Getting started help

I'll disagree with just about everyone here.
Don't get caught up in a brand name pi$$ing match, they ALL make very good equipment. (one caveat, avoid SmartReloader brand like the plague.Made in China and warranty needs to be sent to Italy).
Don't overlook used equipment from the EE or Kajiji. Reloading stuff is built to last for generations.

Get a reloading manual, again the brand doesn't really matter, and give it a read through. Any of the manuals that have more than just the reload data will have a "How-To" section at the front. Even if you decide not to reload, you will have learned some neat stuff.

The manuals are put out by equipment, powder, and bullet makers, and will cover their own stuff, so more manuals will cover more combinations. They will show pictures of reloading steps using their stuff, but the idea transfers to other brands. Lee's manual goes a bit far, suggesting their stuff is the best and you'd be a fool to use anything else. Once you ignore that bit, I think Lee gives one of the best explanations of what to do, and why.
 
Hornady makes a nice single stage press with quick quick bushing disconnect that let's you switch calibers fairly quickly. You just have to by extra bushing for each different caliber for it to be useful. You could also have a main set for your "go to" caliber then have a spare set for use as a normal press should you choose not buy the bushings for every set of dies. Not sure but a pack of three bushings is between 10.00-20.00 dollars (i think).
 
Those that bash the Lee Classic Cast have never used one. The primer drop down the middle of the ram is identical to the Redding big boss which is 300 dollars. It can be used to reload everything including 50cal should your heart desire. It can equal the hornady bushing system with the dropin replacement that hornady provides (done it and it works great). Its ambidextrous unlike the hornady or redding (RCBS is). The handle adjusts for length of pull depending on speed vs leverage. The priming system although plastic is actually quite fast and there are no annoying pickup tubes like my Hornady LNL AP. I can't say enough about the best $140 I have ever spent on reloading gear. Test one before you judge like everybody always does with lee equipment.

Evan
 
As I'm looking on at the Bass Pro site I see the RCBS Explorer starter kit and the Rock Chucker kit.

The Rock Chucker kit comes with single-stage Supreme Press, 5-0-5 scale, Uniflow powder measure, Speer reloading manual, hand priming tool, hex key set, loading block, case lube kit, powder funnel, and deburring tool.

The Explorer comes with -5 single stage press, 1,500-grain Digital Pocket Scale, Powder Trickler-2, Hand Priming Tool, Universal Case Loading Block,Debur Tool, Powder Funnel, Case Slick Spray Lube, Nosler 7th Edition Reloading Manual.

There is about a $30 price difference between the two kits. What are the differences between the two presses if any? From what I've seen the digital scale seems to be preferred, and a tinkler seems to be a handy piece as well. I'm just wondering what the key differences are between the two kits.
Thanks
Dan
 
I'd say get a Lee Anniversary kit, some dies, calipers, and a powder trickler. Upgrade the scale if you want to. That will likely get you rolling for about $300.

Are the other presses a little tighter or tougher? Probably.
Are they more expensive? Certainly.
Does Lee equipment have a satisfaction guarantee? Yes, 30 days from purchase from approved reseller. Do your homework.
Will you notice a difference in the ammo you make? Probably not.

The Lee bashing is simple brand snobbery IMO. If you can afford to spend more on a product that gives similar results, good for you, be happy.
 
They look pretty much the same except the one package offers a digital scale and Nosler manual over the manual beam scale and Speer manual. I don't imagine there will be too much difference in the press, the digital scale may be cool but I have no problems with the beam scale, the trickler is a handy item (as with most reloading gadgets), the manuals are similar (I have both). The rebate is a bit of a carrot with both of them...

Dsmer4ever said:
As I'm looking on at the Bass Pro site I see the RCBS Explorer starter kit and the Rock Chucker kit.

The Rock Chucker kit comes with single-stage Supreme Press, 5-0-5 scale, Uniflow powder measure, Speer reloading manual, hand priming tool, hex key set, loading block, case lube kit, powder funnel, and deburring tool.

The Explorer comes with -5 single stage press, 1,500-grain Digital Pocket Scale, Powder Trickler-2, Hand Priming Tool, Universal Case Loading Block,Debur Tool, Powder Funnel, Case Slick Spray Lube, Nosler 7th Edition Reloading Manual.

