.50 cal newbie....my shopping list...what else...

[Tyson C.]

i am getting into a new sport and would like to know if i'm off to the right start with some reloading equipment. i will soon be purchseing my Arama Lite Ar50A1. (A friend let me shoot his and the rest is history ) what i am going to start out is mostly just shooting rounds to get trigger time with the gun. then down that long road get to where i can do my own bullet matched to gun rounds. i just would like to know if the equipment picked out is a good start.....(i understand that reloading is a long and tedious job, gaining experience and such, but i just think that once i get better the reward is a greater self reward). i have had the pleasure of meeting some FCSA shooters and they have been more than welcome to help, but this site is where i am mostly, so i'm just asking for your guys opinions.

thanks for all the help and let me know anything opinion wise or if you got questions let me know....thanks,

book- Lyman 49th edtion reloading handbook.

scale- Dillion Precision- D-Terminator electric scale-- http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/25213/catid/7/D_Terminator_Electronic_Scale

powder feeder- Omega 2-speed powder trickler-- http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1378

tumbler- Lyman Turbo Tumbler 1200-- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=450403

case trimmer- Lyman 50BMG Accutrimmer-- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=148563

RCBS Casemaster Gauging tool-- https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Ma...oductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=3180

Calipers-- i have digital that read out to .001

press options---(let the cat fight begin ) which of these do you see being more long term and more precise in the long road...or whats your other opinion..

Hornady-- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=436679

Lee-- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=845765

RCBS--- http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=108136

 

[UnSafe]

Opinions..

Press- Lee cast. I use mine for all of my low volume stuff and it easily resizes everything I've ever put into it. Their .50BMG dies have a good rep and you could pay for the rest of your stuff with the difference in price between it and the RCBS.

Scale- Electronic scales are a PITA to me. I prefer balance beam scales. RCBS 1010 or Lyman 1000. Both are reliable and less finicky.

Hope you can get a decent supply of brass and pulled bullets to get started on. What kind of scope are you going to hang on it?

For powder, it might be worth taking a trip up to Powder Valley or ordering from
http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html
http://hi-techammo.com/

 

[Tyson C.]

i will probably start off with this SS scope--- http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-10x42-Tactical-Riflescope-P500.aspx i have done some reading and they seem like a good reliable starting scope and offer lifetime warranty. BUT if plans work out and the money falls into the right place then i will just skip the SS and go to a Night Force--- http://nightforceoptics.com/nightfo...-22x50___5_5-22x56/5_5-22x50___5_5-22x56.html

i was thinking of getting some beam scales to have on hand. so i will take a pick between what you have thrown out there. i was just unforsure what to look for.
i have already met some guys in the .50 cal community, that got me started on this adventure and i will be shooting with them at some events. they have there connections with brass and some other odd and end things so hopefully that will work out, but you can never have connections in my book so thanks for all the advice....

 

[MoBoost]

Lee Press - might need to put a better ball on it for 50 BMG - other than that it's SOLID!
Beam scale.
Good powder thrower - 250gn is quite a bit to measure any other way quickly.
RCBS trickler - sturdiest I tried.

 

[jimktm520]

I am getting into reloading 50 BMG also. I have been looking for a "go, no-go" gage for inserting loaded rounds into to determine if everything is within chamber specs. Do you know of anything like this?

 

[Blitzfike]

On the Lee 50bmg press, I bent the press handle first thing resizing military brass. Fortunately, I had an extra Dillon 550 handle left from when I replaced it with the roller handle and I was able to use it. No problems since. The lee handle on mine was a hollow rod and didn't hold up to some of the stress I put it through. I have been very satisfied with the Lee press and dies other than the handle issue. I use the Lyman DPS-1200 to dispense powder for my 50-BMG loads. I use the Lee case length guage and trimmer for keeping them within spec. Blitzfike

 

[Tyson C.]

I am getting into reloading 50 BMG also. I have been looking for a "go, no-go" gage for inserting loaded rounds into to determine if everything is within chamber specs. Do you know of anything like this?

my UNEXPERIENCE guess would be to use a guage of this sort... http://www.neconos.com/category/Concentricity-Wall-Thickness-&-Run-out-Gauge-10 and digital calipers. Now if i have been reading right (because i have never physically done this...ever)??? that once you load the bullet into the gun and shoot you will have the measurements you need from that fired casing round, to help "match" the next rounds to the chamber of that gun, so that the bullets are consistant threwout your batch to match the gun.?. using the guage above will help you figure out 1.Banana curvature of case. 2.Wall and neck thickness variations. 3.Case head squareness. 4.Banana curvature and out-of-round shape of individual bullets. 5.Runout of seated bullet. 6.Total runout of loaded cartridge per case. i know i have read some where about figureing out how deep to get the projectile deeper into the throat...may be someone will ahve that answer. also upon my readings i see where some of the competition guys measure out readings of there caseings before/after there reloading process and put there bullets in groups that are extremely similiar or same on the readings. i see using a caliper guage to measure over all length of the bullet to help with loading of the projectile, so that case length becomes somewhat repetitive/accurate.

now i will assume that you will have to maybe work with brass fired from "your rifle" in order for this entire process to work. doing rounds for other guns i think would call for maybe getting brass fired from that gun and working from there.

my "goal" is to get into the whole competition thing and start learning...so unless your reloading just to shoot half ass accurate rounds then i am sure there may be lesser steps. sitting around the camp fire and listening to .50 cal competitors and the things i have read, the tips and tricks and knowledge that go into this are a never ending rabbit hole . BUT i like the the things that go on behind the curtain when it comes to long range shooting. just never have really taken the time to get into it till now.

hope i may of helped.... if not then don't bag me to hard, like the title says= .50 cal newbie