[BLACK LION]

I would like to compile a list of things that a first time reloader will need to gdet started loading thier own 6.8spc cartridges.

I would like to take andvantage of hornadys free bullets.

I have an idea of what I need but I am not sure if I should just buy a full kit and dies or just buy everything piece by piece????

 

[paulosantos]

I'd get the:
1. RCBS Small base dies with the Seating Die.
2. LEE FCD Crimp Die.
3. Hornady Headspace Gauge Kit.
4. Trimmer.
5. Tumbler.
6. Scale.
7. Bullet Puller.
8. Calipers.

 

[Eliminator]

I think a couple of good reloading manuals are important to the first-timer. I'm fairly new at it but must say my Speer #14 Manual has been an invaluable asset - especially the first eleven chapters. Those chapters cover info related to safety, types of presses, dies, scales, troubleshooting, and much more. This is in addition to the actual load data. It has been, and continues to be, my main source for reloading information in general. I also use the Sierra and Lyman manuals.

Also a solid, well built, heavy duty bench makes for a steady work station.

 

[Mark21]

Also get a "How-to" reloading guide.. The ABC's of Reloading and Precision Shooting Reloading Guide are two must-haves.

 

[BLACK LION]

I will pick those up... thanks guys! I will also be trying to load .50dtc projos and eventually .45acp.
I am starting with the 6.8 though becuase there is a wealth of knowledge floating around here on reloading it. I have been saving my cases since I started shooting it.


question...??



What is the pn# of the hornady new dimension 6.8spc die set... I only see the full length and not the one I am supposed to be using..????

 

[paulosantos]

What is the pn# of the hornady new dimension 6.8spc die set... I only see the full length and not the one I am supposed to be using..????

I used to be a fan of the Hornady dies, but the more I used them, I started having problems with the Sizing dies. The pin kept brkaing or the pin would not remove the primer once in a while. I switched to the RCBS Small Base dies and they work much better.

 

[Mark21]

Black Lion -- I'm prob not telling you anything you aren't already doing, but just in case, do yourself a favor and do a ton of research AHEAD of the purchasing. Paulo's list is a great start, as are all the manuals and books mentioned, but those are just the start.

Asking what you need to reload is like asking what you need to shoot 5.56. I can say you need a 16" AR, VFG, adjustable stock, and an optic.

But then the questions start: middy or carbine? A2 vs Vortex? 1:7 or 1:9 twist? Eotech vs Aimpoint? Free float rail or not? flip up front sight or A2 post? Wylde or .223 or 5.56 chamber? Etc Etc ETc. It could take a month of research to really know what you should buy.

Save yourself a lot of headache and especially $$$$ by figuring it all out first from others and reading many of the posts here and elsewhere. I've been doing this three years and I'm still learning, and still finding "better" equipment and methods. Best of luck!

 

[JerBear]

Black Lion -- I'm prob not telling you anything you aren't already doing, but just in case, do yourself a favor and do a ton of research AHEAD of the purchasing. Paulo's list is a great start, as are all the manuals and books mentioned, but those are just the start.

Asking what you need to reload is like asking what you need to shoot 5.56. I can say you need a 16" AR, VFG, adjustable stock, and an optic.

But then the questions start: middy or carbine? A2 vs Vortex? 1:7 or 1:9 twist? Eotech vs Aimpoint? Free float rail or not? flip up front sight or A2 post? Wylde or .223 or 5.56 chamber? Etc Etc ETc. It could take a month of research to really know what you should buy.

Save yourself a lot of headache and especially $$$$ by figuring it all out first from others and reading many of the posts here and elsewhere. I've been doing this three years and I'm still learning, and still finding "better" equipment and methods. Best of luck!

Great advice!