There is about a $30 price difference between the two kits. What are the differences between the two presses if any? From what I've seen the digital scale seems to be preferred, and a tinkler seems to be a handy piece as well. I'm just wondering what the key differences are between the two kits.
Thanks
Dan
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I'm a little confused with the differences of -5 scale press and the 5-0-5 scale press. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thanks
Dan
 
Dsmer4ever said:
I'm a little confused with the differences of -5 scale press and the 5-0-5 scale press. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thanks
Dan
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Yes, you are comparing apples to VolksWagens.
The "-5" should properly abbreviated to "RS-5", standing for Reloader Special-5.
The RS-5 is their middle of the line press.
The Partner Press is a tiny aluminum budget press.
The RockChucker is the big cast iron monster that everyone uses as a benchmark to compare other presses to.

Scales:
The 5-0-5 is simple, reliable, accurate, easy to use, and if we run out gravity to power it, reloading is probably of minor concern.
Digital scales can be susceptible toflourescent lights and other electric devices' magnetic fields, and battery power can cause false readings.
Digital scales are more convenient to find the weight of something, where beam scales are better for getting something to the same weight.

Of the two kits, I would suggest going for the " Rock Chucker™ Supreme Master Reloading Kit"
You get the bigger press, and the better (imo) scale. The trickler isn't vital, I use a 243 case rolled in my fingers.

When you get your $50 rebate from RCBS, put it towards a case trimmer and you'll have a set-up that should easily last longer than you will :D
 
Bitumen said:
Junk.
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Stop being ignorant.

Richard Lee's equipment has started more people reloading than all others combined.

None of the lee starter kits are the be all end all in reloading but can produce tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of rounds of quality ammunition.

This is a picture taken last year when somebody else claimed Lee Equipment is junk.
These were shot at 100y. 3 x 5 shots and 1 x 2 shots.
The ammunition was reloaded using a Lee 50th Aniversary Kit which cost a total of $89.00 US.
I was using the Lee dies pictured.

31-10-11.jpg

The only thing I wasn't using from the kit was the Lee scale.
I was using my RCBS Chargemaster .

You can buy a decent Gempro scale which weighs to 0.02 of a grain for under $100.00 or you can buy a quality RCBS balance for around the same.

Don't get me wrong, I like quality equipment and I have plenty of it but it is not required to make quality ammunition.
It simply makes the experience more pleasurable and allows for a greater throughput of ammo.

If I were to start reloading today knowing what I know now I would have purchased the RCBS Supreme Deluxe reloading kit. Let's not forget that this kit costs 6 times more than the Lee kit does in Canada.


ht tp://www.cabelas.ca/product/22998/cabelas-rock-chucker-supreme-deluxe-reloading-kit-by-rcbs

I would still end up replacing some of the items down the road but it would have been later rather than sooner.
 
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I'd say buy whatever turns your crank.

I shoot every weekend, load 7 calibers and I do make match grade ammo. I also use lee products, I started with lee products but I do have some Lyman and RCBS stuff to.

Don't get wrong some of my lee stuff is kinda cheap like the primer feed on my press and the scale is very finicky but my classic cast press, auto disk powder measure and numerous die sets have proven to be worth way more then their cheap list prices.

At the end of the day reloading tools are only as good as the person operating them no matter what name brand is stamped on them.
 
While we're comparing groups made with lee equipment:

These are 100 yard groups shot with iron sights off a rest. ( I don't use scopes)

These groups were all shot with my 1916 Ross MkIII with iron sights. They are a mix of powders, cast and jacketed bullets. There is also 4 diffent brands of brass being reloaded in these pictures. They aren't mixed but each group was shot with diffent lots of brass. The only thing the same is the primers and the same lee dies.

2145E0F3-DF8B-4CA9-AB93-FB8FC04152F5-744-000002A0E182D46F.jpg


ABE070D8-7CE9-4298-B320-94D171F1BCEF-147-000000E4360C7BBC.jpg


CCEA42C0-75EE-4A8E-99C7-4956A5ECDB7B-147-000000E40F1D469B.jpg


7459D741-B622-4800-B8E8-9DBFF655664B-112-00000031064FB751-1.jpg


This 8 shot group was shot in my 1916 smle. Two of the hole are actually from 2 bullets.

08EBDBC5-D2B7-4DE1-9558-0579FA714F81-535-0000018C9556ACCC.jpg


The Real joke is I used my lee RGB die set in .303 British to load all of these!! The dies cost me $19.99 at cabela's. Oh and might I add that the bullets in a few of these groups were cast with a "CHEAP" lee C312-189-1R mould which cost $20, oh and they were sized and lubes and gaschecked using cheap lee products.

