What Equipment Do You Need to Start Reloading Ammunition for Beginners - Reloading 101 

Nicely done overview.

Reloading is a quiet hobby, the exact opposite of shooting, but just as fun. It is possible to make less expensive than factory ammo, but not always. It is possible to make better than factory ammo, but to do that one must be more precise, more exacting and less willing to take shortcuts than in an ammo factory. And it is possible to eventually save money on ammo, but you have to make a lot of ammo sometimes. Primers, powders and bullets sometimes have shortages. Buy extra and store it properly. I'd recommend reading all the chapters in the manual before reloading the first round. Then every year or so, open that book up again as a refresher. Complacency causes problems. There are hazards to reloading besides blowing up a gun inches from your face. The primers contain lead which has long term toxicity and causes brain damage. The powders are extremely flammable and the nitroglycerine in the powder can be absorbed through the skin and cause medical side effects such as dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, nausea, vomiting, erectile dysfunction, unexpected drops in blood pressure, just to name a few. Most of us wear safety glasses, many even wear nitrile gloves. (more costs) Another piece of equipment that many of us use is a primer pocket reamer or swage. This is for ammo that has the primer pocket crimped. These are typically part of a run made for military or police use. You can push the primer out, but getting a new one in can be hard, impossible or you may even detonate a primer. I haven't, but my brother in law blew up a primer trying to insert it. Swaging uses brute force to move the brass out of the way. Reaming cuts it away. Both are acceptable. For more details there are videos out there and probably some info in the manual you get. I started with a reamer because it was cheap, I went to swage when I felt I could afford it because it was faster and easier on the grip muscles. Manuals don't have all the possible load data. Powder companies publish their own load data online or in catalogs many will send catalogs with load data for free. I often refer to Hodgdon's website. Many of us keep each batch of ammo we make separate from other batches. That way if there is a problem we can isolate it. That is hard to do if you just make ammo and throw it in an ammo can with all the rest. Zip lock bag with information including date, powder, primer,powder load, bullet and overall length is pretty good ID. Some even put their rounds in special little plastic boxes from Plano or other companies. Many of us also keep all that information in a separate book or spreadsheet. Scales and calipers require a calibration check. Many scales come with a 50 gram weight. 50 grams is typically way heavier than the amount of powder loaded into a round. A lot of us have smaller calibration check weights. I use a 1 gram and a 0.2 gram weight for checking. I also picked up a couple inexpensive gauge blocks, a one inch and a 3 inch. This gets me a couple standard points to check when I am reloading handgun or .223 rounds. Warning, you cannot legally sell your reloads unless you have a specific FFL. And if something goes wrong with your ammo, do you have a lawyer. People will ask you to sell them ammo when they find out you make it. I have invited a friend to use my equipment, my supplies to make some ammo. It was a good evening together. I had the brass all cleaned and ready to go. It cost me 12 bucks so that he could make a couple boxes of 380 when there was none on the shelf a while back. Your reloading press will require routine cleaning and lubrication. Me, I wipe off the ram and pivot at least every time I use it and put a couple fresh drops of oil on. When I am decapping (removing primers) from dirty brass I clean the press more often. Dies also require routine cleaning. I use a q-tip and a quick drying cleaner either a bore or brake cleaner spray. (more money) Rifle resizing dies that require lube are the most likely to need more cleaning. Until you get good at it, pull the die out and look every hundred rounds max. Some lubes build up quicker than others. You will learn. Some companies sell shell holders with the dies. Check what you are buying before buying a shell holder. Most shell holders fit multiple calibers. 380 and 223 take the same shell holder, 45 ACP and 762 Nato take the same shell holder. To the best of my knowledge, all companies dies and shell holders fits all other companies presses. Instruction sheets and manuals. SAVE THEM. There's also a lot of information on company websites. SAAMI, Has some great FREE drawings of all the dimensions of ammo. More than found in the typical reloading manual. Downloadable PDF's. Great stuff, highly recommended. SAAMI is the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) is an association of the nation’s leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components. SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government and tasked with: creating and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality, and coordinating technical data. They are the ones that publish the specifications for all ammo, all chambers that the industry uses. Do a quick search for SAAMI. I now reload 3 brass calibers and 2 shotshell calibers. My total investment in equipment is $1,060. Including that and raw material cost I broke even after reloading 750 .223 Remington, 1,500 9mm Luger, 150 .380 auto, 175 20 gauge and 110 410 bore. Many of the 410 bore were buckshot loads that work great for 37 cents a round. Compare that to a buck or more for defensive 410 rounds. This is not intended to replace a manual or training, this is just the ramblings of an old engineer. Thank you and good luck.

Thank you, my grandpa recently passed away, and I inherited his entire reloading station and I was just seeing what I was missing. This video is exactly what I was looking for.

