Author Topic: New to reloading  (Read 463 times)

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Offline armycar01

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« on: March 24, 2005, 09:23:38 AM »
I am just getting into reloading, and I am buying the Lee anniversary reloading kit, and I have a few questions. I will be reloading 8x57mm Mauser and 9mm for now, but I don't know what dies I need.For the 8 mm which do I need, the Pacesetter dies, Collet dies, Crimp dies, or RGB dies?For the 9mm should I get the Carbide dies, 4 die crimp set, or the crimp die? (I am going by what I see in Cabela's). I am not sure of the difference of these dies, all except for the price.
Also, what powder should I get for these cartridges? I know to make sure I use the reloading manual, just wondering ahead of time.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide me.

Offline Questor

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« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2005, 10:01:31 AM »
For stuff like this your best bet is to call Lee. See them at leeprecision.com. I believe they have toll free number.  You will find that all of the major reloading supply companies are very interested in helping you succeed. Good luck.
Safety first

Offline Catfish

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« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2005, 03:52:47 PM »
To start with I will not buy anything Lee makes. I have been loading my own since 1965 and have been disapointed with everything that I have owned from Lee. But, I load alot and their stuff don`t hold up to the quanity I load. That said, you will need a shell holder and a set of dies for the rounds you want to load. The shell holder you get for the 8 x 57 will be for a .473 case head and will work for the .30-06, .308, .243, .22-250 and a bunch more. The shell holder for the 9mm will take a .394 case head and won`t work with much else. You will be able to load the 8 x 57 ammo with a 2 die set and the 9mm ammo with a 3 die set. I use about every manufacture of die, or have at one time or another, and can tell you that you can`t go worng with RCBS dies. I never crimp my rifle ammo unless it has alot of recoil and will pull the bullets in the mag. with it`s recoil and you won`t have that problem with the 8 x 57. The 9mm ammo will need some crimp, but you can do that with your seating die and will only need a 3 die set for the 9mm. If you are going to load alot I would recomand carbide 9mm dies and if your going to load cast bullets I would recomand Dillon Dies because they are so much easier to clean the wax build up from.

Offline jgalar

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« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2005, 05:38:41 PM »
If you have more than one Mauser that your loading for I would get the pacesetter dies. If you only have one rifle you can get either the collet dies or the pacesetter. You will need to use case lube with the pacesetter dies - it comes with the kit.

The collet die set doesn't crimp, but you don't need to anyway. Some folks crimp and some don't.  The collet die only neck sizes so the brass you use must be from the gun you are reloading for. It is a 2 die set. The neck sizer and a bullet seater.
1) decap and neck size only die
2) bullet seating only die

The pacesetter dies full length size and have a factory crimp die. It is a 3 die set, but if you don't use the factory crimp you only use 2.
1) decap and full length size die
2) bullet seater and optional crimping die
3) factory crimp die it only crimps - you adjust the 2nd die to not crimp if you are using this.

Both sets come with a shell holder, dipper, and load data. The RGB dies are a full length sizing 2 die set without the shell holder, dipper, factory crimp die and data.

For the 9mm the 3 die carbide set is what you need.
1) decap and size die
2) expand the case mouth die
3) seat bullet and crimp die

They will come with some loading data and powder recommendations to use the included dipper.

I would also get a dial caliper, a manual and to trim the 8mm cases:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=257748

Offline myronman3

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« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2005, 05:58:54 PM »
i remember being 21.   at that time i didnt have alot of spare change.

that being said, i have to disagree with catfish.  i think the lee aniversary kit is perfect for a guy who is just entering into reloading; so much so that i used one to get started, and continue to use it for my 270 and 30-30.  

 it is a good way not to sink a fortune into reloading equipment and get your feet wet.  and it will produce ammo every bit as good as the others.

Offline jgalar

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« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2005, 03:32:08 AM »
For reloading the 9mm on a single stage press you may want to think about the Lee speed die. There is only one die that performs all the operations. It is easy to use/setup and inexpensive.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=636438

http://www.leeprecision.com

Offline Wlscott

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« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2005, 03:44:20 AM »
The first thing you should buy is a Reloading manual.  If I'm not mistaken, the Anniversery Kit comes with one.  Now go buy another one.

Read them both cover to cover.

That said.....The Lee products will do you just fine.  I use Lee, RCBS and Hornady dies.  The only problems I have had with the Lee dies is the rubber o-ring in the lock ring has a tendency to come out of my 44MAG sizer die.  But then, I've had a problem with the Hornady dies also.  The clip that holds in the seater plug on the seater die broke and the plug came out the bottom.  A call to each of these companies fixed both problems.  


Good luck and welcome to the world of reloading.
You haven't hunted......Until you've hunted the hunters

Offline tomaldridge

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« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2005, 04:33:29 AM »
Buy carbide dies for your 9mm.  Using carbide means you don't have to lube (you might have to slightly lube the neck, but probably not).  9mm cases are small, and a pain to handle.  $5-10 extra for a set of carbide dies will save you many hours of aggravation later.  I've used Lee, Lyman, & RCBS, and I recommend Lee for a start.  Lyman's M die is very helpful if you use cast bullets.  Check with the boards to see if cast bullets are recommended for your handgun.  

If you're going to dip, and you're counting pennies, check out Red Dot for the 9mm.  It's done very well for me in my 9mm's, and my 3.5 grain load behind a 124-5 grain bullet gives me about 2000 loads out of a pound.  I used it for 15 years before I bought a powder measure.  Now it's 6 grains of HS-6 in the measure.

Offline Castaway

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« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2005, 06:32:35 AM »
You're a brave man asking advice on reloading.  Eveyone has an opinion and 90% are correct.  Personally, for rifle dies, I'd stay clear of Lee.  Not because of the quality of the product, but because of their system of "locking" the setting once you get it to where you want it.  You can add another lock nut and solve that problem though.  For pistol dies, I'm a Lee fan through and through.  Their dies allow you to combine two steps in one; that is, charging and belling.  Saves a step in the process and will speed your production time considerably if you add another thing to your Kit.  That is Lee's disk powder dispenser to take advantage of their die's two step capability.