Which reloader does it all???

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Bow-Hunter

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Hi,
I am looking at purchasing a reloader. I have been researching some what and still not sure exactly what type or kind would suit my needs. I am going to want reload pistol cartridges and rifle cartridges as well. The calibers range from 218Bee, 25-20, 32-20, 44 mag, 44-40, 45LC, 357 Mag, 38 Spl.. Rifle..38-55, 32 Win Sp, 35 Rem, 45/70, 444, 450, 375.
I am fairly new at this and am not sure which reloader would be the most practicle for all these different calibers. Most of the reloading would be for mainly target shooting and some of them would be for hunting also. Your comments and suggestions would be greatly appreaciated to help me choose the right style and brand.

Thanks,
 
RCBS Rock Chucker.

Or any other single stage press that meets your ideas of a decent press.

Lee sells a O frame press in a kit, that comes with a whole pile of stuff, that, while not the kind of gear that guys brag about, is serviceable and will make damn good ammo. A great buy for $100 or a bit more.

If you buy a single stage press, and find it does not meet your needs, chances are that you will keep it, and use it AS WELL AS the new press, whether that be a turret type, or a progressive.

How much you wanna spend per caliber? With a single stage, you only need the dies, and a few minutes to change them up, between batches and operations. You will have to buy a spare die holder for each caliber, if you want to save any time with a turret press, otherwise all you have done is to spend all the time adjusting them at the beginning, for no real savings in time.
The progressives, also, will require die holders and other supporting parts, per caliber.

None of the cartridges you list are unusually large or long, so they would all work fine on standard equipment.

The RCBs and Lyman, and half a dozen other makers stuff is all pretty solid stuff, and will last about forever. Some of the less expensive presses are diecast white metal, and will give decent service, but will eventually (10-15 years of normal use) wear out.

If you want to form brass, say, 40-65 from 45-70, then you should be looking at a solidly built O frame press, in any case, as well as whatever other press you decide on, if you decide that the O frame press does not meet your needs.

Then you want a decent scale, etc, etc.

Edit: Just looking at this thread http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252407 and looked at the breech lock bushings. WOW! $10 PER DIE!! That's in addition to the dies! Ouch!

I can afford the time it takes me to set the lock ring on a die.


Cheers
Trev
 
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Hi Trevj,
Thanks for the reply and all the info. Time is not really an issue for me, as i would like to take my time reloading and treat it as a hobby. I actually bought a Lee Challenger Anniversay kit about 7 years back and never used it yet. I beleive it was approx $140. I am not sure if it may do the trick for what i want. Some guys at work tell me to get the Rock Chucker and other say get a Dillon Press and some say just use the Lee Challenger that i have. I would like to get something right and get it set up properly and have it forever and not changing it out in a year or so.

Any other ideas or suggestions would be great as well

Thanks again
 
I have the anniversary kit from Lee. Bought a digital scale and a powder thrower and went to it. I load almost the same as you load as well as 6.5x55 Swede and .223. Thousands or more have gone by without a hitch. More time is spent with and examining each casing but well worth the knowledge that the ammo is safe. I do enjoy the time it takes to load and fulifilling at the same time.
 
X2 for the Lee Anniversary Kit. I don't reload handgun ammo but for the 7 rifle calibers I load it works fine. Never had any problems with the kit. I do know a few guys that load pistol ammo on their Lee press but their only complaint that it is slow for doing 100's of rounds. But for me I can do about 100 rounds of 223 from de-priming and sizing to bullet crimping in about 2 hours (when I need to get them done right away). The time factor doesn't bother me as I, like many do it for the enjoyment as well. Sometimes I'll do one step every night and by Friday I'm done and ready for a weekend at the range.
 
I have the Lee Challenger that I bought as the Anniversary Kit. Its fine for rifle ammo, as a matter of fact my reloads will go 1/2 moa or better when I do my part. The accessories the kit comes with are basic but work fine, you will need to add a powder trickler (The RCBS is excellent) and the case trimming pilots for each calibre. 'Nuff said about that.

For pistol ammo I bought the Lee Classic Turret Press. Its much faster than a single stage press but slower than a progressive. Its workable for rifle ammo,
especially bulk blasting loads instead of precision match loads. I'm about to start loading 7.62X39 on it and will probably do 7.62X54r on it too.

The Classic Turret Press is a very well built and solid machine, I highly recommend it.

Craig
 
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Bow-Hunter said:
Hi Trevj,
Thanks for the reply and all the info. Time is not really an issue for me, as i would like to take my time reloading and treat it as a hobby. I actually bought a Lee Challenger Anniversay kit about 7 years back and never used it yet. I beleive it was approx $140. I am not sure if it may do the trick for what i want. Some guys at work tell me to get the Rock Chucker and other say get a Dillon Press and some say just use the Lee Challenger that i have. I would like to get something right and get it set up properly and have it forever and not changing it out in a year or so.

Any other ideas or suggestions would be great as well

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Start reloading with what you have.

If you wait until you have nothing but the "perfect" tools, you will die of old age before you start!

Get onto it!

Cheers
Trev
 
Get a kit with a minimum of a "Rockchucker" press in it. It may be a few dollars more expensive at first, but in the long run it will save both time and energy.

The rockchucker will handle the 375 H&H cases easily after the first couple of loadings, when the brass starts to harden up. They will need to be reannealed after the third reload. The lighter presses tend to have difficulty after the second reload. With 30-06 cases and smaller, it's not a problem.

A kit is also cheaper than buying one piece at a time and has everything you will need to do the job properly.

The next best piece of kit you can get is A KNOWLEDGEABLE AQUAINTANCE, to guide you through the first few rounds and tell or show you what not to do because you like any other red blooded male don't pick up on from not reading the extensive instructions, loaded with to much information, that come with the press kit.

bearhunter
 
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