Help me get started with a reloading set up - kit vs. piece by piece

ekoso said:
i would suggest the lee 50th aniversary kit, it is dirt cheap, then add on things from there, unless you are anal about reloading, all dies are fairly equal as in they do the same thing, id start with some lee dies (without the crimp as per your current rifles), and eventually add a redding neck die when you are ready for the 2nd reload and the neck/shoulders have been formed to your rifles. with the savings from buying the lee kit, you will be able to add/replace components as you see fit. Sometimes no matter how much people rave about something, sometimes you just dont like it and want to try something different. I highly reccomend a digital scale, but if you dont want one, i happen to have a rcbs powder measure w/stand and 5-0-5 scale i would let go cheap.

Honestly, for the 170$ish for the 50th lee kit, you could do much worse http://ca.wholesalesports.com/storefront/reloading/presses/lee-50th-anniversary-kit/prod252150.html
Click to expand...

x2. This is what I started with, and still use. Spent an extra $30 on a second Lee Classic press to reduce changing dies when making larger batches of ammo. I've seen and used the green stuff, and Hornady, and unless you're reloading A LOT, there is nothing about Lee that will steer you wrong. The kit I came with also came with a very informative book with a lot of load data, and Lee doesn't sell powder- so you actually get load data with most powders. Most of it came from Hogdon, but the other companies are there. Their dies are still the best value for the money.
 
Many of you seem to suggest that one should have a balanced beam scale (and powder thrower + trickler) anyway even if you have a Chargemaster. Is this true? What would you use the scale, thrower, trickler for?
 
TRaTSeRiF said:
I heard complaints from people reloading rifle rounds with the Lee turret presses. Just wanted to hear from some opinions on that from some more experienced reloaders?
Click to expand...

I load all my rifle shells that I use in the sillywet game in my Lee turret, from the small .357 and 32-20 up to the 45-70 and 45-90.
Four main reasons I consider it the best value press I've ever used;

The mechanical advantage of the lever system resizes large cases effortlesly and smootly. No jerking or jarring the bench ascociated with other less fulcrumed presses.
The semi-auto primer feed system is cheap but works very well. I don't have to handle any primers with oily fingers.
The primer collection tube works very well ( a concern of some on this thread)
Just remove the twisted advancing rod (takes 10 seconds) and you have a singe stage press. A very good feature for a beginner who can start slow and progress to a faster pace after learning the intricasies of reloading without re-investing.

Without reservation I will say that if I didn't load quite a few thousand pistol caliber rounds a year, I wouldn't have any Dillon presses at all.
 
Does WSS price match? They have a pile of 50th anniversary Lee kits but they want $30 more than the other big box store that has none?
 
Many of you seem to suggest that one should have a balanced beam scale (and powder thrower + trickler) anyway even if you have a Chargemaster. Is this true? What would you use the scale, thrower, trickler for?
Click to expand...

If the Chargemaster fails, you would have a backup, but I see no other purpose in having a balance beam scale, measure,or trickler. I myself have two Chargemasters.
 
I have a Chargemaster along with an older RCBS electric scale, an RCBS/Ohaus 5-0-5 balance scale and Lee balance. I usually check the odd charge on another scale here and there to make sure it is working, but I would be comfortable if I just had the one. Backups are nice, and if the power is out I can still load with the balance. Powder measure is accurate if you are good with it and is faster than a Chargemaster.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Send me an email and I will forward a list of the stuff I use. not the most expensive but all of it works very nicely together.

Jerry
Click to expand...

Would you be comfortable listing your gear on this thread? I have been loading for 8-9yrs but am just starting to move into more precision long range varmint/ target type loading from hunting and plinking and would be interested in seeing where i can improve my gear. I'm sure others would as well.

Rob
 
Yes the RCBS press's are famous for throwing their primer's all over the floor. They've come up with plactic primer catcher's to catch most of them.
The LEE press's ALL have built in primer catcher's.
If I were to do it all over again I'd go for a LEE Classic Turret. Look into that press and you'll never go wrong buying it.
 
Tools that I use for Reloading:

• Press: Lee breech lock single stage
• Inserts: Inserts make for very quick die changes and you will need an insert for each die or move them as needed
• Primer Seater: Lee Auto Prime – need specific shellholders each or buy a set. I don't like press mounted primers for precision work.
• Shellholder: They all do the same thing and you will need one for each case head size
• Dies: For my match ammo, I use the Lee collet neck die, Redding body die and Forster BR inline seater
• Scale: My Weigh Gempro 250. Used to use a Jennings MACK20. I weigh all my charges for match ammo.
• Trickler: Hornady. Much easier then a spoon but I use that too.
• Lee Powder Dips: Quick and easy to get close to the weight you want. Trickle to exact weight. You can also use a powder measure.
• Case Tray: MTM Univ tray
• Funnel: Lee
• Lube: Rooster Lube 8oz pump – use for case sizing, RCBS liq lube - use for inside case necks or for small batches of cases.
• Redding BR-30 powder measure – for match ball powder loads. Huge time saver.

