New Reloader

Basher81

Basher81

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Calgary, Alberta
Hey All,

I am thinking very hard about reloading!:D My question is very simple, I like many gun owners have multiple calibers of rifles as well as a pistol (.223, .243, .30/30, 30-06, 7.62x39, 7.62x25. I am looking for a good (not top of the line) press. I am looking for your opinions on what is a good starter setup. I do hunt and compete in service rifle with my guns so I am not looking for extreme precision (I wouldn't class any of my rifles as precision) but on the other hand I am probably going to get into load development eventually. Thanks for your help in this.

Basher
 
I am a new reloader and I bought a Lee 50th Anniversary Kit with the Breech Lock Challenger Press and Safety Prime. It had almost everything needed to get started minus components and a manual. The only thing I have replaced because I was not happy with it was the scale. Bought a RCBS 5-0-5. All in all I am pleased and have come to enjoy loading for my .223. Lot of guys don't like Lee but for the average Joe just getting his feet wet in reloading I think its a good balance between quality and cost.
 
A all in one for a good price would be a Lee Load master. Does all pistol and rifle calibers.
LOAD-MASTER.jpg
Will set up back $329 CDN with a caliber of your choice already, just add more dies to change calibers.
 
CRAZYLOCH said:
A all in one for a good price would be a Lee Load master. Does all pistol and rifle calibers.
Will set up back $329 CDN with a caliber of your choice already, just add more dies to change calibers.
Click to expand...

Uhhhh... Just add more dies AND a shellplate of the correct size.

If you can find the one you need.

Get a single stage press to start out.

Whether you get a cheap Lee die cast zinc one, or splurge on a Bonanza Co-axial, the single stage will give you the most capability, with the least dicking about. You will need a set of shell holders (one each size, for the cartridges you wish to load, unless you get the Co-Ax, which has two sizes of sorta universal shell holders for which a set or two of spare springs is a good investment, apparently) and you can decide whether to prime with the press or with a stand alone tool (I like the Lee Auto Prime, even if it does need another set of shell holders). You can load a hundred rounds in not much time, once you have an idea what you are doing. Measuring out the powder is usually the longest time, for me.

Take a look at the Lee Classic Cast as a inexpensive way to get a solid press. They make a turret model, which will allow you to swap in a plate carrying all the dies for one caliber, all pre-set to the correct heights. Less automatic than a progressive, not as manual as a straight single stage press.

A used RCBS Rock Chucker press is a good buy. It'll outlast your offspring. :)

Really, though, any press you buy is going to make ammo that meets your needs, if you take the time to sort yourself out while learning to use it. Accuracy first, speed later, eh.

The kits of "everything needed" are OK, but everybody has their own preferences, and everyone seems to end up chucking out some of the stuff that comes with the kit, in favour of some other bits that they want or feel are better.

I loaded for years with the Lee scoops for measuring my powder. Strictly mid-range loads, or less, but the deer and gophers never seemed to figure that out. I have a scale now, as well as a Lyman 55, but still use the scoops a lot. I usually check my weights with the scale a half dozen or so times, then go to town on getting the cases loaded up. Works for me.

Cheers
Trev
 
I`ve been using a single stage for 40 years then again i don`t spray and pray with a semi auto. Once you get it all set up to your liking you can crank out a lot of rounds in the evening. Started out with a C&H press now have a Lyman orange crusher works for all mine needs from 222 Rem to 300 Win mag. I would likey get a progressive if i had a 223 or 308 semi auto for competion shooting.
 
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I have a couple of presses now and am looking for a bigger one, but my main press for most reloading (and I do all the calibres you have mentioned and a few more besides) is the BLACK C&H aluminum press I bought back in 1964. MY body might be wearing out but IT is still fine.

Looked after the least bit, whatever you get will outlast you.... and then some.

As the others above (who know what they are talking about), I would recommend a single-stage outfit for starting off. You may not get the quantity that the guys with the progressives will get, but you can craft your ammo slowly and carefully to get the best ACCURACY of which your firearms are capable. The single round which might make me question this would be the 7.62x25: those things are just SO hungry and SO much fun!

Good luck with whatever you get. Lots of help here to get you set up and running.
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OK, Thanks for all the GREAT info!!!

I am now wondering if a guy should go with a middle of the road Lee Precision Press, or go straight for the RCBS Rock Chucker, or for the price of just the press, to get a Lee Classic Anniversary Kit.

I am leaning towards building my own setup rather then getting the pre packaged deal. So on that note what would a guy ABSOLUTELY NEED to get up and loading. Just the bare essentials please, I just had my second child (a girl) in February and the budget is a little tighter than it used to be.

Basher
 
Look at what you need; how much do you think you'll be reloading per month?

If your budget is tight and you aren't looking to reload 10,000 a month all you'd really need is a Lee setup. If you are looking to do large quantity stuff in the near future, yeah maybe consider a small RCBS kit, but until then a Lee would run you well enough and not breka your budget.
 
Basher81 said:
OK, Thanks for all the GREAT info!!!

I am now wondering if a guy should go with a middle of the road Lee Precision Press, or go straight for the RCBS Rock Chucker, or for the price of just the press, to get a Lee Classic Anniversary Kit.

