Reloading Kit

[Parabuteo]

I have never used a Lee press, reports vary but by and large they seem to do a good job.

What I would say is to stick with a normal single stage press and a hand primer. I load rounds by the hundred for CSR and still use a single stage Forster press. Sure it takes a bit longer but I handle each case and I KNOW it is properly aligned. Each round is handled and any nasties spotted.

I know people operating multi stage and automated presses such as the Dillon series and they need a lot of setting up.

[blueheckle]

I have never used a Lee press, reports vary but by and large they seem to do a good job.

What I would say is to stick with a normal single stage press and a hand primer. I load rounds by the hundred for CSR and still use a single stage Forster press. Sure it takes a bit longer but I handle each case and I KNOW it is properly aligned. Each round is handled and any nasties spotted.

I know people operating multi stage and automated presses such as the Dillon series and they need a lot of setting up.

Yip just going to take my time once I start not trying to break any records more interested in safety than amounts lol

[Parabuteo]

Yip just going to take my time once I start not trying to break any records more interested in safety than amounts lol

Funilly enough a lot of reloading errors are spotted by feel which is much easier with a single stage hand operated press. I did 100 5.56x45 last night which with each charge weighed, primers, seating, crimping and colour coding the anulus (I use a slightly better bullet past 300) took 1.5Hrs.

"Bimey that bullet/primer seated easilly" etc etc. Wrong bullet, split neck, primer pocket shagged, primer in back to front. Oh look, there's a funny bright ring near the case head....might be time to check your die headspace/bump settings

The real buggers are only have one powder out at a time so you cant balls that up (We had a lad blow an F class rifle up a while back, the liklihood was that chap who reloaded used to do it on the counter in a shop with all sorts and as likley used pistol powder by mistake, typically for the NRA old boys net it got brushed under a carpet and the bloke had minor burns, a few splinters and soiled armour). I only use N140/RS52 so if I substituted either the load would not be massively different.

Always check your primers are the right way round (I have seen this done and yes it still fired, but destroyed the firing pin and bolt face needing a new bolt, in a Barnard).

Always (always) check the case is filled BEFORE you seat a bullet in it. If in doubt, weigh a known loaded round as a reference. One big cause of blown up rifles is a squib round shoving a bullet into the leades and the next round chambering and firing. I had this done to me as a safety supervisor on a recent ADVANCED CSR skills course. Thankfully the shooter could not chamber another round or I would have copped the lot.

Oh yea, another good trick is to keep good records and stick some old carpet under the bench. It is hard to set a round off by dropping it, but it is less so to set a primer off by crunching it on a concrete floow and easier to find on a dark soft surface...we all know how far he little bastards bounce dont we kids?

Most of all enjoy it, the results can be both fascinating and rewarding...or frustrating.

[blueheckle]

Funilly enough a lot of reloading errors are spotted by feel which is much easier with a single stage hand operated press. I did 100 5.56x45 last night which with each charge weighed, primers, seating, crimping and colour coding the anulus (I use a slightly better bullet past 300) took 1.5Hrs.

"Bimey that bullet/primer seated easilly" etc etc. Wrong bullet, split neck, primer pocket shagged, primer in back to front. Oh look, there's a funny bright ring near the case head....might be time to check your die headspace/bump settings

The real buggers are only have one powder out at a time so you cant balls that up (We had a lad blow an F class rifle up a while back, the liklihood was that chap who reloaded used to do it on the counter in a shop with all sorts and as likley used pistol powder by mistake, typically for the NRA old boys net it got brushed under a carpet and the bloke had minor burns, a few splinters and soiled armour). I only use N140/RS52 so if I substituted either the load would not be massively different.

Always check your primers are the right way round (I have seen this done and yes it still fired, but destroyed the firing pin and bolt face needing a new bolt, in a Barnard).

Always (always) check the case is filled BEFORE you seat a bullet in it. If in doubt, weigh a known loaded round as a reference. One big cause of blown up rifles is a squib round shoving a bullet into the leades and the next round chambering and firing. I had this done to me as a safety supervisor on a recent ADVANCED CSR skills course. Thankfully the shooter could not chamber another round or I would have copped the lot.

Oh yea, another good trick is to keep good records and stick some old carpet under the bench. It is hard to set a round off by dropping it, but it is less so to set a primer off by crunching it on a concrete floow and easier to find on a dark soft surface...we all know how far he little bastards bounce dont we kids?

Most of all enjoy it, the results can be both fascinating and rewarding...or frustrating.

many thanks for that

[Parabuteo]

many thanks for that

No worries....I found a live primer under the bench last night as it goes

[blueheckle]

Have settled on a Hornady classic LnL single press , one question do I really need a reloading manual will be using N133 powder but dont know what heads yet or primers

[tacfoley]

Have settled on a Hornady classic LnL single press , one question do I really need a reloading manual will be using N133 powder but dont know what heads yet or primers

Since N133 is a Vihtavuori powder, I doubt you'll find it mentioned in any US-published loading manuals. However there is a free online loading manual and an app - I use both.

tac

[aris]

Have settled on a Hornady classic LnL single press , one question do I really need a reloading manual will be using N133 powder but dont know what heads yet or primers

The latest hornady manual has 52/53/55/60gr data for Vhit-133.

https://ibb.co/eKxrQy
https://ibb.co/ghHrQy
https://ibb.co/ceJ9Cd

[223AI]

Have settled on a Hornady classic LnL single press , one question do I really need a reloading manual will be using N133 powder but dont know what heads yet or primers

The main purpose of the manual not the load data, it will set out the process and how to do it safely, if you don't get a manual get "The ABCs of reloading" it is vey good, plenty of sources of data out ther but stick with published data whether that printed or on powder/bullet manufacturers websites.

Some good info and advice online but some very bad too so knowing how to tell the bad from the good is where a manual will help.

[angrybear]

Have settled on a Hornady classic LnL single press , one question do I really need a reloading manual will be using N133 powder but dont know what heads yet or primers

Look for "one book/one calibre, complete reloading manual", like item 292099805112 on the bay.

all the different manufacturers load info for heads & powders for a specific calibre.