Recommendations for newbie reloader

[MoDug]

After reading some post here, I decided to venture into the reloading arena. Stopped by a couple shops, but they were sold out of most everything related to reloading. Including the Reloader device. I asked a few questions, but they really didn’t seem too interested in talking about the subject since all supplies were gone. I did pick last bag of brass they had.
Do you guys have any recommendations for a basic Relaoder (brand) and powder choice. I’ll be range shooting with 44mag.
Thanks,
MoDug

[Cofisher]

Oh, trust me, the suggestions are coming. I use a Lee single stage press. Simple, safe and effective. Others will chime in with their choices. Read as much as you can on safety and procedures. Good luck.

[Greyhawk]

After reading some post here, I decided to venture into the reloading arena. Stopped by a couple shops, but they were sold out of most everything related to reloading. Including the Reloader device. I asked a few questions, but they really didn’t seem too interested in talking about the subject since all supplies were gone. I did pick last bag of brass they had.
Do you guys have any recommendations for a basic Relaoder (brand) and powder choice. I’ll be range shooting with 44mag.
Thanks,
MoDug

Wow... O.k. The first thing that I did when I got into reloading was to buy a Lee reloading kit. I loved the press but discarded most of the rest. So, when my son got into reloading I encouraged him not to buy a kit. This is what I encouraged him to get at the time:
Lee Turret Press
Electronic scale (I think he got a frankford arsenal scale)
Hornady digital caliper
The Book: The Beginners Guide to Reloading Ammunition by Steven Gregersen
1 2 or 3 reloading manuals. I have a Lyman manual, Lee and Hornady.
Dies: for .45 Colt (which would be similar to your .44 mag) I use a Lee 3 Carbide die set with a Lee factory crimp die for a total of 4 dies. these I leave set up in the Lee 4 hole turret press head. So I just change out the heads when I switch calibers and the dies are already adjusted to where I want them.
for powder measuring if you want to be more traditional I would get a RCBS balance beam scale. (I don't like the Lee) Or if you want to go full bore get the RCBS Chargemaster 1500 (which will set you back about $450)

So, this is the setup I encouraged my son to get. I also got him a case tumbler for Christmas. After you get your setup then you can decide about powder (H110 is pretty popular I think for 44 mag), bullets, brass, primers, etc. Or, in these kind of days you may want to get your list together and pick up things as you see them. Look around and you might be surprised, for instance there is a gas station about 30 miles from me that carries a lot of reloading supplies and equipment. You may even want to check out your local Craigslist too.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[RanchRoper]

Assume you read this but tons of info from members...

https://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6436

[runnin n gunnin]

Hey MD, Welcome to the forum.

I think greyhawk said it all. Loading is the same as Chevy, Fords, and Dodges. I am a Chevy guy, my son a Ford.

I very much agree with everything that GreyHawk said in his post. My only difference is I use the Redding turret press and Redding dies. Dies are a little more money but you get what you pay for.

I also use the RCBS charge master and a Hornady manual caliper. (Don,t trust the electronic).

I also agree with GreyHawk and Ranch Roper, read as much info on loading as you can, and I also use the Hornady, Lyman and Lee manuals for loading.

Things are tight right now as you have discovered. Do some reading on sites like Midway USA, Grafs and sons, and MidSouthShootersSupply, they are my three go to's. Stay away from Amazon as they tend to sell bunk, knock offs, or merchandise that has been returned. You can get lucky, but to me its not worth the gamble.

You can also go to the Hornady, Lyman, RCBS and LEE websites and get a pretty good overview of their products.

Best of luck, this is a great spot to get insight by some really talented and tenured hand loaders.

[BigAl52]

If I had to do it over again Id do a turret press like RnG has or the Lyman. I also like Redding stuff and I have some lee dies along with RCBS. An RCBS rock chucker is a pretty good place to start if you dont want to spend the bigger money for the turret presses. I like the 1500 chargemaster to but I might think about it before I spent 450 for one. I didnt spend near that for mine. I also like my redding powder thrower. Its very accurate once set and makes single stage loading alot faster. Read Read and Read all you can. Ask Questions here. Lots of good guys on this forum and there willing to help. No one here is going to make fun of you.

[runnin n gunnin]

Roger that Big Al, we do a pretty good job of making fun of ourselves !

[Rifletom]

Welcome MoDug! No help with .44, but, others will be around to assist. Good group here. Enjoy!

[fortyshooter]

I looked at various presses and went with the Dillon 550B. After getting started I found it was a smoother operation for me to knock out the primers
on an old RCBS press a friend gave me and then clean the brass. Also priming I do with RCBS hand primer with all the other operations done on
the Dillon. 44Mag. is a great to load since you can load it to comfortable plinking levels right on up to hot hunting loads.
And a big welcome to MoDug!

[Greyhawk]

Thinking about being a newbie reloader. When I first started a few years ago I put together my first 10 .45 colt rounds and excitedly headed to a local gravel pit to try them out.. Once I got there though, I got pretty nervous.. SO for the first shots I stretched out my arm as far as it would go, and then a bit further, turned my head and closed my eyes! I squeezed the trigger and low and behold my pistol didn't blow up! So I must have done something right.... Now, a few years later, when I shoot my hand loads I keep my eyes open.

[RanchRoper]

Do your homework, and you will be fine. Take your time reloading. I have been doing it a couple of years and have not had a single issue other than 1 primer did not seat straight. That's 1 on a couple of thousand rounds. I like the Lee turret press because I can set it up 1 time and leave it alone.

[bdbrown66]

An RCBS Rockchucker kit will do everything you need, and will last longer than you will. You can improve on it over time, as you become more experienced, but it will serve you well.

[Team Roper]

Lol,just read the post before me. I started off with a RCBS Rockchucker press right after I came back from Vietnam and got into reloading. Guess I just couldn't get enough shooting. Anyhow,I am still using that same old Rockchucker to this day even though I also have a Redding T-7 Turret press and sold my Dillon 650. That Rockchucker is a tough one to beat. Get some good manuals and take your time and read all you can about reloading and don't be afraid to ask questions.It's a fun hobby.

[BruniX]

like bdbrown66, and Team Roper,
I use an RCBS Rockchucker.
It is a fantastic press, solid tool , indestructible, precise, able to reload all calibers.

For a beginner, a single station press is in my opinion simpler and easier to use.
less risk of error....
Multi-station presses, type Dylon 550 are very good tools but more suitable for large reloading volumes, for handguns ...
turret press are also very good compromise, but a good one is more expensive than single station press.

for tools, it depends on taste and ... budget ...
lee, rcbs, redding ... all do the job ....
i like rcbs die, price is middle, between lee (cheapest) and redding (expensive)

Hornady's lock n load conversion system is very practical if you recharge several different calibers, without having to re-adjust each time you change it.

otherwise, it is above all necessary to buy one or more loading manuals and to follow the instructions carefully. Never improvise and "assume"!
I use the Lyman and i am full satisfied from it... i have also read the lee one, and next will be hornady

I started alone, and the very competent people, on this forum, helped me a lot when I had doubts ... or when I still have some

BruniX

[Pitchman1968]

Hey Modug, Welcome to the Forum! Everyone responding to your posting has offered sound advice on reloading equipment and best practices. Here is another best practice. When reloading always intensively CONCENTRATE on what you are doing. Daydreaming, cell phoning, listening to the radio, or watching live streaming are not allowed. Above all, reloading should be a solitary activity, especially for novices. The only exceptions are (1) working with an experienced reloader providing "on the job training" and, (2) watching a reloading YouTube or any other reloading video as you work through the steps in the reloading process.