I've been reloading--off and on--for about 25 years and I've discovered most of my preferences are different than what my friend likes. Have you decided what press you want. IMO you need to think long and hard about the type and style of press you choose; unless you've got the money to buy two. I've had a Pacific (now Hornady) single stage since the early 80's and it has served me well. I've considered upgrading to a turret style (Lyman) or progressive (Dillon, RCBS or Hornady), but I just can't justify the expense. Personally, I like to take my time and make consistently percise loads vs. cranking out 500 rounds in a session. Others will prefer the speed and quantity approach. Of course, there's no right or wrong answer, unless you buy a single stage press and want to produce 500 rounds an hour with it. Of course my advice is to start out slowly with a new or good used single stage press, some "how-to" books and the stuff Paulo recommended; then read, learn and practice.

To me the most time consuming part of reloading is case prep, so last year I invested in the RCBS Trim Mate https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Ma...creenlabel=index&productId=3170&route=C11J037
It has become one of my favorite reloading tools--saves time and it's easy on my old hands.

Have fun choosing your gear, laying out your bench and learning your new hobby!

 

[yblow]

I tried a set of hornady dies to and broke the first time i used sent it back and got redding set with comp seat die and there pretty much bullet proof and solid. Dont buy a cheap scale if your going to get mechanical go with the rcbs 1010, if you want to go electronic go rcbs chargemaster 1500 best thing i bought rite on everytime. Also calipers maybe two thats all i do is check and double check the tools also hornady comporator set that is ectremly helpful to me. But one thing i found out was reloading saves you money in the long run but be prepared to spend some money up front on equipment its like building a motor the more you spend the faster and tougher the motor.

 

[BLACK LION]

Black Lion -- I'm prob not telling you anything you aren't already doing, but just in case, do yourself a favor and do a ton of research AHEAD of the purchasing. Paulo's list is a great start, as are all the manuals and books mentioned, but those are just the start.

Asking what you need to reload is like asking what you need to shoot 5.56. I can say you need a 16" AR, VFG, adjustable stock, and an optic.

But then the questions start: middy or carbine? A2 vs Vortex? 1:7 or 1:9 twist? Eotech vs Aimpoint? Free float rail or not? flip up front sight or A2 post? Wylde or .223 or 5.56 chamber? Etc Etc ETc. It could take a month of research to really know what you should buy.

Save yourself a lot of headache and especially $$$$ by figuring it all out first from others and reading many of the posts here and elsewhere. I've been doing this three years and I'm still learning, and still finding "better" equipment and methods. Best of luck!

I appreciate your advice. Thank you!

 

[BLACK LION]

Great advice!

I've been reloading--off and on--for about 25 years and I've discovered most of my preferences are different than what my friend likes. Have you decided what press you want. IMO you need to think long and hard about the type and style of press you choose; unless you've got the money to buy two. I've had a Pacific (now Hornady) single stage since the early 80's and it has served me well. I've considered upgrading to a turret style (Lyman) or progressive (Dillon, RCBS or Hornady), but I just can't justify the expense. Personally, I like to take my time and make consistently percise loads vs. cranking out 500 rounds in a session. Others will prefer the speed and quantity approach. Of course, there's no right or wrong answer, unless you buy a single stage press and want to produce 500 rounds an hour with it. Of course my advice is to start out slowly with a new or good used single stage press, some "how-to" books and the stuff Paulo recommended; then read, learn and practice.

To me the most time consuming part of reloading is case prep, so last year I invested in the RCBS Trim Mate https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Ma...creenlabel=index&productId=3170&route=C11J037
It has become one of my favorite reloading tools--saves time and it's easy on my old hands.

Have fun choosing your gear, laying out your bench and learning your new hobby!

Agiain, great advice.

I am not interested in cranking out a sheet load of cartridges at one time so I am settling on a classic press. I am going to get the hornady one becuase of the 100.00 free bullets. I found one for about 115.00. I am also going to get their powder measurer to take advantage of the free bullets. I found one for 54.00...
I will most likely try to get my hands on the rcbs small base dies instead of the hornady ones as suggested above... I may buy a set of hornady ones just for the free bullets with the assumption that they wont last long...
I am compiling a list of supplies and staging a work area out on the back porch

I know I need or should get.
-manuals
-dies
-press
-powder measurer
-tumbler and cleaner
-scale
-micrometer / calipers
-puller
-trimmer
-stuck case remover
-case care kit
-annealing system
-neck brush
-deburring tool
-misc tools and accessories.....

