If he is going to load for a rifle caliber a Lee Loader is sufficient to produce quality ammo, and it didn't dissuade me from a lifetime of reloading. I still enjoy using them on occasion. If loading for a pistol or revolver, I'd get an old press and scale, and a set of carbide dies, and find the fancy stuff later. Sometimes when learning a new skill, the less equipment you have makes you master it more quickly.
Consider that I just came from the range and they want $40 for a box of 50 9mm! I just bought a thousand cases from a guy here just this month and paid just over $35 including shipping. Primers and powder I have and about 250 Berry's bonded bullets that I bought from Cabela's last month. I also bought 2 lbs HP38 from Cabelas this past month.
At those prices for ammo even overpriced reloading equipment is affordable!
Yes, if I knew a college student who wanted to learn to reload he'd be upstairs in my gun room doing so right now! He'd be using my equipment and learning what he likes and doesn't like about my setup. Then when he can afford his own he will have a knowledge base upon which to make reasonable choices.
Wayne the Shrink
There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
All of these are great answers and suggestions!
Thank you!
Gun control is not about guns.
a lee breech lock single stage would be my suggestion. It's only about 25 bucks more than the hand press if I recall. I have mine fastened to a 2x6 with lagbolts with the nuts counter bored. Then I just use hand clamps to clamp it to my desk in my home den/office. Would be just as easy to do in the dorms, or at your kitchen table of the apartment. With clamps it's plenty strong on any normal surface. That makes your setup totally portable. I remember college life. Move every 6-12 months. And even sometimes move as much the few years after.
I like having this setup because I can swap presses at my desk and be near the family/watch tv etc.
1 2"x6"x10"
2 clamps (C clamps are just fine)
1 Lee single stage breech lock
Lyman's Reloading Manual
Set of dies
Lee powder scoops
Brass
Bullets
Primers
Powder
Lee Case trimmer (if doing rifle)
That's about all you need for the very beginning.
If you are near SW Michigan I will give you 200 rifle primers to start with.
Even if you are going to save up some to get your desired setup, I would still start your quest to find primers. Finding a 100 at a time is just fine for someone starting, you will have enough in no time if you can find a few sleeves here and there.
As for the manual. Get the standard Lyman manual if you are reloading jacketed (it still has one or two tables of cast bullet data per cartridge). If you are going to cast, get the cast bullet version.
what will he be reloading forOriginally Posted by richhodg66
You can find powder. You just have to look and be able to drop the $ when you see it. Brass is easy, Bullets can be found, but kind of hard right now unless you cast., Primers are the big issue.
And, Yes, some of you guys do try and reprime spent primers. This is NOT what a newby should try..... Kaboom easy
The other part of a colledge student reloading is he may not have room in the dorm or appartment for a full blown bench set up. The lee loader and everything needed will fit in a apprentice style machinists tool box and be well organized
What does he want to reload, and are you willing to at least give us a hint at his/her location?
outline what the newbie wants to do and his expectations as well as calibers or gauges, I have started many.
Certainly appeals to me!
Gun control is not about guns.
i would say to take the time to teach them right,on their own they will learn the bad habits.
I would like to mentor new reloaders but finding any that are truly interested in learning is difficult. Over the years I’ve offered many times but very few have been willing to commit the time. We moved to an area where I don’t have any involvement in hunting or the shooting sports and haven’t made any shooting friends yet. The guys I shot with years ago before I left this area were all older than me and have since passed on. Until I know some people that could refer students to me I’m reluctant to invite anyone to my house, even if Covid wasn’t a concern.
Sometimes life taps you on the shoulder and reminds you it's a one way street. Jim Morris
From what I have seen, low volume reloaders who have very little experience over many years are the ones to watch out for. YMMV
I learned from reading books and that is one of the best ways. In any case, it is not rocket science to do it safely.
I doubt this person will be allowed to reload in a dorm. Too many snowflakes at colleges to allow that to ever happen.
Good questions about his needs...until that is known, we are shooting in the dark.
