Setting up to reload
Without question, start with a solid bench and proper component storage.
Without a good workspace, you won't use the reloading set up.
Proper storage is needed for safety and to keep the components in good shape.
Then reloading data- multiple reference books to cross check your safe load ranges.
A notebook and something to write on. If your trying to split hairs, you need to keep good records of how stuff works.
1) good o-frame single station press (There are plenty of choices - RCBS, Lyman, Hornaday, etc.) so long as its stiff and when you thread in the dies that stop at the same place. I would avoid turrets, simply because its just one more place to ware, flex, or otherwise alter the consistency of your ammo.
2) Quality dies and shell holder. Once again consistency is the name of the game.
3) powder measuring - rifle powder is typically long grain, and does not feed through powder drops well. You tend to shear grains and that will affect the burn rate of a grain or two. This is the hair-splitting end of things but that's where you said you wanted to play. So why put money into a drop. Get a good mechanical scale, a set of lee powder scoops, powder dribbler and funnel. Thats all that's thats needed at start up. A digital system that weighs every charge consistently is probably where you will wind up.
4) A set of calipers, Face it, you need to be able to keep track of the little changes, like over all cartridge length, neck length, etc, and its useful for resetting dies when you tweak the wrong direction.
5) Case trimmer. At 1000 yards your shooting bottle neck cases and they change a bit each time you reload them. If the neck gets too long and won't open properly, pressured go up fast.
good components. Uniform brass, quality projectiles and powder matter.
If your building a gun, I also recommend reading "rifle accuracy facts".
Its a bit dry, but the author explains the theory and results of tests and how various features affected the accuracy of a bolt action rifle.
The author spent is professional career developing and testing big bore military hardware. Its quite obvious he has a sound theoretical grasp of the topic and is not just a hobbyist spitting out stories.
Most of it seems quite sound, and will help you put your rifle building money into the stuff that makes the most difference, rather than into what folks like to charge for.
Without question, start with a solid bench and proper component storage.
Without a good workspace, you won't use the reloading set up.
Proper storage is needed for safety and to keep the components in good shape.
Then reloading data- multiple reference books to cross check your safe load ranges.
A notebook and something to write on. If your trying to split hairs, you need to keep good records of how stuff works.
1) good o-frame single station press (There are plenty of choices - RCBS, Lyman, Hornaday, etc.) so long as its stiff and when you thread in the dies that stop at the same place. I would avoid turrets, simply because its just one more place to ware, flex, or otherwise alter the consistency of your ammo.
2) Quality dies and shell holder. Once again consistency is the name of the game.
3) powder measuring - rifle powder is typically long grain, and does not feed through powder drops well. You tend to shear grains and that will affect the burn rate of a grain or two. This is the hair-splitting end of things but that's where you said you wanted to play. So why put money into a drop. Get a good mechanical scale, a set of lee powder scoops, powder dribbler and funnel. Thats all that's thats needed at start up. A digital system that weighs every charge consistently is probably where you will wind up.
4) A set of calipers, Face it, you need to be able to keep track of the little changes, like over all cartridge length, neck length, etc, and its useful for resetting dies when you tweak the wrong direction.
5) Case trimmer. At 1000 yards your shooting bottle neck cases and they change a bit each time you reload them. If the neck gets too long and won't open properly, pressured go up fast.
good components. Uniform brass, quality projectiles and powder matter.
If your building a gun, I also recommend reading "rifle accuracy facts".
Its a bit dry, but the author explains the theory and results of tests and how various features affected the accuracy of a bolt action rifle.
The author spent is professional career developing and testing big bore military hardware. Its quite obvious he has a sound theoretical grasp of the topic and is not just a hobbyist spitting out stories.
Most of it seems quite sound, and will help you put your rifle building money into the stuff that makes the most difference, rather than into what folks like to charge for.
