So I just bought a house finally and have space now. I'd really like to start loading some 10mm. Anyone have recommendations for a basic and inexspensive loading setup. I haven't ever done this and would love to learn.

Dave84, I will say that the RCBS Rock Chucker KIT would be a great single stage starter press setup they run anywhere from $260 to $315 but add in the RCBS carbide dies and that will have you over the $300 purchase need to get the rebate which I think is $75 this year.

https://www.natchezss.com/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-single-stage-press-master-kit.html

http://www.rcbs.com/RCBS/media/RCBSMedia/PDFs/Promotions/2016-RCBS-Rebate-Jan1-Dec3.pdf

The Kit comes with many things needed to include a great SPEER Manual #14, the press is capable of handling almost all the cartridges except 50BMG maybe, because of the extra long length.  The compound leverage makes for easier sizing especially with rifle cartridges and even pass through sizing operations.

First of all get books. Digest them. Get more books. Read the reloading forums. Watch some videos.

Nothing wrong with Shadow's recommendation. Personally I like starting with the Lee Classic Turret. Make sure you look at the Classic. I  recommend starting with depriming on a standalone single press and a universal decapper die. Then next wet tumble and dry. Batch reload in subsets of 50. Label everything. Learn a couple powders. Learn how to  pull bullets and don't be ashamed to do it if your COAL is too short for example. I can provide detail later.

you want to start loading some 10mm,once you get that going any other cartridges after that,pistol,revolver,rifle,AR ?

My first press was and RCBS kit similar to the one Shadow mentioned, and it is a good kit.  Everyone needs a solid press like the Rock Chucker, which can do double duty as a swage in a pinch.

I generally advice first time guys to look at a lee kit.  about a year ago I bought a breechlock challenger kit and think it is a fine option for a starter press.  It does everything I need a basic kit to do, and does it just fine.

That said, if you are definitely all in and have the money, RCBS.  It is a nicer press.  But if you would have to save an extra three or six months for the RCBS, but could go with the Lee now, I would get the Lee now, and start saving faster.  If you shoot much at all, you will save back the money to buy an RCBS in six months or less.

Gotta watch reloading presses though.  They tend to breed.  I now have four, with a fifth on the way.

Thanks everyone for the great reccomendations. Will be nice to be able to shoot 10mm and afford to put food on the table

Quote from: oldman10mm on March 07 2016 05:09:57 PM MST
you want to start loading some 10mm,once you get that going any other cartridges after that,pistol,revolver,rifle,AR ?

Probably .44 magnum, .357 magnum, .45 and maybe .308

I now load those and 6.8SPC and a few others. Enough to still stay with my batch process. I will outline it just for thought and conversation. I have left out a decent amount of detail  (actual how to)

1) Retrieve spent brass. Always key with 10mm
2) Deprime in dirty brass area using low cost press and universal die
3) Clean brass in wet tumbler using 1/4 teaspoon Lemishine and 1-2 tablespoons of wash and wax car soap.  Dry in food dehydrator. Inspection and sort as necessary.  Bag and box.
4) Form and bell on Lee Classic press (check length for shoulder cartridges, deburr, etc )
5) Prime using Lee bench primer
6) Drop powder,  (check then double check) set bullets, seat and crimp as necessary. Check COAL, check in gauge.
.

I probably left something out. Other than and right at charging most any of the sub processing I can stop and come back. To me this makes reloading not consume my life and should make it more doable in smaller spaces. I can do 10 or 250. I have 5 trays and don't like juggling more. Changing calibers is straight forward. Keeping not cards or a note book or good PC log helps as well.

I second the Lee Classic Turret.  The CLASSIC turret, not just the Turret press.   The turret press is aluminum and I have read about several issues with it.   The Classic Turret press is cast iron I believe and it runs great.  Keep it lubed and clean.

It is simple, reliable and plenty fast enough for a beginner/moderate user.   Single stage presses are nice, but in my opinion are out-grown way too fast - unless you are trying to produce match/near-match grade ammunition.  You can always take the indexing shaft off the turret and effectively turn it into a single stage press anyway.   The big advantage is that you don't keep have to switching out the dies after every stage.  The head holds all 4.  Once you get them setup like you like them, they just stay there and do not need adjusting.

