which brand should to choose when new to reloading

As to dies, mostly RCBS, like lyman M flare die or lee flare die for pistol cal. Have lyman seating crimp die foe 357 cause I like the roll crimp in that die better. Have die set with RCBS sizer, lee flare, lyman seat crimp. Mix and match to suit the job, at hand. 223 dies, for semi auto ,AR15 type gun get RCBS SMALL die set. They reform to original size of brass ,fewer jams then Lee.
 
And then there are some of us who will tell you that a proper press is blue, but for your very first press you're best off with one that only does one thing at a time so you can watch each step and be right on top of quality control with your early rounds. And if you're looking for low-volume precision handloads you may even be happy staying with a solid slow press.
 
Btw: Aluminum threads are not a problem. At work we add a touch of grease or graphite powder to prevent the wear and galling when stainless or steel screws go into aluminum threads( 6061 T6). Anodized aluminum has a much harder surface than plain aluminum.
Carbide dies should be the same.
 
I bought the RCBS Rock Chucker reloading kit and added the other nuts and bolts that I thought I needed to reload. It will last a life time for sure. I seem to prefer Lyman dies but I have the other brands as well. Reloading is fun!
 
I bought a "O frame Lee classic about 15 years ago when I started reloading.
Never had a chance to upgrade as new reloading equipment had higher priority and I also reload for hunting only. Later on I bought a Hornaday concentricity tool. I measured my reloads and they had +/-0.0003 run-out. Needless to say that press stayed and I haven't looked at another press since than.
 
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I started out with RCBS a little more than 50 years ago. till going strong !
Added various "Big Green" bits & pieces over the years.
Have been well satisfied with all of it !
 
Not to hijack this thread, but I too am new to reloading and just purchased a Dillon XL750. As far as reloading manuals, what would be the best one to get when reloading 9mm minor for IPSC use? In the future I may reload .223, but for now, it's strickly 9mm. Thanks in advance!
 
Armourall said:
Not to hijack this thread, but I too am new to reloading and just purchased a Dillon XL750. As far as reloading manuals, what would be the best one to get when reloading 9mm minor for IPSC use? In the future I may reload .223, but for now, it's strickly 9mm. Thanks in advance!
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The documentation and videos from Dillon would be what's specific to that particular press, so make sure you cover that all.

Probably best read something general on reloading too, theory of how ammunition works and the particular points that need care (primer handling and seating, taking care to have exactly one powder charge in each round and not zero or two, things like that).

Check the IPSC Ontario forum for past threads on reloading. Normal folk optimize 9mm to shoot pleasantly and/or accurately, but loading to just make Minor Power Factor and not get chronoed under is peculiar to IPSC shooters.
 
Armourall said:
Not to hijack this thread, but I too am new to reloading and just purchased a Dillon XL750. As far as reloading manuals, what would be the best one to get when reloading 9mm minor for IPSC use? In the future I may reload .223, but for now, it's strickly 9mm. Thanks in advance!
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The Lyman manuals (I have the 49th and 50th) typically have a wide variety of manufacturer's componenets. Any manual from a bullet maker (Sierra, Hornady, etc.) will list loads for their products. The Lee 2nd edition also has a lot of non-specific load data, but the reloading techniques section reads like an advertisement for Lee products.

Your choice.
 
Lee classic cast press. I had a Hornady 007 but I didn't like how it cammed over at the top of the stroke. The Lee stops at the top.
For dies I have quite a selection. Lee, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Redding, Bair, Bonanza, Forster.
I really like the Bonanza Benchrest set. I also have a Lyman micrometer benchrest seater that works great but is long discontinued.
If were going to go out and buy a set of dies I'd go with Forster.
 
RCBS Rock Chucker , its built to last, great quality build, eazy and smooth to use, is one of the most accurate single stage press's for the price ''was $250.00 on Amazon'' this is one press you can not go wrong with buying it and will not regret
 
I've got a little of everything on my bench Redding, Lee, Hornady, Lyman, RCBS, Pacific, etc.....

I started with a Lee press broke the linkage got a new one for free and used it a lot more but eventually 'upgraded' to an old RCBO O frame press, thing was built like a tank and I used that for a few years then got a nice little RCBS RS-2 and then added a RS-5 for when I need to use the big dies.

I gave the lee press away to a new reloader, and one day I will upgrade to a progressive.

as for my scale it is a Pacific with Hornady stickers on it :) somewhere I have an electronic scale but I like the beam scale better.
 
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