If you had 500$ ???

Canadianbiggame

Canadianbiggame

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If you had 500 bucks what would you buy for a starting set up to get into reloading?
I am mostly reloading .223 FMJ and 45 ACP. I would like to stay in a single stage press, but other than that I don't have a clue. I'm more or less asking the advise of the guys who have been doing this for a while.
Maybe save me some heart aches and save myself from buying crap and re-buying some better products.
What would you buy for dies, accessories, what do you think is a waste of money, any tips for someone getting into reloading. I'm ready to take the plunge
Thanks CGN
 
Lee 50th Anniversary kit. Some kind of tumbler or ultrasonic cleaner( I've been told they work good ,just low volume though) I just started reloading and it's worked fine for me so far.
 
Canadianbiggame said:
If you had 500 bucks what would you buy for a starting set up to get into reloading?
I am mostly reloading .223 FMJ and 45 ACP. I would like to stay in a single stage press, but other than that I don't have a clue. I'm more or less asking the advise of the guys who have been doing this for a while.
Maybe save me some heart aches and save myself from buying crap and re-buying some better products.
What would you buy for dies, accessories, what do you think is a waste of money, any tips for someone getting into reloading. I'm ready to take the plunge
Thanks CGN
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Other than the .223 & .45ACP aspect of this post, every other bit is what I have been wondering lately. Going to start reloading .270 WSM and .30-06 soon enough. Will follow closely.
 
Redding or RCBS kits will have premium components and the equipment will most likely last you a lifetime.

I started with the Lee Anniversary Kit, and while it got me on my, I quickly upgraded some key parts such as scale and then shortly after that, the press.
 
RCBS is more expensive than other companies but well worth it.
I never regretting buying anything from RCBS but just remember that there are better and more expensive products which are even more worth it if you have the money (I don't so it simplifies my buys).

Alex
 
CyaN1de said:
Redding or RCBS kits will have premium components and the equipment will most likely last you a lifetime.

I started with the Lee Anniversary Kit, and while it got me on my, I quickly upgraded some key parts such as scale and then shortly after that, the press.
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What press did you upgrade to?
 
billard81 said:
What press did you upgrade to?
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First off was an RCBS Jr 2 (Great Press) and then to an RCBS Rockchucker.

I much preferred my Jr 2 to be honest but maybe because I was used to how the ram traveled in comparison to the Rockchucker.

I still have all 3 presses (1 Lee and the 2 RCBS) around for various jobs.

Next and final press I will buy is the Redding Big Boss II or the Forster Co-Ax as the primer catchers on both RCBS presses leaves something to be desired.
 
stang said:
ROCK CHUCKER SUPREME MASTER RELOADING KIT by RCBS. It'll outlast you and is much better quality than the Lee.
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Saw that at Cabela's this past weekend. $750 and I believe that the OP said a limit of $500. And much of my second-hand Lee stuff is still running after 25+ years of my use and I have no idea how many before I got it. And I have a Rock Chucker that only gets used for case forming, de-capping brass I don't shoot or have dies for, and pulling bullets from soviet mil-surp x39mm and 54R. Everything else is done with a Lee press of some sort.

I have a Lyman beam scale, a lyman 50 measure, a Pacific measure, hornady case length trimmer, RCBS digital scale, two MecJr presses and two Lee shotgun presses. I am not brand loyal, but I am price loyal. And really, if there is that great a difference in the ammo that the more expensive stuff turns out, then I should get it. However, since the Lee stuff churns out 5/8" 100yd groups, then the good stuff should fetch the game back for me after I shoot it, it should be so accurate. Can't see it, honestly. Sorry guys, maybe I'll have to come visit and use your high end stuff, then shoot it. I should be able to get 5 round, single hole groups, not even ragged edges from this miraculous equipment.

The club I used to belong to in NS had ALL kinds of gear for reloading. Never saw the difference. Guys that shot all the time shot just as well with my ammo as they did with the stuff loaded on the Dillon and Forsters.
 
billard81 said:
474.95 at Wholesale Sports. Do you feel it is worth that price?
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You are correct. I was looking at the Supreme Deluxe Reloading Kit. And if someone wanted to spend $500 that way, I could not fault anyone for it. It is a VERY good set up, and definitely more than you would need. Thanks for pointing out my error.

Is it worth 3times what the Lee kit is worth to a beginner? I do not believe so. For your next upgrade...absolutely...if you like reloading, that is... You may not realize this but some people don't like it after trying it... And if you are trying to re-sell a Lee kit and have to sell it for half, you are out $75. Sell the RCBS for half and you are out $250.00.
Actually, I don't like using the Rock Chucker to load ammo. I find the handle stroke to be excessively long, that's why I only use it for pulling bullets and case forming. But then, different strokes for different folks.
 
+1 on the Dillon 550, even if it means you have to save a little bit longer. I think it is the best press on the market if you want one press to load everything. A single stage press is way too slow for handgun reloading.
 
Lee Classic Press - search this site and others and you will see posts of those with multiple presses who think highly of the Lee Classic Cast press (better than some much pricier setups).

With the money you save, you can buy high quality competition dies that will go along way in helping you make great, accurate ammo. My Die sets are composed of 1) Redding Body Dies, 2) Lee Collet Sizing Dies (rough, but nothing that a little TLC cannot improve0, and 3) Forster or Redding competition seating dies. Could not be happier with the results I am getting (I previously used RCBS die sets exclusively).
 
Canadianbiggame said:
What about dies? any recommendations for the best dies?
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After 40+ years of mostly rifle loading, the elimination of loaded cartridge runout, and its negative effects on L.R. performance, has finally been achieved.

Lee Collet neck sizer, tweaked to 2 thou. neck tension.
Redding body die.(when rarely needed)
Redding(or Forster) BR seating die.

When the worst round of a hundred loaded, measures 1.5 thou. TIR, .... you will see a difference on target.

Dozens of dies on the shelf now, just sitting there, never to be used again.
No further need for the RCBS Casemaster, neither.

Pistol on a single stage press is tedious, very good ammo for sure, but slow.
Carbide dies at least save the lube/clean off lube misery.
 
To the OP (I'm about to start loading too) how many rounds of .223 do you think you will load per year?

And to the veteran loaders here, is 2000 - 3000 rifle rounds considered high volume per season?
 
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