New kit or used gear?

[gregisthegreatest]

Hey guys (and girls). I'm going to take the plunge into reloading this fall. I plan on only reloading for my rifles. A single stage press is all I need. I have no reloading gear at the moment. For all of you who have been down this path, which do you think is best? Would you get a Lee or RCBS kit or pick up the parts off the EE? My budget is around $300 but the cheaper the better.

Thanks.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I use an RCBS Rockchucker and it's fine for 90% of what I do. FOr the other 10% (416 Rigby and long-seated 300 WM) I wish I had a Redding Big Boss with a bigger opening.

Nothing wrong with buying used off the EE. Pretty hard to hurt a press though I'm sure that somewhere some knuckle-head has managed. Dies can often be had used and cheap. Get a good digital scale and a powder trickler and you're in business. You can get a powder measure eventually, but in the interim you can scoop or pour it from cans into the pan on the scale. It's ghetto, but it works. I'd like to upgrade to a Redding measure too. Someday, I suppose I will, but for now the basic RCBS measure does fine.

 

[bylogic]

I don't know how many caliber you will reload, but with a budget 300$, I would buy new kit.
RCBS Rockchucker is excellent press but so it is Lee Classic Cast Press with lot less expensive.
Lee's dies are also excellent, specially FCD, a must have.
Just my .02.

 

[X-man]

Its always cheaper to buy the gear you're going to end up with. Get the RCBS Master Reloading Kit. May cost a little more, but RCBS stuff is worth it. Best warranty in the industry and they stand behind their products. Some LEE stuff is okay, other stuff is junk. The one positive of the LEE is that it is cheap enough to get young/new reloaders into the hobby. Often, however, those same individuals move on to better equipment down the road.

 

[sunray]

You won't get an RCBS kit for $300. Maybe a Lee. The kits don't come with dies or a shell holder either. STill the best way, but you'll need more money.
However, buying the stuff you need, new, separately will cost more.
Buying used isn't like buying a used vehicle. You really have to work at damaging good kit. And you'll still need dies and a shell holder.
Start with The ABC's of Reloading. Goble's has it. Didn't look at the price though. Some of their books are on sale right now though. Was there this morning.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

Buying used is a good idea....good reloaders care for thier equipment and dies. They may have changed calibers or gotten out of reloading for some reason but thier stuff ( presses) is usually broken in and tested thoroughly. Die sets can be bought singly when you gather more calibers but a complete set of shell holders will get you most of the calibers out there. I reload for all my guns and have only gotten one set of dies new...the other 8 were used and I have no complaints at all.