Help me get started with a reloading set up - kit vs. piece by piece

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canoetrpr

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I'm in a position to be able to get started on a reloading set up sooner than I expected. The problem: I've been going back and forth on what to order to get started.

Many of you guys have been here and done this before and learned what equipment you should have purchased to start with instead of down the road. I'm looking to get set up to be able to reload in an efficient and quick manner. Rifle cartridge only for now.

I think I'd like to get a Chargemaster, case prep center and powered trimmer off the bat- so long as cost does not get too unreasonable.

Option 1
- Cabelas RCBS RockChucker Supreme Deluxe kit ($799 - Cabelas)
- Vibratory tumbler
- Powered trimmer -recommendations please
- Dies (.308 and 30-06): FL, Bullet Seating. Should I be getting a Neck Sizing and Factory Crimp die?

I hear that the RCBS RockChucker primer collection set up is not very good. Only bad thing I've heard about this press.

Option 2:
-One of: Forster Co-Ax, Redding Big Boss 2, Redding Turret press, Lee Classic Cast (can't find a Forster Co-Ax or the Reddings in stock anywhere - is it really worth waiting. Co-ax fans swear by them?)
- RCBS Chargemaster
- RCBS Case prep center
- Powered trimmer -recommendations please?
- Loading block
- Lube / Imperial wax
- Dies (.308 and 30-06)
- RCBS hand priming tool
- Funnel
- Anything obvious I am missing?

Option 3:
- RCBS RockChucker Supreme kit from Prophet River ($300)
- Dies (.308 and 30-06) FL, Bullet Seating. Should I be getting a Neck Sizing and Factory Crimp die?
- Add powered stuff once I'm sure I will be enjoying this. Will I be wasting money on the powder dispenser and beam scale once I get a RCBS ChargeMaster?

I'd appreciate your thoughts on how you would go about doing given these and any other options you can think of?
 
If you're loading Rifle rounds, I would probably go with a single stage and REALLY take your time with it. Buying everything separate might be a good idea.. Price everything out.

I know with my Lee Classic Turret press, It was $12 cheaper to buy everything separate. And I could have done away with the Safety scale, and bought another Pro Auto-Disk. And then bought the 5-0-5 scale.

Do your homework, and don't jump into the sale. Take your time.

I can not stress enough to Take your time.
 
go with option 3...if you decide later to get the RCBS ChargeMaster... i would keep the beam scale and and powder dispenser to use as a back up though...or if you decide you dont want them...you can get some $$$ back in flogging them in the EE
 
I started a new loader off last summer, and he bought the Supreme Deluxe Kit. I have never seen a beginner enjoy reloading as much as he does. If you can afford the Supreme Deluxe Kit, I can't think of a better way to begin loading. If your budget is smaller, The kit that Prophet River has on sale offers great value for the price.
 
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i would suggest the lee 50th aniversary kit, it is dirt cheap, then add on things from there, unless you are anal about reloading, all dies are fairly equal as in they do the same thing, id start with some lee dies (without the crimp as per your current rifles), and eventually add a redding neck die when you are ready for the 2nd reload and the neck/shoulders have been formed to your rifles. with the savings from buying the lee kit, you will be able to add/replace components as you see fit. Sometimes no matter how much people rave about something, sometimes you just dont like it and want to try something different. I highly reccomend a digital scale, but if you dont want one, i happen to have a rcbs powder measure w/stand and 5-0-5 scale i would let go cheap.

Honestly, for the 170$ish for the 50th lee kit, you could do much worse http://ca.wholesalesports.com/storefront/reloading/presses/lee-50th-anniversary-kit/prod252150.html
 
Single stage Press
308 and 30-06 Full Length die sets and a shellholder (same for these cals)
A manual
A case trimmer or trim system that will trim these calibres/cases
A case mouth deburring tool
Powder Funnel
A priming tool if your press doesnt have that incorporated into it
A scale that reads in grains
A powder thrower so if you choose, you don't have to hand measure every round after setting measure up with scale
Loading block to set cases in while charging with powder so they dont fall over
Case lube
A tumbler and media (and seperater) if you want but you don't have to use one
Digital calipres to measure case lengths, ammo lengths, bullet diameter
safety glasses for priming and a notebook to record your loads and results in, as well as bolts to hold press to bench or table

Some empty 30-06 and 308 cases
Large Rifle primers
.308" diameter bullets you want 165gr SP for example for both calibres
A powder that is in your manual for loading. IMR 4895 or H-4895 would work in both calibres to start with

I think your lists look pretty good. I would learn about necksizing and specialty crimping dies later even if you choose to buy them now, normal FL dies are good to start and learn with.
 
First of all, how many rounds are you going to be reloading in a month. If you are going to be only doing 20-30 a month, no use breaking the bank, go with a single stage as you can quite easily do that many in a couple of hrs in one evening a month.

If you plan on doing more rounds or maybe planning on getting another caliber or two I would definitly go with the Lee Classic Cast Turret press.

A few words on why I recomend the Lee, and this is only my opinion so take it for what its worth. I've been reloading since I was 14 yrs old (57 now), I've used presses from my dads massive old Herters (still have it) to Lyman,2 or 3 RCBS's, Lee challenger, and I now have two Dillon 650 and a Dillon 550 and a Lee Classic cast turret. If I were starting out again, and could only have one press and had to choose between all the ones I've listed, I would choose the Lee cast turret.

Don't get me wrong that I'm saying the othere aren't good equipment, they are, just that the Lee operates very efficiently and smoothly and can do caliber tool head changes at substantialy less money up front.
 
I think a lot of brand-name comments are about the same as those for Ford vs GM car owners - personal bias, muchly. The fact that the XYZ Company has been selling their stuff for years is a pretty good indication to me that it's not total junk.

