Looking for my first reloading starter kit
- Thread starter ELEMENT WIND
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If I’m not too late to the party… something i would consider is that typically reloading pistol is a volume game, whereas rifle is the precision game. You will have reloading 44mag conquered in the first hour!!!
There is a massive amount of options out there, even more so in the last 5-10 years with short action customs, area 419, Cortina, 21st century, etc coming around. It can be overwhelming, so I always try and return to “what is my goal here”. If it’s to make 500 .44 mag round in an evening, get a Dillon 550 or 650. If it’s to have fun learning and playing with 0.001 tolerances and theoretical opinions on jump-to-land matter, then get a single stage, super solid press. Lots available on the EE, and “funroast”.
Budget is a major player too… some of the new single stage presses are priced at 1800$!!! You don’t need that…unless you’re trying to impress chicks, which if you find a chick in a reloading room, anywhere, please give her my number!! One place you can save a lot is the scale. An auto-thrower is nice, but likely at least 500$. A digital scale and a hand tricker will be maybe 100$, and work well too.
You’re entering a big, but very fun, world. Don’t ever be shy to ask q’s. Also, lots of good YouTube channels to learn from - impact shooting, Eric cortina, f-class John, etc.
SRS
There is a massive amount of options out there, even more so in the last 5-10 years with short action customs, area 419, Cortina, 21st century, etc coming around. It can be overwhelming, so I always try and return to “what is my goal here”. If it’s to make 500 .44 mag round in an evening, get a Dillon 550 or 650. If it’s to have fun learning and playing with 0.001 tolerances and theoretical opinions on jump-to-land matter, then get a single stage, super solid press. Lots available on the EE, and “funroast”.
Budget is a major player too… some of the new single stage presses are priced at 1800$!!! You don’t need that…unless you’re trying to impress chicks, which if you find a chick in a reloading room, anywhere, please give her my number!! One place you can save a lot is the scale. An auto-thrower is nice, but likely at least 500$. A digital scale and a hand tricker will be maybe 100$, and work well too.
You’re entering a big, but very fun, world. Don’t ever be shy to ask q’s. Also, lots of good YouTube channels to learn from - impact shooting, Eric cortina, f-class John, etc.
SRS
Lots of good advice on this thread, if your budget is tight, think about LEE. If money is no object look further afield. For myself, having switched more to rifle than pistol reloading, I use a LEE single stage and I use a beam scale because it is more consistent than an electronic scale in my experience. But then, I'm probably pretty fussy with the powder charge, I like to stay within 1 little fleck of powder.
Thank you very much for taking the time, not too late for the party, just getting started! I appreciate your inputs. And I'll look into those names on YouTube.
Yeah, I just want to tackle this slowly with something good and solid but budget friendly. LEE presses have been recommended multiple times so Il be looking at those. Single stage for sure. I think I'll follow your recommendation about digital scale fir now and if I really get into it, an auto-thrower will be next on the list.
Thanks, I really appreciate you replying. Cheers
Dillon 550 was recommended to me almost 40 years ago. Still have it, still works. I have probably loaded about 80, 000 rounds with it over the years. I can load anything on it short of 50 cal. Never felt the need to upgrade, plus Dillon has a no BS guarantee. Pick up the phone, part comes in the mail. Only reason I bought more Dillons was to save caliber changes.
I have a Lee Turret and a Dillon 550.
The Dillon is a game changer for speed but there is nothing cheap about the accessories and machine itself.
The Dillon has a much steeper learning curve . The lee turret are a lot more basic and I would recommend going for more basic while starting so you are not overwhelmed.
I also highly recommend a good powder dispenser. RCBS makes a good one. It will save you a lot of time.
The Dillon is a game changer for speed but there is nothing cheap about the accessories and machine itself.
The Dillon has a much steeper learning curve . The lee turret are a lot more basic and I would recommend going for more basic while starting so you are not overwhelmed.
I also highly recommend a good powder dispenser. RCBS makes a good one. It will save you a lot of time.
I agree with all of the above.
The only point I would recommend going above "Lee" and going straight to superior brands like RCBS, Lyman or Frankfort arsenal.
I know a lot of people like Lee and it served them well, but when you compare it against RCBS, you can clearly see a difference in sturdiness and quality of the press / tools. If I would start again, I would inquire about the Frankfort M-Press.
Buy once, cry once. I'll cost a bit more but this kit will serve you a lifetime. I own a RCBS RS-5, my kit has served me well for over 25 yrs and still going strong. I have reloaded more than 30 000 cartridges of rifle and pistol calibers within the years.
Also keep in mid that major reloading companies usually have no parallels in customer support. On the rare occasion when I had a part broke (often by my own fault), I made a call directly to the company and I would receive a replacement in the week following. No fees, no hassle, no forms to fill... (If it didn't change recently).
Good luck!
Mem
The only point I would recommend going above "Lee" and going straight to superior brands like RCBS, Lyman or Frankfort arsenal.