Progressives are great, but I would never recommend to a beginner.   They are WAY more complicated than a turret press.  You get a jam or a bad cartridge and you could VERY easily double charge a cartridge or skip a cartridge at the powder station.  Scary stuff.

Read books on reloading.  The Lee Reloading Manual 2nd edition is great to start.   YouTube- YouTube is your friend.   You can see reviews of almost every single press and accessory out there as well as how-to guides for most popular calibers.   Does not have to be for 10mm.  Any straight-walled cartridge reloading review would contain the necessary information.   .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and even 9mm. 

I currently run a Lee Classic Turret with Lee Carbide dies, automatic powder dispenser (micrometer powder measurer installed) and the Lee safety prime system. 

Reliable scales are a must.   I have used the beam and balance scales - cheap but slow.   I prefer digital scales - currently using the electronic scales from Dillon.  Accurate and fast.

The answer in reply #6(more after 10mm) is the reason I asked the question in reply #3. Nothing really exotic planned. 10mm will allow 40S&W also,357 will allow 38sp also,all the handgun calibers are easy. The 308 would be the most entailed due to lubricating the cases prior to sizing and difference in sizing for either AR or bolt action.
I've been using a Lyman turret press since the 70s',no problem yet,no wear yet after 40 years. I started out with a turret as I didn't like the idea of constantly changing dies for one cartridge. The 4 ports of the turret contain everything I need for one caliber/cartridge. 1st port sizer/decapper,2nd port expander/beller,3rd port powder thrower,4th port seater/crimper. It allows you to go back simply.
I have die sets for 9mm,38/357,40S&W/10mm,41Mag,44sp/44M,454 Casull,17 Rem,243 Win,6mm Rem,7.62x39,300AAC,308 Win,30-06,35 Rem,358 Win.

I'm with Shadow.  The Rockchucker is a nice press that will give decades of use.  The kit will cover ALMOST all you will need.  Also get a set of check weights, and a kinetic bullet puller.  I got the cheapie Ultrasonic from Harbor freight that I run with 1/4 white vinegar, 3/4 hot water, and a drizzle of Dawn soap and clean 30 pcs of brass for three cycles.

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html

I just rinse well (actually soak in cold water) and dry overnight or until dry.

#1 rule for safety  - Start low and work up loads.  If you get pressure signs, tear down those loads and back down .3g and call it a maximum.  If different components (primers, different batch of powder, different overall length) back down a bit and work back up.

Greg

Lots of good advice here. I'm still using an RCBS single stage press which I bought in 1988. (Hard to believe it's been that long) I load 9mm, 10mm, 45 ACP, 44 Magnum, 338 Win Mag, 30-06, 30-30, and soon 7mm-08.

The drawback to loading 10mm or any volume of pistol cartridges on a single stage press is the amount of time it takes load em. A Lee Classic turret press or progressive press like a Dillon 550B will significantly speed up the process. I would recommend (like other posters have) you start out with either a single stage press or a turret press and move on to a progressive press later in life if you see the need to do so. The number of rounds you shoot will ultimately drive your decision.

I could easily spend a week writing about the various reloading equipment available you can buy and use to make your own ammo and in the beginning, you really just need a few basic tools to build safe, reliable ammo. You can always upgrade and expand later as you see fit.

Reloading is a great hobby. You'll get a lot of satisfaction from loading your own ammo and shooting and hunting with it too if you're  a hunter.

This forum and many others have folks who are a wealth of knowledge in terms of reloading and most will freely share their knowledge with you and it will shorten your learning curve considerably.

According to my Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook, Third Edition, 2009, page 11, "Over four million shooters have become reloaders and annually produce as much ammo as all the major ammunition factories combined."

Welcome to the world of reloading. You're gonna have a great time!                     

Well I guess I'm a strange one on this forum, but I learned on progressive press right from the start. It can be done, and can be safe. I learned on the Hornady LNL press. I would recommend their powder cop to doublecheck for doubles & zero powder drops.
Pay special attention to the warnings on short OAL and of course be careful on your powder drops.

Their LED light strip allows you to visually see down in the case before you seat the bullet very well

Week from today my Dillon 1050 arrives.  That is progressive!