Help me get my reloading started
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Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
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URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=254
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:18pm
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Topic: Help me get my reloading started
Posted By: 5thelement
Subject: Help me get my reloading started
Date Posted: May 05 2006 at 2:47pm
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Sorry to bring this up again guys...but I am finally ready to buy my reloading equipment (Midway is giving me like 20% off one order for my b-day). Unfortunately my mind frame has faded out of this conversation we had awhile back. So here is my question once and for all. If I buy the Lee hand press (Midway Product #: 624416 ) What other tools/dies/pieces will I need to get to be on my way to reloading (minus the bullets/powder/and primers)? If possible please list the midway part number. I just need the bare minimum to reload a decent cartridge. I will only be shooting from one enfield. Thanks Guys! |
Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 05 2006 at 5:59pm
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OK try this for simplisity Dies = LEE collet neck
size (includes shell holder & one pwder dipper & a load
chart) Midway #801209 Chamfering tool Lee Midway
#389104 Case lenght cutter ,lock & stud (for trimming
cases ) Midway #625878 + 476992 also Lee Powder dipper set
Delux Midway #943305 That should be enough gear top get you well & truely started Also although the Lee dies come with a illistrated guide to reloading ! Please invest in a reloading manual Dave |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 05 2006 at 9:12pm
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It's ALOT easier loading Black Powder !!lol
I Lee smelter, 1 lee die. Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: allan
Date Posted: May 05 2006 at 10:44pm
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http://www.reloadersnest.com/ - http://www.reloadersnest.com/ here ya.. have a read on this site if you wish...ima learnin dave! ------------- 'SAVIOUR OF OUR SKIES BOYO!' |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 1:58am
Once again Grasshopper You show wisdom beyond your years &nbs p; http://www. thisblokesawizard.com Dave |
allan wrote:Posted By: 5thelement
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 7:33am
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Thanks Dave, I knew you'd come through... one more thing do I need a tumbler??? |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 1:24pm
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Here you go, THE cheap loading primer... http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/51 - http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_note s.htm/51
Ed
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 2:13pm
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do I need a tumbler??? I can hear the crys of Herisey! But I have never owned a Case tumbler & I would shoot more rounds off in a week than some would use in a year ! If my cases etart to get too grotty I just give em a once over with a rag & Brasso or a polishing cloth . I think a tumbler really comes under the heading of "he who dies owning the most toys is the winner ". That's only my opinion though Dave |
Posted By: allan
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 3:06pm
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alright..lookin at the websites on reloading procedures..whats a rough time it takes to reload 20 rounds from GO to WHOA? its lookin pretty complex. ------------- 'SAVIOUR OF OUR SKIES BOYO!' |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 3:43pm
This is a hard one to answer Al!It depends on what set up your using ! with the most basic of Handloaders I would hazard to say roughly (with a little practice ) 30mins on the out side. With a O type or C type press 20mins (a little quicker with a powder dropper) Turret type with Powder dropper 10mins Fully progressive press with everything that opens ,closes & has the flashing lights & horns 10mins ! On my Lee Turret I load roughly 100 rnds a hour ! Of course with practice you can improve on these times if your really desperate to prove how fast you can reload ! I personally just plod along & make doubly sure that I have'nt made any mistakes Which brings me to the second question normally asked ? Is reloading safe ? Yes & No !!!!! Look there is nothing dangerous about crossing the road if you obey the fundermental rules & don't do anything stupid ! Yet if you walk out into rush hour traffic without a care in the world .It becomes a case of is there a God ? Reloading is the same ! The trick is to follow the basic saftey princeables ! Take your time ,don't allow yourself to be distracted from the task at hand .Just have enough Powder ,primers (seperated ) on the bench at the time to reload . Not having a open tin of powder & several hundred primers laying round on the bench (Don't laugh as I'v seen this in another Pro shooters reloading room ) If you choose to use the Old Lee Hand loader ..... Please get a priming tool the old methord of using a rod to hammer a primer into place scares the Hell out of me !!! You place the case over the primer ,insert the rod down the inside of the case & tap the rod with a hammer (lightly) to seat the primer! I've only ever heard of one case of a primer going off with this methord but........ On the up side of rollin your own you have more control of the quaility of ammo than relying on Factory ammo which although is all automated still relies on the attention of somebody for quality control Dave |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 5:45pm
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Don't forget to use case lube. Nothing worse than getting a case jammed in the die when you resize them. ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 06 2006 at 9:59pm
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Allan tells me he uses KY jelly for that.