Don Verna
Back in the day folks used hand dies and a mallet at the kitchen table. You could load wherever you happened to camp or practice shooting.
I'm going to go a different direction here.
A person truly interested,, will benefit from a good instructor,, (mentor) and can become another member to our fold.
But,, many casual shooters,, and especially those on tight budgets,, may NOT be the type to get into serious reloading. But,, knowing how people do it,, many of those same people THINK they want to reload.
That said,, the "whack-a-mole Lee kits will most often scare them. I have had that said to me often by newbies. OR,, they will not put forth the effort (work) to make good ammo.
That will turn that person away from reloading & possibly away from shooting.
I am in instructor.
When I teach,, my first class with students,, I tell them that it may NOT be for everyone. I also advise them to be frugal, study & buy carefully,, and to buy the best they can afford. And that they can find top quality,, at less than retail pricing,, if they have one main thing that's required for reloading,,,,,,,,,,,,, PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I advise them to buy a couple of manuals FIRST.
Then,, STUDY!
From there,,, then they need to evaluate what calibers they wish to load for AND what purposes the ammo will be used for.
STUDY some more.
Look at the current living arrangement. A college dorm is much different than a permanent 6 bedroom home with a shop. Space & requirements dictate the next direction.
Figure out WHERE you will be reloading,, and can you dedicate a specific space to that alone?
Next,, the equipment can be studied & purchased used in many different places. One place to consider,, make friends & family a specific list of items necessary to be used as a gift guide for Christmas, Birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Letting someone else buy an item,, and you can benefit.
I equate it all to a brain surgeon. They start out as a student, then an intern, and then an assistant,, before they lead the surgery team.
We who have the years of experience,, especially over a variety of calibers & types,, combined with the necessary equipment,, can make the difference.
I started reloading with my best friend when I was 16. Very few people reloaded at that time. At least we were not aware of them. It was read the manuals, follow the instructions, and be careful. My buddy bought a 357 magnum, used the Lee reloader, and loaded some up. Went to the range and we shot his handiwork. Flames shot out of the muzzle and cylinder. It was just at dusk. I told him, it didn't seem right. He went home, checked his work, called me and said he messed up, he misread the load data, and had loaded 1 grain over max. Luckily, it was a S&W Highway Patrol, well made. Went a long way in reinforcing/branding reloading safety to 2 novices.
One of my father's favorite statements: "If I say a chicken dips snuff, look under his wing for the snuffbox" How I was raised, who I am.
That is exactly why I said he'd be upstairs in my house doing it - not allowed on college campuses and probably not allowed to have the gun there either. Unless he is rich he might even be shooting my guns until he can afford to buy his own.
Wayne the Shrink
There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!
That is how i started in the 1960s. A reloading press was way beyond my budget. It strained my budget to buy the lee classic kit for 30/30 and bullets powder and primers. But the savings over the years allowed me to shoot more.
A lee 150 grain mold, Unique® powder, a tray with lube, and the whack a mole 0.309" bullet size die dropped the cost of a 30/30 round to under $0.045 gas check included.
I have since spent a small fortune on feeding my acquisitions. There is no way I could afford to shoot with out reloading. And cast bullets. My 9.3x57 eats cast bullets like a fat girl eats chocolates
I am currently looking for a Lee Classic kit in 8x57 so I can ream it out to 9.3x57,
Lee is cutting back on production of their basic kit and that is a very bad business move in these challenging economic times.
Go now and pour yourself a hot one...
When supplies are more plentiful, the rainy day Reloaders will go back to factory ammo.
Three44s
Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207
“There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”
/\ What he said. He is a colege kid, he has no time and money for this hobby at this point of his life. Do him a favor and just let him use your equipment for now, if he has any time. Maybe it will stick and once he has a job (money) and maybe some free time he can start buying his own equipment. If you want to be his Santa, give him what you don't use..or once the gunshows fire-up again, pick-up some used equipment.
Take a kid to the range, you'll both be glad you did.
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