Reloaders quality vs affordability?

[Rob404]

Have you looked at Brownels or Midway and I wouldn't go after a re-loading kit half the stuff they have you won't use after a month . get yourself the basics and build from there.

 

[Shootist43]

Rob404, for an experienced reloader what you said might be true. However for a newcomer getting a kit (because he doesn't know exactly what he needs) will provide him with everything necessary to produce reloads. I once purchased a "kit" for use at my cabin and have in fact reloaded for my 35 Whelen there. At home I have 5 presses available to me along with all the trimmings. I bought the kit off eBay for about half its' normal value. It seemed like Santa, and Mrs. Clause unknowingly purchased the same kit

 

[Longwalker]

you can buy the full line of the Lee and Hornady equipment at Higginsons' powders in Ontario. https://www.higginsonpowders.com They also are distributors for Hodgdon powders, Hornady and Winchester components, and a bunch of other good stuff for reloaders. Or try Sporteque. https://sporteque.ca/en/10-reloading, or XReload https://x-reload.com
Don't buy your reloading stuff from the USA stores suggested by others above. Ammunition components will be illegal for them to export, reloading equipment will be expensive.

 

[PARA45]

Another good source is:

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/

Not sure if they'll ship to Canada or not.

Get yourself a couple of reloading manuals, or the one for the bullets you are planning on reloading. There is some great info and you'll have just about all the details for reloading.

Also check RCBS website, they have some great instructional videos, and handloading guide.

https://www.rcbs.com/

 

[shootist~]

you can buy the full line of the Lee and Hornady equipment at Higginsons' powders in Ontario. https://www.higginsonpowders.com They also are distributors for Hodgdon powders, Hornady and Winchester components, and a bunch of other good stuff for reloaders. Or try Sporteque. https://sporteque.ca/en/10-reloading, or XReload https://x-reload.com
Don't buy your reloading stuff from the USA stores suggested by others above. Ammunition components will be illegal for them to export, reloading equipment will be expensive.

There you go.

I would suggest you use Midway USA and their many reviews and user friendly web site - just to window shop. Then follow Longwalker's suggestions on who to order from within Canada.

If at all possible, talk to a local reloader or two and look over their equipment and process.

 

[Ray B]

I have not used either of those brands of reloading equipment, but with any reloading what determines the equipment is the actions needed to restore the case and seat the bullet. If loads are kept to mid 40K pressures and the cases are fired in the same rifle then the strength of a heavy duty press is not needed. To reload only the neck needs to be resized (rather than a full length) so light duty tools may be used. These can be either inside adjusting or outside adjusting, however the outside adjusting works the brass less, so the cases generally last longer. Dies such as LE Wilson with the correct bushing sizes by the outside of the neck rather than an expander button being pulled through the neck that was pressed to smaller than necessary dimensions. these dies may be used with just a mallet or a light duty press such as made by K&M. Such set-ups are very popular with match shooters and while slow compared to the bigger operations, they produce some of the most accurate ammunition available.

 

[Shootist43]

Ray B, I agree with what you said about reloading for match rifles and Bench Rest shooters although you didn't mention them. However most folks don't hunt with 40K loads. Cast lead bullet shooters are the exception.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My 2¢, For optimum accuracy, full length resizing with a shoulder bump if necessary is the accepted standard for consistent rounds. I use a Lee press with Redding type S bushing dies for one of my rounds, a 28 Nosler. It's a 65k round, and full length resize every time. It shoots less than 1/2 moa to 500 meters and never any issues with resizing.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Gentleman I appreciate the knowledge your passing along. In saying that we're getting away from what I hope to accomplish.
I'm looking to reload one caliber (45-70) to approximately hornedy 325 ftx pressures for one rifle.

I hunt with a total of three firearms one rifle a single shot Henry 45-70, one 12 gauge double and one .410 double both side by sides. The longest shots I have fired have been on cattle which couldn't be caught and those have been sub three hundred yards. We simply don't have open country enough for multiple hundred yard shots at game.

Can we safely say a lee o type press can be relied apon to load approximately 100 rounds a year for one rifle ? That is the question I'm left with.

I truely appreciate all that you have contributed to furthering my limited knowledge on the subject. Thank you all.