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: May 07 2006 at 12:20am
Just makes sure there aren't any rough spots on the forsite hoadie. you could have probs with your farmer giles if there is.  ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: May 07 2006 at 5:40am
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Hold the order, 5E. Dave H, was thinking last night ( yes,it is a rare occurence) if 5E is getting the hand press, will he be able to comfortably apply enough pressure to use the neck sizing collet die? The Lee instructions say to apply 25lbs of pressure with a regular press and that has a better mechanical advantage. 5E, you might call Lee and see what they say about the collet die in the hand press. Ed. |
Posted By: 5thelement
Date Posted: May 08 2006 at 11:06am
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Well here is the final list and sent order to MidwayUSA..... Lee Classic Loader 303 British---Lee Auto Prime Shellholder #5---Lee Chamfer Tool---Hornady One Shot Case Lube 5.5 oz Aerosol---Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner---Lee Cutter and Lock Stud---Frankford Arsenal Plastic Ammo Box 50-Round Flip-Top---Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 303 British---Lee Improved Powder Measure Kit---(and because of Dave)Lee Auto Prime Hand Priming Tool Happy Birthday to Me! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 08 2006 at 11:50am
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Whadya do - rob a bank ?
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: May 08 2006 at 12:53pm
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Sounds like a great set up! If you really enjoy it, you can upgrade to a press and dies later and have everything you need.The hand priming tool is easier on the nerves than wacking the primers with a hammer.... Oh, and make sure you have a plastic or rubber hammer for the lee loader, no metal! Have you decided what you want to get for primers and powder? Ed |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 4:15am
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Hammer??? Primers?? How come we haven't got an emoticon with fingers in the ears?? ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: 5thelement
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 4:23am
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Ed.... Haven't decided on primers and powder yet...could use some advise there. Thinking bout shooting 150 or 174 grain bullets, probably FMJ or Spitzer SP any ideas/recommendations? |
Posted By: Ed Hill
Date Posted: May 09 2006 at 11:22am
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Tony, if you haven't used a "classic" Lee loader, priming involves centering the cartridge over a primer, and whacking a rod down into the cartridge. This is supposed to be safe, but can result in a flinch when using a hammer! 5E, read the load data at 303 British.com http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/303Page.htm - http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/303Page.htm It shows several powder choices and also has a good article on the Lee Loader. I picked up some reloader 15 for my current loads, but haven't had a chance to shoot them yet. Whinchester or CCI primers are popular. the last issue of Guns magazine had several loads for 303, Reloader 15 shot well in each of 3 rifles. Where will you be shopping? If you get into Sacramento, the shop at Auburn and Watt ( off I-80) sells primers by the 100 or 1000 so you can get a couple small boxes to try. They also have a pretty good powder selection. On bullets, some rifles shoot the boattail bullets well, some don't, so I went with plain base sierra 180 grn pro hunters. Ed |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 8:53am
I'll stick to my RCBS primer tool its less nerve wracking  ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 1:02pm
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I'll stick to my factory loads..Left to my own devices....I'd probably fly higher than ANy of you!
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: allan
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:21pm
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well hoadie its like this...if a shell goes bang in my face, i can go crumple my gun dealers face.. if IM the "creator" of the bang in my face..well id have to go have a few beers and ponder what i did wrong. i might start reloading! ------------- 'SAVIOUR OF OUR SKIES BOYO!' |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:40pm
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I'll stick to reloading my beers.It's much safer.(I really don't look very good with powder burns on my face..& the family would take a dim view of me blowin the place up time & again!)
Like I said..left to my own devices... Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: allan
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 12:06am
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i was only kiddin.. my mrs calls me sex fingers, cos everything i touch..well ,you know the rest! ------------- 'SAVIOUR OF OUR SKIES BOYO!' |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 11 2006 at 2:58am
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Yeah _ I hear ya there, mate! I didn't tell ya before, but I'm actaully King Midas' ugly brother.Everything HE touches turns to gold...everything I touch turns to s**t!
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 3:26pm
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5E I reckon you've made some wise choices there & will have no
problems! WE always have said the rod methord of priming is a true
nerve test ! as Ed pointed out get your self a light Shot hammer
! The type with the plastic ends. also down the line invest in a Bullet
puller for when things dont go as planed ! also remember to wear saftey
glasses when reloading! Dave |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: May 14 2006 at 5:08pm
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Glad you didn't mistype on SHOT hammer Dave. Safety glasses, spare underwear, vallium, first aid kit and a few stiff drinks. ------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 11:59am
To say nothing of a long stick with a skull on top & a inflated
Dingo bladder tied to it as well as other trinkets! This is waved over
the completed rounds! On the Full Moon whilst danceing round a fire
Stark Naked (your body) covered with pigs Blood & Chicken feathers
! Opps ! Sorry! That's only Benchrest shooter's methord of loading! Dave |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 5:52pm
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Is that how they do it in Taz ?
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: allan
Date Posted: May 15 2006 at 11:16pm
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no hoadie.. thats just the wedding "after party" for our beloved tasmanians. ------------- 'SAVIOUR OF OUR SKIES BOYO!' |