Best reloading Kit?

The other item that I bought that I really enjoyed for reloading was the case trimmer from these guys

http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/shop.html

I do .308 and .223.............and really hated trimming by hand. This trimmer is quick and fun to use......
 
I just purchased a rcbs supreme kit. It came with most everything but I needed more accessories. A case tumbler, case trimmer, collect style bullet puller, dies. It's amazing how fast it adds up. I even purchased a digital scale right away because the balance beam style is to slow for my liking.

I am not disappointed, actually quite excited with my new hobby.

Now I just need to learn how to shoot precisely to help with my loads development.
 
Digital scale uses batteries which die at non-ideal times. Beam scales once correctly calibrated will work correctly to the end of time.

You can spend money endlessly on accessories but if you are just building hunting rounds you don't need a complicated set up. If you are bench rest shooting you may be justified in spending the money. Hөll I loaded some 357 mag using a shell holder for 7.62x39 and a 9mm luger die. Its amazing what you can mikey mouse together if you have to.
 
KRJ said:
Digital scale uses batteries which die at non-ideal times. Beam scales once correctly calibrated will work correctly to the end of time.

You can spend money endlessly on accessories but if you are just building hunting rounds you don't need a complicated set up. If you are bench rest shooting you may be justified in spending the money. Hөll I loaded some 357 mag using a shell holder for 7.62x39 and a 9mm luger die. Its amazing what you can mikey mouse together if you have to.
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My digital scale does not use batteries, so that is not an issue at all.
 
KRJ said:
Buy a good scale and powder throw. Everything else doesn't matter.
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^^ This.

I made sure I could produce accurate powder amounts, and simply bought the other equipment used. My used, inexpensive RCBS Jr press works great. Saved cash for other stuff.
 
If I started all over, I would buy the rcbs charge master combo and a Forster Co-ax press. And some sort of budget starter kit that I could upgrade over time.
 
laker415 said:
I won't get into the debate on progressive vs single stage for accuracy but yeah, it is a common conception that single stage is better at precision reloads with minimal variance between rounds.

For your needs a single stage is perfect. If one day you want to get into pistol or high volume rifle then look at a progressive. You will always have your single stage on the bench regardless of what you add

When I was shopping for my first kit I almost settled on the lee anniversary kit but decided it was worth it to me to get the rcbs. I am glad I did. I have some lee 45-70 dies that work fine but too often I read people complaining about the lee scale or powder measure. Not so much with the rcbs.
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This makes good sense...
 
Cabelas has a Hornady reloading & cleaning kit on sale this week in their flyer. Its on for $399.00 with a bonus ultrasonic cleaner included.
 
Another RCBS Rock Chucker fan here. Get yer self a good unit now. Why screw around. I got the RCBS kit over 20 years
and the thing has done thousands of rounds. The kit came with a good powder measure press scale priming tools
i needs nothing but dies. O and it still looks new. "Buy now cry now".

One more thing. There is a certain amount of enjoyment to be had working with good tools. I enjoy
the reloading aspect almost as mush as the "unloading".
 
There's nothing wrong with the Lee kit. Must be alright, Jerry, at Mystic Precision (a site sponsor) uses their equipment, AND sells it. So how bad can it be. And another CGN member uses their stuff to load .50BMG. I have many Lee products, as well as other brands. For the most part, Lee makes completely serviceable stuff. I reload plenty and pretty good ammo. OP wants hunting and defence ammo. Doesn't need to spend thousands of dollars to do that. A .45-70 Lee Loader will do all he needs for quite some time until he is ready to move up. The Challenger kit is fine.
This buy once, cry once crap keeps people out of reloading. How many of you bought your dream house right off the hop? Well, why not? Buy one, cry once. How many of you bought your dream car as your first. Why not? Buy once, cry once. Many of you are a little full of something you shovel. Let someone start that doesn't have a completely disposable income and maybe other obligations. I guarantee, if he decides he needs more, then he can work toward it and won't feel too bad about it. But he won't, unless he changes his shooting type and frequency (which he may).
I have loaded thousands of rounds over the past 30 years on a Lee Challenger. They nearly all went bang. They ALL brought home game. Any that didn't were my fault, NOT my equipment.
 
I've been using the Rock Chucker Bullet Swag for over three decades. It has done me quite well, and it is still like brand new. Just keep it clean and give the moving parts a clean and oil every so often. I don't use the balance scale, the Lyman digitals I prefer.
 
Rifter said:
I will, honestly im leaning towards the Lee kit only because then if I do slowly replace some parts with higher quality gear at least the initial purchase price is low so I didn't spend much on it.

What else do I need as far as equipment to load ammo?

Like say I buy the lee kit or the RCBS master kit other than dies for the size I need what else is required that isn't in the kits?
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Knowledge, get a reloading book like ABC's of reloading and a book specific to the components you will use. If you buy Speer bullets get the Speer book. Even if you are buying new brass, it will only be clean once so you may wanna think about a way to clean the cases, ultrasonic or a tumbler ( dry or SS ). Off the top of my head I think that's it
 
911alertme said:
I don't have any experience with any Lee stuff except for one set of dies.

I would advise against the Cabelas RCBS kit linked. There are quite a few expensive luxuries in that kit that are unnecessary for starting.

I would recommend an RCBS kit. Just not the one linked.

I was given an old press but purchased almost everything else new and I am capable of loading some very accurate ammunition without very many luxuries.

In my opinion you need a good:
- press/dies
- scale
- trimmer
- trickler

I do also have a good powder dispenser which is nice but I only use it to throw loads that are close and then trickle up.

If the Lee kit doesn't come with all of the above in decent quality (others say it is bad) then I would recommend you look at something else.
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I am also interested in hand-loading and following this thread with interest. So any kit should have the things you listed to get started?
 
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit is a great way to start. A great set of tools in there you will only have to buy once. Maybe a digital scale later on but not a darn thing wrong with the beam. Along with a set of Lee shellholders. A case trimmer if your into the rifle. A universal decapping die and a set of dies for your cal. Nothing wrong with Lee dies. A Lee primer pocket cleaner. A decent set of dial calipers.I wash my case with soap, vinegar and degreaser. For about 20 minutes and a really good rinse to stop the acid in the vinegar. Then dry for a few days. Load away. If you can get the components
 
Ordered the Lee kit linked above from budget shooter supplies.

Thanks for all the help guys, now I need to figure out which dies to buy lol.
 
Redding, Forster and RCBS dies are what I like, in that order.

Powder, Primers and bullets can be easy or hard to get depending on what you are looking for and what part of the country you live in.
 
phin11 said:
I ordered some 45-70 components from Budget this week and remember this listing .


http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/frame.cfm?ItemID=1&CategoryID=0
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love the buy one cry once when this kit is down to 115 bucks. The press is good other components from what I can review work enough to get you started . Considering a face cord of firewood cost me 100 today that 115 is a steal. I am after the classic Lee ture press kit but I am really debating on getting this just to start sooner then later
 
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