What do I "really" need? New setup

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Nan_wpg

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Hi there.
After many hours of you tube videos, and web surfing I thought I'd come somewhere comfortable, and familiar for some advice.

The rifle: savage hog hunter. 308

The reason: to keep on hand for cabin protection (bears, wolves), plain old fun target shooting, and possible future hunting.

I have no desire to shoot competitive. I shoot one or two times a month to maintain profeciency (50 rounds or so each outing) and other than sighting in I don't use a benchrest.

In terms of accuracy if I can hit a paper plate/gong out to 200 yards I'm happy.

So what I'm looking for is advice on what do I really need? I have no problem paying top dollar for stuff (I truly believe buy once cry once) but I'd rather not pay for a benefit I will not realize.

I will pay for convenience or for future proofedness.

I've ruled out an annealer, and neck turning.

For dies I'm looking at a Lee pacesetter set, although a bushing style resizer is not out of the question.

The press is a bit more confusing. I had my eyes on the Lee anniversary set, but once at cabelas it seemed "sloppy" compared to the rockchuker.

I held off on the press and am kinda intrigued by the co ax press. I like the priming system, and the quick die changes. I can see that being nice to have if I fall deep down the reloading bunny hole .

I plan to use both mechanical scales and electronic. Powder throwing will be either a throw, or a scoop system, slightly under charging with a trickle finish. (Most videos I watched the powder throws were too inconsistent ).

I am not I repeat not beyond the rcbs charge master electronic do hickey, and please if need be I can be talked into it. But if I can save 500 that's fine too.

Bottom line this stuff will last a lifetime. I just want decent ammo and a new hobby for my soon to be workbench man cave area.

I want quality equipment but don't want to buy something that will be of no benefit for what I will be doing.

What say ye?

Cheap dies/bushing dies?
What press?
Hand charge or auto electric charge the powder?

What did you buy? Why? What would you do differently?

Is there something I didn't mention that would be of consequence to my purchase?

Cabelas has an rcbs kit for 1100. Just add dies and a shell holder and were good to go.

I really like the co ax press, but I plan on using shims to get a repeatable shoulder bump. This doesn't seem possible on the co ax.

Thank you all in advance.
 
I went with the rcbs kit. Not the $1100 one but the basic model. It was great for starting out and I have slowly added why I need over time. You are talking some pretty serious equipment to load 1 caliber for minute of pie plate at 200 yards. If you want to spend the money go for it, but great results can come from basic gear. This is coming from a guy who loves having the latest and greatest...
 
RCBS rockchuckers are decent presses. The 'Master' reloading Kit RCBS sells has everything you'd need to put together decent ammo. It comes with a pretty decent beam scale and powder thrower - they are around $500 (wholesale has them on sale currently).
Hornady has a similar kitting out of their single stage 'lock and load classic' press which is comparable in quality and price.

There is some stuff I use and recommend from Lee (like their factory crimp die), but generally it is bargain basement crap.

Whichever direction you go, definitely get the Hornady quick change 'lock and load' adapters for your press and dies.
 
For your needs and wants, the rockchucker kit will do everything you want it to....... if you want to reuse your brass (which is where the cost savings are), get a Lyman universal case trimmer to accompany it and you are good to go..... oh, and a vernier caliper to check your finished cartridge and case lengths as well....
 
What about the classic lee-loader? I started reloading with 1 of those that I picked up for about $60 just to see if I liked it or not.
 
Lee is the most inexpensive set up, and will make ammo ever bit as accurate as any other kit. But if you want a step up..the rcbs rockchucker is it. But so is the $$

Jmo for what you want to do the lee will do you fine.
 
I actually bought both the Rock Chucker Supreme reloading kit for Prophet River and the Lee 50th Anniversary kit from Wholesale sports last year when they were on sale. Can't remember the exact prices but once I compared the 2 kits the RCBS was worth the extra over the price of the Lee kit. I ended up selling the Lee Kit.
The RCBS is an awesome kit, quality of everything seem better quite a bit better than the Lee, it was everything I need besides the dies. I use everything in the kit and have only added a couple of items , case trimmer, primer pocket brush, etc.
RCBS also had a $75.00 US mail in rebate that got you $98 bucks, think that is probably over now, which brought the price closer to the Lee.
Not saying that there is anything wrong with the Lee kit, lots of good reviews and is close to 1/2 the price, but for me the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme was everything I needed to load the 3 different calibers is normally shoot.
 
I'm in Winnipeg, so yes close to the border. Man the rcbs charge master is 300 and change cheaper in the us.

A weekend trip may be in order. Savings should pay for the trip.

Guys, what about dies? Should I bother with bushing dies, or not?

I guess I didn't mention that I will be reusing my brass. Speaking of...... would a wet tumbler be a good purchase?

Natchez has some fine pricing.

I'd also like to add that a 45-70 is in the future so the press would have to be up to the challenge
 
Nan_wpg said:
I'm in Winnipeg, so yes close to the border. Man the rcbs charge master is 300 and change cheaper in the us.

A weekend trip may be in order. Savings should pay for the trip.

Guys, what about dies? Should I bother with bushing dies, or not?

I guess I didn't mention that I will be reusing my brass. Speaking of...... would a wet tumbler be a good purchase?

Natchez has some fine pricing.

I'd also like to add that a 45-70 is in the future so the press would have to be up to the challenge
Click to expand...

Any press you are loading 308 on is going to handle 45-70 just fine. I load it on my RCBS without issue. You seem eager to spend some big bucks on reloading. Honestly, if you are looking for mediocre accuracy at 200 yards like you stated, then any kit will do the trick. I started with 308 dies from lee and they produced sub moa at 200 yards without issue. If you want the best of the best then giver, but from what you have said I think you can get away with a basic kit and basic dies.
 
The hornady lock n load system is convenient I like it. I absolutely love my chargemaster combo, I bought it from Natchez shooters supply because it was the only place in stock and actually ended up being the best price. As for dies, The new hornady dies are good for full length dies But the Lee collet neck sizer is necessary as far as I am concerned. I wouldn't buy a kit again I have since replaced almost all of it with other components.
 
You already have two tricklers, one on each hand: thumb and forefinger.

Also, get a kinetic (hammer style) bullet puller, because you will make mistakes. We all do at some point.
 
Others have recommended some fine presses/kits such as the Hornady Lock n Load, or the RCBS Rockchucker. (Personally, I started of with the Hornady Lock n Load Single Stage kit and later upgraded to a Forster Co-Ax for my single stage press and I couldn't be happier, but I'm not sure that you would gain any significant "value added" with a Forster given your stated needs.)

What I would like to add though is to pick up a couple reloading manuals and read them. This includes reading the boring part in the beginning about why people reload and the safety aspects of reloading. This information is really important and it is something that the Youtube videos seldom get into. Don't be afraid to get more than one manual, because sooner or later you won't be able to get the powder or the bullets listed in your manual, and it is always nice to have a second place to turn to. (Take everything you find online with a huge grain of salt unless it comes straight from a manufacturer such as the Hodgdon website, the Nosler website or similar.)

Having said that, some manuals that I would recommend are:
Lyman 49th Edition (I have heard that the 50th might be out.)
Lee
Hornady 9th Edition
Nosler (Online)
Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester Online Load Data

For any actual books you buy, where possible, get the most current edition you can. It may have load data for newer powders, or different bullets etc.

Good luck, have fun and stay safe.
 
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