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Posted: 11/10/2011 8:24:25 AM EDT
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I am looking to buy some reloading equipment. I don't shoot alot, but that could change if I start reloading. I just want some advice.
1. I am going to buy some decent target ammo to shoot, then reload. Are there any ammo makers to avoid in this scenario? 2. I want to start with a Lee Single Stage kit and the various other pieces that I've read are important. Is it worth it to pick up a digital scale as well? Or does the balance beam scale get it close enough? To be honest, I want to carefully weigh each charge. Any advice you can give would be much appreciated. |
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1. Get Win, RP, or Fed ammo and you will have good brass. 2. I use a beam scale, but I don't recommend the Lee scale. If you get a digital, don't go cheap. (cheap being less than $100) Cheap digital scales drift, I don't trust them. I am considering buying everything separate. I might buy a good press, then find a good scale and powder measure. Instead of buying a cheap kit, I want a good setup, even if I have to source it over time. |
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1. Get Win, RP, or Fed ammo and you will have good brass. 2. I use a beam scale, but I don't recommend the Lee scale. If you get a digital, don't go cheap. (cheap being less than $100) Cheap digital scales drift, I don't trust them. I am considering buying everything separate. I might buy a good press, then find a good scale and powder measure. Instead of buying a cheap kit, I want a good setup, even if I have to source it over time. Listen to Dryflash. He has excellent advice here, and you are correct about waiting to buy the good stuff. Don't be in a hurry to get everything at once. You would end up buying the good quality equipment anyway. Ask me how I know 
I do shoot significantly more often than I ever did since I started reloading, and the accuracy you will get is also rewarding 
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Press, I have a Rockchucker and it's a great press. Hornady and Redding also make a good press. If going with a Lee, get a Classic Cast. I don't recommend the aluminum Lee presses.
Scale, RCBS 505 here. Hornady, Dillon, and Redding are also GTG. PM (powder measure) I used a Hornady for years, then got a Redding which is a great PM. The RCBS Uniflo is also Ok. Dies; Lee, RCBS, Dillon, Lyman are good. My favorite are Hornady. Redding makes premium die sets. Trimmer, start with a lathe trimmer, I have a RCBS. Forester is ok, no experience with Hornady, Lyman or Redding. Possum Hollow is a cheap, fast trimmer that mounts in a drill, but is caliber specific if you want speed. Calipers, now days a $20 set is all you need. I have a $20 FA (Franklin Arsenal). You can pay more but no reason to. 
This book has a lot of info on what tools do what and how to reload. Lots of pics. 
Lyman 49, what I would recommend as your first reloading manual. |
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Most of the 10mm cases are USA-made so there is no problems there. I pick up as many 10mm cases on the range floor as possible.
One of the problems of 10mm is that the gun flings the cases over yonder and beyond, I usually loose ~10 -15% of my 10mm cases per shooting session. |
| So I settled on a Dillon Square Deal B here locally. It is used and comes with a 9mm setup and a 40cal/10mm setup. Everything needed to load all three calibers is included. The seller said we can spend some time together loading 9mm so I can get a glimpse of how the machine works. I'm pretty excited. All I need is some various odds n ends, as well as a few reloading manuals to get aquainted. |
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So I settled on a Dillon Square Deal B here locally. It is used and comes with a 9mm setup and a 40cal/10mm setup. Everything needed to load all three calibers is included. The seller said we can spend some time together loading 9mm so I can get a glimpse of how the machine works. I'm pretty excited. All I need is some various odds n ends, as well as a few reloading manuals to get aquainted. That sounds like a good deal with the seller willing to help! That will be worth it's weight in gold. I hooked up with a mentor at my club and he really has helped me out thats for sure. |
| Just a note: 10mm brass is generally hard to come by. If you buy loaded ammo, you will obviously have the brass when you shoot, but finding quantities of it left at a range or at a gun show is tough. You can always buy it, but it is premium priced. I measure my 10mm brass supply in coffee cans full, OTOH, I have 4 5 gal buckets of 40SW. |
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Get the Starline brass if you decide to buy new, unfired brass.
It's top-notch quality and a good bit cheaper than other brands. 
$17.79/100 isn't cheap by any stretch, but it's a good price if you can't find empty 10mm cases elsewhere. |
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Bought the press today. It is in excellent shape, and the previous owner spent around 45 minutes showing me how to work the press. He even let me load some 9mm. I can't wait to set it up and spend more money on manuals and other items needed to get started! Welcome to the blue club.
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| Their are half a dozen RCBS 5-10 scales on EBay and these are very nice scales. They have the same beam & bearings as the 10-10 and were made by Ohaus. I bought mine new in 1978, it's still my primary scale. RCBS doesn't make this scale anymore and that's a shame. |
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I bought a work bench today for my Dillon Square Deal B. $25 on craigslist. http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff86/richonsa/bench001.jpg Nice bench, and the right color is a bonus. Well done.
