Because I'm not shooting competition where a mm at 100m makes a difference.
Which kit for a beginner?
- Thread starter Major Sights
- Start date
Because I'm not shooting competition where a mm at 100m makes a difference.
You can start producing ammo for considerably less than $500. Wholesale Sports (choosing one dealing at random) is selling started RCBS (again choosing a maker at random) kits for between $250 and $375. You will need to add to that dies (call it $60), primers ($5), powder ($30) and bullets (all over the map, call it $50) and a shell holder ($5).
So, even with the higher end kit, you wind up spending just over $500 and most of that is for equipment. Every round you reload thereafter cuts your per-shot cost.
Unless you are planning on reloading large amounts, I'd suggest you start off with a single-stage press. It's simpler and allows you to focus on what you are doing, making errors less likely. If you want to upgrade later, fine, but learn the basics first.
Before you do any purchases, I would suggest however that you buy The ABCs of Reloading and read it. While it's short on recipes for specific loads, it about the best available introduction to the subject and will give you a lot of background on which to make informed decisions.
BTW, unless you are into ultra-precise target shooting, the effective difference in makes really is mainly colour. All other things being equal, of course, more expensive presses tend to be somewhat more durable and so forth, but it's the same thing with calibres - there are those fanatics who instantly lose their temper if anybody suggests that not everybody needs a .378 Weatherby for deer or those who insist that Winchesters are always more accurate than Remingtons. Whatever...
Do yourself a favour, and find a copy of Lee's, "Modern Reloading". If it is from a library, or father in law, even beter. Read it. Now, rip out the last page, and fill it in, and send it off to Hartford, WI.
You have just found a great way to make you $162 go a whole lot farther...as in 60% discount coupon for a new reloader. My first order had 13 items on it. This is why Lee is great place to start. Who else encourages new reloaders like this?
You have just found a great way to make you $162 go a whole lot farther...as in 60% discount coupon for a new reloader. My first order had 13 items on it. This is why Lee is great place to start. Who else encourages new reloaders like this?
Well I can tell you that both my Lee presses (load master & 50 year Breech Lock Challenger Kit) have served me very well especially the Load Master which as of today has about 15,000 + rounds made on it. It was a bit finicky at first but once it was broke in it runs like a clock. I have owned reloading products from Lee, Hornady and RCBS is the one company I won't buy from again. There costumer service was horrible when I had a die that was pulling the bullet back out seating it. Hornady on the other hand has had the best so far. After breaking the priming pin (all my fault) they replaced it free of charge and with that has made a customer for life. So go and buy the Lee (either one) as it will serve you well.
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- Southern Interior
Lee turret press
I have been using a Lee single stage loader for almost 20 years and i have loaded my share of ammo but i am now loading pistol and i was wanting a turret progressive at least i thought i did but holy man they are pricey!!! i bought a lee turret press today and it was 100 bucks new it is designed for a 3 or 4 die setup it comes with a 4 dies turret they are quick change and inexpensive so i bought 4 4 hole and 4 3 three hole turretts and i am going to setup up all my pistol and the most used rifle on the turrets than i can quick change them VERY COOL and i also bought a 28 dollar primer dealy to mount on it wow i can load a 9mm bullet from tumbler to carry case in about 35 seconds its awsome and i would go that route if i was starting out again for sure!!!! and as far as dies go rsbs or lee carbide dies for the pistol and steel for the rifle are the way to go with no trouble whatsoever !!!!! a small digital scale for 25 bucks and a trickler and you are dancing!!!! a very inexpensive entry level setup to last years!!!!!
I have been using a Lee single stage loader for almost 20 years and i have loaded my share of ammo but i am now loading pistol and i was wanting a turret progressive at least i thought i did but holy man they are pricey!!! i bought a lee turret press today and it was 100 bucks new it is designed for a 3 or 4 die setup it comes with a 4 dies turret they are quick change and inexpensive so i bought 4 4 hole and 4 3 three hole turretts and i am going to setup up all my pistol and the most used rifle on the turrets than i can quick change them VERY COOL and i also bought a 28 dollar primer dealy to mount on it wow i can load a 9mm bullet from tumbler to carry case in about 35 seconds its awsome and i would go that route if i was starting out again for sure!!!! and as far as dies go rsbs or lee carbide dies for the pistol and steel for the rifle are the way to go with no trouble whatsoever !!!!! a small digital scale for 25 bucks and a trickler and you are dancing!!!! a very inexpensive entry level setup to last years!!!!!
110% agree with stevey3737. Got myself a Lee Turret press kit and a few "extras" for pistol ammo reloading a while back... works like mad. TONS of bang for my buck. The kit, with dies, was under $200. The "extras" are... well... extra. But you really don't need to invest in them all at once - you can add them on over time, based on what YOU think you need.
As to ammo quality, one thing I didn't cut corners on was measuring tools, which I use to check my work frequently. For me, it's a safety thing more than whether I can put my shots in a 3" or a 1" group. Is each round 100% consistent? No, of course not. But it's close enough and well within tolerances for hogleg I shoot, the ammo I reload, and the type of shooting I do. Besides, I've fired off plenty of factory "flyers" that obviously missed the tolerances they should have had, too. If you need precision that'll put five rounds in a one-inch group at 200 yards, handload one round at a time using a single stage, weighing / measuring each and every round, etc. But if you need to crank out 600 rounds for an IPSC shoot on Saturday and don't want to give up your day job and family life, you'll just have to sacrifice some precision and move into something faster. You need to choose what fits your needs best.
As to ammo quality, one thing I didn't cut corners on was measuring tools, which I use to check my work frequently. For me, it's a safety thing more than whether I can put my shots in a 3" or a 1" group. Is each round 100% consistent? No, of course not. But it's close enough and well within tolerances for hogleg I shoot, the ammo I reload, and the type of shooting I do. Besides, I've fired off plenty of factory "flyers" that obviously missed the tolerances they should have had, too. If you need precision that'll put five rounds in a one-inch group at 200 yards, handload one round at a time using a single stage, weighing / measuring each and every round, etc. But if you need to crank out 600 rounds for an IPSC shoot on Saturday and don't want to give up your day job and family life, you'll just have to sacrifice some precision and move into something faster. You need to choose what fits your needs best.
I got a Lee aniversary Kit for 2 years now.. I'm still learning but. I find more than adequate for a beginner and also for more advanced people.. this press has more than 3000 rounds made on it and no problem at all (.223, 6.5x55. 30-06. .308 .303 .300wsm and .260 rem).. Precision is there as they specify in the ad All the rifle mentionned above now shoot under an inch at 100 yards without problem.. For the scale the only thing you have to worry is to put it on a level surface and it must not move at all.. I have put mine on a heavy wood block between two screws so Once you have done the initial adjustment to zero .. It will hold it till you move your big block away from it's first place.. I have bought a hand primer tool after to do thing whie I'm in the couch wathcing TV. For less than 200 $ you are ready to go for a while ..
