If I was looking for a precise turret press, my search would start and stop at the redding T7 turret press. Not sure if that's in your budget, but its a great press
Which kit to start off with?
- Thread starter patlap
- Start date
If I was looking for a precise turret press, my search would start and stop at the redding T7 turret press. Not sure if that's in your budget, but its a great press
- Location
- Jameson, SK
I have a lee turret Pat, and I make really precise stuff....my runout is nil, and my groups are tight when I do my part.
Having said that, two things....
- he's right, there's slop in the turret.
- it doesn't take long to swap the dies, and the slop irks me too....
Having said that, two things....
- he's right, there's slop in the turret.
- it doesn't take long to swap the dies, and the slop irks me too....
I think I may just wait a bit and save a bit more money to get myself the RCBS rock chucker supreme single stage press. I'll buy the press on its own and get all the accessories seperately.
I figure that way I'll have a great press that will last a long time and from what I see online they keep their value pretty well so if I realise I don't like reloading( which I highly doubt) I can always sell it on here.
thanks guys
Pat
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If you decide to get the RCBS Chargemaster, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Love mine! A suggestion if you get one though.
I set mine up so it's on a separate bench from the one my presses are mounted to. It's close enough to be handy but not affected by any vibration or bounce when I work the press.
Have fun!
I set mine up so it's on a separate bench from the one my presses are mounted to. It's close enough to be handy but not affected by any vibration or bounce when I work the press.
Have fun!
- Location
- West Quebec
For the Press decision I'd make sure to check out the Forster press if precision is really the driver..I feel it's the premier single stage press out there for this use.
If you're loading rifle get a single stage press to start with. Cast iron or steel will outlast aluminum but which you buy will depend on your budget. Aluminum presses are perfectly acceptable but they will show wear faster.
Stay away from Frankford Arsenal presses, they sell a lot of cheap junk.
The TOOLS you need as a minimum:
1. press, (most presses c/w primer seating tool)
2. case preparation kit (mouth inside/outside chamfering tool, primer pocket cleaners) Lyman kit is good.
3. beam scale
4. kinetic bullet puller - because everyone makes mistakes.
5. cantire digital caliper
6. dies
7. loading blocks - you can make your own pretty easy with a 2x4 and a drill.
8. Lee powder measure dipper kit - handy as hell and cheap. Use it to make your beam scale powder dispensing go faster.
9. Lee trimmer kit for you cartridge.
You can make good ammo with that setup. Personally I am not a fan of the kits - you pay for stuff you won't use, but some people like them.
Stay away from Frankford Arsenal presses, they sell a lot of cheap junk.
The TOOLS you need as a minimum:
1. press, (most presses c/w primer seating tool)
2. case preparation kit (mouth inside/outside chamfering tool, primer pocket cleaners) Lyman kit is good.
3. beam scale
4. kinetic bullet puller - because everyone makes mistakes.
5. cantire digital caliper
6. dies
7. loading blocks - you can make your own pretty easy with a 2x4 and a drill.
8. Lee powder measure dipper kit - handy as hell and cheap. Use it to make your beam scale powder dispensing go faster.
9. Lee trimmer kit for you cartridge.
You can make good ammo with that setup. Personally I am not a fan of the kits - you pay for stuff you won't use, but some people like them.
If you're loading rifle get a single stage press to start with. Cast iron or steel will outlast aluminum but which you buy will depend on your budget. Aluminum presses are perfectly acceptable but they will show wear faster.
Stay away from Frankford Arsenal presses, they sell a lot of cheap junk.
The TOOLS you need as a minimum:
1. press, (most presses c/w primer seating tool)
2. case preparation kit (mouth inside/outside chamfering tool, primer pocket cleaners) Lyman kit is good.
3. beam scale
4. kinetic bullet puller - because everyone makes mistakes.
5. cantire digital caliper
6. dies
7. loading blocks - you can make your own pretty easy with a 2x4 and a drill.
8. Lee powder measure dipper kit - handy as hell and cheap. Use it to make your beam scale powder dispensing go faster.
9. Lee trimmer kit for you cartridge.
You can make good ammo with that setup. Personally I am not a fan of the kits - you pay for stuff you won't use, but some people like them.
For the press I have decided to go with the RCBS rock chucker supreme. If I take the list you gave me as a shopping list I'm guessing I'd be better off buying the RCBS kit ( http://www.x-reload.com/rcbs-press-rock-chucker-sup-master-kit-w-o-dies/ ) . It seems to have everything you said exept for the powder measure dipper kit, trimmer kit, caliper and bulet puller. Does the beam scale work well or do I absolutely need a digital scale to start off with?
thanks for the help....there are so many items out there its hard to know what you should buy to start off with before deciding if you like it enough for investing some major bucks lol I'm guessing the RCBS kit will work just fine.
There are thousands using a beam scale and they work fine. They are a bit of a time consumer but until you get doing a lot of volume you'll probably be happy with it. Might want to look at a set of check weights just to check calibration.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
You're exactly right. Patience and experience will prevent a lot of unnecessary purchases.
Nothing wrong with a beam scale, it'll just take you longer.
The other side of my opening line is that there's no point in buying something that you know you're going to upgrade soon..... the RCBS chargemaster really is the "gold standard". I don't think anyone will disagree on that.
-J.
Great! I'll get the kit. it will be more cost effective than buying everything seperatly. I'll wait for the digital scale and all the rest of the ''high end stuff''until I'm sure that reloading is for me. I'll use the list you gave me as a guide to my shopping list!
thanks again!
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Spend on the dies though - there's no point whatsoever in doing that in steps.....
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Pat, didn't read through all the posts... just started with yours... If the goal is precision loading, there is no kit on the market that offers all the tools that you will need. Each company makes very good stuff.... no company makes the best of everything.
Best way to save money is to pick and choose the items that offer the best performance for a fair price.
email or PM. I will put up a list of my gear on my website in the coming week so others can reference. I get to see it all... there are alot of items I wouldn't use.
Jerry
Yep! I wasn't including the dies in the High End stuff. I'm figuring between 150 to 300$ for a nice set of dies.
thanks
- Location
- Jameson, SK
That's a perfect budget. I bet 230$ will do it.
You certainly don't need a need a digital scale, the beam scale is plenty good to get started.
Unless Pat has "old guy eyes" where it's hard to see the zero like a lot of us do.
A beam balance also needs to be set up high so the eye is at the same level as the balance indicator or there's parallax errors or a sore back at the end of a session to deal with. I figured that out quickly and went with digital. But yeah, it's a personal preference thing.
Nope don't have old guy eyes haha So in other words I don't necessarily need to upgrade to digital scale right off the bat is I buy the kit!
thanks for the help!
