Congrats on the new press. I really wanted you to at least get something. Its a great past time. No need to get in a hurry about anything, take your time and ask lots of questions. Tubbs has a couple of good vids on youtube that go into great detail, some you may want to try and some may be above your skill level atm, but he does a good job explaining what each task does which is the most important. As well as using simple and more expensive tools to get the job done.
Reloading is not for everyone, but most shooters do enjoy it. I do it for months on end, then not for months at a time, just keep a notebook and label your prep boxes.
Buy primers and powder when in stock, not when you need them. 8 #'s are your friend.
What are you going to do for tumbling ? I do not see that you have one of those yet. Is this a solo adventure or do yo have a buddy who reloads also ?
Sorry I got in on this thread too late to comment on the Lee Classic Turret. I load all the same calibers as the OP,ms tarted out with my LCT years ago and I’m still with it today. I’m not a high volume shooter so the turret is sufficient for pistol reloading, but where it really shines is removing the index rod and operating it as a single stage which I feel is the most important requirement for rifle reloading.
Good decision and good luck.
I tried the vinegar/dawn/salt bath in a bucket the other week and was disappointed at the results. I bought one of Cabela’s tumber kits (dry) for about $70 with the media/polish/sifter pan and will be using that now.
I started with a Lee Loader in .308. Seating primers with a hammer made me nervous, and it wasn’t long after that I picked up a Lee Classic Single Stage Press. The Lee Loader was a fantastic introduction into reloading. I’d recommend it to anyone just starting out. I got the press for a special birthday price of $105. A steal. I’m now loading .357 Magnum on it and giving the Lee Turret Press some consideration for my next press along with the old standard Dillon 550. No matter whether I go with a Lee Turret Press or a Dillon 550, I think I will continue to use the single stage press for .308 and any other precision rifle cartridge I might load in the future.
Two things I was adamant about when I was doing my research before I started hand loading. I will never load for rifle, and I only want a Dillon 550. No single stage press. Ironically, I started loading for .308 and on a Lee Loader and moved up to a single stage press.
I think you made a good choice. Now, the next challenge is to find some powder.
Right now, powder supplies are the best I’ve seen in the past few years. Get it while you can. Even if you have to pay the hazmat fee, it only adds about $1.75 per pound to a 16 pound order. IMO, it may not be long before we start to see things tighten up again, especially as we get closer to Nov 2016.
If anyone is considering a progressive press for precision rifle, the Dillon 550 makes a great single stage also. I started loading rifle on a friends rockchucker, as I learned more I ordered a new machined head that is clamped on for my dillon. This is it’s biggest downfall. The stock head fits too loosely when trying to get it perfect. Shell plates are a non issue, 1 plate will fit several calibers, there is an excel spreadsheet on the web that can help you with knowing what you have. I am just trying to say…don’t discount a dillon to being a high volume machine only. I mic every final round for my 338 LM. There is no difference to doing it on a single stage.
When I go into the gun store, the powder/primer section is the first place I go to every time. After the last couple of years of seeing those shelves empty, I take no chances. I always tell everyone, stop by the gunshop and just do a walk thru to see what they have and buy something. Either 1 box of ammo or 1 # of powder adds up over time and does not hurt your wallet.
With the shootings growing in number this year who knows. But we should all know 6 months prior and a year after the election will be the worst.
Jim, once you get setup take a pic of your setup for us. I like to see fresh ideas from new guys just getting into the hobby. Also, if you can list each piece of equip that you have we can see if you left out something. And lastly, if that Cabela’s tumbler craps out send me a PM and I will help you out.
Here’s a list of what I have (absent the bench shot):
Lyman Universal case trimmer with power adapter for a drill
Lyman case prep multi-tool
Hornady Lock n Load classic kit - single stage press, digital scale, trickler, hand priming tool, powder dispenser, manual and other accessories
RCBS .300BLK small base/tape crimp dies
Hornady Custom Rifle dies in .223/.308
Lee Factory crimp dies in .223/.308
Lee universal decapper die - so I can deprime before tumbling
Cabela’s Model 400 Vibratory Case Tumbler Kit
Dial calipers (non electronic)
Lee reloading manual
Extra hornady LNL bushing and lock rings for dies
And components for .308/.300BLK and .223 (more on the way with rebate).
I would add a shoulder bump gauge -its good to know how much you are re-sizing to, you only need as much as necessary. It will extend brass life.
Imperial sizing wax- works great gets on your hands/fingers and only need a swipe every now and again DO NOT RESIZE WITHOUT LUBE ON EVERY ROUND
Stuck case puller- READ ABOVE or you will be using this lol
Primer pocket hand reamer- cc media(vibratory tumbler) does not clean primer pockets well
Swager tool if your reloading LC brass - don’t reload mil brass without it.
Extra deprimer pins- just trust me on this, or it will ruin your reloading at the most inconvenient time.
Powder funnels - multiple neck sizes
Shell trays-plastic are fine
Black sharpie’s- write powder charge/col from 0-give/grn on round when working up loads
Steel wool- poor man way of finding lands, works great.
Bullet puller- just trust me again on this
Bullet Comparator- measures 0-give on bullets. SINCLAIR HEX STYLE BULLET COMPARATORS
I would buy some GMM and see it if shoots well out of your rifles, if so replicate that round.
Now for the fun stuff. After you have stuck a few cases, broken a primer pin, dented case necks, and left media in the primer pocket you will have made that leap into the realm of knowing when you have been at it too long. You are the only quality control there is. Take a break bro. A single stage is the long road. On pistol I reload 600-700 rounds in 2 hrs, then quit/check loads or I process 100 rounds of 338 LM brass in two hours excluding wash time of course. Resize, deprime, trim, measure each one,prime, powder. I’ll seat bullets on the next night because I measure each one.
Welcome to the club !!! this is where we all started, we just don’t tell everyone the mistakes we made when first starting out. On your first stuck case you will use profane words in 5 languages. I have a special box on the bench that sh#t rounds/brass goes into. And finally, when you have your load worked up correctly make a dummy round and write all info on it. This makes setting up dies easy.
Oh and don’t forget girls with guns calenders from Dillon/Magpul.
I’m shooting Speer Gold Dot 150gr a bit tighter than 168gr GMM currently. My interest in a .308 is for more than group size, so I like having bullets that perform when they get there, too.
Are you shooting factory guns ? They normally have a slower twist which makes them like the lighter bullets. Heavier bullets will out perform at longer ranges. I do not shoot 308, it always seems to get put down the list. I am in love with my 6.5 CM too much to buy anything else atm. Box ammo, low recoil, and shoots like a laser beam. Took an out of town friend to the range today and let him shoot it. First time shooting 500y he made a 3.5" group. He was giggling.