Must have tools for reloading bench

[JSH]

I try to stay away from gadgets.

My bench is full. The only alcohol that is around it is for cleaning purposes.
If I want a beer, I am done with all things reloading.

Worst thing on the bench is the dang phone. I turn the ringer off, it’s for out going only.

Best thing I will have say are the new LED lights. I thought I had plenty and was in good shape till I put up the first one.

 

[D Coots]

This is how I got started. 20 GA shotgun. Early to mid 1960's.

Me too, 1963. I wonder if anyone would be interested in a 20 and a 12 gauge for free?

 

[Ralph Littlefield]

Me too, 1963. I wonder if anyone would be interested in a 20 and a 12 gauge for free?View attachment 1150532

That's a very generous offer. Someone should take you up on that. I would, but they would just set on my bench with my other old stuff.

 

[BeefyT11]

Me too, 1963. I wonder if anyone would be interested in a 20 and a 12 gauge for free?View attachment 1150532

I would be quite interested, use my 38 special loader often. Didnt know they made these for shotshells

 

[TQB]

Dial calipers. Good ones.

Pens, pencils, and a good composition notebook.

A good reloading TEXTbook...not a GD manufacturer's "manual", most of which are just recipes, not actual instructions on how to load.


All of those things need to be bought, and figured out, before a person buys anything else.

Which books do you recomend?

Thank you,
Tiago

 

[natdscott]

Which books do you recomend?

Thank you,
Tiago

Handloading for Competition- Glen Zedicker

 

[PatMiles]

Essential tools: Oh, and a beer. To clean the brass.

Yeppers, my brass gets shinier and shinier after a few beers!

 

[Drop Port]

I try to stay away from gadgets.

My bench is full. The only alcohol that is around it is for cleaning purposes.
If I want a beer, I am done with all things reloading.

Worst thing on the bench is the dang phone. I turn the ringer off, it’s for out going only.

Best thing I will have say are the new LED lights. I thought I had plenty and was in good shape till I put up the first one.

My digital scale really hates my cell phone

 

[Jpete]

My first reloading machine, in 1981. Stepped up to an old gray Lyman C frame right after that.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Get a Speer #8 Reloading Book , read it twice .
Don’t load Ammo from some Hot Shot Post ..
But good tools ? The most costly are not needed .

 

[acloco]

A selection of Sharpie's......several colors.

Dial calipers (or digital).

 

[jonbearman]

Here is a list: Quality digital calipers, a good older Rcbs scale like a model510, a good powder throw like a rcbs or equivalent, a rockchucker, a set of shell holders like lee or equivalent, a primer tool of your choice to seat primers(hate doing it in a press), good dies like Rcbs or Redding, reloading trays, a mini mag flashlight, deburring tools to chamfer each case, primer pocket cleaner and uniformer(Sinclair), annealing ability(can be done easily for next to nothing(read about it here),Quality bullets,powder.primers. Next you can go crazy buying better stuff like a Wilson trimmer which is the best trimmer or you can spend a ton on a Giraud, reloading manuals from each bullet manufacturer, (read them),set of shell holders for your priming tool, safety glasses, neck wall mics, quality brass lapua being some of the best but if using a standard sporter any brass can work. Case tumbler like a high speed tumbler using stainless pins if you want really clean case's. This is just a start. Eventually a neck turning tool with the correct angle cutter's. I could go on for hour's.

 

[Bc'z]

My digital scale really hates my cell phone

And I really hate my digital scale!

 

[Brians356]

A good supply of your favorite beer.

I'm sure you know what you're doing.
-

 

[Brians356]

binocular magnifier to be able to see things closer than I can with my bifocals ...handiest tool I own...something like this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRM9GW9/?tag=accuratescom-20

I have the genuine OptiVisor. That appears to be a cheaper knock-off. That's not to say they're not as good or better, and for half the price. The key would be optical quality of the lenses. Just FWIW.

I couldn't function without mine.
-

 

[Intheshop]

Pencil and paper. And a good "tenths" mic,in a stand.

If I didn't keep detailed notes with measurements,loading would be like a dog chasin his tail. My mic stand is a small drill press vise that is tilted to,"just right". Tubing mic pops in there too. But the little vise does other chores as well,which is why it gets the nod over a,store bought mic holder.

 

[AlNyhus]

The Hornady head space gauge should be one of the first things any hand loader buys. You need to know how die adjustments are affecting the shoulder set back. -Al

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Best things ive bought: Redding T7 Turret Press, Brown & Sharpe Dial Calipers 6". Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler for Stainless pin cleaning. Lee Universal Decapping Die. Saturn Spun Funnels. RCBS ChargeMaster 1500. Imperial Sizing Wax. Lapua Brass. Magneto Speed Chrono. 3-Way Cutter for RCBS Trim Pro. Sinclair Poly Loading blocks.

Regret Buying: Dillon CV-2100 vibratory case cleaner. Should have bought there smaller one, the CV-750. Cheap plastic loading blocks.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Yeppers, my brass gets shinier and shinier after a few beers!

Right. But the difference between you and me is that I don't drink beer.

 

[PatMiles]

Right. But the difference between you and me is that I don't drink beer.

Actually, I don't drink at all