Is there a good started kit out there that's worth the investment or ??????
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Is there a good started kit out there that's worth the investment or ??????
best deal out there, some people dont like Lee but plain and simple It works. Not a huge investment either.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=121744
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=423081
I bought this set about 18 years ago and still use it today(They have upgraded the press since then)
Steve
+1 what Steve said...started reloading just this year with the first one.
yep, lee is cheaper and will make ammo just as well as the others.
A few years ago, I bought a rock chucker kit because thats what everybody said to get.
If I did it again I would ge tthe lee, because the only thing I still use from the kit is the press.
That would have given me about $160 to spend on other stuff.
If you really get into it, you will want more stuff later on anyway, like an electrinic powder dispenser, better primer seater, maybe a prep station, etc etc.
+1 on the Lee, except I think their scales suck. Buy the Lee kit, a quality scale, and you will set. Buy additional tools/ upgrade as needed.
I have a Rock Chucker press, but use all Lee dies at present, if that tells you anything. You can't go wrong with the Lee equipment.
Yep, Lee anniversary kit................ Hard to beat for the money. ;D
What about the Dillion RL 550B? Looks like a nice machine.
By the way, I want to reload 308, 243, and 22-250.
If you are 100% sure reloading will be a hobby roe you for life, the Dillion is an excellent investment. Most recommend Lee so as to reduce the impact to a new reloader's budget, while still yielding excellent results. Not everyone who tries reloading sticks with it for a lifetime.
Which Dillion would be the best to get?
Which ever your budget can afford. None will be a wrong choice.
The 550B is the best combo of price and features in my opinion. But as the others said the Lee stuff works very well and is easy on the pocketbook.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis
I still have my first Lee press from the 70's and still use it (it is dedicated to decapping military primers now but it still works fine).
Not much "junk" out there in the handloading industry thankfully and all manufacturers that I know of stand behind there stuff to an unbelievable degree.
I started with Lee in the 60s and have had Lyman, RCBS & 3 more Lee presses, but the best is the Forester Co-ax press. It is the easiest to set up and easier on the arms to resize with and I wish I had gotten it a long time ago.
Even if you are planning on going for the Dillon, the Lee kit is still a good place to start. It contains many smaller pieces you would have to buy seperate if you go Dillon. Also, I think starting off with a single stage set up is better. It will be more forgiving when it comes to adjustments and will allow you to absorb everthing that is going on during the loading process. It is easier for you to absorb the process when it is done one step at a time. Later on when you move to the Dillon, what is happening all at once will make more sence to you, and trouble shooting will be easier. If you are worried about wasting money on the Lee press, don't. Buy their universal decapper and put it in the press for decapping range brass before tossing them in the tumbler. It is a great setup for that.
I'm not knocking the Dillon at all. But, I believe that a quality single stage press will make better ammo than any progressive.
Get a Lee kit to get going and start saving for a Forster Co-Ax and RCBS Chargemaster.
Then when you really want to drive yourself nuts, buy a RCBS Casemaster and start measuring runnout. ;D
WOW, everybody is pushing the Lee, there is a store in my area that has a complete Lyman kit. Nobody has mentioned this kit. Any comments?
We mention Lee because it has the best price for performance ratio.
Lyman is just as good as any. If you like it, buy it. It does not matter what you use. They will all produce usable ammo.
Exactly what woodser said. Everybody has their personal favorite but the lee is the lowest startup cost.(and is good equipment) I have lyman scales and They work fine, no better and no worse than any other I have tried. I also have lee,rcbs and cheap digital scales. The only one I wouldnt suggest is the cheap digital.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodser
Steve
Go with the Breech Lock kit. Has surpassed all my expectations. :)
I added an MTM cheapo digi scale to make quick batches of rifle ammo. I just about doubled my loading speed with it, and I find it accurate to Lee's Safety Scale by +/- .1 grain. It also alleviates alot of that "am I reading this beam correctly?" and "why must the beam take so long to stabilize?"
I bet you guys who fret over that .1 grain difference, could get better accuracy simply by playing around with the distance to the lands, instead.
The reason I alway recommend the Lee kit is to people who want to start out is because this may not be something they continue with. If they decide its not a hobby they want to continue, they can just box the stuff up and be out less than 100 buck. If you start with the 300 dollar kit you have just wasted a lot more money, or you can sell the stuff. But, for me, I dont want to be hassled with selling something, especially if I decided I did not enjoy it in the first place. That is adding insult to injury.
Then, if you want to continue with loading as a hobby, you are going to spend so much more than the initial kit cost, that it will not even be a consideration of the money you spend on tools and supplies a few years down the road. I made a deal with myself, I added a RCBS rockchucker press only after I loaded 1000 rounds. I still have the lee press for decapping and also still use the scale and powder measure.