I am leaning towards building my own setup rather then getting the pre packaged deal. So on that note what would a guy ABSOLUTELY NEED to get up and loading. Just the bare essentials please, I just had my second child (a girl) in February and the budget is a little tighter than it used to be.

Basher
Click to expand...

yeah. don't worry about the Lee Press. It will do the job nicely. I have 2 Lee Challengers (one NIB, one I bought second hand 20yrs ago), one Lee Turret Press (again, second hand), and a Rock Chucker. I hardly ever use the rock chucker. It is currently set up to pull FMJ bullets from 7.62x39mm and 7.62x54mmR rounds to make hunting rounds. I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds with the second hand Lee press and only bought the new one when the cast pot-metal cam (which was broke when I got it) finally could no longer be held together. Then, I thought, what the hell, even though I was not the original owner, I took a chance and called Lee, they sent me another cam (a steel one), free. I still have not used the new one.
I guarantee, you will not load better hunting ammo with a Co-Ax than you can with a Lee. If you eventually get into precision stuff, then you may see a difference. Learn on the basic stuff, then move up once you have a sure footing. You will only be buying a press, all the dies will fit in almost whatever you get.
 
I bought a Lee kit at Christmas and I am basically happy with it.

I have already replaced the scale with an old Ohaus that works much better than the safety scale. I broke the included Lee scale within days trying to adjust it so that it wouldn't stick. No I have no intention of replacing it.

I believe I received value for my money with the kit and if I eventually find replacements for some of the components at bargain prices I still won't be out a lot of cash.

It's like any other hobby getting started. You have to start somewhere and how do you know you are really going to stay at it?
 
If you have a handle on what is needed, and what you feel you want, build a collection of gear rather than buy a kit.

If you want an all-in-one package, and are willing to a accept that there will be things in it that may not fit you or your 'style', but just want to have it 'all' in one go, buy the kit.

Every guy I know has a mish-mash of colours on his bench.

But then, reloaders tend to be almost the gear whores that archery guys mostly are. :D (sez the guy with the bow...)

Cheers
Trev
 
Don't forget about those "Lee Classic Loader" kits for some of those calibres you list. They are slow, but inexpensive & make as good a ammo as a press.
They only neck size, so keep this in mind if you decide to start with these loaders. For about $40. You can't go wrong & for load development at the range it's fun & practical.....

There's lots of videos on using these on Youtube if you want to see how they work. I ordered mine from Ellwood Epps!
 
The Lee Loaders are cheap and capable of turning out great ammo, but they're slow. Depends what your budget is. I've used them and had no complaints.

The progressive presses are wonderful if you shoot a lot - as in lots. For the rest of us peasants, a single-stage press is enough. Moreover, I think it would be a better starting place as you are focusing your attention on just one thing at a time.

What do you need? My take:

Asides from powder, bullet and primers (assuming you have saved brass), you must get:

  • a workbench of some sort. It can be custom built, a folding work-mate or even a way to use your kitchen counter, but you must have something reasonably solid.

  • a reloading manual published by one of the major component manufacturers. Until you get some experience, I wouldn't take any loads from off the web. Actually, this is probably the first thing you should get. Read it before trying anything.

  • dies and a shell holder for the calibre(s) in question

  • a legal way to store primers and powder. Lockable box with EXPLOSIVES written on the outside is the starting point.

  • a book of some sort to record your efforts so you can tell what works and what doesn't. You can buy specially-printed ones but a school notebook works just as well.

  • good lighting. If your reloading place isn't bright, buy a cheap gooseneck lamp. I got mine (a floor model) at Ikea - it's flex neck allows me to put the light where it is needed.

  • often overlooked - safety googles and a fire extinguisher. Chicken Little only has to be right once. Besides, they create an reassuring aura in the eyes of spouses and landlords.


'Should-have-but-not-critical' stuff:


  • powder trickler (the 'throw low and trickle up' concept is useful)

  • small flashlight

  • accurate calipers and, if you've the inclination, a micrometer.

  • if you are trying to reload military ammo cases, a primer pocket resizing tool (different kinds) and primer crimp remover.

'Nice-to-have' stuff:

  • primer pocket cleaner

  • magnifying glass

  • brass tumbler. You can reload without one, but asides from making things pretty, they also make it easier to examine your brass for cracks, etc

  • I found the green lube pad messy and the provided lube a pain to clean off. I dropped $6 on a tiny tin of Imperial Sizing Die Wax. Tap one of your fingers lightly on the wax and roll the case between your fingers. Much less messy and it lasts almost forever.

  • case trimmer. You'll need it eventually, especially if reloading hot ammo.

  • bullet puller. Everybody makes mistakes. Most people use a kinetic one, shaped like a hammer.

Some things you won't need until you really need them, and that will be on a Saturday night, 15 minutes before the store closes and in the middle of a blizzard:

  • a couple of spare depriming pins for your dies

  • a stuck case remover.
. . You can get both for under $10 and they'll save you a lot of grief

EDIT

I can't believe I forgot to mention a powder measure. And, even more important - powder scales!

Oops.
 
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I'll not recommend any equip. here as people don't like it when someone recommends buying quality reloading equipment. Go slow, read alot and add things as you need them.
 
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