One can put the tumbler on the back burner. A guy can start with an old peanut butter jar, dish soap, and lemon juice and do quite nicely. A chronograph may be more useful. I'd recommend a guy stay away from electronic doodads while getting started. Those things get expensive. A guy can find load data and manuals online and can save some money there, too. Use the tumbler and electronic money for powder, primers, or bullets. Don't expect to save any money reloading. But expect to be shooting ammo tailored to your rifle and your needs, not someone else's. One essential not mentioned is a log book to keep load recipes and notes in, but a new guy will quickly figure that out. Progressive presses are not for new guys, so if you pick one up, don't be calling yourself a noob. 55+ years doing this and the press I still use the most is my old single stage. One powder thrower I still use dates back to 1929. A guy can make this a very complicated and expensive hobby, but it doesn't have to be that way. You'd be surprised how much reloading "equipment" can be found in the kitchen trash, garage, and shop. A powder trickler is nice (Christmas gift idea to someone), but an old spoon can work equally as well. You have a good list. Thanks for the vid.

First piece of equipment is bank account with $ in it.

Hornady Classic Delux Kit came with everything except a tumbler and dies. Has the manual, press, case care, electronic scale, caliper, thrower, thrower base, oal guage, shell holders, case lube, primer seater and a few more things.

Sweet man. Best intro to any subject matter I've ever had. Simple, short and everything I need to know. Thanks!

Very lucid and calm slow explanation. You have a flair for this

Making your own guns is the only DiY that is useful.

Good video. As far as the brass tumbler, a mop bucket, hot water, dishsoap and white vinegar work for me. There's also a product called Lemoshine (spelling?) that will make your brass nice and shiny. Lemoshine in place of the vinegar will give you the shine. I found the vinegar a little cheaper. The only other thing to cover is "Why are you reloading?" I spent ~$500 to get started, that was the Lee Classic Turret kit, 2 die sets and extra loading head for the press. The kit included Lee's flow through powder measure. How good can the ammo be? How patient are you? My bolt actiond .223 can make a 0.5" hole with five rounds @ 100yrds. It is a hunting rifle. For good rifle ammo I highly recommend the Magneeto Speed Sporter chronograph. Yes it will affect point of impact, I don't go hunting with it installed. I started reloading so I could shoot more for the same cost. After getting the chronograph, I reload to shoot more accurately. Be careful, keep in mind your purpose for reloading. This can be a very deep rabbit hole with many branching passages. As stated in the video, #1 get a reloading manual first. Read it, spoiler alert, it is dry reading, Sahara Desert dry but in that reading you will learn if you want to reload or not. For less than the cost of a comparable hunting round you can tune the round to your rifle. That is what makes reloading so enjoyable to me. The other big thing. You, the reloader, become responsible for the ammo you make.

This video was so easy to understand thank you so much I was kind of getting overwhelmed with other videos that had really complex machines😅

Great video. Very informative, thanks!

Wonderful video man thanks!

Thank You for breaking it all down, it’s appreciated

Everyone seemingly forgets that yes you spend 1500$ on this stuff BUT after a year of shooting you actually saved QUITE a bit of money if you actually shoot on a weekly or biweekly basis like i do 250 rounds of 308 lasts me maybe half a session each weekend

Of course depending on what equipment you select, to get started can be from 800.00 to 1500.00, buy once cry once get what you can afford.

Great video, thank you! All that would be needed after all that is specific size bullets and specific powder for your loads and specific primers.

Well done, thanks

Amazing nobody in this great of detail

Thank you

Great step by step instructions! Thanks K2!

Lyman ultimate reloading kit

I just commented on another video about this and glad I found this

Excellant step by step loading

Thanks for posting.

I learned a lot of this vid. Thank you

Thank you.

Check weighs. 11th but should be higher. Needed before throwing your first charge.

THANKS K2 Defense, your videos are easy to follow and understand. The Best !!

I use to reload when I was a kid. I think it was more for my dad’s therapy.

Excellent!

"7" Safety check's from time u pic up ur brass, untill cartridge complete. Single (yes) staggers only. U progresseses, will forgo 5. What are these 7? Safety limits u place on urself as u begin.(The safety points. U will determine

I thought about doing this, but it sounds like too many things to buy and set up. Its almost like having a mini factory. i just might melt my casings into brass ingots instead =[

Great video. Just need a boost in audio. It s a bit soft on mobile devices

Great intro vid.

What do you recommend? Do one round at a time or do 20 (or another amount) at a time?

So this can only do up to 30 - 06 with this So you would have to buy another for bigger calibres ?

ادوات جميله كوني في حاجتها كيف احصل عليهافي اي موقع اوشراإها

Not really helpful, as a previous poster me tioned... money, would ha e been nice to mention ballpark cost for middle of the road equipment. Guess I will look elsewhere for that first and foremost variable to see if it's even worth the effort

I preferhand priming also The lee tool is preferable to The piece of 💩 crap RCBS, I have both

Can you reload steel case ?

Ill just go buy at the store lol

Its so expensive it like $800/$1000 just for half the things you need i can easily buy more ammo then ill ever use lol what an expensive hobby...

Judas priest