I know a lot of people like Lee and it served them well, but when you compare it against RCBS, you can clearly see a difference in sturdiness and quality of the press / tools. If I would start again, I would inquire about the Frankfort M-Press.
Buy once, cry once. I'll cost a bit more but this kit will serve you a lifetime. I own a RCBS RS-5, my kit has served me well for over 25 yrs and still going strong. I have reloaded more than 30 000 cartridges of rifle and pistol calibers within the years.
Also keep in mid that major reloading companies usually have no parallels in customer support. On the rare occasion when I had a part broke (often by my own fault), I made a call directly to the company and I would receive a replacement in the week following. No fees, no hassle, no forms to fill... (If it didn't change recently).
Good luck!
Mem
I got the Lyman All American 8 turret press kit from Cabela's. It regularly goes on sale for a steep discount. (i just use it as a single stage but with 4 calibres ready to go)
The only things I have replaced are dies and getting Redding Case Lube as the spray #### that comes with is really bad.
Lyman dies for whatever reason have been explicitly terrible for me. I have gone through 4 sets for 308, first of which comes with the purchase (you mail in a voucher for whatever size you want) and the two after that were replacements for it. Then after 3 dies being entirely #### and getting cases stuck in the sizing dies, i got one last Lyman set off my dad and while I made it through several hundred 308 rounds, just last week it finally befell the same fate. I have a feeling it is more likely that I was using the spray lube because i don't like wasting, but it and the dies have gone to the bin.
I have had great luck with the RCBS dies but moving forward I think I'm just going to continue with Hornady, it has proven to be very good quality and very consistent in that.
Overall, through a LOT of research and the past 4 years using it, I still feel that the Lyman ultimate kit is the best bang for your buck
Just replace the dies and lube, everything else has been fantastic quality for me and I've loaded probably 400 or so 308, good bit over 1000 30-30 and about 1000 223s
The only things I have replaced are dies and getting Redding Case Lube as the spray #### that comes with is really bad.
Lyman dies for whatever reason have been explicitly terrible for me. I have gone through 4 sets for 308, first of which comes with the purchase (you mail in a voucher for whatever size you want) and the two after that were replacements for it. Then after 3 dies being entirely #### and getting cases stuck in the sizing dies, i got one last Lyman set off my dad and while I made it through several hundred 308 rounds, just last week it finally befell the same fate. I have a feeling it is more likely that I was using the spray lube because i don't like wasting, but it and the dies have gone to the bin.
I have had great luck with the RCBS dies but moving forward I think I'm just going to continue with Hornady, it has proven to be very good quality and very consistent in that.
Overall, through a LOT of research and the past 4 years using it, I still feel that the Lyman ultimate kit is the best bang for your buck
Just replace the dies and lube, everything else has been fantastic quality for me and I've loaded probably 400 or so 308, good bit over 1000 30-30 and about 1000 223s
I'm in the same boat except different brand. I started with a Rockchucker kit in the mid-80's. All I have left now is the press and scale although I use my Dillon balance beam scale a lot more. No brand's kit has the best of every item so eventually people find something better and piece the kit out to upgrade to something better. For example, I went to Redding powder measures. Quite a bit more expensive but worth it for the extra quality. On the other hand I swapped most of my Lee, RCBS and Lyman dies for Hornady because I like some of their features better like the sliding bullet alignment sleeve in the seater die.
Sloped Roof Specialist
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We
Hunting? 2/3-gun? Precision? Super-typeA-over-the-top precision??
SRS
Tell us a bit about your rifle(s) and intended use(s).
Hunting? 2/3-gun? Precision? Super-typeA-over-the-top precision??
SRS
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buying because of warranty well that's just wrong
straight wall cases are not the easiest to reload and buy a balance beam scale not a digital they fail
single stage press does not really matter on brand
then your basic needed hand tools
1or 2 good manuals read re read and read again know matter what your body tells you about reloading do what the manual says
straight wall cases are not the easiest to reload and buy a balance beam scale not a digital they fail
single stage press does not really matter on brand
then your basic needed hand tools
1or 2 good manuals read re read and read again know matter what your body tells you about reloading do what the manual says
Yes very good advices. Been thinking about either a LEE or a used RCBS at this point. But some are now saying Hornady... Starting to be overwhelming hard to make the right decision again!
That's what I was told about the no BS. but I think it might be above my grade in regards to complexity and price point.
Thank you, that's very good points you're bringing here. Noted! I think I'd prefer basic like a LEE to begin ya
Thank you very much for your comment I appreciate it. At this point, I'm thinking either of a new Lee or a used rcbs. If I can I will upgrade to a rcbs. I can always wait to find a good used one. We'll see what happens
Yes they are actually 30% off right now. From 1k to $700 for the full kit. That's a pretty decent deal I'd say for a new kit
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I’ve been reading/watching about the Dillon’s in the past couple weeks. They’re super cool, but I can’t see myself ever justifying one… and I can justify anything!!
SRS
