Hello, I'm new to reloading and I just borrowed a Lee 4 hole turret press kit for reloading. Apparently the kit contains everything I need for reloading besides dies; so what do I need as far as reloading 45LC or 30-06 is concerned as far as dies? Thank you.

Most makers supply all the needed dies for a given cartridge in one box. That is usually two dies (sizer and seater) for bottle-necked rifle dies, and three (sometimes four) dies for straight-walled cartridges. The extra die is a neck expander for the revolver rounds, to be used between the sizer and the bullet seater. Clear instructions are packed with each. Read and follow them carefully.

You'll also need a shellholder for each cartridge to (yup, it's obvious) hold the shells as you feed them in and out of the dies. Lee is generous enough to include a shellholder with their die sets, with other brands, you'll have to buy them separately. Just ask the store clerk, or read which shellholder is needed from the side of the die box.

You'll next need primers, powder and bullets (plus empty cases if you don't have some from fired factory ammo). To select the right ones, follow a good recipe from your reloading manual, and buy exactly those components.

Finally, that reloading manual. You really should ahve more than one. I recommend using the bullet maker's book as your primary source of data, to be checked by the powder maker's book - and maybe by a third company that makes neither! Typos and mistakes DO happen! Read those books - especially the front halves - before you even unpack the rest of your stuff. The "how-to" part is no more important than the "why" part. The better you understand why things are done, and in what order, the better reloader you'll be.

Rocky covere everything else but I think I still have an extra set of RCBS dies for the .45colt. If you're interested, email me: mark@fire-iron.biz

When choosing dies for 45LC, you can choose between roll and taper crimp dies, roll crimping is recommended for tubular magazines. Also you can get carbide dies for 45LC for a few dollars more, then you can skip lubing. I like carbide dies, others don't.

GI,

I use a four die set from RCBS, and my brother a three die set from Lee Precision. If you'd look at our targets you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from the same revolver. However....both of us use carbide resizer dies.... eliminated the lube and clean-up on the brass needed to resize brass in a standard steel sizing die.

Lobo in West Virginia

GI,

Does your equipment include a powder measure or scale?

Lobo in West Virginia

Yeah, I think I might go with carbide dies, I can't stand working with cartridge lube.

Yes I believe it does come with a scale.