I dont have any issue with the Lee scale operation at all. But, I dont weigh things, I add powder to a pile until it reaches a set weight. Big difference there.
I think the powder measure is flimsy, but, 2000 strokes later it is still going strong and very repeatable.
The Lee kit is a great way to test the waters. You dont need a brick shithouse if you are just going to use it once and then move on.
WELL, I figure I have been shooting since high school (1974) and I am shooting more now than ever. Hopefully I will be retired (if our government let me) and I plan on traveling and shooting in long range matches. I have the guns, CCI primers, Varget powder, various bullets, and now all I need is the realoader kit to get started! I might load 200 to 250 per month, give or take a few!
Maybe this extra info will put more light on the subject! I want to make sure I made the right investment from the start, but I don't see me quiting anytime soon! I looked at several kits today at a local reloader store. Too many choices! I have just about decided against a Dillion because of the cost and not loading more than maybe 250 per month!
Thanks to everyone for the advice and still looking for more, I just bought the Lyman reloading manual and will start reading it tonight! ;D :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
If it helps any, I have the Lee Breechlock kit I purchased back in March of this year...never touched a press before that. Now have over 1000 rounds loaded/shot and still happy with the purchase. Did replace the scale with a digitial from RCBS. Have dies from Lee and Redding. Use a rock tumbler (polisher) from Harbor Freight I use to clean brass with (around 50 at a time).
When life lets me, I get to shoot something like 50 rounds on Sat/Sun, drop the cases in the tumbler - clean the rifle, remove the brass. Then during the week de-cap/size, clean again, prime, powder and seat the bullets...usually over 2-3 nights. I measure each case for length, weigh/sort bullets by weight, trim if needed, etc.
Have gone through about 800-900 Sierra Match Kings, and seem to be ordering them everytime I turn around, need to save my pennies and buy some bulk, same with powder - gone through at least 2.5 lbs of Varget. Not sure how many bullets/powder/primers you have, but I would figure on more than I did ... lol.
Good luck and most of all have fun!!
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Believe one should start with a Dillon Super 1050 for each handgun or rifle cartridge.
For African length cartridges, Dillon has a new progressive machine to handle 50 BMG size cartridge.
Dillon machines are stimulating and therefore are paid for under the Obama Stimulus Bill.
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If you feel confident that you will stay with reloading and shooting, don't let cost be the main factor. While most of the manufacturers make good stuff, it's rare that you will want everything from one of them (like a kit). You may be happier buying the items you like individually.
Personally, I love the Lee Classic Cast Iron press, but would not use their cheap pot metal Challenger Press. Folks will disagree with me, but Lee makes some ingenious products, and some real duds. However, everything they make is priced nicely.
From my limited usage, it seems that Forster and Redding products are made to slightly higher standards and tolerances.
When it comes to dies, I prefer to buy the good one the first time, and be done with it. Forster may be the best value in that department.
That's just my opinion, so take for what it is worth.
Dennis, if you plan to do some long range target competition, you will need the best equipment you can buy. Competition dies, a well made and precisely aligned press, ect. Dillion, Forster, Redding are hard to beat in that category. They are pricey, but they will meet your needs better than Lee, Lyman, and the others.
BTW, no progressive press can load precision ammo like a top of the line single stage.
MHO.
I bought a Lee anniversary kit about 18 months ago. I have been happy and it gets you into the basics for cheap. The breech lock is nice and makes loading multiple cartridges easy.
A problem I have had with the Lee anniversary kit is that the aluminum is already wearing out. It has about 1/8” of play at full stroke. I have loaded probably somewhere around 3000-4000 rounds with it. When I was planning on ordering the aluminum was a concern but the price was enticing enough that I didn’t worry about it. I planned on upgrading anyways once I got the basics down.
I recently switched to a different setup. I use the Lee Classic Cast press with the Hornady Lock-N-Load die conversion bushing kit. I use the Lee press with the Hornady kit and really like it better than the Lee breech lock system. I suspect if they would make a breech lock press that wasn’t aluminum I would have stayed with the breech lock system. I even called Lee to see if there was a press that used the breech lock system that wasn’t aluminum and there isn’t.
Hornady Lock-N-Load Press and Die Conversion Bushing Kit
By using the Lee Classic Cast with the Hornady Lock-N-Load setup I have the best of both worlds, a quick change system with the durability of steel.
A few things I would also recommend would be:
Redding Powder trickler
Electronic scale of some sort (super fast compared to balance beam scale)
Tumbler for the brass with media
Additional Breech locks or Hornady setups (count how many you think you need then add 2-3)
Calipers
Impact bullet puller (I use this very often, you may think you will not need it but you definitely will)
This has been my experience with the Lee kit. I still use the press but only to deprime, neck size and charge the cases. I use the Hornady and Classic Cast setup to seat the bullet because it is rock solid with no play.
