choice for the novice reloader. You will save numerous hours in searching for the best starter tools, which all happen to be in this one box. Furthermore, your investment is not as steep as if you were to purchases these items separately.
Christmas, birthday, or for the gun-nut in your life, you can’t go wrong if they have ever expressed an interest in reloading.
On my shelf everyday at work
I started with the little Lee “C” press then moved on to the Lee auto indexing turret press. As I moved up in caliber size I felt a need to purchase the Lyman turret press, which I use regularly today. Then a need for volume reloading arose and I purchased the Dillon 550 BL progressive reloading machine. But it was the Lee products that let me explore the hobby for a very reasonable price. My two Lee presses have moved on to two other people…one a newbie and the other moving up from a single stage press. Lee presses are sufficient for any level of reloader but the hobby is like boating…you always want something bigger, faster, more expensive.
Comment by rgustashaw — November 9, 2012 @ 2:23 pm
10-4 on the boating man, I have 4 outside, and wish I had a big Lund Barron. It was around ’83 or so for me, and I remember, your’e right, there was no cell phone like I’m bangin’ this out on, Hell I couldn’t even type. A big thick Speer manual, and a thick worn old Lyman that was my Dad’s years ago were my companions in my gun room, along with a new RCBS RockChucker press, and some assorted older non-matching components. I still have all that stuff, but it’s put away, and I don’t hunt anymore, so my guns keep a thick coating of dust now. I did however just buy an AK-47 recently, but don’t expect to re-load for it because it’s an auto-loader, and a defense weapon. Still, memories are priceless, and I spent many hours, loading for bolt action Deer and Varmint rifles that I still have. I had huge stacks of Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, and Sports Afield that were my Dad’s, all the way back to 1943. He never threw anything away. Then, with my constant subsciptions to Guns & Ammo, Shooting Times, from the mid ’70s, I not only had timeless article with photos right there in my gun room, I also had many,many recipes for loads submitted by many of todays Elders, and those legends who’ve passed on. Makes for a well rounded hunter/gun enthusiest, and with all that reading,helps to tie it all together.maybe the internet’s not so bad, I guess I could pull that suff out, buy some fresh primers and powder, and roll my own for some of my bolt guns. I don’t know, after this election, perhaps I should do it, plus stock pile some 7.62 X 39 ammo too. It can be very rewarding, just pace yourself, don’t try to go too fast, and best to be alone, un-disturbed while loading. It’s all about uniformity, and being comprehensive and safety consious.
Comment by Bill from Boomhower, Texas — November 9, 2012 @ 5:01 pm
I thought you couldn’t reload 7.62×39, due to the fact that it was steel-cased. What am I missing?
Comment by Scott Howard Phillips — November 9, 2012 @ 5:57 pm
I know a few people that reload that are having trouble getting the components to reload with. I also know a small company that is having trouble getting components for his product. Just a word of caution to check into getting the supplies before you begin you new found ‘hobby’.
Comment by Roger — November 9, 2012 @ 7:25 pm
No problem finding powder, bullets and most brass but primers can be scarce, especially small pistol and small rifle. I stock up by buying four or five boxes of various sizes and brands when I’m at a gun show or find them in stock at the gun store. I have multiple 1000 count boxes in different sizes stocked up. You can’t be too picky either. I used to buy only CCI but now I’ll buy Winchester and Federal. There have been posts on the internet (Google it) praising Wolf primers. I haven’t tried them though.
Just a note, since 2008, the price of reloading components has increased in the Western Pennsylvania area by 30 to 50%. But then so has loaded ammo.
Comment by rgustashaw — November 9, 2012 @ 8:05 pm
Personally, I don’t know, and you may be right Scott. Something looks very dirty gray about the shells of the two different brands of ammo I’ve bought so far for my AK-47 I just bought a couple of months back. I haven’t even fired it yet. I won’t try to deal with handloading for an auto-loader, I have several nice bolt guns, and the dies already for them, I just don’t do anything with them anymore, and I’m trying to rationalize here. But the AKs not one of them, I got it primarily for defense, and you do NOT want to shoot someone with any kind of handload. I live two miles from the Boomhower Cabelas, and 8 miles from the Boomhower Cheaper Than Dirt. I don’t know about Cheaper Than Dirt, but at Cabelas, I give $23.22 for 5 boxes of 20. So when the monthly plow-up check comes, I can get another hundred rounds, and maybe 2 or 3 five round boxes of slugs for my Savage 350(think Ithica 37) without spending more than about $35 bucks.
Comment by Bill from Boomhower, Texas — November 9, 2012 @ 9:20 pm
Sorry guys, I know this thread is about reloading, maybe I’ll take the air hose and clean off a place to clamp down the press. I guess I could spurge on a lb of fresh powder and a hundred primers while I’m there, huh?
Comment by Bill from Boomhower, Texas — November 9, 2012 @ 9:24 pm