[assualtready070]

I recently have took an interest in reloading, no surprise due to recent events 223 ammo is expensive and hard to find. I am looking at a lee single stage reloading press it's $30.00 now here is my question, I found a set of dies one is a decaping die and the other a bullet seating die now does the decaping die also resize the neck of the casing or do I need a resizing die as well and do I also need a priming die to set the new primer

 

[assualtready070]

Here is the press It needs a set of dies and a shell holder

Here are the dies one is a decaper die and the other is a bullet seater. Is this everything that I will need to be able to start reloading besides the obvious bullets,primers,powder, and brass?

 

[blackhawk44]

Look at your decapping die again. I am reasonably sure you will see that its marked somewhere as a sizer. If that is true, you are set to go. A good powder scale and you are ready. A powder measure will soon be a very handy addition.

 

[blucoondawg]

Those look like Lee RGB dies, I have some of them, most 2 die rifle sets are a bullet seater die and a decapping/full length size die, at least all the 2 die sets I have used have been that way. U can also get a neck sizer die if you want to use fire formed cases and not resize the full length of the casing. If your dies came with any instructions it should tell you in them what you have there but it is most likely a full length size die.

 

[assualtready070]

Those look like Lee RGB dies, I have some of them, most 2 die rifle sets are a bullet seater die and a decapping/full length size die, at least all the 2 die sets I have used have been that way. U can also get a neck sizer die if you want to use fire formed cases and not resize the full length of the casing. If your dies came with any instructions it should tell you in them what you have there but it is most likely a full length size die.

Yes they are lee RGB dies and I went on midwayusa and it said in the description that it was a sizing as well and does the decapping die also seat in a new primer or does the shell holder put the new primer in

 

[racer_x]

do yourself a favor an spend 30 on a book called the, " the abc's of reloading"

 

[blucoondawg]

The die has nothing to do with installing the new primer, nor does the shell holder. You will need a priming tool or a press which accepts a press mounted priming tool, I prefer the hand prime tool, you can see them on Midway, most kits come with one, I suggest the RCBS hand prime tool as it uses standard shell holders like your press uses, if you get the Lee hand prime tool you will also have to buy special shell holders specifically for that tool which won't work in any press, not even Lee's presses. Shell holders and dies are interchangeable between brands and presses with the exception of the Lee auto prime shellholders. Do you have a reloading manual? If not you need to get one, all the reloading component companies put one out, this is a must have for reloading, don't load any load which you don't have written data for, also the manuals usually have a section in the front explaining a lot of the processes, my RCBS kit came with the Speer manual and i have also bought a Sierra manual, can never have too many.

 

[lukeisme]

Go to ammosmith.com and check out the reloading video section. James does a great job of explaining reloading.

 

[assualtready070]

The die has nothing to do with installing the new primer, nor does the shell holder. You will need a priming tool or a press which accepts a press mounted priming tool, I prefer the hand prime tool, you can see them on Midway, most kits come with one, I suggest the RCBS hand prime tool as it uses standard shell holders like your press uses, if you get the Lee hand prime tool you will also have to buy special shell holders specifically for that tool which won't work in any press, not even Lee's presses. Shell holders and dies are interchangeable between brands and presses with the exception of the Lee auto prime shellholders. Do you have a reloading manual? If not you need to get one, all the reloading component companies put one out, this is a must have for reloading, don't load any load which you don't have written data for, also the manuals usually have a section in the front explaining a lot of the processes, my RCBS kit came with the Speer manual and i have also bought a Sierra manual, can never have too many.

No I haven't got around to getting a reloading manual. But does anyone know how many 223 bullets a 1lb tube of powder will load, give or take?

 

[rjd3282]

About 250 giver or take. That number is assuming 27 grain load. There are 7000 grains to a pound. I don't recommend neck sizing for semi auto's. Neck sizing is for bolt guns if you are going to use the same gun the case was originally fired in.

 

[blucoondawg]

Where are you getting your load data from? You must either have reloading manuals or use load data off the powder manufacturers websites, do not under any circumstances use loads which were told to you through word of mouth or internet forum.

 

[farmrboy]

Read 'The ABC's of Reloading' before you go any further. It will explain everything you need to know about the reloading process. This is a very rewarding and fun craft, but also very dangerous too. We measure down to .001" and weigh powder to within .1 grain. If a mistake is made, a gun, and perhaps you can be blown up. I met a gentleman this summer that did exactly that. He bought a progressive loader as his first machine and without any knowledge of reloading ammo blew up his SA XD. Blew up the slide and blew a chunk out of the frame. Some how he wasn't hurt. I would recommend the Lyman and Lee manuals since they have alot of good load info and reloading instruction. The powder mfrs. have free books you can get at sporting goods stores and their websites have the latest up-to-date load data. The press you showed is a 'C' frame press and can flex when used for heavy resizing or swaging operations. an 'O' frame press is much stronger and won't be prone to flex or breakage. The Lee challenger is and 'O' frame that is a good press for someone on a budget, or just starting out. It's only a few dollars more than the one in your pic. I used one for many years before upgrading to a RCBS Rockchucker. As stated earlier, www.ammosmith.com is a good source of instructional videos, www.ultimatereloader.com is another. A reloaders kit would probably be the best way to get the majority of the equip. that you need. Then you can piece together the rest. The ABC's of Reloading will cover everything you need and what it is used for. And, don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

[rjd3282]

If you're going to buy a Lee at least get an O-frame press. Much stronger and they won't flex like that thing in the picture.

 

[blucoondawg]

I agree on the O frame press, here is the minimum I would go on a press: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/176078/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press
The one you have pictured would probably work for 223 but it will flex, I would only consider one as a cheap secondary press to use in my operation for bullet seating as that put less stress on the press than the resizing die.

Here is what I would get if it were me and I was concerned with budget: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit; it comes with everything you will need to get started other than dies and shell holders, including a decent loading manual which is a must have and one should have more than 1.

This is the kit I have, I got it for Christmas or I would have probably gotten the Lee set above: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

I also got this Forester case trimmer: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/614276/forster-original-case-trimmer-kit

 

[blucoondawg]

delete

Sorry for the mix up, double post

You can get the RCBS kit with a 50 dollar rebate through Midway USA this whole year, that brings the price down to 269 which isn't too bad: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

Otherwise here is a more economical kit that would do well too: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit

I got the Rcbs along with a Forester case trimmer for Christmas otherwise I probably would have gotten the Lee kit, I want to get a second press to add to my bench also to use for bullet seating or have 2 different loadings going.

 

[huffmanite]

I have that press. Strickly limit its use to installing primers (with Lee Ram Prime tool in it) and seating of bullets. It is not a press I'll use for resizing of most of my cartridges. Broke one of these presses once resizing a 30-06 piece of brass that I should have annealed. Last time I tried to resize brass with it....as I wrote, now just install primers and bullets with this press. However, you should not have a problem with it for resizing .223 brass.