Building a reloading bench; where to spend

[bearhunter]

Just my perspective - if you intend to duplicate modern ammo - that is probably not going to happen - the commercial guys do not use the canister grade powders that you will get - they will blend up a "lot" to their specs - is probable that the primers, brass and bullets that you use may not be the same as they use. When I started, it was relatively easy to do better, accuracy wise, than factory rounds - but now-a-days, it can be a real challenge to just be "as good as" they are. Having said that, I recently acquired a Tikka T3X in 223 Rem that the previous owner had really good luck with factory Hornady Match rounds. So I bought 500 of those Match 75 gr. BTHP Hornady bullets to see if I could make some "as good as" Hornady can - that is yet to be seen - I have not loaded for that rifle yet.

I have the same rifle, and it's very easy to develop loads for it that duplicate, and better, the performance of any factory match ammo.

You're right, some of the premium and match ammo available off the shelf, for the reasons you describe, are very hard to duplicate or beat.

I have a set of old Bonanza Bench Rest dies for the 223, as well as the 6.5x55, and Palma Match 7.62x51. They're some of the best I've used, and ammo is always very straight, with less than .003 run out.

Often, hand loaders don't check the run out on their finished ammo.

The last box of match ammo I picked up was very straight. It was all under .003. That's incredible for factory quality control.

 

[bearhunter]

OP - about your expectations - I have a couple rifles that will put 3 holes within one inch of each other at 100 yards off sandbags - my 338 Win Mag (a Winchester Model 70) will do that, and so will my 9.3x62 (a Husqvarna - probably a Model 649 on an FN Mauser 98 action). But I never could do so with my 7x57 (a Ruger #1) - best from that one that I ever got was about 1.25 inch for 5 shots at 100 yards - despite multiple load combinations attempted. I have taken many dozen deer with the Ruger and have yet to get anything with the 9.3x62. I did get two elk with the 338 Win Mag.

Ruger No1 rifles are notorious for being fussy. I have a custom 338-06 left in my safe. First shot at 100yds is always one inch low from the rest of the group. After the first shot it easily manages sub 1.25 inch groups with the loads tailored for that rifle.

It took a lot of work to get it to shoot predictably. D&Ting the fore end tang for a harmonic tensioning screw, glass bedding the butt stock to receiver tangs, and fore end tang, making sure the fore end didn't contact the receiver, swapping out the original Wilson barrel, etc.

 

[hickstick_10]

The bench itself, unless you're doing some serious case forming or swaging is secondary.

So far this old corner desk has been my favourite bench so far.

Case turners and trimmers dont hold a candle to a unimat lathe my mom found in the neighbour's trash.

Presses....co axes are nice but most of your accuracy will come from trigger time, save the money for powder, primers and days off at the range.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

I’ve had an RCBS rockchucker for decades and have reloaded thousands of rounds per year with it. Is it the fanciest? No. Does it make quality ammo? Absolutely.

Rockchucker is def the way to go.

I kinda feel that resizing dies, powder charge, and bullet seating are, generally, higher priority variables than the press itself (to a point!). I say this as a novice reloader.

And you would be correct. A top of the line press with cheap dies is not the way to go. A Rockchucker with decent Redding Dies is most definitely the way to go.

 

[slinkylegs]

As much as I would love a permanent, rock solid bench, I don't have that luxery right now. A friend build me a top for a B&D Workmate bench, and that's what I use. Handy in the sense that I can fold it and store it away, or bring it to the range with me to do load development. It works, and that is what matters to me right now.

With regards to equipment, I agree with the folks that say you don't need the most expensive press. I bought a RCBS Rock Chucker (along with other goodies) from an estate sale about 13 years ago, and it's been perfectly useable. I use an old beam scale (Lyman M5), but if I loaded more I'd get an electric thrower/scale.

 

[sonichanxiao]

I would like them equivalent/better than PPU/Privi Match Rifle, 75gr 223. I have quite a bit of FH Munition house brand, and at 250 yards it isn't bad, but tend to get quite a few flyers. The PPU groups very predictably with virtually no fliers, MOA or better, which is my goal. Consumption rate: I go to the range once a week, maybe twice depending on what the family wants to do, and go through 50-75 rounds per session. If my wife and daughter join me with their 223s, 100-120 per session.

I believe all the reloading press would be able to achieve that Sub-MOA accuracy if you do each step correctly. But if you have the budget, a Dillion 750 would save you a lot of time and potential shoulder pain after years while maintaining the same accuracy as single press.
On top of that an accurate powder throw, autotrickler is nice to have, but RCBS ChargeMaster Lite would do the job.
If you are not shooting premium brass like Lapua, annealer is something you don't have to invest.

Personally I would get
RCBS Rock Chucker press/Dillion XL750
RCBS ChargeMaster Lite
Redding Type S-Match Bushing Full Die Set with the size of bushing for your calibers
21st Century expanding mandrels for your caliber with expanding die
Lyman Case Prep Xpress for chamfer/debur/primer pocket uniform and neck brushing
Frankford Arsenal hand priming tool
Frankford Arsenal wet tumbler(large), no need to get the stainless steel pin, lemon shin with dishwash soap is enough
Frankford Arsenal brass dryer or any food dryer does the same job
A good caliper like from mahr or mitutoyo
Hornady brass headspace comparator and bullet comparator or ShortActionCustom ones if you want to spend that much money

 

[boxhitch]

A friend build me a top for a B&D Workmate bench, and that's what I use. Handy in the sense that I can fold it and store it away, or bring it to the range with me to do load development. It works,

A friend uses a Workmate, he strengthened his by adding a vertical leg under the press direct to the floor, first was a 4x4 then went light and uses a length of 4" abs pipe iirc