I've decided that if I'm gonna keep my new .45ACP fed without breaking the bank I'm gonna have to start reloading.

The wife is on board & has even hinted that reloading gear might be under the tree this year. :D

After much research I've decided on the Lee Classic turret press. Cabela's has a kit. Seems like it's got everything but the dies. Will I use most of this stuff or would I be better off getting individual items as I need them? Reloading other calibers in the future is very likely.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044122216337a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=1230301&cm_ite=0044122216337a

Yes everything in that kit is needed to some degree. You can stick primers in by hand but the safety primer should speed you up.

The powder drop is alot quicker than a separate powder measure if just making plinking loads and not going for higher accuracy (long distance shooting, ie long guns).

I haven't used their scale but I have a standard lyman beam just like it.

I think the only thing you need to add is dies, powder, primer, casings, bullets. Also add a bullet puller hammer and calipers to measure OAL. Or be lazy and get lymans OAL casing guide. Then you don't have to use calipers and can check the casings against the guide. Sooner or later you will need a trimmer, I went the cheap way and bought the little Lee one you can use in a drill as well.

I would really like to get Hornadys Case prep center. All in all, I use the Lee above and enjoy it.

Edit: don't forget some reloading book of some degree.

Have you read the reloading threads here? That's a good kit, the scale is junk, though. I would buy that kit, add a good electronic scale, get a reloading manual, I think the current Lyman stinks, I would get the Hornady or Speer. Pay attention to the paperwork that comes with the disk setup it tell you about how much each hole in the disks will flow how much of mot popular powders.

Classic Turret is a great press.

I would agree with everything the others have said, except for the part where you can't load accurate ammo without hand-weighing the charges. Extremely accurate .45 ammo will be quite easily obtainable with that setup. By the time 1/10th of a grain in powder charge variation really makes a difference, you're beyond the practical range of the handgun it's being fed through. Rifles are a different story. :)

20fps maximum spread in pistol ammo is common through progressive/turret presses, and more consistent than most factory loads.

I guess I missed the part about non accurate.I use that powder drop with that press. I have made some very accurate ammo with that same setup minus the scale. I recommend it highly for a beginner.

I went through this a while back and came up with the deal in this post:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10569897&highlight=reloading#post10569897

Look for post 17 in there.

Your calibers may vary but you can look around this site for the prices for what you need:

http://www.factorysales.com/html/catalog

I couldn't find any better prices, but that may have changed by now.

www.dillonprecision.com

www.dillonprecision.comEven if you aren't going to buy any of their stuff at least get the catalog...and maybe a calendar too.:grinpimp:

for the part where you can't load accurate ammo without hand-weighing the charges.

I guess I missed the part about non accurate.I use that powder drop with that press. I have made some very accurate ammo with that same setup minus the scale. I recommend it highly for a beginner.

:flipoff2:

It's edited now to correct what was in my brain but not on the screen. I was more thinking in terms of rifles and long distances. I've read a few people whine about the differences in charge drops across differnt forums.

I'll repeat, I love the cheap simple reloading setup that this makes for, I've put about 500 rounds of LSWC's downrange this past weekend an not a single problem besides the pistol being an XD and me not researching the bullet choice. I really like the value Lee gives.

Thanks everybody.

I've looked at Dillon, RCBS, Lyman, etc. The Lee looked to be best bang for the buck for a n00b, and the kit means the wife won't have to work too hard.:D Also, I've always had good luck with Cabelas.

She'll probly just run down to our local gun shop, tho. At least she'll know what I want and the owner can help her out. A set of 4 Lee carbide dies is on the wish list, too.

Now... if I can just find two people on the net who agree re roll, taper or factory crimps....:grinpimp:

I went through this a while back and came up with the deal in this post:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10569897&highlight=reloading#post10569897

Look for post 17 in there.

Your calibers may vary but you can look around this site for the prices for what you need:

http://www.factorysales.com/html/catalog

I couldn't find any better prices, but that may have changed by now.



Yup. That was actually one of the first posts I looked at, IIRC.

Roll crimps are for wheelguns. :p

The Lee factory crimp die *is* a taper-crimp die. It just re-sizeds the loaded round while it's crimping the bullet. Works great in autoloaders for lead and FMJ rounds. Whichever you choose, just don't overcrimp the stupid thing like most newbies do. Especially with soft lead bullets, a bit too much crimp can deform the bullet and reduce it's diameter, and you wind up with innacurate ammo the leads the barrel like crazy.

Just buy a Lee 4-die set and be done with it. It'll come with a Lee Factory Crimp Die, which will be just fine. Whenever the press has the capabiltiy, seat and crimp your bullets in separate stations.

Some people will tell you that the Factory Crimp die is a band-aid to hide other problems, but when working with VERY worn brass, it can cut my reject rate from 1 in 25 to 1 in 500. Well worth it, and my rounds are accurate and consistent. It works for me. :)

Have you read the reloading threads here? That's a good kit, the scale is junk, though. I would buy that kit, add a good electronic scale, get a reloading manual, I think the current Lyman stinks, I would get the Hornady or Speer. Pay attention to the paperwork that comes with the disk setup it tell you about how much each hole in the disks will flow how much of mot popular powders.

Search works again!! This is exactly the information I was looking for. I have handled the scale and was NOT impressed with it, and it was the only thing holding me back from buying the kit. Now, to wait for my tax return, which is going to a wedding, but I have a feeling 100 + the GC I got for Christmas should get me started in reloading from Cabelas.