Lyman system

[wingnut]

.
The reason why I've chosen to avoid reloading. I did have a friend of mine go through a tutorial of the process with me and it is intriguing/interesting, but with a variety of everything else I don't have the time share/commitment it requires to invest in it.

... I was always afraid I'd be paying for something I wouldn't use. ...

Its not like a marriage commitment.
Its a hobby. And, its a great indoor 1 if you are a shooter that lives where the winters are long and cold (load in the winter, shoot in the summer). Call it fly tying with a bigger bang. The amount of details are also similar to ham radio.

[RanchRoper]

One concern is knowing how to set the dies so they do the right thing. Ie seating the bullet and crimping. Guess it will be explained somewhere. Thats the stuff I know nothing about.

[JEBar]

One concern is knowing how to set the dies so they do the right thing. Ie seating the bullet and crimping. Guess it will be explained somewhere. Thats the stuff I know nothing about.

concern understood .... link below to Lyman instructions which at first glance can be a bit overwhelming but the bottom line, its really not that complicated .... in the link you will find a phone number for Lyman's customer service .... if you buy their system and give them a call, they will walk you through setting each die



https://www.lymanproducts.com/media/use ... ng_die.pdf

[Mags]

.
From what I've seen from my friend''s demo and read about it can be a great winter hobby, even an evening hobby any time. I know me. I'd get setup and then never take the time to actually do it.

Its not like a marriage commitment.
Its a hobby. And, its a great indoor 1 if you are a shooter that lives where the winters are long and cold (load in the winter, shoot in the summer). Call it fly tying with a bigger bang. The amount of details are also similar to ham radio.

[CT_Shooter]

One concern is knowing how to set the dies so they do the right thing. Ie seating the bullet and crimping. Guess it will be explained somewhere. Thats the stuff I know nothing about.

Like a lot of folks, the first thing I did when I started to reload .357 and .38 cartridges was to build a "standard" cartridge for each bullet I would reload in each caliber. In my case, that was Hornady XTPs (same as ZERO JHP/JSPs). The "standard" is just a dummy cartridge without a primer or powder, just the bullet, carefully seated, crimped, and measured to the required OAL. Then, when I want to change the dies to reload one or the other calibers (which use the same dies, but are different lengths), I simply use those "standards" to set the dies. Easy and consistent.

[RanchRoper]

Thanks. I did consider sacrificing a few rounds less powder to experiment.

[wingnut]

Pick up at least 1 "Loading Manual" hard copy from any of the major jacketed bullet makers. The first 1/5 of the book will describe most of what you need to know to start.

[RanchRoper]

A loading manual comes with the press kit. Thks

[ESquared]

You're being bombed with advice, and, for what it's worth, you're going to want to figure out how to tumble those cases (dry vs. wet) before you dive in. Don't want to muck up your resizing die with leftover case gunk, to use two very technical reloading terms!

[RanchRoper]

The brass cleaner I am looking at is the Lyman Turbo one with some kind of corn cob stuff in it....looks dry in the video. I appreciate all the comments, and will forge ahead once I have the setup in place. I will not load any live rounds until I am satisfied that I understand what I'm doing and have read up on it.

No hot loads, ever. Not a good idea in a toggle link rifle I'm told. Nor my open top revolver.

Safety first, always.

[Cofisher]

RR, read up and consider the small batch wet tumbling case cleaning system. It is quieter and cleaner than the dry tumbling method.

I do 50 cases at a time. That takes no more than 2 hours with no monitoring. I then have trays of 50 waiting for processing.

It really is simple and satisfying

Good luck

[RanchRoper]

Cofisher, thanks for that. I will investigate.

[RanchRoper]

Good powder?

https://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/prod ... oz-powder/

Maybe you guys can look at these and tell me what's what for 45 Colt cowboy loads...since I don't know what I'm looking for....

https://www.westernmetal.ca/shooting-ca ... ss-powders

[BigAl52]

RR
Im not a fan of Trail Boss. Alot of guys like it but that jug is only 8ozs. So really a LB is 62.00 CAD. The other link you sent has 1LB Unique and I see they also have a 4LB of Universal Clays. I like the Universal Clays it burns cleaner than Unique and its burn rate is right next door to Unique. Its up to you but if those choices were mine Id go with the Universal Clays.

[RanchRoper]

Thanks. For powder I have to defer to the folks who know what they are talking about. I want to try to duplicate the factory rounds I shoot now: Winchester, etc.

[Ojaileveraction]

RR
Im not a fan of Trail Boss. Alot of guys like it but that jug is only 8ozs. So really a LB is 62.00 CAD. The other link you sent has 1LB Unique and I see they also have a 4LB of Universal Clays. I like the Universal Clays it burns cleaner than Unique and its burn rate is right next door to Unique. Its up to you but if those choices were mine Id go with the Universal Clays.

9oz to be exact.
But its only 40%, or less maybe, the density of most powders. Super fluffy.
17 gr is max for a 350 plated in 45-70.
Max as in can't fit more. Don't compress Trailboss.

[RanchRoper]

Lots to learn.

[CT_Shooter]

Txgunrunner has several posts about his 45 colt cowboy loads. Here's just one...
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 428#p60428

Thanks. For powder I have to defer to the folks who know what they are talking about. I want to try to duplicate the factory rounds I shoot now: Winchester, etc.

[Mistered]

A loading manual comes with the press kit.

This is true but if you can borrow, check out or otherwise get ahold of one and study up before buying anything you will be much more informed and 'ahead of the game'.
Also limit your looking at Utube videos for reloading information. Some are ok but most I have watched are mediocre at best with some downright bad and confusing with convoluted or missing information.
If someone knows of a good, maybe factory or otherwise somewhat 'professionally' produced reloading video please post it but most are made by Cleatus & Lew-Bob out in the gee-rage with poor instructions.

[ESquared]

RR, read up and consider the small batch wet tumbling case cleaning system. It is quieter and cleaner than the dry tumbling method.

I do 50 cases at a time. That takes no more than 2 hours with no monitoring. I then have trays of 50 waiting for processing.

It really is simple and satisfying

Good luck

+1 on this. A small, 3-lb rock tumbler has been great for me. Handles a pound of water (roughly one cup), a lb of stainless steel media pins (instead of corn-cob dust) and a lb of cases (with 45 Colt, that's about 65 at a time). A drop of Dawn dish soap, a bit of lemon juice (out of the bottle, not a real lemon!), hot water, put it together, turn it on and come back in two hours. Strain/rinse, allow to dry. Shiny brass.