Another Shopping List - Your Input

[RX8er]

Okay, here is my shopping list for spending some Christmas money. Me and the wife plan to shot a minimum 300 rounds each of 9mm and 40cal a month. We can shoot self load at the range and plan to do our best to collect the brass around us. Please feel free to critique my list, add to or modify. I've done a lot of reading and think I have everything. I think I am going to start off with buying bullets before I start casting myself.


Questions:
1. Some reading I have done says a tumbler is a must while others say it is nice to have? Some say just use a pillow case and shells and through in you dryer for an hour....
2. Where is the cheapest place to buy brass?

Lee Load Master for 9mm Luger
Lee .40 S&W / 10mm Auto Deluxe Pistol Carbide 4 Die Set
Lee 9mm Carbide Factory Crimp Die
Ultimate Kinetic Bullet Puller
Lee Precision Reloading 2013 Catalog
Lee "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition" Manual
Lee Pro Case Feeder Small
Lee Extra 5 Hole Turret
Lee Case Conditioning Kit
9mm Luger Lee Case Length Gage/Shellholder
40 S&W Lee Case Length Gauge/Shell Holder
Lee Safety Powder Scale
Lee Powder Funnel
Lee Resizing Lubricant 2oz Tube

Tumbler - DIY or Harbor Freight
Tumbler Media - ????????
Brass - http://www.blue-star-inc.com
Lead - http://www.bayoubullets.net/
Primers - http://www.blue-star-inc.com
Powder - Unknown

[Piney]

ummmmm..... dryer ? I know I'd be sleepin' on the couch if I did that LOL

I use a Dillon vibrating model. I run it in the garage. I use a timer so I can start it and let it run then shot off as I usually forget it's on.

#30 (if I recall) Corn Cob media 40 lb sacks from Grangers (grangers dot com)
I bought 2-3 sacks a good while back. I store it in Home Depot "homer" buckets.

tip--= I place 1/2 a dryer sheet in the tumbler. It seems to help capture some of the dust/carbon from the media, making it last a bit longer. I also add about 1/2 a capful of NuFinish car polish once in a while. Too much and the cases get sticky.

[RX8er]

ummmmm..... dryer ? I know I'd be sleepin' on the couch if I did that LOL

Yes, I would be too. This will probably be my ammunition (pun intended) to get a tumbler. I'll find the link where I was reading about this. they were also talking about using an ice cream maker...

tip--= I place 1/2 a dryer sheet in the tumbler. It seems to help capture some of the dust/carbon from the media, making it last a bit longer. I also add about 1/2 a capful of NuFinish car polish once in a while. Too much and the cases get sticky.

Great tip, thank you. How much brass are you running at a time in your tumbler?

[Piney]

ummmmm..... dryer ? I know I'd be sleepin' on the couch if I did that LOL

Yes, I would be too. This will probably be my ammunition (pun intended) to get a tumbler. I'll find the link where I was reading about this. they were also talking about using an ice cream maker...

tip--= I place 1/2 a dryer sheet in the tumbler. It seems to help capture some of the dust/carbon from the media, making it last a bit longer. I also add about 1/2 a capful of NuFinish car polish once in a while. Too much and the cases get sticky.

Great tip, thank you. How much brass are you running at a time in your tumbler?

300-400ish 9mm

[Jumping Frog]

1. Some reading I have done says a tumbler is a must while others say it is nice to have? Some say just use a pillow case and shells and through in you dryer for an hour.... NOPE, get a tumbler.
2. Where is the cheapest place to buy brass? Range pickup. Or, I have plenty of .40 S&W for sale but I am fresh out of 9mm.

Lee Load Master for 9mm Luger Alright. My Loadmaster has worked well.
Lee .40 S&W / 10mm Auto Deluxe Pistol Carbide 4 Die Set Alright.
Lee 9mm Carbide Factory Crimp Die Not really necessary. Consider it an option. You can still seat and crimp with one die.
Ultimate Kinetic Bullet Puller Yep, you need one of these.
Lee Precision Reloading 2013 Catalog It is a freebie when you place an order, so might as well. Everything is online anyway.
Lee "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition" Manual That is Lee Part # 90277 for $13.99. One option to consider is the Lee Anniversary Pack Part # 90700, which includes both the manual and a backup single stage press for $35.00
Lee Pro Case Feeder Small NOPE, already comes with the Lee Loadmaster 9mm kit.
Lee Extra 5 Hole Turret Yep, good idea
Lee Case Conditioning Kit NOPE, completely unnecessary for 9mm and .40 S&W.
9mm Luger Lee Case Length Gage/Shellholder NOPE, your shellplate comes with the Lee Loadmaster 9mm kit.
40 S&W Lee Case Length Gauge/Shell Holder NOPE, the Loadmaster Shellplate 19s, part # 90920 works for both 9mm and .40 S&W.
Lee Safety Powder Scale It is functional, and it works, but it does not have magnetic dampening and is frustrating to use. I'd suggest either the Redding #2 ($80) or the PCBS 5-0-2 or 5-0-5 beam scales ($68 to $82).
Lee Powder Funnel NOPE, completely unnecessary. The Lee kit will have a powder measure and the powder through expanding die.
Lee Resizing Lubricant 2oz Tube NOPE, unnecessary with carbide dies and pistol calibers. If you do decide to slightly lubricate your cases, Hornady One-Shot is a better choice anyway. The Lee lubricant is messy and a pain in the neck

