Starting out...

[Dave in PA]

If you want some free load data, go here: http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

You can also write your favorite powder manufacturer and they will usually provide load data for their products. I have 3 print books, but they do not list all available loads, so the more information you can get, the better.

[Tim Ault]

what he means as a skimmer is something like a big serving spoon with the holes in it like the kind you use for your green beans. They work great when smelting down your WW as the good lead drains down the holes and the bad stuff gets scooped out. By all means go to the castboolits website its the BEST on the web....


Tim

[markshere2]

Oh, Go get a turkey cooker / fish fryer propane burner.

You will want to smelt outdoors - Wheel weights stink a-plenty while the paint and oil and road grime are converting to dirty powder.

Don't try to pour lead from the turkey cooker / smelting pot into your boolit molds.

I would recommend you start out reloading and buying bullets.
You can learn about making boolits as time goes on.

Two distinct sciences with different equipment.

Look for used reloading deals in local papers and on ebay and suchlike.
The equipment doesn't go bad or wear out unless it rusts.

[Steeltown Joe]

IC,
The best advice I got was to get a book called The ABC's of Reloading it covers most of the questions you have including casting bullets.

The ABC's of Reloading The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert.
edited by Bill Chevalier.
Starting with the basics, this guide will lead the reader through the process of reloading handgun, rifle and shotgun cartridges with ease. Perfect for beginners and a great refresher for experienced reloaders, the book first discusses all the necessary tools and accessories needed to get started, then goes through step-by-step instructions and safety tips for loading metallic cartridges and shotshells. Helpful illustrations guide readers through each step and make the process easy to understand."The ABCs of Reloading" covers all aspects of the hobby, from benchrest loading techniques, to ballistic software, to competition and hunting loads and more. Readers will appreciate how the book makes a complex subject understandable and fun.
It can be found on E-Bay or your local book store.
Next find out what you want to buy and check out the prices at Midway USA and Cabela's so you have an idea of what they cost new. Then look on E-Bay for used stuff but be careful you don't pay to much ! As always "buyer beware" when it comes to used stuff. I will tell you there are some good deals out there. Also check GunBroker and the free ads on Cheaper than Dirt.com.
Hope this helps !

Steeltown

[ironcowboy]

One more question, i'm going to order a bullet mold along with my .45lc die from midwayusa.com today, does anyone have a recommendation on what i should get? What diameter as well as grain weight?

[bittr]

As far as reloading manuals, I really like Hodgdon's manual (and powder). It's in a softcover magazine format and is less expensive than hardcover books. It is my understanding that it is updated on a frequent basis (yearly?).

[Lar5]

I would get a .452 mould. The lee 452-255RF is a great all around mould for the New Vaquero. I usually use the lee .452 sizer with the Lee liquid alox or pan lube these. If you are not going to do any hunting I would probably get the Lee TL452-200-SWC. Lee makes it very quick and easy to get started. If you get a 45acp mould designed without a crimp grove or a shoulder to crimp over, you need to use an extremely light crimp or even better, get a taper crimp die instead of the roll crimp that is standard.