Reloading Equipment

Discussions of powders, bullets and loading information.

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77 sharps
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by 77 sharps »

Glenn
You didn’t state what kind of shooting you want to do with your BP rifle. If you’re planning on competitive shooting then you will need a good press and a lot of other expensive equipment. But if you are going to hunt with your rifle or just enjoy informal shooting such as ringing the steel at the range or busting rocks across a canyon, you don’t need a whole lot of equipment.

To load for your .45-70, all you need is a Lyman 310 tool and a die set, hand de-capper, and make yourself a drop tube and follower. Get a 20 pound Lee lead pot, a Lyman ladle, and have Steve Brooks make you a 500-525 grain .444” paper patch mould. A .444” bullet wrapped with 9# onion skin from thepapermillstore.com will fit perfectly in the mouth of your case after neck sizing with the 310 die. You do not need a powder scale to safely load black powder and with a little practice you can scoop and strike off very consistent powder charges. This is a lot more than the Buffalo or meat hunters had in the 1870’s.

This is pretty minimalist, but I won a silhouette match with ammunition loaded with my 310 tool and paper patch bullets. Don’t be intimidated by PP bullets. They are very easy to make and load.
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by SSShooter »

From one Glenn to another (at least we know how to spell our name).
Been using a Lee Classic Cast single-stage press for many (too many to recall) years. Added a Redding Boss single-stage when I won one at a match drawing. Both are excellent, but the would go with another Lee if forced to pick between the two. Have tried everything from a Dillion 650 progressive to Lee's cheapest aluminum over the years and Classic Cast single-stage is the best to me. KISS principle works well here.
Hornady bayonet die adapters make swapping dies quick & easy.
For an electronic scale the GemPro 250 does everything. Quick, easy to use and accurate. Can't imagine using a beam scale these days. The GemPro is much smaller and handier.
I throw powder with a B&M and trickle powder with my fingers. If the OP wants to spend the $$ he could look at the RCBS Chargemaster. Several here use it with BP and report good results.
For dies, other than FL sizing, the cheaper the better for BP. Lee's $13 loading die with expander plugs works great and price is right. Once fire-formed BP cases need very little work. I anneal once per season.
For case trimming I prefer Forster. Again, quick and easy.
For a priming tool I use the Century. Expensive, but very well made from stainless rather than plastic and very consistent. Was an essential tool when I shot high-power and am happy to have it leftover for BP.
For loading blocks the Frankford Arsenal #8 are the ones for 45-70. Cheap and stack easily when full or empty.
The 25# RCBS pot with built-in PID controller is the way to go if you can find one (like everything else today, is usually sold-out). The 20# Lee is a good alternative.
Glenn
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bpcr shooter
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by bpcr shooter »

Im with Glenn as well, Lee Classic Cast. I think Im up to 15k rounds on that press and its still going strong
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GSmith
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by GSmith »

Thanks to all for your responses. I have quite a few months to get what I need.
Ray Newman
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by Ray Newman »

I would not wait too long for what you need.

From what I see at the local shops and read other shooting sites, reloading and casting equipment and reloading components is in very short supply and in some cases, just not available.
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by Kurt »

Ray,

The reason it is, maybe it's all coming from China ???
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by Ray Newman »

Kurt could very well be. Except for a set of 303 Savage dies and shell holder, I haven't bought any reloading equipment in probably 10+ years, so I have no idea where it now all originates. And the few times I see something marked "made in the US", I think that's soon going to be a collector's item.
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GSmith
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by GSmith »

So far all vendors that I have looked at are out-of-stock on all presses, dies, and other items that I need. Only able to find a RCBS shell holder #14 in stock at Graft & Son.
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Don McDowell
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by Don McDowell »

With this covid stuff reducing production, and the hyper increased demand from folks jumping into the shooting/reloading world, supplies are going to be tight for awhile. Keep searching for equipment, but be mindful of folks that scrounged things up and are trying to sell them at scalpers prices.
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J.B.
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by J.B. »

