reloading for my AR

[T.J.]

ok I took some of your guys suggestions I went out today and picked up a reloading press. I was all set to pick up a Dillion 550 but was talked out of it until I was convinced that I should master a single stage press before moving up to a progessive. I guess I need learn to crawl before I walk

In addition to the press and all the goodies I also picked up the abc of reloading the 2008 sierra reloading manual and a few other books

So my day has been spent reading and cleaning brass tomorrow I set up the press and depriming all the cleaned brass and of course cleaning more brass I've got a ton of it

Maybe by he time my passion for firearms returns I'll have plenty more ammo to shoot

Any unbiased suggestions you pros may have are more than welcome

[The DRis]

Why buy two reloaders when you can buy one? I have never reloaded and I'm going straight for the 600. Save your money and just buy the one. All these guys that say you need a single stage to appreciate the progressive are wrong. What like I don't know what its like to do one bullet at a time?! Ha, I do know, that's why I'm getting a progressive.

[T.J.]

well its to late i picked up a single stage already,

it my understanding that its not recommended to jump straight to a progressive press so that you can fully appreciate it, its so that you can develop a basic knowledge of how every thing works. everything i have read says that reloading is about anal retentiveness and attention to details a lot of this is can be lost when jumping straight in to a progressive set up.

since its my face eyes and hands on the line here i think it best that i start off slow. and work my way up.

since my buddy got me everything at his cost retailers cost when i upgrade i should make out all right. on the deal

he picked me up a complete RCBS Rock chucker supreme reloading kit for right at $200

Sierre .223 match bullets for $11 per 100
hodgdon varget powerder for $14 per pound
and a box of 1000 primers for $17

add a few other items such as a nice digital scale and digital calipers i was out right at $270 and have everything i need to get started. now i just need to find a good reloading bench.

[WyoXD]

For my AR I do all my resizing on my RCBS Rockchucker and the rest of the loading on my Dillon 550. For my low volume reloading and my high precision loads I use my single stage. For everything else I use the Dillon. There are definate advantages to having both, and crawling before you walk is a good plan.

[skol]

Good price on the equipment. Be sure to keep that friend....a friend.
I think you will be just fine with the Rock Chucker. Now's the fun part in finding the best loads for you AR. You need to have plenty of space for all the different bullets, powders and books.

[Lex]

I also do my resizing/depriming on a single stage. Then, go through the rest of brass prep before cranking the volume loads on my 550B.

I think you'll be fine with a single stage to start. You can always mandate it for resizing/depriming like a couple of us here.

Welcome to the addiction.

[T.J.]

I picked up a nice 6ft work bench from sears Friday got everything set up and started off by resizing 100 round of lake city brass

Made my first mistake of not properly setting my decapping rod to the apropriate length and bent it all to hell. At least it was a cheap mistake

Saturday I spent about an hour examining my cases and repriming them


Today I messed with the powder thrower and finally got it all dialed in at 26.5 grains which is about halfway between the minimum & maximum

And finally turned out my first 100 rounds with an OAL of 2.20" using 55gr bthp

So now I am actully getting excited to go to the range and see how I did

[brian40]

Originally Posted by T.J.

I picked up a nice 6ft work bench from sears Friday got everything set up and started off by resizing 100 round of lake city brass

Make sure that LC brass has had the primer crimp removed.

[T.J.]

Originally Posted by brian40

Make sure that LC brass has had the primer crimp removed.

no primer crimps in this brass all the primers sat nice, easy and flush

[bigun]

Make sure that you trim the brass to the proper length. Brass fired out of The AR tends to streatch pretty quickly. I also make sure that the primer pockets are spotlessly clean before seating primers. Taking shortcuts with the brass will make for substandard ammo no matter how high quality the components are. Also make sure to closely follow the overall length demensions listed in the manual and that they will fit and feed from your mags. Pmags are not as forgiving of longer rounds as the alluminum GI mags.