I didn't see anything in the stickies. I don't use more than a few hundred rounds a year in a practice/hunting setting, not precision. Is there any cost effective way for me to reuse my brass a couple dozen at a time? With a quality scale and maybe a chrono how much more would I be spending? I realize these are basic questions, but I'm starting from 0 here.
Reloading 1 at a time?
- Thread starter emerson
- Start date
What he said...
Lee Loader - available in a lot of calibres with about $35 buying you everything but the components and the hammer it takes to 'operate' it. You trade elbow grease for money and it's not super-fast, but it makes perfectly good ammo. A lot of reloaders started that way.
Lee Loader - available in a lot of calibres with about $35 buying you everything but the components and the hammer it takes to 'operate' it. You trade elbow grease for money and it's not super-fast, but it makes perfectly good ammo. A lot of reloaders started that way.
The lee hand press kit plus a scale or a lee loader plus a scale. The hand press is definitely nicer to use and can be used for any caliber in addition to full length sizes brass rather than just neck sizing. The lee loader is limited to very common calibers only as well where as the hand press you can use any standard dies in it.
FSreloading.com has the best prices (formerly factorysales.com) but steep shipping to Canada. That being said two die sets, a scale, and a hand press kit will probably still be cheaper than buying retail.
A reloading block is easy to come by as a 2x6 board with 1/2" holes in it. Space them about 1" apart to the centre of the hole.
FSreloading.com has the best prices (formerly factorysales.com) but steep shipping to Canada. That being said two die sets, a scale, and a hand press kit will probably still be cheaper than buying retail.
A reloading block is easy to come by as a 2x6 board with 1/2" holes in it. Space them about 1" apart to the centre of the hole.
X2 If you spent oh say 200 bucks on a new rcbs o type press. As for my .02 worth,dont waste any money on a c type press that lee makes,its garbage.Even the hand presses that lee makes are garbage. Invest in a good quality rcbs o type press or reloading kit combo they have,it lasts you for life,
I bought my rs5 press when I was 16....I am now 45 and still using it and even doing 460WBY on it.Spend a few hundred bucks and buy quality and you will only have to buy once in your lifetime...think of it as a investment for life..
For a limited quantity of rifle ammunition, as the OP described, I would recommend either a bench press (if he can find a used one), or the Lee Hand Press. I have not found the Lee Hand Press to be garbage, as it has given me many years of service, and has loaded thousands of rifle and pistol rounds. Certainly not the definition of 'garbage' that comes to my mind. As for accuracy, the Lee Hand Press ammunition is as accurate as any other rifle or pistol ammunition that I assemble.
Certainly, a heavy duty bench press is the preferred option, but others shouldn't be discounted if it better meets the OP's needs.
I would be curious to know just what experience has led icehunter to call the Lee Hand Press 'garbage'.
Certainly, a heavy duty bench press is the preferred option, but others shouldn't be discounted if it better meets the OP's needs.
I would be curious to know just what experience has led icehunter to call the Lee Hand Press 'garbage'.
The hand press sounds like what I'm looking for.
The nice thing about the hand press is that it allows you to use regular dies, including full length sizing dies, and it can all be stored away when not in use. For several years I loaded a couple of calibres, and kept most of it in the packing box that the hand press came in. It could be tucked away on the shelf when not in use.
I used the hand press to load .375 H&H, as well as .300 Winchester Magnum, without problem (as long as you used enough case lube!).
I used the hand press to load .375 H&H, as well as .300 Winchester Magnum, without problem (as long as you used enough case lube!).
Hand press is a great way to get into reloading. I suggest that you buy the hand press kit, though. Gets you a few more items for only another $20.
I, too, would be interested in knowing what experiences icehunter had that he thinks that Lee is garbage. I bought my Lee challenger press second-hand when I was 20, now 50. It has loaded thousands of rounds in the past 30 yrs. Liked it so much I decided 10 yrs ago to get the challenger kit. I also got a second hand turret press. Wife and her family bought me a rock chucker for Christmas 15 yrs ago and all I use it for is forming .270 from '06, .243 and 7mm-08 from 308 brass, and pulling mil-surp to hunt with.
Lee hand press has FL resized .270 up to .30-06, .30-06, and .300WM.
I love it at the range. Once I find the load my rifle likes, I can load a bunch right there, sight in and get used to the round. Beats going home, doing it, then coming back to sight in.
I, too, would be interested in knowing what experiences icehunter had that he thinks that Lee is garbage. I bought my Lee challenger press second-hand when I was 20, now 50. It has loaded thousands of rounds in the past 30 yrs. Liked it so much I decided 10 yrs ago to get the challenger kit. I also got a second hand turret press. Wife and her family bought me a rock chucker for Christmas 15 yrs ago and all I use it for is forming .270 from '06, .243 and 7mm-08 from 308 brass, and pulling mil-surp to hunt with.
Lee hand press has FL resized .270 up to .30-06, .30-06, and .300WM.
I love it at the range. Once I find the load my rifle likes, I can load a bunch right there, sight in and get used to the round. Beats going home, doing it, then coming back to sight in.
I ended up getting a hammer operated Lee Loader. It works great with an electronic scale. It takes about 2 min/rnd. I've saved $45 so far by reloading 50 rnds. It means more practice than I could otherwise afford. No need for a $3-$5 hundred layout for reloading gear alone, without components. A great way to give reloading a try without a large investment.
