Good References for Equipment Recommendations

[HomeSlice]

I have always found the Lyman #49 reloading manual to offer good information on procedures,equipment,and load data. I believe they have a #50 manual out now but I haven't looked it over so I can't speak to the content in it.

+1 to the Lyman manual. It does a great job of introducing almost every step of the process(es). My recommendation would be to get this, read the first 80-100 pages. After that, ask more specific questions here regarding the process steps or the equipment used in each. This will give you a much stronger fundamental knowledge to begin building on.

Edit: typo

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

+1 to the Lyman manual. It does a great job of introducing almost every step of the process(es). My recommendation would be to get this, read the first 80-100 pages. After that, ask more specific questions here regarding the process steps or the equipment used in each. This will give you a much stronger fundamental knowledge to begin building on.

Edit: typo

Thanks to all for the tips. Just ordered the Lyman and Berger manuals. Will certainly ask more questions later after I have read far enough to know what questions to ask.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

reloading manuals will teach you the steps but it wont tell you why the 21st century hydraulic press is money well spent over a sinclair arbor press. it wont tell you that a forster co-ax only works about half the time. it wont tell you why a PMA neck turner needs to be used with a PMA expander, and so on.

 

[David Christian]

Thanks David C. I found the thread by Eric C which looks like it will be really helpful for load development. Can you be any more specific for the “loading steps” reference?

Checkout this post related to stainless steel tumbling in which Erik describes his loading steps.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/stainless-media-tumbling.3852469/page-2#post-36468395

 

[dkhunt14]

The best thing you can do is find a good mentor. Sometimes seeing is better then reading. He can also get you on the right track for equipment needed. There are alot of good videos on you tube. Matt

 

[ireload2]

Watch out for the expert advice from the guy who has been reloading 3 weeks. Many of them do not know how much they do not know. There are also a few contrary types whose mission in life is to ridicule rather than help.

Do not expect everyone to agree about equipment. In many cases you cannot predict your own preferences until you try the equipment yourself.
Some people just reload. Others experiment and form cases a lot. Not everyone likes the same kind of press since the usage varies.
In most cases it is better to pick out the best pieces of equipment one piece at a time than to buy a kit. But some people can be happy with a kit.

 

[Richard Coody]

buy the best components

coax press and custom full length sizing dies
21st century shooting hydro press and wilson dies
geraud trimmer
PMA tools neck turner
AMP annealer
Adam's autotrickler powder measure
21st century priming tool
regular old vibratory tumbler. leave the carbon in the necks

 

[Dusty Stevens]

buy the best components

coax press and custom full length sizing dies
21st century shooting hydro press and wilson dies
geraud trimmer
PMA tools neck turner
AMP annealer
Adam's autotrickler powder measure
21st century priming tool
regular old vibratory tumbler. leave the carbon in the necks

id recommend to skip the coax press route unless you want to buy another press too. custom dies especially the warners or any micrometer die dont fit. so someday soon as you advance in reloading the coax will become an extra press collecting dust.

 

[Richard Coody]

id recommend to skip the coax press route unless you want to buy another press too. custom dies especially the warners or any micrometer die dont fit. so someday soon as you advance in reloading the coax will become an extra press collecting dust.

What you talking about vern?

i have forster, redding, neil jones and whidden micrometer and.custom dies. they all fit my coax.

but frankly i only use wilson dies and an arbor press for seating bullets these days.

 

[ebb]

What DK Hunt said, sit down at a bench and load with some one that knows how. I had some one tell me how, and I followed all the steps he told me, he just never mentioned lubing the cases. Lubing the cases is a must do, and there are 50 different lubes. My point is copy a mentors method till you can see something you don't like and change it. You will have to load many cases before you can know what works best for you. If you can find a used RCBS kit with press and all that they send out with it may be the best way to start. Then replace some of the pieces when you see the need and have the experience to recognize the need. I have a Wilson case trimmer and I like the cheap Lee tool better, most all on here use the Wilson.

 

[hogpatrol]

Thanks to all for the tips. Just ordered the Lyman and Berger manuals. Will certainly ask more questions later after I have read far enough to know what questions to ask.

Just reading this thread. Those two are the ones I would recommend.

 

[Davidb187]

Also look on YouTube. There's many things there that some pictures in a book won't show you.

 

[retired]

there is a lot of pure bs on youtube.
you need a good filter to tell it from good stuff.
ask here is good but even here you will have to decide what
is good for you.

Also look on YouTube. There's many things there that some pictures in a book won't show you.

 

[hogpatrol]

The best thing you can do is find a good mentor. Sometimes seeing is better then reading. He can also get you on the right track for equipment needed. There are alot of good videos on you tube. Matt

What Matt said and if you can swing it, take a few vacation days and go up to Williamsport for the school. Loading instruction there will fast forward you on the road to precision.

 

[Davidb187]

there is a lot of pure bs on youtube.
you need a good filter to tell it from good stuff.
ask here is good but even here you will have to decide what
is good for you.

I was talking about the basic stuff. I agree 100% with you though. There's some B.S. there and even here.

 

[hogpatrol]

there is a lot of pure bs on youtube.
you need a good filter to tell it from good stuff.
ask here is good but even here you will have to decide what
is good for you.

A lot of bs on youtube? Now there's a real revelation. Thanks for that supremely important tidbit of information. Where can I get one of those filters? I checked Amazon, no cigar.

 

[Richard Coody]

What Matt said and if you can swing it, take a few vacation days and go up to Williamsport for the school. Loading instruction there will fast forward you on the road to precision.

now that is good advice. i for one would love to make that trip. maybe when i retire in a few years.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

What Matt said and if you can swing it, take a few vacation days and go up to Williamsport for the school. Loading instruction there will fast forward you on the road to precision.

Hogpatrol, What school in Williamsport? A school does sound like a good way to get started and have some fun too.

 

[hogpatrol]

Hogpatrol, What school in Williamsport? A school does sound like a good way to get started and have some fun too.

It's the BR weekend school at The Original Pennsylvania Benchrest Club. It's filled for this year. I attended in '14 and thoroughly enjoyed it.

http://www.pa1000yard.com/

related thread:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/williamsport-1000yd-benchrest-school.3928039/

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

It's the BR weekend school at The Original Pennsylvania Benchrest Club. It's filled for this year. I attended in '14 and thoroughly enjoyed it.

http://www.pa1000yard.com/

related thread:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/williamsport-1000yd-benchrest-school.3928039/

Okay thanks. I thought you meant a reloading school. This sounds like some of that plus a lot more. BR not my thing at this time but maybe someday!