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I started out with a Lee Loader and a set of dippers. Reloaded a bunch that way. Had a lot of fun with it.
I finally added a hand press and a Lee Perfect beam scale. The hand press is still the only press I have and I've probably loaded nearly 5,000 rounds with it.
What from Christ that soul can sever, Bound by everlasting bands? None shall take thee From the Strength of Israel's hands.
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7674698 09/19/2203:36 PM09/19/2203:36 PM
Have never used the Lee whack a mole loaders. Seems like a neat concept, but not sure if saving money is the real niche for them. It would fit the bill if one wanted a simple, light weight means to reload ammo far from home.....or civilization. Few boxes of brass, box of bullets, sleeve of primers, pound of powder. You would be set. Probably not match ammo, but it would go BANG! Matthew Quigley probably carried something like that.
As one who resumed reloading last year after a decades long break, have been able to make some decent enough stuff with a used Lee Breech Lock Challenger press offered to me by a T-man member. A C note got me a press and the better part of a kit to go along with enough components to get me started. Since then, the stash has been padded....and in abundance. Factory quality ammo or better.
But as for reloading, glad I started again. Went from someone looking at a nearly bare cupboard from depending on factory ammo, to somebody who will never want for something to BANG again in my lifetime.
Last edited by HayDay; 09/19/2205:39 PM.
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7674779 09/19/2205:32 PM09/19/2205:32 PM
BTW, not sure if anyone really uses the Lee Dippers, but I have a set left from my Dad's previous efforts at reloading for metalica. Those go back over 50 years. And of course, you get a new dipper of appropriate size with each set of Lee dies. Problem being, I've yet to find one that actually dips and drops the same weight of powder shown on the Lee charts. They dip and drop something, just not that. One would still need a powder scale to get any sense of accuracy (and safety) in what you are doing.
And there is no problem with the dippers. They are just volume measure, no different than powder bushings on a shotshell loader. The difference seems to originate with changes in powder density. What comes out of a bottle of powder today is not the same as what it was when the charts were developed.
Last edited by HayDay; 09/19/2205:44 PM.
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7674784 09/19/2205:44 PM09/19/2205:44 PM
Just bought a brand new mec 600 for 20g...not the cheapest, of course, but the most practical in MY situation. Also bought a new Hornady brass reloading kit a couple years ago. These aren't really for me (yeah right), but to instill into my kids that these things are possible to do when stuff isn't available mainstream. Just trying to pass on what was taught to me. Good OP though, everyone should use what they need for THEIR situation!
Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Yukon John]
#7674797 09/19/2206:08 PM09/19/2206:08 PM
Just bought a brand new mec 600 for 20g...not the cheapest, of course, but the most practical in MY situation. Also bought a new Hornady brass reloading kit a couple years ago. These aren't really for me (yeah right), but to instill into my kids that these things are possible to do when stuff isn't available mainstream. Just trying to pass on what was taught to me. Good OP though, everyone should use what they need for THEIR situation!
I just bought the same thing except I got the 12g version. I'm probably not telling you guys anything you don't already know but Midway USA beats the pants off Cabelas price-wise. It was eighty dollars cheaper through Midway.
Now I'm looking at a RCBS M500 scale. Midway is fifty dollars cheaper than RCBS. How do they do that?
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7674817 09/19/2206:28 PM09/19/2206:28 PM
BTW, not sure if anyone really uses the Lee Dippers, but I have a set left from my Dad's previous efforts at reloading for metalica. Those go back over 50 years. And of course, you get a new dipper of appropriate size with each set of Lee dies. Problem being, I've yet to find one that actually dips and drops the same weight of powder shown on the Lee charts. They dip and drop something, just not that. One would still need a powder scale to get any sense of accuracy (and safety) in what you are doing.
And there is no problem with the dippers. They are just volume measure, no different than powder bushings on a shotshell loader. The difference seems to originate with changes in powder density. What comes out of a bottle of powder today is not the same as what it was when the charts were developed.
That is awesome. I wish I could meet James. His vocals are great.
Originally Posted by newhouse114
I started using one of those for my .308. Because it only neck sizes, the cases would jam in my 99 on second firing.
Once I realized that I needed to adjust my FL die down to touch the shell plate WITH a casing in it things went way better. Same as you, I could only get one loading with them on new brass. Had the same thing happen with 300 WSM.
Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it .... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7675552 09/20/2210:13 PM09/20/2210:13 PM
I started with a chalanger kit that cost 79$ at bass pro. Bought 270 dies bullets powder and primers and was set. Loaded thousand and thousand of rounds on that cheap single stage tell the linkage on it finally broke. Then I got the dillinger 550 put of the box and set it up finally. Ya I don't see going back to a single stage ever again. Infacr I picked up a 2nd 550 I found a deal on.
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7675620 09/21/2212:35 AM09/21/2212:35 AM
My single broke, they sent me a new one, I have the double too, I use the double for forming casings and resizing. I use the single for seating the bullet
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7676283 09/21/2208:56 PM09/21/2208:56 PM
I have one I bought to reload .303 British since it's becoming harder and harder to find. Think I may graduate to a Lee single stage press at some point soon. I really enjoyed toying around with that little press definitely a great way to get your foot in the door to reloading without spending a fortune.
Re: Absolute cheapest way to start reloading
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7676600 09/22/2209:32 AM09/22/2209:32 AM