Purchasing Advice for New Reloader

G

grey

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Hi All --

I am going to get into reloading, and I need some help. Here are my priorities:

1) At this time, just loading .308, specifically for two rifles:
-- my slightly upgraded and very nice shooting M305
-- my stock Savage 10TR

2) I am interested in two things: keeping the price under control for both, but also being able to shoot match grade out of the Savage without having to spend $2 per round to buy Federal Gold Medal -- when I can find it.

3) As far as volume, I am more interested in good accurate shooting with either rifle than blasting high volumes of ammo. I have a good stock of Chinese 7.62x51 that the M305 likes, so my reloading for that rifle will be for just shooting a few rounds at the end of the day for accuracy.

I am looking at a couple of possibilities:

1) RCBS Explorer Plus Reloading Kit -- here is the link: http://shop.rcbs.com/Products/Presses-and-Kits/Single-Stage/Explorer-8482;-Plus-Reloading-Kit.aspx

2) Hornady Lock and Load Classic Deluxe -- http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Classic-Kit-Deluxe

Questions:

1) Does it make sense to buy the kit, or should I do my homework and just buy the components I need?
2) Does the Hornady Lock-n-Load bushing system make a real difference, especially if I am loading only or or two calibers?

Any other suggestions, comments, or thoughts will be most welcome!

Thanks in advance --
 
the hornady press is pretty good, the quick release bushings on the hornady are more convenient if you are reloading larger amounts and multiple calibers. it will be very convenient in the future if you decide to get into more calibers like 5.56nato or pistol calibers.
 
I just started 2 wks ago, got the rcbs master supreme kit. If I new then , what I've learned in 2 wks, I would have bought individual parts. As I'm doing high volume .223 , I would have got a few , better parts. It probably wouldn't matter , if your only cranking out 40 or 50 rnds though.
 
I would probably stay away from the Explorer kit. I bought a rock chucker supreme kit and am quite happy. You may only load 2 calibers now but who knows how many you will add. It would be smart to purchase something you can grow into instead of grow out of. I am going to do the bushing conversion on my rcbs press. I want to set my dies once and forget them. Good luck
 
I grabbed the Lock-N-Load classic on the 27th. I've only loaded 80rds of .223, but it's been a great press compared to my last one.
The only thing you'd need after getting the press is only powder, primers, projectiles and of course dies and brass.

I've used everything in the kit at least once. The only thing I haven't used is one of the Handprimer trays. I saved $50 going this route, but it also came with the LNL so if cleaner, which saved another $150.
 
I've worked my way up through a few presses that I was given in return for some work by a shooter that had more presses than room for them. I've worked my way UP to the Hornady LnL classic and could not be happier. The breech lock system makes swapping between dies for different operations a completely and accurately repeatable process.

Now having said this the one big stumbling block to dies that thread into place having issues with repeatability is the locking rings. If they slip at all for any reason then it blows the adjustment. So the Lee rings with rubber O rings suck something terrible. The nuts with set screws are a big step up. But the lock rings that are split and use a pinch lock screw are bloody brilliant. If you locate a source of this style ring and use them on all your dies then a screw in press can work just as well as the Hornady. It won't be quite as fast since the dies need to be threaded in vs drop and lock but you save the $4 to $5 each for the bushings.

If you have nothing at all either of those kits look great. Each comes with all the things you need and very little fluff that won't get used at some point. So either, with the proviso of the bushings vs lock rings, will do fine for you.

If you were to buy only the Hornady or RCBS press then shop for the other bits you could save by buying other brand stuff. For example a Lee powder measure is like $35 compared to over $100 for either the Hornady or RCBS. And for real accuracy you need to trickle the loads into the pan while on the scale anyway. So any issues with consistent charges from a Lee are not a big deal since you'll be trickling up to final weight anyway. And if the Lee dusts out a bit of powder or isn't as smooth you can take heart in the money you saved while brushing the slight spillage around the base of the measure away to the trash.

