Getting started help

Dsmer4ever

Dsmer4ever

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I've been looking around for a reloading kit to start making my own ammunition and there are quite a few different manufacturers out there. Wondering if there are any preferences or suggestions to any paticular kit/ brand and any other components I will require?
I will be reloading for 22.250, 3006, 300wsm, and 300 rum for now with a few others in the future.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you
Dan
 
RCBS is very popular, and I'm guessing the most common brand of equipment. For what you are starting off loading, it would be hard to go wrong with the Rockchucker presss / starter kit.
 
I purchased the Lee Anniversary a couple of years back. Works great for me. I am reloading 22/250, 7mm WSM 9MM & 25/06. Only thing I did not like was the powder measure I did not really trust it so I am wieghing every charge. If money isn't a issue then the RCBS is probably a better way to go but i have had no regrets with the LEE for $129.00.
 
I bought the Lee Classic Turret Press. So far I've reloaded for only .40 and .30-30. I have dies for .30-60 and .303 and .223 as well. It's been great so far, no issues at all. I personally like it due to the safety primer system. No chance of a primer being seated setting off the rest.

For an introductory press, I think it does very well.
 
Getting Started?? . . I would suggest purchasing a couple of good reloading manuals and read the "how to, what to do and what not to do section" over and over a few times until you fully understand what's involved. .

Then equipped with some book knowledge, start looking around for RCBS products. . The other brands are okay and some a tad cheaper, but I found RCBS press and dies to be the best and their prices are okay. . I agree with Scott, it's hard to beat the Rock Chucker starter kit. .
 
deadeye93 said:
I purchased the Lee Anniversary a couple of years back. Works great for me. I am reloading 22/250, 7mm WSM 9MM & 25/06. Only thing I did not like was the powder measure I did not really trust it so I am wieghing every charge. If money isn't a issue then the RCBS is probably a better way to go but i have had no regrets with the LEE for $129.00.
Click to expand...

I weight every charge but still use the powder thrower. Just set it to throw a few grains less, and use a powder trickler for the rest. Much faster then the old spoon method.
 
About half of my loading dies are Lee. I don't mind them. My 30-30, 6.5x55, and .348 are all Lee dies, and I get great results with the ammo I create. I don't make benchrest quality ammo, just accurate, low cost, reasonable ammo that fits my style. I don't worry about whether or not my Swede will shoot 1 1/4" vs 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I worry that a box of 20 rounds is probably over $30!
I can make a 50 round box of ammo for less than $5 if I pour my own lead bullets for the .303 and 30-30's. If I spend the afternoon shooting a box of each ammo that's one hundred rounds of ammo, and even at .30-30 prices (last time I checked) running at $25/box 20, I saved about $100 clear profit. This is assuming I reused my casings and don't factor in the cost of dies, press and scales, etc. The 30 cals and up are usually fed with cast, and the .22 and 6.5 are fed with jacketed.
The presses and other things are a long term investment item that will bring your shooting costs way down over time. Just tell your better half that it will save money in the long run, and with all the money you saved, you'll be able to spend it on thing she likes...
 
Shop around and be patient for a good deal. The RCBS - Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit I purchased from Prophet River came with the press, scale, powder dispenser, loading block, lube and pad, primer tool, brushes and funnel. Also came with a Speer reloading manual. Other bit's I've added on in the 6 months reloading are dies of course (including some neck sizers), flash hole deburring tool, flash hole uniformer, digital calipers, powder trickler, case trimmer and an additional Nosler reloading manual.
This doesn't count the powders, primers, bullets or the cabinet to store all this crap!
I wouldn't say it's the cheaper way to go, but it's an enjoyable pastime and provides my rifles with custom ammunition.
 
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