I have since shooting these attained greater accuracy with a lee neck sizing die but I thought these groups are real good for 100 year old guns shot with iron sights! Any beginner could replicate this as long as you gun is in good shape.

Anyhow, I like lee products and will continue using them until another manufacturer gives me reason to stop!
 
Buy whatever you can afford and get loading. You can always upgrade later. I have rcbs, Lyman, and lee products and am happy with all of them. They don't have to be blue to get the job done. Whatever suits your budget will work. As you keep reloading you'll find you always need more so start with the basics and have fun. Don't listen to everyone that says this or that is junk. If you do you'll waste precious time instead of learning, reloading, and shooting.
 
Dsmer4ever said:
Is there anything the kit doesn't come with that I'll need?
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Plenty. A lot of it is cheap but it adds up. A short list, off the top of my head, would include: Verniers, bullet puller, a case trimmer, stuck case removal kit, storage containers , brass cleaning system (optional but necessary beyond esthetics),,,,etc. Depending on the "Kit" you may need to replace a piece or two of the "value added" crap they throw in to make the deal look sweet. I'm not a fan of "Kits" for that reason. Redding makes the only kit that contains no trinket digital scales or other junk you'll soon want to replace. The majority of "mature" reloading benches out there would look like mine, having dies, tools and other components representing every popular manufacturer there is. No single manufacturer has the market cornered on the best of every die/tool/component.

As to Lee, or anything else, you tend to get what you pay for. That said, Lee's "Factory Crimp Die" is ubiquitous among pistol shooters, RCBS presses are now made in China with all that that implies, Redding has the only "Kit" worth spitting on, and a press which accepts Hornady's L&L bushing system is a press worth owning. If I were you I'd read "ABC's of Reloading", make a list of necessary components and shop for them individually (this can be part of your learning process). These are my particular biased recommendations, so take em for what they cost you ;).
 
WR69 said:
Buy whatever you can afford and get loading. You can always upgrade later. I have rcbs, Lyman, and lee products and am happy with all of them. They don't have to be blue to get the job done. Whatever suits your budget will work. As you keep reloading you'll find you always need more so start with the basics and have fun. Don't listen to everyone that says this or that is junk. If you do you'll waste precious time instead of learning, reloading, and shooting.
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Well put, buy what you can afford and replace/upgrade as you need or want to.

I believe the best ammo is made by the most experienced people, not buy a certain color of equipment.
 
Thought I would revive my old thread rather than start a new one. So I'm heading to Ontario to visit the wife's family for a week. While there I'm planning on hitting up Bass Pro and picking up a Rock Chucker kit to get me started reloading. Depending how much my other half decides to spend I'm going to get a few more pieces to go with it. Needs some suggestions here, what are the extra much needed accessories I should pick up? Case trimmer, calipers, small replacement parts...

Also, what's the difference between a 2 die set and a 3 piece set?

Any suggestions on powder and primers to start with? I have a 22.250, 303, 3006, 300wsm, and a 300rum shortly.

Thanks again for the help.
Dan
 
Dsmer4ever said:
Thought I would revive my old thread rather than start a new one. So I'm heading to Ontario to visit the wife's family for a week. While there I'm planning on hitting up Bass Pro and picking up a Rock Chucker kit to get me started reloading. Depending how much my other half decides to spend I'm going to get a few more pieces to go with it. Needs some suggestions here, what are the extra much needed accessories I should pick up? Case trimmer, calipers, small replacement parts...

Also, what's the difference between a 2 die set and a 3 piece set?

Any suggestions on powder and primers to start with? I have a 22.250, 303, 3006, 300wsm, and a 300rum shortly.

Thanks again for the help.
Dan
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Primers you will need large rifle and for the wsm large rifle mag primers. I would use cci but im sure others are good too. For powder for the 30-06 h4350. I use 4350 for 150 up to 178gr(so far) bullets wuth great results.
 
Bitumen said:
Junk.
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I actually prefer Lee dies to RCBS dies, though I own RCBS presses (Rockchucker, and an older RS2), powder measure (Uniflow), and scale (5-0-5). I have to use a small base die (RCBS) for my BLR, but I pair it with a Lee seating die. My Lee dies consistently produce crappy groups like this:



 
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