Fingers284's comment on basic press type is bang on. Actually, I would always recommend starting with a single-stage press unless you routinely shoot more than a couple of hundred rounds a month.

I bought an kit a bazillion years ago (RCBS, if it matters) and the only thing I'm not still using is the lube pad. I tossed that once I discovered Imperial Sizing Die Wax. I've added a bunch of stuff, but the basic kit is still going strong.

WRT question about stuff missing from the list, I might suggest:

  • a place to legally store powder and primers. It's the law and not far from common sense, anyway.

  • measuring device - a pair of digital calipers from Canadian Tire is a start, but dial calipers don't run down batteries

  • a second (and maybe a third) loading block

  • good lighting. Very important

  • some sort of book to record your results. They sell special ones, but a simple notebook will do.

  • powder trickler. Throw low and trickle up is a time-tested method

  • magniying glass

  • safety glasses and maybe a fire extinguisher. You won't need them until you need them and then you'll really need them.

  • bullet puller. The hammer type is a good place to start. Everybody makes mistakes.

  • spare depriming pins and a stuck case remover kit. They'll cost you maybe $15 total and it's guaranteed that you're going to need them sooner or later, generally after the stores close, so you might as well go for them up front.

  • a good reloading manual. Be really careful about taking stuff off the net until you have enough experience to recognize what makes sense and what is Bubba-BS
 
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All that I know is I bought the LEE kit when I started... All that I still have is the press. I would go with the prophet river RCBS kit if I were to purchase again from the start, but I only reload centerfire rifle as of right now, might want a dillon later on if I got into pistol reloading.
 
I still use the same single stage Lyman Spartan that my dad bought used decades ago, and load everything but .38 special on it. I've put more than a few thousand rounds through it this winter already, an evening here, some time on the weekend there, and that's taking my time and being real anal about getting every case prepped and trimmed (lyman manual trimmer - I see no point in a powered trimmer unless you're trimming many thousands of cases a year instead of a few hundred. All you're saving yourself is exercise, not time).

Lyman 55 powder measure - good for ball powder and flake stuff. Not so much for the IMR and Hodgdon stick powders. If you're getting any sort of mechanical powder measure that ISN'T essentially a computerized automatic trickler (ala Chargemaster) I would stick with ball or flake powders for consistent metering, or short stick stuff like 2400, RL7, etc...

Powder measures require you to establish a "Rhythm" for consistency, especially with more difficult metering powders. If you break the routine, check the charge and don't be surprised if it's off by a few tenths or more (especially with stick powders).

I do not use a loading block AT ALL unless I'm hand weighing charges for load development, where my routine is Weigh Charge, Grab case from bin, Charge case through funnel, Put case into loading block, Repeat 10 or 20 times, then seat bullets. This prevents double charging and missed charges. When using a mechanical powder measure it's Grab case, Charge case directly at the measure (employing the knocker after the throw before the case is removed, in case of a bridged charge), Insert bullet, Chunk it in the press, Wipe. No mistakes. Weigh every 10th charge and keep the level in the hopper more than half full.

If I was starting again I would still have a good cast iron press, maybe a Lyman turret or similar.

I stick with a balance beam scale, because I trust it - when I see warnings about static electricity or electronic devices in the presence of digital scales, it turns me off.

Progressives are good, but you had better be the OCD type of personality to jump right in to something of that nature, because it's VERY easy to get screwed up with so much going on, if your sequence gets disrupted and you're not paying Absolute attention to Exactly what you and the press are doing. I pulled several bullets last week because of a press hiccup and a minute after clearing it I could not be 100% certain that I hadn't double-charged one of the cases. Turns out I hadn't.


Edit: spent primer handling. Put a garbage can between your legs in front of the press, and sweep up whatever it doesn't catch. Primers will end up on the floor. It's nothing to sweat (unless you live with an OCD type of homemaker). ;)
 
redneckchris said:
See if clay from prophet river still has any RCBS kits left. The best price I've seen yet
Red
Click to expand...

I bought this one off Clay and have been reasonably impressed. I do believe for the cost compared to other units, it's a very good deal.

I bought a cheap digital scale but find the beam scale included in this kit is much more accurate and just as quick. The magnetic leveling works great. Very little time to settle down.

I added a RCBS Trim Pro (manual) for the time being. I haven't had to trim many cases yet but besides dies and your components you get a pretty good set-up.

You'll need full size for brass fired in other guns, or to bump the head back. Otherwise a neck die is ideal.

Primer handling isn't ideal, but not bad. It works, but I find emptying the little tray thing is a pain. That being said, pretty minor issue.

Keep in mind a tumbler will be useful. I went ahead and made my own stainless set-up using a "broken" treadmill I got for free. It works great! A vibrating tumbler to stainless set-up ranges from $120-300ish.
 
when I got started, a friend of my fathers was getting out of the hobby. I ended up buying his entire bench, and entire supply shelf. While it didn't lend itself to me moving forward with a specific poa, I have learned a lot, and saved a ton of money. To give an idea, for $1200 bucks, I rec'd:
Lyman 6 position manual turret
Redding single station
MEC and Lyman 12g loaders
7000, 209 primers
12000, waa12 wads
1300 53-55g sierra bthp's
all the little nic naks you tend to need.
various powders
15 sets of dies, rifle and pistol
trimmer
Ideal and Redding powder drops
8 sets of casting molds with handles
200lbs #8and #9 shot
2 sizer lubers with bushings,
the bench
.45 an 303 projectiles.

and the list goes on and on. Between what I have saved in consumables, and made from selling the items I don't use, I am well ahead of the game.

But almost more importantly I gained access to his collection.

Anyway, it only works if you have someone liek that - worked well for me.
 
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