A GOOD digital scale can be an issue but here Ebay is your friend if you already shop on there. A great scale that is stable and measures to within .1grain is about $25. And when I got mine at the same time I got a true jeweler's scale that is only good for up to 30grams, which is 460grains, and resolves to .001gram/.01grain for another $35. So I can easily get to better than .1gn for serious rifle charge weighing.

So there's something to be said for just buying one of these presses (and bushings) then shopping for the rest of the stuff as and when you need it. You WILL save around $150 by doing so if you go for Lee items for much of the other gear. But of course depending on how much driving and time you spend getting the various bits and with the cost of gas these days the savings may or may not be all that much. Do a bit of Ebay shopping to determine prices and see how it all adds up.

As for Lee presses I'm quickly passing the ones I was given on to other folks. And this was after modifying and tuning them to correct little or major issues I found with them. And in one case where the ram didn't line up with the die hole I simply tossed it in the scrap metal bin at the recycling depot. So clearly I'm not a fan of Lee for their presses. But the Hornady I bought about a year back is a pure joy to use and tested out as perfect for ram to die alignment in every way. Also the cast iron base and steel ram promise to simply never wear loose for my remaining life time or the person that gets it when I'm no longer around. And there's no doubt that RCBS is at the same quality level as Hornady.

One thing not in either kit is a case trimmer. For serious rifle work with bottleneck cases you will need one sooner or later. And likely sooner. So figure on adding one to the list.
 
I was in your position just a couple weeks ago (10TR, too!)... this is what I did...
Got lucky on the EE and bought a 505 scale for $50. Went to lgs and got a digital caliper for $40. Decided I would not be tumbling, sonic cleaning or stainless pin cleaning... $0. Also decided I would not be "measuring" my powder, just weigh and trickle... $0. The rest of my stuff came from Budget Shooter Supply... mostly Lee stuff (musta got lucky - everything works well except for the collet neck die). Oh, and that little deburring tool was made for masochists! Gotta say, I love the big press... it has a really nice depriming system. Also, I sprung for the split ring holders for the dies... nice. Hornady lathe type trimmer. Also got the Lee hand primer although I didn't need it... just nice to watch TV while priming... it is nice too, although I've heard that the handle sometimes breaks... so far, so good.
As far as cleaning cases goes, I just get a towel with some alcohol on it (no, not CC!) and give 'em a rub, then a 30 cal. brush... a few strokes to the inside neck. I do the outside again after sizing to get the wax off.
Here's a tip... when you buy brass, buy Lapua. I was amazed at the condition of those things. I have no doubt I'll get at least 10 reloads out of them which adds up to $.10 a shot. You can take them right out of the box and load 'em. I've reused all of mine 4 times now and they are like new... pockets are still tight and no cracks. Well worth the money.
Hope you enjoy the 10TR... I love mine... if she bucks a little too much for you, get a muzzle brake and watch your bullets hit... I did, and it's great... C.
 
I started reloading with a Lee Kit...after 3 months all I was using was the powder funnel.
In retrospect I would have saved money and frustration if.in the beginning, I had ponied up for the Co-Axial press I ended up with
 
I started out with a lee hand press about 8 years ago, and its the only press I have. Cheap and easy, consistant, can re size while watching tv on the couch. I reload 22-250, 308, and 300wsm no problems at all. Buy all your parts individually though, you will be happier in the end over a pre packaged kit. Get a good scale right off the bat or you will be buying another one down the road again. The cheap digital work fine but nothing beats a rcbs beam scale, easy to read and consistant. Stay away from most things lee though, the dies are terrible, presses are cheap but will work fine. I found redding dies are the best so far, good quality stuff that will last a lifetime. Im not a fan of lyman stuff either, the beam scale sucks compared to my rcbs. Actually everything lyman I have had I wasnt impressed with......
 
Winchester brass works great too, my 22-250 seems to get unlimited life from the brass so far it seems. My 300 wsm brass is holding up very well also, havent had to throw out any yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom