A little money to spend

[mvmtoys]

Alright guys and gals, you all were very helpful with my last post,and like I mentioned I am new to reloading I purchased the Lee challanger anniversary kit,a couple manuals and a loading block, got a little money to spend and want to make the most of it. I have no way to clean brass so I am looking at puchasing the Hornaday sonic cleaner, My thought on this is I like the fact that it gets the primer pocket clean along with the inside of the brass and I can use it to clean up bolts and trigger assemblies on my rifles, without the mess of a tumbler, also looking at a lathe style case trimmer, a set of calipers, a case lenght gauge,and a digital set of scales. Although I do have a scale that came with the kit just not digital.
I have the reloading bug bad and want to buy every gadget I see at the moment, So I am looking for all of your input on what would actually be benifitul to me, or if you see something that I didnt mention that you think would be better please let me know. Thanks

[carver]

What calibers will you be reloading?

[mvmtoys]

for now 30 06 and 9mm

[gdmoody]

If you buy a good set of calipers, you won't really need the case length gauges. If you load .223 or .308 you might need the gauges that tell you that you are within specs for semi-auto rifles.

Digital scales are a good investment.

The type of case trimmer that you mention is harder to use than the cheap ole Lee cutter and length gauge. I just bought a used one and don't like it as much as the Lee things even if it faster.

I am sure there is something you missed but I can't see it right this minute.

[mvmtoys]

thanks I already have the lee case trimmer so maybe I will just stick with that for now, any recommendations on who makes a good set of calipers

[JLA]

The HDY sonic cleaner is a good buy. little too spensive for my tastes as fine cob works just fine for me in a vibratory, but it will serve you well and you can use it to clean gun parts as well.

The loading kit came with everything you need for reloading. I would add to it a good trimmer. I use the LEE trimmer and lock studs with the cartridge specific trim length gauges. they work best for me because I anneal all my bottleneck rifle brass using the lock stud and shell hoder to turn the case in a drill over a torch flame. also add a flash hole deburring tool, Lyuman makes a great one for 12 bucks. A spare inside/outside chamfer tool, mainly because the LEE one is too small and will make your fingers sore. Lyman and RCBS make really good ones for little money. Also look into a secondary means of priming cases. I recommend a Lee auto prime 2, which is press mounted VS the LEE auto prime hand primer that came with the kit and will make priming hundreds of cases much easier on your fingers. Plus I find it easier to seat primers consistently on the press.. Lets see, a second and maybe even a 3rd manual too. The kit should have came with the Lee 2nd, add to it the Hdy 8th and the Lyman 49th. As for scales.. I dont much care for digitals as they are finicky about holding zero. I use an RCBS 502 beam and it is spot the hell on day in and day out. The LEE beam is pretty good too but being lightweight plaztik it sways easily so you cant breathe while youre weighing charges. A good use for a digital scale would be weight sorting brass and bullets, as that process takes forever anyway and using a beam to do it just takes longer. Thats about all I can think of right now.. Im sure more will come as the thread progresses.

BTW, welcome to reloading, one of the more fruitful divisions of our second ammendment rights.

[JLA]

oh yeah, calipers.. I have a fowler digital accurate to .0005 and i love it. RCBS and Lyman make good reloading calipers in the 50 dollar price range.

[carver]

One thing that they don't include in this kit is a kinetic bullet puller, and you will need one, sooner, or later!

[JLA]

yep a must have and they are less than 15 bucks

[mvmtoys]

I should have mentioned that I already have the Lyman 49th manual on order and I have the ABC of reloading 8th edition and the manual that comes with the kit. I will deffintily look into the lee autoprimer, I havent reloaded anything yet so just trying to get set up and my brass ready, I will be picking up my powder, bullets and primers when I make my trip to bass pro and get everything at once, just trying to figure out what else I may need thanks

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by mvmtoys

I should have mentioned that I already have the Lyman 49th manual on order and I have the ABC of reloading 8th edition and the manual that comes with the kit. I will deffintily look into the lee autoprimer, I havent reloaded anything yet so just trying to get set up and my brass ready, I will be picking up my powder, bullets and primers when I make my trip to bass pro and get everything at once, just trying to figure out what else I may need thanks

I have been sitting back reading this thread. It is kind of cool watching a newbie get into this. You will have to post some pics of your set up.

[RockinRiley]

Harbor Freight is your friend, I bought their sonic cleaner and love it. It was 50ish after coupons. It is big and affordable. The only issue, is really a non issue to me, is the timer is only 6 or 8 minutes, so you have to turn it back on. I did spend the money on the hornady cleaning solution though the internet recipes work but you really have to work not to get corrosion. You already said about the primer pockets, so you must know it is highly recommended to deprime first. I bought my calipers from HF also. Good luck, be safe and have fun!

[76Highboy]

Digital scales are convenient but for me a balance beam type scale is a necessity because you can use it without power. Plus, it is old school and I think that old school tends to go out the window and become forgotten. But that is just me.

[gun-nut]

I myself have no choice to use the digital calipers at work (supplied tools) and i will say that i dont care for them as you will be "O'ing" them most of the time. Now i use at home a good pare of Dial Calipers they will hold the "O" and no calibration every few min. I feel that they are more acurite to use. Yes digital are faster to read,but when you get use to a good set of dials you will whizz right along. JMO. I am working with one of the tool room guys at work and we are making a "GO" and "NO GO" tooling for my rifle brass. I will post a pick up some time this weekend of the 2 that we have done. One is for .243 and the other is for .270 I have been thinking of making a few extra to sell and maybe one or two for the giveaways.

[Sherrer1*]

One more thing I havent heard anyone mention a primer pocket uniformer and reamer. I use themand think it makes a difference but others may not think of them as a neccesity.Go ahead and buy a few extra neck brushes in all sizes for just a few bucks, maybe another handle or two. I use the Lee lock and stud cutter to trim my brass and think they work well. If you are wanting to reload and put back midwayusa has some stirofoam trays and carboard boxes that are great I think they are around 15.00 for 25, the plastic ones are nice but not to stock up and store ammo in ( my opinion). Good luck and welcome to the obsession of reloading and be carefull and pay attention. post some pictures of your bench when you get it finished.

[carver]

Something else you will need is loading blocks. Some advice here. I've been reloading for 35 years, and I find it best for me to turn my brass in the loading blocks so that I can easily see where I am. Resized brass, with no primers, but clean primer pockets are open end down in my block, primer hole up. As I prime them they return to the block oriented in the same direction, primer up. As I add powder they are of course, turned up right with the powder in them. There is no doubt that the brass with the primer up has no powder in them. A good light above the work area lets you look into the brass that has been charged with powder. A double load will be easy to spot, and correct. Using the primer up method I have never had a double load in the loading block. I can walk away, and come back later. One quick look tells me which cases have powder, and which ones don't.

[mvmtoys]

Here is a pic of my bench so far, I know it is a bit small but had to work with the space I had, When we get done with the addition on the house I will have a room just for reloading and my guns, but until then I guess this will have to do. Built the bench with things I had laying around the house so didnt cost me a dime. Let me know what you think

[mvmtoys]

I forgot to mention not only did my wife buy me my reloading equipment for my birthday, but she let me put the reloading bench in the bedroom. I think I'll keep her.

[gdmoody]

Good looking setup. You are going to outgrow it pretty quick, though.

Yep, I would keep her. My wife doesn't even want my "junk" in the house at all.

[Mike1959]

Originally Posted by mvmtoys

I forgot to mention not only did my wife buy me my reloading equipment for my birthday, but she let me put the reloading bench in the bedroom. I think I'll keep her.

yep, she's a keeper!

[PanhandlePop]

Have fun reloading. From your list, my first pick would be calipers, hands down. I never felt like I needed a sonic case cleaner, but I did go for an electronic scale several years ago. I first bought a cheap one and wasn't real happy with it and then got a Dillon and love it--simple, accurate, and fast.

[Zhurh]

Daughter bought me a Mitutoyo digimatic for fathers day a year back; man I luv that caliper; worth every penny.

I prefer beam scales, don't even use the digital scale anymore.

Really like those Frankford loading blocks (blue ones) Have about 20 of them now, buy a few everytime I see them on sale.

Primer pocket brush combo RCBS $15

One shot, wax, ect

[gun-nut]

Originally Posted by mvmtoys

Here is a pic of my bench so far, I know it is a bit small but had to work with the space I had, When we get done with the addition on the house I will have a room just for reloading and my guns, but until then I guess this will have to do. Built the bench with things I had laying around the house so didnt cost me a dime. Let me know what you think

Looks good! I would have to say she is a keeper!

[76Highboy]

That's a great start. Your wife is a keeper and I hope you teach her to shoot too. Are you going to let her place her make-up mirror above the bench and her jewelry box on it too?

[mvmtoys]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

That's a great start. Your wife is a keeper and I hope you teach her to shoot too. Are you going to let her place her make-up mirror above the bench and her jewelry box on it too?

Thats where Im lucky my wife loves to shoot, was going to get her a pistol for home defense and she wanted nothing to do with it, Her pick was a pump shotgun, and as long as she doesnt mind a little gun powder in her blush then I will hang her mirror where ever she tells me to. We all know you have to keep momma happy.