Like quite a few here my first purchased press was an RCBS Rockchucker back in about 1977/78. A solid, simple uncomplicated 'O' frame that is still
bolted to the bench today.Then I got caught up in what I 'thought' I might need ..and the equipment race started. I've been very impressed with Redding products and purchased an Ultramag and also a T7. I use the T7 mostly now..mainly because of its uncluttered and open access at the front. Were I starting from scratch...and the products around actually in stock, I'd likely get a Redding Big Boss ( Single stage offset O frame ). If you are looking at options to mount the press..then check out the ' Inlinefabrication' website. Never got caught up in progressive presses but they do have their uses probably more so if you are a high volume competitor in rifle and pistol with smokeless. A good single stage press is hard to go past. Once again I'd probably opt for Redding dies over the others but then thats personal preference as to their fit and finish. This reloading can be as simple...or as complicated as you care to make it and thats the 'curve ball' we all deal with. A lot of people can make a great apple or berry pie ..but no two make it the same way. :wink:

J.B.
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by SSShooter »

GSmith wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:01 pm So far all vendors that I have looked at are out-of-stock on all presses, dies, and other items that I need. Only able to find a RCBS shell holder #14 in stock at Graft & Son.
Am sure they prefer "Graf" rather than Graft. :lol:
Don't be afraid of used. Its tough to hurt a press as they are simple & well built. Look on eBay and GunBroker and Craigslist, etc. You never what you can find for a good price.
Glenn
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by Glen Ring »

Look on ebay. RCBS presses are plentiful...as are 45-70 dies. IF you know the basics of reloading Black powder and Pyrodex you're OK..But get any book written By Mike Venturino and Garbe about BP shooting.
I use an electronic scale ( 50 bucks) and a Lyman mold for bullets..about 75 bucks. Talk to all the locals about shooting , there will be many different ways that's THE way in their opinion. Use the info in a SAFE manner( all the old guys at your range will agree on this) and have some fun. HAVE SOME FUN. Molding , lubing, loading bullets and then hitting a ram at 500 meters is a hoot.

My wife only picked up a rifle about 12 years ago at age 50...she has shot handguns with me, bows, and several kinds of Silhouette rifles, but Black Powder cartridge Silhouette is her Favorite..by a long shot. Give it a whirl. If you're ever in Oklahoma, give us a shout..we'll help you anyway we can.
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bpcr shooter
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by bpcr shooter »

If you have a few months before you are buying, these are the cats meow from all I can read and watch. I dont know how much you want to spend and the price is quite high but quality aint cheap just as our rifles aint cheap. They sure do look nice though!!!

https://www.area419.com/product/the-zer ... ing-press/

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desert deuce
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by desert deuce »

In Mexico they have a saying (dicho), "Si Compres Barato, Compres Mas Hace Rato"

Translated to Border English for meaning, "If you buy cheap, you will be buying again in a short time"

Evolving over time into what is durable and useful over more than 60 years of reloading metallic centerfire rifle, revolver and pistol, also shotgun I have found that the Mexicans are on to something. :wink:

Magnifying on the understatement that loading black and smokeless are different animals I had to learn that lesson the hard way. You can take that path should you choose to do so.

In the final stages of evolution I still have and use a RCBS Rockchucker, RCBS ProMelt lead furnace, Saeco Lube Sizer and Redding Dies for over thirty years which proved their usefulness when I started loading black in 1996. I still have some of the other Items I bought before 1979. Believe it or not I still use the Lyman 457132 Postel and 457125 Government Bullets. The large Lyman deburring tool and taper crimper are indispensable when loading .45 Caliber BPCR brass for my purposes.

The difficult part actually is organizing your loading space and setting it up for your exclusive use. Believe it or not someone had the audacity to think a reloading room could be dual purposed as a sewing room. :roll:
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SSShooter
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Re: Reloading Equipment

Post by SSShooter »

And we didn't know you were a seamtress. :lol:
Glenn
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