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Yeah, I was actually pretty excited to get that bench. Do you think that I can mount the press directly to that, or should I use some steel plate on the top and bottom to help strengthen it?
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I bought a work bench today for my Dillon Square Deal B. $25 on craigslist. http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff86/richonsa/bench001.jpg Nice bench, and the right color is a bonus. Well done. |
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Yeah, I was actually pretty excited to get that bench. Do you think that I can mount the press directly to that, or should I use some steel plate on the top and bottom to help strengthen it? ... Is that an all-metal bench? Doesn't really matter - just curious. Add a sheet of 3/4" plywood to it and you're GTG. Also, add a shelf underneath to put things on, which will give it weight to resist the press action. |
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Quoted:
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Yeah, I was actually pretty excited to get that bench. Do you think that I can mount the press directly to that, or should I use some steel plate on the top and bottom to help strengthen it? ... Is that an all-metal bench? Doesn't really matter - just curious. Add a sheet of 3/4" plywood to it and you're GTG. Also, add a shelf underneath to put things on, which will give it weight to resist the press action. No, it is not metal. |
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Quoted:
1. Get Win, RP, or Fed ammo and you will have good brass. 2. I use a beam scale, but I don't recommend the Lee scale. If you get a digital, don't go cheap. (cheap being less than $100) Cheap digital scales drift, I don't trust them. I have a Lee scale and it is incredibly accurate. I DON'T reccommend it lol. It can get out of adjustment rather easily, one little bump and the slider moves, etc. Get Dillon's Eliminator scale link |
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Quoted:
Yeah, I was actually pretty excited to get that bench. Do you think that I can mount the press directly to that, or should I use some steel plate on the top and bottom to help strengthen it? Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought a work bench today for my Dillon Square Deal B. $25 on craigslist. http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff86/richonsa/bench001.jpg Nice bench, and the right color is a bonus. Well done. Can you give us more info on the top construction? How thick? Any braces? Glued and screwed? Easiest way to strengthen would be to add a layer of 3/4 plywood (glued and screwed) on the top side, 2x4 braces as needed on the bottom side. Maybe a steel plate on bottom also. Bolt press through this plate. Then there is always the option of using a Dillon strong mount. It was designed to add to a weak bench and let a press function well. Down side is you will have to stand to reload if you go this way. 
My SD's are bolted directly to my bench as I sit to reload. Top is two layers of 3/4 melamine with 2x4 braces every 16 inches. |
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Your bench has no overhang on the front.
IIRC, you will need a lip to let the SDB operate. "C" clamp it temporarily (or have someone hold it down for you) and try to go thru the entire range of motion before you bolt it down. Welcome to reloading. 10mm (the cost of) was my excuse as well. |
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Your bench has no overhang on the front. IIRC, you will need a lip to let the SDB operate. "C" clamp it temporarily (or have someone hold it down for you) and try to go thru the entire range of motion before you bolt it down. Welcome to reloading. 10mm (the cost of) was my excuse as well. What lip? I didn't need one in my pic. Not sure what you mean. |
| I set the press up on the counter and there is no restriction in the operation of the press. The top is over an inch thick. I used a 1 1/4 inch long drill bit, and it barely got through. There is no bracing underneath. I am thinking of using some old 2x6 to place on the underside for support. I might get a 12x12 steel plate for the top and epoxy it to the surface. Instead of 2x6, would 1 inch plywall cut to fit underneath be better? |
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Quoted: So I settled on a Dillon Square Deal B here locally. It is used and comes with a 9mm setup and a 40cal/10mm setup. Everything needed to load all three calibers is included. The seller said we can spend some time together loading 9mm so I can get a glimpse of how the machine works. I'm pretty excited. All I need is some various odds n ends, as well as a few reloading manuals to get aquainted. I use a SDB for 10mm. It's great.   |
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Quoted:
I set the press up on the counter and there is no restriction in the operation of the press. The top is over an inch thick. I used a 1 1/4 inch long drill bit, and it barely got through. There is no bracing underneath. I am thinking of using some old 2x6 to place on the underside for support. I might get a 12x12 steel plate for the top and epoxy it to the surface. Instead of 2x6, would 1 inch plywall (plywood?) cut to fit underneath be better? 2x6 is good, plywood is better, steel beneath bench best. 
Shot of the underside of my bench below Rockchucker, top is 1 1/2 inch thick melamine. Not much room for steel next to drawer on left. Steel used 1/8 inch thick. |
| I'm planning to screw a piece of plywood to the bottom and use the Dillon mount. The front lip of the bench is an inch and half thick. So I wont be able to set the front two bolts very well. It will make the press a little high, but I can use a step if necessary when standing, and a tall stool when sitting. |
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