I have a lot of ground to cover....

thank you guys!!!

 

[BLACK LION]

I tried a set of hornady dies to and broke the first time i used sent it back and got redding set with comp seat die and there pretty much bullet proof and solid. Dont buy a cheap scale if your going to get mechanical go with the rcbs 1010, if you want to go electronic go rcbs chargemaster 1500 best thing i bought rite on everytime. Also calipers maybe two thats all i do is check and double check the tools also hornady comporator set that is ectremly helpful to me. But one thing i found out was reloading saves you money in the long run but be prepared to spend some money up front on equipment its like building a motor the more you spend the faster and tougher the motor.

I appreciate the help

 

[paulosantos]

Get the Dillon Case Lube. It i the best I've used.

 

[Jamesb74]

+1 on the Dillon case lube.
If you are staging on the back porch be careful that it is enclosed or that you pull the press and components into the house. With the effects that the enviroment can have on ammo completed it is double what it can do to the individual components. Don't expose moisture or continuous sunlight and heat to the components on a continuos basis. And besides that have fun.

 

[Mark21]

Paulo turned me on to the Dillon Case Lube after the Hornady "One-Shot" got me "Twice-Stuck" on back to back sizings.

The stuck case kit can be made on your own for half price. Tim had posted a link to it somewhere. Basically a tap, a screw and some washers does the trick.

Also, the annealing is far from necessary. Neat to have, but I'd put that last on the list.

 

[Tat2]

I used to be a fan of the Hornady dies, but the more I used them, I started having problems with the Sizing dies. The pin kept brkaing or the pin would not remove the primer once in a while. I switched to the RCBS Small Base dies and they work much better.

For the money I actually like the Hornady dies much better than the RCBS. Especially for seating flat based bullets like
the Sierra PH. The seater has a guide to help keep the bullet on the case as it goes up to get seated. And you have to be careful and not try to deprime a crimped miltary primer pocket or you will break the decapping pin. Get the cheap lee
decapping die, its like $8. And use it to get primers out, then use the sizer to resize. And if money is no object the Redding Competition seater is hands down the way to go. Forrester is second in my mind for a seater. Forrester makes a kick butt sizer too.

I started w/ an RCBS Rockchucker kit and went from there. Maybe Hornady has a kit and free bullet deal?

T

 

[paulosantos]

For the money I actually like the Hornady dies much better than the RCBS. Especially for seating flat based bullets like
the Sierra PH. The seater has a guide to help keep the bullet on the case as it goes up to get seated. And you have to be careful and not try to deprime a crimped miltary primer pocket or you will break the decapping pin. Get the cheap lee
decapping die, its like $8. And use it to get primers out, then use the sizer to resize. And if money is no object the Redding Competition seater is hands down the way to go. Forrester is second in my mind for a seater. Forrester makes a kick butt sizer too.

I started w/ an RCBS Rockchucker kit and went from there. Maybe Hornady has a kit and free bullet deal?

T

The Hornady Seating Dies are actually very nice, especially with the Micro seating kit. The only issue with the Hornady Deating die is that sometimes the sleeve gets jammed up and I have to turn the sleeve to free it up. It does it with the 556 and 68 Hornady dies. The sleeves are nice and do help to guide the bullets.

 

[tojones]

I'd get the:
1. RCBS Small base dies with the Seating Die.

I have the RCBS 13301 2 Die Set which are new/unused. I have a RRA rifle. Will these work ok or do I need to get the small base set? I see conflicting information in regards to regular dies and small base dies.

 

[paulosantos]

I have the RCBS 13301 2 Die Set which are new/unused. I have a RRA rifle. Will these work ok or do I need to get the small base set? I see conflicting information in regards to regular dies and small base dies.

Yes, they will work just fine in your RRA.