The Lee Anniversary kit is graet for what it is, a beginners kit that allows you to get the hang of it for cheap as well as see if you want to reload. For me the allure of reloading wasn’t the cost savings but the quality of ammo. Any reloads will be better than most off the shelf ammo you can buy. I can load sub ½ MOA ammo for less than blaster ammo, including Wolf.
Hope this helps,
Dolomite
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Quote:
... no progressive press can load precision ammo like a top of the line single stage.
Why do people say that ?
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I have been told this by several people!!!!!!!Quote:
If you feel confident that you will stay with reloading and shooting, don't let cost be the main factor. While most of the manufacturers make good stuff, it's rare that you will want everything from one of them (like a kit). You may be happier buying the items you like individually.
I was also told the Hornady's Lock-n-Load press was on of the best and strongest! Buy the press and buy the components seperately!
I was talking to an older gentlement who told me if I was loading a 100 or more, I would want a press with leverage as a smaller press would wear you out a little quicker. Also stated you wanted consistant loads and that's why he recommended the above! Heavy duty with an easy pull for large rifle rounds.
Play in the turrets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammer
Some people call that free-floating.
How much match grade ammunition is loaded on progressive machines ?
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None at my house.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammer
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It wasn't very long ago that the High Power range was ruled by the '03 Springfield.
Slowly, very slowly the Garand was accepted. Most folks thought the idea of a semiautomatic on a target range was absurd.
Hear tell that the M14/M1A has made some inroads into the High Power game.
Who knows what will be next ?
In varmint shooting, the 219 Donaldson Wasp and 220 Swift dominated forever.
Then some folks started playing with the 222 Remington and 222 Remington Magnum and demonstrated that other cartridges might have the accuracy potential for varmints.
Some day the 223, a spray-and-pray military cartridge, might make it in the prairie dog towns -- but doubt it.
Started with hand-operated dies for neck-sizing brass. Hand seaters for bullets. B&M powder measures. Bullets hand-swaged in seven steps.
Then tried the Bonanza CO-AX with its floating shell holder. Made acceptable ammo.
Then set up two RCBS Rockchuckers to semi-progressively load PD ammo.
Even heard that some folks were shooting factory made bullets that were not hand swaged one at a time but were actually made in factories like Sierra, Berger, and Hornady. Even heard that some folks were not weighing every primer on certified lab scales.
Realized that all factory match ammo was loaded on very automated machines and some folks shot it and were not embarrassed to tell the tale.
Saw where David Tubb was winning eleven national long range titles using ammo loaded on Dillon machines.
Decided to give it a whirl. Radical as it was. Heck, them prairie dogs gave great acrobatics/aerobatics with the progressive-loaded ammo.
Heck, one day might even give variable power scopes a try.
Nah, just kidding.
For the what its worth department, have one reloading bench with five single station RCBS presses mounted on it today. Still use them. And, no, the 222 family still hasn't proven itself up to the Donaldson Wasp or Swift yet. And the semiautos will never rule High Power.
If one wanted to start with a single-station press, then would definitely recommend getting two presses of the same model if loading rifle and a third one if loading handgun. There is nothing more frustrating to the beginning loader than screwing dies in and out of presses when going from case sizing to bullet seating even if running a batch operation.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NRV
I hear that alot as well. Mind you, people always buy the Pacesetter or RGB dies, and people never compare the Forster or the Redding to the Deluxe set with the carbide dies.
Dolomite mentioned using the Hornady L-N-L bushings in the Lee Classic Cast Press. I use this same setup. I agree with him, it is GREAT. You only have to set the dies once into the bushing and then they just come in and out with 1/6 turn.
I have checked, and my sizers and seaters maintian the same amount of shoulder bump or same seating depth, even after multiple ins and outs. I was somewhat nervous of this at first. The other thing that I like is that while there is zero play vertically, the O-ring allows a slight bit of side to side movement if necessary. This seems to allow the dies to self-align like a Co-Ax press.
Believe it or not, I have been told the above several times! Get two presses ::) , an electronic scale, tumbler, dies, and the other small accesories and get to work!Quote:
If one wanted to start with a single-station press, then would definitely recommend getting two presses of the same model if loading rifle and a third one if loading handgun. There is nothing more frustrating to the beginning loader than screwing dies in and out of presses when going from case sizing to bullet seating even if running a batch operation.
I will mainly start loading 308's, what dies do you recommend for this round! Carbide match or etc.?
After 18 years of loading I have 6 presses three powder measures several scales and drawers full of do-dads, gagets, and accessories. all you need to get started is in one of the kits, Lee, Rcbs,Lyman or any other. I dont worry about "Wearing" out Aluminum presses. If you want perfectly straight ammo, The ram and the die have to be aligned perfectly.(not going to happen) Or The ram can have slack in it and be "self aligning"
Steve