Reddit reviews Hornady 99240 Handbook 10th Edition, Not Applicable

He needs, yes. The Lee Challenger kit is around $99 on Amazon, and that has everything he'll need to get started except for: Bullets, Primers, Powder and Brass and DIES for 7.62x54r (another $30-$40)

Now, he'll want a digital scale, a case trimmer, and a tumbler to get his brass clean and pretty. That all can be added on, and most likely, be purchased in addition to the press kit for about $200.

Here's a list of things he'll want:

Lee Challenger Reloading Kit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ISVWC6/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hornady Reloading Manual (So he doesn’t blow himself up)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MAUZ71V/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Calipers (So he doesn’t blow his gun up)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GSLKIW/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

7.62x54r Reloading Dies
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-7-62X54R-Pacesetter-Dies/dp/B00162UGUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511562718&sr=8-1&keywords=7.62x54r+dies

Frankford Arsenal Quick-n-EZ Case Tumbler (To make clean-shiny brass)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001MYGLJC/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Case Tumbling Media
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000OQRGF2/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RCBS Universal Case Loading Block
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013RA5DQ/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hornady One-Shot Case Lube https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0001NA29U/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack (Because listening to good music scientifically makes better bullets)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LICGSFU/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8

It's hard to find because it's out of stock. https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-99240-Handbook-10Th-Edition/dp/B01MAUZ71V

Seeing as how you are using Hornady equipment, the Hornady manual would be a good choice.

The seat/crimp die in a three die will work just fine to provide the required amount of crimp. A separate crimp die is not necessary. I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds of ammo without a separate crimp die. About 20 years ago Lee came up with a "factory crimp die" and implemented a marketing campaign for them. DO NOT overcrimp. The crimp die should just remove the flare and make the mouth of the cartridge cylindrical, but not tapered.

Your reloaded 9mm will have a Coke-bottle shape. This is normal.

The Lyman manual is another good one.

Each major bullet manufacturer has their own load manual for the best data for a particular bullet.

All powder manufacturers have their load data online.

If the 9mm dies are carbide, it will say so on the box.

Check the FAQ like the sidebar says. But I've got nothing pressing at the moment so here:

I'm answering your last question first. The Lyman manual is definitely a good place to start. And you should purchase that first and read it before you purchase anything else. It will answer most of your questions and keep you safe. It is also recommended to get other brand manuals as well, such as Lee or Hornady. Every manual is different and will give you a broader base to start from.

Press: I'm a single stage guy so I can't help with the press. You will need caliber specific dies. All brands work, Lee is the cheapest, RCBS is kinda the standard, Dillon a step above RCBS, Forster is generally regarded as the best. If you use carbide dies you don't really need to lube pistol brass. And if you do lube, its personal preference. I use a 10:1 alcohol lanolin mix that I spray on the brass inside a gallon ziplock, then shake around a bit.

Tumbler: I use the HF dual drum with a modded drum. It works fine for me as I do small batches of rifle brass. You should probably look at the FA Tumbler or something larger. It comes with media and a small packet of their detergent. Most people have great results with dish soap and a pinch of lemishine. And you really shouldn't need a primer pocket cleaner if you wet tumble.

Bullets: Those bullets should work well. And its mostly personal preference and what shoots well out of your specific firearm.

Powder: Powder is something you either buy in person or large bulk orders. The hazmat fee is a killer unless you are ordering the max weight per order, which is normally about 50 pounds. And unless you are dead set on a certain powder, most people use what they can find locally. The Field and Stream should have powder, I've never been to a Walmart that sells smokeless powder. And read your manual to know it that powder has load data for what you are loading.

Primers: Primers for the most part are personal preference, they don't affect loads until you get into long range precision rifle. And see the powder above about hazmat fees.

Calipers: Those calipers will work.

Chronograph: You really don't need a chrono for what you'll be doing, at least initially.

Have fun and stay safe. Welcome to the rabbit hole that is reloading.

I would lean toward a more comprehensive load manual from one of the big brands. Hornady, Sierra, Lyman, nosler etc. It is not that much money to purchase and they cover the basics of how to reload as well. Reloading load information is not the best place to cut corners.

https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-99240-Handbook-10Th-Edition/dp/B01MAUZ71V

Yes, and it is pretty cheap:https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-99240-Handbook-10Th-Edition/dp/B01MAUZ71V/ref=pd_sbs_200_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01MAUZ71V&pd_rd_r=GS8HYX4JXZE0ZME1HPKX&pd_rd_w=vgQwu&pd_rd_wg=QoWtQ&psc=1&refRID=GS8HYX4JXZE0ZME1HPKX

There are other guides but I like Hornady's and it is recommended a lot.


Really though, if you read through the guides on the hide one by one, and take your time, they are actually a pretty good summary. Just make sure you go in order from basics --> advanced part 1 --> part 6.