If u were to buy all new reloading gear
- Thread starter frank the tank
- Start date
Been reloading on a single RCBS for 7 yrs, and finally getting my RPAL this spring. I load for 7 rifle calibers and have 3 MEC shotgun presses.
Will be getting a 9MM and 45 ACP once all permitted up.
I still use RCBS Powder drop, with a beam scale and digital scale to confirm every 5th powder drop. Plus before placing the bullet and while filled cases are in trays, I scan with a flashlight each case to ensure no double loads (or missed)...you only make that mistake once (no powder, squib load and I caught it..whew). I like production but hate wasted time, plus I also reload as a quite hobby all winter. Accuracy is always my goal.
The worst part of reloading was trimming brass, I used Lymon Brass trimmer, and chucked in drill to do inner/outer case mouth chamfer.
The second best reloading tool I have is my Franklin Arsenault Case and Trim Prep center, it has cut rifle brass trimming by 2/3 in time. This little machine has made reloading fun again, in the sense it is not a tedious task to trim brass anymore (sore wrists and fingers), but doing a hundred trims per night still cause a sore hand.
The best tool on my bench is LEE deprimmer die, it has ended broken sizing die pins on Hornaday, RCBS and LEE dies. I bought 5 extra deprimming pins based on how many I broke with factory dies. 5 yrs and 20,000+ depriming operations and still using the same pin. Only filed it once to debur point.
Once I get pistols, I will get the Dillon 650 X 2 for caliber, 9mm and 45ACP. I wont be as concerned with accuracy as much, and really only buying for SHTF so I can have a personal weapon. Also, to able to reload and have stock on hand. I cast for shotgun and rifle and will add to pistol rounds to casting.
Will be getting a 9MM and 45 ACP once all permitted up.
I still use RCBS Powder drop, with a beam scale and digital scale to confirm every 5th powder drop. Plus before placing the bullet and while filled cases are in trays, I scan with a flashlight each case to ensure no double loads (or missed)...you only make that mistake once (no powder, squib load and I caught it..whew). I like production but hate wasted time, plus I also reload as a quite hobby all winter. Accuracy is always my goal.
The worst part of reloading was trimming brass, I used Lymon Brass trimmer, and chucked in drill to do inner/outer case mouth chamfer.
The second best reloading tool I have is my Franklin Arsenault Case and Trim Prep center, it has cut rifle brass trimming by 2/3 in time. This little machine has made reloading fun again, in the sense it is not a tedious task to trim brass anymore (sore wrists and fingers), but doing a hundred trims per night still cause a sore hand.
The best tool on my bench is LEE deprimmer die, it has ended broken sizing die pins on Hornaday, RCBS and LEE dies. I bought 5 extra deprimming pins based on how many I broke with factory dies. 5 yrs and 20,000+ depriming operations and still using the same pin. Only filed it once to debur point.
Once I get pistols, I will get the Dillon 650 X 2 for caliber, 9mm and 45ACP. I wont be as concerned with accuracy as much, and really only buying for SHTF so I can have a personal weapon. Also, to able to reload and have stock on hand. I cast for shotgun and rifle and will add to pistol rounds to casting.
Only thing I would upgrade to would be to replace my two old single stage presses(Lee and Lyman) and go with a Forster Co-Ax and Redding T7. Otherwise replace all my RCBS dies(not my favorite but were available local) and switch to a smatter of Lee(yes Lee) and Forster's dies. Other than that I having nothing else on the bench I would want to start over with or that any other company makes better.
On the shotshell side of things I'd love to switch my Lee Loadall 20 ga and 16 to MEC Sizemasters like I have for 12 and 28.
On the shotshell side of things I'd love to switch my Lee Loadall 20 ga and 16 to MEC Sizemasters like I have for 12 and 28.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
If I was starting over, I'd take a hard look at a T-7, but even if I bought a single stage press, I believe I'd go Redding now where RCBS has been my preference since the early '70s, My first press was an RCBS Jr, later I upgraded to a Rockchucker, and I got a Rockchucker II after my house fire in 2000. That said, a little Lee C press, can be very useful for bullet seating and priming if you don't use a dedicated bench mounted priming tool, but a heavy press should be used for heavy applications. If I was going to delve into non-commercial bullet swagging, I'd purchase a Corbin press that could double as a reloading press.
I have gone from a gem pro 250 back to an old model Lyman M5 (which is much like a RCBS 10-10) and will never go back electronic (tired of worrying about static electricity/flourescent lights/strain gauge vs force restoration). Unless you have deep pockets and are going to spend >$700 for a precision scale (not a chargemaster), I think youll get better results from a beam scale. I can easily with unaided eyes, see one kernel of retumbo fall onto the pan and the needle move. Recently had a string of 16 bullets with an SD of 12 out of my 7mag, so my powder charges must be accurate.
