new to reloading, please help

[eddie712c]

I'm new to the game. but seeing the cost related to shooting my 7mm UM it's coming down to reloading. besides the fact there isn't many options for "off the self" on this gun. has anyone used and have an opinion on the Hornady "lock-N-load" kit? Do other dies work with this setup? like I stated, I'm new to it

 

[reloader243]

Welcome to reloading your own. I've never used the "Lock& Load" myself. I started a few years ago reloading with a Lee Aniversary kit,and eventually came to the Redding T-7 turret press. I think if you are reloading only for hunting and plinking, the Lee will do you good. I've ended up like a lot of folks, with several presses, and various makes of tools and dies. Kinda like the Chevy-Ford,Dodge thing. to each his own. If reloading for precision....everyone has their own pet that works for them. But to be real about it....the guns and ammo we make, shoot better than we do..but don't tell anyone,I) said so...lol
Lee,Hornady,RCBS,Pacific,Redding,Dillon...buy a Lee and see if you like reloading...if you do, you will still use the press even if you up-grade..
Rick in New Berlin,Pa
"Check the wind & hammer down"

 

[Winchester69]

Screw-in dies are designed to be universal. The LockNLoad will work with all of them. However, there are a couple of considerations you should be aware of regarding the Hornady press. The first is that it is a medium-sized press and you will be loading a long cartridge. The second is that it is made of aluminum; that long cartridge requires some horsepower to resize and will eventually cause the pin in the bottom of the ram to loosen in the aluminum fulcrum. You will be better served to get a larger press made of cast iron. Most have a removable adaptor that will allow the use of the LockNLoad conversion kit. My recommendation is for the Redding Big Boss, but you should examine the options and make your own choice.

You will be ahead if you study reloading before you buy equipment. Get a loading manual like Lyman's 48th Edition, and perhaps a primer like The ABC's of Reloading. You will learn a lot by following some of these forums and doing searches on subjects that interest you.

Recognize that you will be developing a process, and the tools you choose should support your process. One of the major determinants will be the powders you will be using. Powder type will determine your choice,s) in dispensing equipment, and the rest of your process will be built around it.

 

[eddie712c]

thank you, after reading this it has got wheels turning and i will be purchasing this week.
eddie

 

[ronemus]

use the Lock N Load press and am very pleased with it. The die bushings make changing dies very easy, and I've never seen an alignment change. I've processed more than 25,000 rounds and the press works like new. I like the Hornady sizing dies, especially the elliptical expander, but I use the Forster Ultra Micrometer Benchrest Seater; The Hornady seater uses a short sliding collar, but the full-length sleeve of the Forster maintains better alignment. I've also used a Redding Competition Seater, but the seating stem eventually belled and galled the inside of the sleeve even though I don't use compressed loads. The material and geometry of the Forster seating stem is much better and doesn't bell out with use, and it's less expensive to boot.