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Skinnerblade, Yes, the cheapest Lee will suit your purposes. There's no need to dive further down the reloading rabbit hole.

 

[shootist~]

Lee makes seveal different presses with or without buying a kit. Certainly they willl work.

Read the reviews for this one ( see below), which is a kit. They even spell out what else you will need. Not what I use (a Redding T7 with lots of other gear), but I would not hesitate to get one as a starter or one rifle set-up.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013011111?pid=423081

 

[perttime]

Yes. A Lee o type press will do it just fine.

Looks like Lee's kits have just about all you need. In addition, you'll need the correct dies and shell holder, and callipers to ensure correct Cartridge Overall Length.

 

[Shootist43]

Shootist +1 and maybe a hand primer. I've had problems getting the priming system on similar presses to work.

 

[JimP]

For a single cartridge and straight walled at that I would just get one like this one from Lee

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1013004049?pid=121744

Calipers don't need to be anything fancy and for a long time all I used was a loaded factory case, and once your dies are set up you don't really need that. The calipers would be more for the case length before and after you trim them

 

[HWL]

I've produced some hundreds of rounds of 223 and 308 ammunition with the Lee Loader: No leverages, you pound the case into the die with a rubber mallet or something similar.....

100 rounds of .45-70 Government a year and nothing else, I would load with the Lee Loader.

HWL

 

[perttime]

100 rounds of .45-70 Government a year and nothing else, I would load with the Lee Loader.

HWL

+ scales, powder funnel, rubber mallet and callipers. A hand priming tool would be nice.

 

[JimP]

Sadly I don't believe that they make the old hand held smack the case with a mallet loader anymore.

However there is this one

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1013017131?pid=650614

 

[perttime]

Sadly I don't believe that they make the old hand held smack the case with a mallet loader anymore.

However there is this one

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1013017131?pid=650614

They still list it:
https://leeprecision.com/lee-loader-45-70-govt.html

 

[Goose Cracker]

I'm looking to reload one caliber (45-70) to approximately hornedy 325 ftx pressures for one rifle.

Bottom-line on top: That Lee press would be fine for reloading for one caliber in my opinion.

However, note that to load Hornady FTXs require a specific "trim-to" length due to a longer ogive than other 45-70 bullets. My Hornady manual says trim to 2.040", which is different than the trim to length for bullets like the 300g or 350g flat points/round nose of 2.095". I use the Lyman EZEE Trim with a cordless drill for most trimming, but would need to modify the pilot to trim to the shorter length for the FTX. I highly recommend the EZEE trim, btw. Inexpensive, very easy to use, and effective.

This whole thread has me thinking a bit though. Reloading isn't really for part-timers or folks that want to cut corners (*not* implying that's what the OP is doing, btw).

If I can find factory ammo:
1. with components that I like
2. that shoots well in my rifle(s) and
3. for an acceptable price

Then I shoot factory ammo. If not, I reload. To be safe and effective, reloading requires good equipment, good components, a willingness to read/continuously learn, and *acute attention to detail* IMHO. I've read all the manuals, watched loads of how-to's, have been reloading for years and I still learn new things all the time.

I started out with a Lyman kit that I found on sale. I've replaced everything the kit came with but the press, the reloading trays, and the powder funnel over the years. I love to reload and find it incredibly rewarding, but a basic reloading set up, even for a single caliber, ain't cheap.

Quick review of MidwayUSA suggests that a 45-70 reload with a 325 FTX would cost about $0.95 per round, only accounting for powder, primer, and bullet (excluding brass, which is $0.50 to $0.95 each). A box of the ammo is only $1.60 each ($32 per 20). Basic Lee kit on sale for $140 currently, plus quick trim die (which may not even work with the FTXs), plus 45-70 dies, now you are at $184. So breakeven is 283 reloads excluding brass, labor, a reloading manual, and a few other little things. Assuming you could get everything on sale and free shipping, btw. Analysis all very much US-centric, of course.

I'm not saying don't reload, I'm simply suggesting that reloading to save money isn't all it's cracked up to be.

 

[tarbe]

I'm not saying don't reload, I'm simply suggesting that reloading to save money isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I would qualify the statement above with an “always” between isn’t and all.

My preparation for a Cape Buffalo hunt would have cost about $7,000 more with factory ammo than it did with my hand loads.

YMMV.

Tim