.338 lapua reloading kit recommendations

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Hi Guys

I'm looking for reloading press recommendations for .338 lapua. I don't know too much about reloading but I'm in the process of reading a book on it. I'm looking to purchasing a kit rather than individual components.

I also want to be able to reload .223 and .45acp.

Which reloading kit would you recommend?
 
If recommend the rcbs kit , rcbs is sort of middle of the road, there is "better" and worse but you can always upgrade later and add on as you need . Reloading pistol rounds in a single stage is tedious due to volume but as far as I know no progressive press will do 338lm..

Sorry this is short and a lack of real info but on my phone
 
I'll let others debate about the press.
But I'll give you my opinion on brass and dies.
Buy only new Lapua brand brass.
And buy Redding neck bushing die with a .366 bushing.
The most iimportant thing is the Redding Comp seater die.
With all those, I roll rounds with zero to 0.0005 runout on bullets.

Mush

BTW... I suggest 2 reloading manuals and read and understand very well the intros chapters.
 
Mush said:
I'll let others debate about the press.
But I'll give you my opinion on brass and dies.
Buy only new Lapua brand brass.
And buy Redding neck bushing die with a .366 bushing.
The most iimportant thing is the Redding Comp seater die.
With all those, I roll rounds with zero to 0.0005 runout on bullets.

Mush

BTW... I suggest 2 reloading manuals and read and understand very well the intros chapters.
Click to expand...

With all due respect, I think Redding bushing dies are overrated and in most circumstances a waste of money. I would go with Forster Ultra dies(full length sizer and micrometer seater), they aren't nearly as expensive as Reddings and produce equally good and in some cases better ammo. I have both Redding bushing dies for .260 AI and .300 Win Mag and Forsters for .338 Lapua and 7 WSM so I am just speaking from personal experience.

Where bushing dies may be beneficial is with a custom cut chamber like a tight neck, then bushings would be important to get an exact neck tension for that particular chamber.

In terms of a press I would get something like a Redding Ultramag ideally or at least a Big Boss, a big press is just easier to use both when sizing because of the leverage and when seating those long bullets in a long case. Having said that, I'm not up to date on any new offerings on the market these days so there may be some better options.
 
Well, starting out and wanting to load for those three cartridges, I would recommend a Lee Classic Cast turret kit. With the indexing rod installed, it acts like a progressive and loads 200or more rounds an hour. Remove the indexing rod and it will easily load .338 Lapua rounds as a single stage.
The press is bullet proof. The machining is top-notch. The warranty is an industry standard.
I am sure you would be happy with thus set-up until volumes got into the thousands a month.
 
I have an RCBS single stage for doing 338 Lapua and my target .223s as well. Having said that, I also use a Dillon 650 for pistol rounds and high volume 223. Doing lots of pistol or any other rounds on a single stage would drive one to drink.
 
I had read somewhere that forster was the company that developed the floating style bullet seating scheme and after the patent ran out, Redding started to produce and market dies. another tool that may offer some usefulness is the new(ish) Hornady concentricity gauge. the reviews make mention that the tool, if used properly, can also correct loaded rounds that have excessive runout. does anyone here any experience with this unit?
 
Just my .02 that redding quality control has really taken a dive recently. I had to wait 3 months for a 'new' .45 acp carbide set, and so far they a) put wrong flaring insert in, b) had a razor sharp seating plug that put a ring in the bullet, and c) machined the seating die wrong so that the crimp is brutal. They are good to deal with, but I wouldn't buy another redding set unfortunately, and I had heard so many good things about them :(

The lee classic cast is a press that will handle larger cartridges. It won't take a .50 BMG (almost!) but I would bet it could handle the lapua (which is still an awesomely big round). Be sure to use lots of lube!
 
Somerset Bar said:
The lee classic cast is a press that will handle larger cartridges. It won't take a .50 BMG (almost!) but I would bet it could handle the lapua (which is still an awesomely big round). Be sure to use lots of lube!
Click to expand...

And yet it IS marketed as their .50 BMG reloading kit. I do not have .50 BMG dies, but I DO have .50 BMG dummies. They seem to fit well enough for de-priming and resizing. And loading a bullet would be no different than loading a .300 RUM on the RockChucker. Put bullet in the seating die, put a charged case in the shell holder, and seat the bullet.
 
Mush said:
I don't think they make the collet die in 338 LM.
Click to expand...
Actually, they do, if you ask. It's $150 for a custom collet die. But, if you just spent $3k on a rifle, and you aren't worried about throwing $5 a crack down the tube, then it probably won't break you.
 
rookie wildcat said:
And yet it IS marketed as their .50 BMG reloading kit. I do not have .50 BMG dies, but I DO have .50 BMG dummies. They seem to fit well enough for de-priming and resizing. And loading a bullet would be no different than loading a .300 RUM on the RockChucker. Put bullet in the seating die, put a charged case in the shell holder, and seat the bullet.
Click to expand...

Quite possible, I've got a loaded .50 that I poked into it, and empty brass would fit, but I wasn't sure how a die and the projectile would fit since the projectile pokes almost all the way out the top of the press.
 
I bought a Redding magnum press and if I could go back and do it again I'd get the bigger one. As it is now I need to place the brass in to the press and then slip the bullet up into the die and then sit it on top of the case mouth. A press with more height would be better.
It can be done with smaller presses but for a little more money up front it's worth it to me.
I think their larger one is the big boss press.

Good luck
 
Somerset Bar said:
Quite possible, I've got a loaded .50 that I poked into it, and empty brass would fit, but I wasn't sure how a die and the projectile would fit since the projectile pokes almost all the way out the top of the press.
Click to expand...
Another CGN member, KEVAN, uses it to load his .50BMG rounds, so it must work. Remember, you raise the ram, screw the die in til it touches the shell holder, then another 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 turn (instructions). Therefore, the bulk of the seating die (which receives the ENTIRE 6" round is empty. I am sure it can take a bullet sitting there while you insert the case.
 
cr5 said:
I bought a Redding magnum press and if I could go back and do it again I'd get the bigger one. As it is now I need to place the brass in to the press and then slip the bullet up into the die and then sit it on top of the case mouth. A press with more height would be better.
It can be done with smaller presses but for a little more money up front it's worth it to me.
I think their larger one is the big boss press.

Good luck
Click to expand...

CR5, which Redding do you have, the Ultramag? My buddy's got a Big Boss II and it seems to take .338 and other long magnums easily.
 
Johnny Boom said:
CR5, which Redding do you have, the Ultramag? My buddy's got a Big Boss II and it seems to take .338 and other long magnums easily.
Click to expand...

I can't remember exactly which press I bought, had magnum in the name somewhere but I can't find the box. Pretty sure the one my buddy uses is the big boss or big boss II which has a longer ram that works better with the 338L.
 
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