Tumbler - DIY or Harbor Freight The Smart Reloader 787 is also a cost effective choice. I bought mine as a backup tumbler and its does a fine job. I'll run 1,000 9mm cases through it at a time.
Tumbler Media - ???????? Cheapest and most effective is Zilla Walnut shells. Here is 25 quarts for under $20 shipped from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-English-Wal ... B000OQLU68
Brass - http://www.blue-star-inc.com out of business
Lead - http://www.bayoubullets.net/ I'd like to try them sometime. I have also been happy with Missouri Bullet Co. http://www.missouribullet.com/
Primers - http://www.blue-star-inc.com -- out of business
Powder - Unknown

If you cannot source primers and powder locally, then http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ is the best online source. However, you'd need to buy in bulk to offset the HazMat fee. Know anyone locally you can do a group buy with?

[RX8er]

Thanks for the help.....

.

NOPE, get a tumbler.
Okay.

Range pickup. Or, I have plenty of .40 S&W for sale but I am fresh out of 9mm.
How much do you have and how much you want? You can PM me.

Not really necessary. Consider it an option. You can still seat and crimp with one die.
I like options.

That is Lee Part # 90277 for $13.99. One option to consider is the Lee Anniversary Pack Part # 90700, which includes both the manual and a backup single stage press for $35.00[/b]
Thanks for the suggestion.

NOPE, already comes with the Lee Loadmaster 9mm kit.
Sorry, should have been the large for the 40 cal.

NOPE, completely unnecessary for 9mm and .40 S&W.
NOPE, your shellplate comes with the Lee Loadmaster 9mm kit.
NOPE, the Loadmaster Shellplate 19s, part # 90920 works for both 9mm and .40 S&W.
Okay, Is this not what I need to check to make sure the shell is not too long?

It is functional, and it works, but it does not have magnetic dampening and is frustrating to use. I'd suggest either the Redding
#2 ($80) or the PCBS 5-0-2 or 5-0-5 beam scales ($68 to $82).
Their website says: "Magnetically Damped and Approach To Weight" Is this not the same?

If you cannot source primers and powder locally, then http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ is the best online source. However, you'd need to buy in bulk to offset the HazMat fee. Know anyone locally you can do a group buy with?

I don't know anyone. I'm going to ask at the range as I know that a couple folks load for their evil AR and one that loads for his .357.

[Jumping Frog]

Range pickup. Or, I have plenty of .40 S&W for sale but I am fresh out of 9mm.
How much do you have and how much you want? You can PM me.
See http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=59776

NOPE, already comes with the Lee Loadmaster 9mm kit.
Sorry, should have been the large for the 40 cal.
Yes, you should get the large case feeder for the .40 S&W. Forgot the sizes were different. Sorry.

NOPE, your shellplate comes with the Lee Loadmaster 9mm kit.
NOPE, the Loadmaster Shellplate 19s, part # 90920 works for both 9mm and .40 S&W.
Okay, Is this not what I need to check to make sure the shell is not too long?
Actually, this reminds me of the point I forgot to make earlier. You'll also need a set 6" calipers to measure diameter and length. I suggest steel dial calipers, not plastic, and not electronic. The electronic ones have bad battery life issues. As far as a case gauge goes, simply field strip your pistol and make sure the rounds drop freely into your barrel. You can buy a case gauge if you want, but you surely don't need one to start reloading.


It is functional, and it works, but it does not have magnetic dampening and is frustrating to use. I'd suggest either the Redding
#2 ($80) or the PCBS 5-0-2 or 5-0-5 beam scales ($68 to $82).
Their website says: "Magnetically Damped and Approach To Weight" Is this not the same?
Not concerned with what the website says. Years of reading people talk about their Lee Safety Scale on some large reloading forums has me convinced that the Redding or RCBS are more effective choices. Basically, the one thing you really need to be able to do is weigh the powder charge effectively if you want to ensure you don't blow up your gun or your fingers . This isn't the area to skimp.

[RX8er]

Thanks again for all the help.

I have a couple sets of various calipers I can use that I have calibrated annually. Thanks for the info on the scale. Looks like the Lee is not the one I need.

[RX8er]

Does anyone use the Bullet Feed Kit?

[RX8er]

Another question....

Name your top three books to have on your reloading shelf

Name the top software to have on your computer

[Jumping Frog]

Does anyone use the Bullet Feed Kit?

Yeah. It is touchy and needs to aftermarket mods to work reliably.

Consider trying it after you've already been loading a couple of years and are an old hand at this. You do not need it now.

[lfinsr]

I'm just getting started in this reloading endeavor also but I'll second Jumping Frog on the scale. The Lee scale will work but is finicky to get adjusted correctly. It uses a vernier scale for tenths and I found it very hard to use. I purchased the 5-0-5 from Cabela's with a gift card I received and returned the Lee.

YMMV
Larry

[RX8er]

I'm just getting started in this reloading endeavor also but I'll second Jumping Frog on the scale. The Lee scale will work but is finicky to get adjusted correctly. It uses a vernier scale for tenths and I found it very hard to use. I purchased the 5-0-5 from Cabela's with a gift card I received and returned the Lee.

YMMV
Larry

I ended up ordering the Redding Model #2 scale.