CASE PREP: All brass needs some prep for best performance.

• Case Trimmer: Forster Classic includes pilots and collets for most cartridges
• Outside Neck Turner: Forster. Pilots per cal.
• Inside and Outside Neck Deburr Tool:
• Flashole Deburr Tool: RCBS and can vary depending on cal
• Primer Pocket Cleaner: Dewey They all work
• Primer Pocket REAMER/Uniformer: Redding – if you have shallow primer pockets with 'long' primers, works great. Large and Small depending on cartridge.
• Forster 3 in 1 case trimmer/cutter/deburr tool – what a huge time saver.
• Forster power adapter – electric screwdriver – saves alot of effort and speeds things up

Tumbler and fine steel wool to keep the cases clean. I prefer walnut for polishing. rooster case polish works great- most everything works too.

AMMO MEASURING

• Runout guage: Forster. Sinclair is also excellent
• Calipers: Buy locally. Anything accurate to the thou. I like a digi scale or dial to make reading easier.


Here you go.


Jerry
 
Last edited:
zuke said:
If I were to do it all over again I'd go for a LEE Classic Turret. Look into that press and you'll never go wrong buying it.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that......... I've been on the fence about getting started with reloading and its hard to decide on equipment. After much consideration and internet searching I decided on the Lee Classic Turret kit. Ordered the kit and all the components last week from Henry in BC and CanPar is delivering it today.

I will be reloading a moderate amount of pistol and a small amount of rifle so a full out progressive is not needed. The single stage would have been ok but the thing that really sold me on the 4 hole turret was I could do one complete round at a time and the chance of a double charge or no charge would be very slim. Can't wait to get started..........
 
I would go with the kit #3.
Toss or sell the RCBS hand primer and buy the
Lee Auto Prime and shell holder kit.
I don't fancy Lee's stuff too much, but their hand primer
is soooooooo much easier to use than the RCBS one.
I talked a dear friend of mine into the RCBS kit and that
hand primer of theirs was just nasty.
Either that, or there was something seriously wrong with it.

If I was to start over again, the kit would be the way to go for sure.
I lucked out on an old Rockchucker stashed under a stairwell closet
that was new in the box.
I snapped it up and then started buying the other kibbles and bits.
Buying a kit takes out all the fun of figuring out what the heck you
need to start out with, short of dies, primers, cases and powder.
PLUS........big box stuffed with little boxes.
How does fun get any better than diving into something like that...........aye?
 
kamlooky. I might have taken your advice on the Lee Auto Prime but my order is already placed. The RCBS Universal one gets better reviews I think. I guess I'll have to see how it goes. I almost got the Forster one but then realized I'd have to handle primers one at a time which does not sound like fun.

Like anything else, I'm bound to not like some of the stuff I bought and replace it with other stuff. Will just have to learn from experience.
 
Blue_Fish said:
Thanks to everyone who posted in this thread, I also picked up one of the RCBS kits from Prophet River, too good of a deal to pass up.
Click to expand...

How I started. Decades later, the press is still going strong, no complaints on any of it. Good luck.
 
While I went the other route and ordered stuff piece by piece, I'd have to agree that the RBCS Prophet River kit was by far the best deal. I happened upon a bit of a bonus at work and so I decided to plunk a chunk into a piece by piece set up based on much of the advice here. Have to admit, if you want to get up and going quickly, a PR RBCS kit is the way to go.

Here is what I ended up ordering:
- Redding Big Boss II press
- Imperial die wax and neck media / applicator
- RBCS Universal hand primer
- Redding series A dies (FL and seating) for 30-06 and .308
- Forster trimmer w. collet and pilot for .30 calibre
- RCBS Trim Mate prep center
- RCBS VLD deburring tool
- Lyman flash hole deburring tool
- RCBS bullet puller (one that looks like a hammer)
- RCBS Chargemaster
- Sinclair .308 family loading blocks
- Redding stuck case removal kit
- Lyman 1200 Pro tumbler (not the Auto Flo model)

I'd admit that this probably overkill for what a guy starting needs and you could get started for FAR less than what I paid. I guess I started down this route as I had decided on a Chargemaster. It sort of went off the deep end after that as I had to figure out what lube, what priming unit, loading block and so on.
 
One suggestion to anyone starting out, order as much as you can from within Canada. Prophet River is highly recommended as they ship immediately. Prices are slightly higher in Canada but you will save in shipping, customs duty and make up in time. Right now the US sites are taking a LONG time to even look at orders. I ordered the press and lube from Prophet River and the rest of the stuff from Natchez and Sinclair. Tried to limit how many places I ordered from but still had 3.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom