New to reloading

[tinbum]

I have never used a tumbler and I don't plan to either. There are several reasons for this:

a) If, like me you like the shiny nickel plated cases a tumbler will rub through the nickel in no time and they then look horrible

b) If you tumble empty cases you then have to clean out the media

c) Tumbling does not clean primer pockets very well

I use an ultrasonic cleaner on my cases - no media residue and primer pockets are clean too. Don't buy a shooter's ultrasonic cleaner - they are silly money. Look on the site which must not be named - I think mine is a 1L 50 W unit and it will take 100 .38 spl cases loose or a brick of 50 (I use the plastic cartridge holder found in many branded boxed of 50). Add the cleaning fluid of your choice. I use boiled water with a dash of citric acid and a drop of detergent will work fine. If you have hard water in your area then a single drop of dishwasher finisher will prevent water marks. 10 minutes in the bath and set them out to dry - you can clean 300 cases in an hour in batches of 50 then overnight to dry or cook them up in the oven at 120C for 20 minutes. That said for many years I did not clean cases at all and had no problems, but they don't look so good as nice shiny ones. WARNING: do not let your cases sit in the bath after it has finished - a lot of the very fine muck will settle out on to the cases and if that dries it is really difficult to get it off again.

That's great thanks! Mrs Bum likes the idea of ultrasonic as it works on jewellery too.

Do you have a pic or name to check I'm looking at the right thing?

[JB101]

Just to add to the mix I’ve used dry media , ultrasonic and wet tumbling for cleaning cases and settled on the latter as it gives the best overall results.It also cleans out the primer pockets as well .
Essentially get what works for you, it’s like asking an opinion on what’s the best air rifle - you’ll get loads of opinions.
Clean cases look nice😁and feed better (overall) and keeps the Loading dies cleaner.

[Turnup]

That's great thanks! Mrs Bum likes the idea of ultrasonic as it works on jewellery too.

Do you have a pic or name to check I'm looking at the right thing?

It's a JPL Ultra 7000. Looking on t'bay the new ones seem to be more expensive than I remember. There are other brands but IMO you need at least 1 litre and 50W

[Turnup]

That's great thanks! Mrs Bum likes the idea of ultrasonic as it works on jewellery too.

Do you have a pic or name to check I'm looking at the right thing?

Mine is a JPL Ultra 7000. Looking on t'bay the new ones seem to be more expensive than I remember. There are other brands. IMO you need at least 1 litre and 50W continuous (some of the real cheapies cannot run at full power for very long). Mine is not heated so I just nuke up the solution in the mirowave before use and the heat produced while running seems to keep it hot.

[baldycoot]

If you are getting a US cleaner then you can't go wrong with one of the 2 ltr digital ones from the bay.
I have three different cleaners, and ths one has proven to be the best so far.


To clean the cases I follow the exact same process as the article in the link,

https://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html

[B&W FOX]

Reloading is not cheap or money saving.
After spending out on dies, press, scales, vernier gauges, load trays, pocket cleaners, lube, powder, primers, heads and anything else I've missed this no cheaper than buying factory ammo, but it is a hobby and art form in its self. It's very relaxing and interesting and the results are fascinating.
The only way to make it semi viable is to load multiple calbres and try and use the same powder for each one which is usually possible..
You'll spend more time reloading than shooting !!!!

[tinbum]

Reloading is not cheap or money saving.
After spending out on dies, press, scales, vernier gauges, load trays, pocket cleaners, lube, powder, primers, heads and anything else I've missed this no cheaper than buying factory ammo, but it is a hobby and art form in its self. It's very relaxing and interesting and the results are fascinating.
The only way to make it semi viable is to load multiple calbres and try and use the same powder for each one which is usually possible..
You'll spend more time reloading than shooting !!!!

Yep, but local laws mean I can only buy 2k category "B" factory rounds per year per gun. There are no annual limits on reloading

[thisisdonald]

Besides quantity, reloading is well worth it in terms of developing loads that are more accurate and consistent than factory ammo.
The next thing you'll be looking at is melting pots and moulds!

[tinbum]

Besides quantity, reloading is well worth it in terms of developing loads that are more accurate and consistent than factory ammo.
The next thing you'll be looking at is melting pots and moulds!

what is this "accuracy" of which you speak?

[B&W FOX]

Yep, but local laws mean I can only buy 2k category "B" factory rounds per year per gun. There are no annual limits on reloading

If your planning on reloading 2000 - 4000 rounds per year you need to buy an automated press or you will never find time to go to the range

[tinbum]

If your planning on reloading 2000 - 4000 rounds per year you need to buy an automated press or you will never find time to go to the range

At present I have only 40 rounds per week available where 150 would be preferable, that's nearly 8k a year.
I tend to go Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for about an hour, hour and a half for a shoot and a natter.
That leaves me 164 hours per week to reload 150 rounds, plenty

[DedIdick]

Yep, but local laws mean I can only buy 2k category "B" factory rounds per year per gun. There are no annual limits on reloading

If your planning on reloading 2000 - 4000 rounds per year you need to buy an automated press or you will never find time to go to the range

In that case, unless you wish to spend lots on a Dillon, then a Lee Pro 1000, progressive would best suit your needs. Once properly set up & mastered they're pretty good for pistol calibres. (CDSGLtd can be a little cheaper than Kranks)

https://leeprecision.com/reloading-p...ssive-presses/

[DesG]

Reloading is not cheap or money saving.
After spending out on dies, press, scales, vernier gauges, load trays, pocket cleaners, lube, powder, primers, heads and anything else I've missed this no cheaper than buying factory ammo, but it is a hobby and art form in its self. It's very relaxing and interesting and the results are fascinating.
The only way to make it semi viable is to load multiple calbres and try and use the same powder for each one which is usually possible..
You'll spend more time reloading than shooting !!!!

I beg to differ. For pistol calibres such as 38 and 9mm I can reload 200 to 400 an hour on my lee progressive depending on my mood. With cheap primers as low as 30quid a thousand and home cast bullets (heads, projectiles, ball, whatever) and gm 3 or similar I reckon I’m shooting for 4 quid a hundred. I bought my press in around 1990 so that’s paid for itself many times over. Even starting out you can get set up for under two hundred. I haven’t seen thirty eights for under thirty quid a hundred so that’s quite a saving.

Reloading rifle ammo with bought bullets then the margins are much narrower, and for 12bore, forget handloading except for specials.

[tinbum]

If you are getting a US cleaner then you can't go wrong with one of the 2 ltr digital ones from the bay.
I have three different cleaners, and ths one has proven to be the best so far.

Which one?!