Items You Will Need to Get Started Reloading Ammunition

Now that you understand the basic steps in handloading ammunition (if you don't, please see my previous article at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2153641/the_basic_steps_in_reloading_ammunition.html?cat=24 ), it's time to discuss the items you will need to purchase in order to begin. I have found through a great deal of research and personal experience that Lee brand products are often the best value in for begining reloaders. While I am in no way associated with Lee, I will be referencing their products as a base line for pricing, etc.

In my next article I will cover some inexpensive alternatives to commercial reloading products. Budget conscious reloaders, take heart and keep reading. There is hope!

The first step in reloading is case preparation. Most reloaders like to clean their casings prior to reloading them. The primary practical reason is to avoid damaging reloading equipment through repeated exposure to grit and dirt. The secondary reason is so the casings look good.

The simplest way to do this is by hand, manually cleaning each piece of brass. It's time consuming but will result in clean brass. However, most reloaders eventually purchase a tumbler or vibratory cleaner. The cleaner is filled with some sort of specialized cleaning media (typically crushed corn cob or walnut shells) and a few tablespoons of brass cleaner. A basic kit costs somewhere around $50.

After cleaning, lubing casings is often the required next step (depending on the type of dies you are using). The most efficient way to lube cases is with a lube pad and some type of lubricating material. This is to ease the resizing process, thus decreasing wear on brass and equipment. An RCBS lube kit can be obtained for approximately $20. The other option is to lube casings with your fingers and some paraffin.

After cleaning and lubing, the brass must be deprimed and resized. These steps are presented together because they often are accomplished by the same tool. A "die" is typically used to resize and deprime fired casings. Dies must be screwed into a leverage machine called a press. The simplest is a single stage press. Dies typically cost around $35 for each caliber you are reloading. A single stage press can cost around $80 new.

After resizing and depriming, you should clean your primer pocket and uniform your flash hole (the hole that connects the primer pocket to the inside of the case). A primer pocket cleaner is a simple tool that only costs a few dollars, or you can carefully use an appropriately sized flathead screwdriver. A flash hole uniformer can also be obtained for just a few dollars if you shop around. You may also want to deburr the mouth of your casings with a special $5 tool.

At this point, you should check the length of your brass. Your reloading dies will likely have come with a chart indicating appropriate powder charges and cartridge specifications. Lee sells a handy case trimmer kit that will bring all of your cases into spec. The kit consists of four parts, sold in two pieces. The first is the locking stud and trimmer. This is used for all calibers. The second is caliber specific and consists of a trimmer guide and a shell holder. The whole kit costs around $8 for the first caliber and about $5 for each subsequent one.

Now your cases are ready to reload.

You will need to prime your cases using some type of priming tool. This usually costs around $20 and requires a different shellholder for each caliber.

Next you will need to measure the appropriate powder charge. Your reloading chart/book will provide you with appropriate charges and powder types for your specific round. Smokeless powder is measured in grains. The cheapest way to measure powder is by using a scoop of a specific volume that corresponds to a specific number of grains of powder. Lee provides a scoop with each of their sets of dies, however, it is a good idea to purchase a complete set of scoops for flexibility. You then pour the powder into the casing using a special funnel. The scoops and funnel will cost approximately $15.

Finally, you will seat your bullet. This step is again accomplished in the press using a die provided with your die set.

As you can see, it's easy to get several hundred dollars tied up in reloading equipment. However, there are a number of steps in this process that can be safely and effectively accomplished using homemade or simplified equipment. One example that is commercially available is the Lee Classic Loader Kit. This kit eliminates the need for the press, dies, or a priming tool, and comes with a powder scoop. It does require a non-marring hammer, however. It is a great option for someone who is interested in loading limited numbers of rounds for one caliber.

My next article will address inexpensive, or even free, options to some of the items listed here.