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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Reloading starter kits?
#3955343
01/15/13 05:34 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,952
LFD2037
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,952 |
What's the most complete & best bang for my buck reloading kit for loading about 1K rounds per year? Mostly rifle ammo & a little pistol ammo. I don't need the best but I also don't want to waste my money. Also, anyone in Ellis Co. that wouldn't mind if a couple fellow THF members come watch you reload & learn the ropes? Thanks!
R.I.P. CPO Matt Mills-(DEVGRU)- You will NEVER be forgotten!
10-25-75 / 8-6-11 *K.I.A.*
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: LFD2037]
#3955381
01/15/13 05:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,652
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,652 |
I started off with the RCBS kit that included the press, scale, loading block lube pad a manual and hand primer. I added a trickler, set of dies, lee case trimmer and went to town and never looked back.
Since I have added multiple dies, an electronic powder thrower and scale, a tumbler and a good set of calipers.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: redchevy]
#3957123
01/16/13 12:47 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,565
Slow Drifter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,565 |
I went backwards. Started with a fairly complete set-up years ago, now I use a Classic Lee Loader about 1/2 the time. I broke down and got one out of curiosity a few years ago. Finished rounds using weighed brass/primers/bullets and the included powder-measure are within .05gr of each other. At under $30 I'd say that's a lot of bang for the buck. All you need's a solid surface and a non-metallic mallet. I use a plastic-head leather tooling mallet, works great. If you go this route (doubtful, but you could) get a primer pocket cleaner. That's the only tool not included that is necessary. I popped a few primers at first trying to seat them in un-cleaned pockets.
edited to add: Note, that's $30 per caliber. Each kit is caliber specific.
Last edited by Slow Drifter; 01/16/13 12:50 AM.
"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones." A. Einstein 
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: Slow Drifter]
#3957242
01/16/13 01:13 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,602
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,602 |
The Lee, Hornady or RCBS kits will get you started. Each one has its pluses and minuses IMO.
Lee is the least amount of $ to get you going. The scale and debur/chamfer tools leave a little to be desired but still work ok.
Hornady makes a very solid kit but is 3X the price of the Lee. You cannot load 3X better ammo with it
RCBS kits are very solid quality but like the Hornady are more expensive than the LEE.
The scales that come with the RCBS and Hornady are more user friendly than the Lee one. The debur/camfer tool are more agressive and faster in the Hornady and RCBS than the Lee one. The powder drop though plastic and looks cheap in the Lee has been more accurate for me than the RCBS or Hornady one.
Hand primers the ones from all 3 manufactures work very well.
Those are just some observations of those manufactures kits. With all of them use and take care of them and they will probably be like an old Herters press and scales I use that came from an estate sale, a new kit will most likey outlast the owner or at least parts of it will.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: kmon11]
#3957303
01/16/13 01:27 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,033
missingAK
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,033 |
The Lee, Hornady or RCBS kits will get you started. Each one has its pluses and minuses IMO.
Lee is the least amount of $ to get you going. The scale and debur/chamfer tools leave a little to be desired but still work ok.
Hornady makes a very solid kit but is 3X the price of the Lee. You cannot load 3X better ammo with it
RCBS kits are very solid quality but like the Hornady are more expensive than the LEE.
The scales that come with the RCBS and Hornady are more user friendly than the Lee one. The debur/camfer tool are more agressive and faster in the Hornady and RCBS than the Lee one. The powder drop though plastic and looks cheap in the Lee has been more accurate for me than the RCBS or Hornady one.
Hand primers the ones from all 3 manufactures work very well.
Those are just some observations of those manufactures kits. With all of them use and take care of them and they will probably be like an old Herters press and scales I use that came from an estate sale, a new kit will most likey outlast the owner or at least parts of it will.
x2
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." Winston Churchill
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: missingAK]
#3961310
01/17/13 12:49 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,199
Aquaman
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,199 |
I'm a huge fan of the dillon 550
"Speak softly and carry a big stick" - Teddy Roosevelt
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: Aquaman]
#3971956
01/20/13 05:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 323
fatboy-john
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 323 |
Lee turret press....digital scale...a quiet weekend in the garage.
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: fatboy-john]
#3973187
01/20/13 08:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 131
fish@shoot
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 131 |
Dillon wasnt around when I started reloading, Got too much stuff to get rid of now to justify getting. Would go Dillon if I was starting now.
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: fish@shoot]
#3976918
01/21/13 08:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 981
rugger
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 981 |
I bought a mid grade kit (hornady) and have been happy so far.
Spend your $ on a good scale...most important peice in my opinion.
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: rugger]
#3977070
01/21/13 09:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,705
toolman
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,705 |
If you go with Lee, spend a few extra bucks and buy the Classic series. The presses are as good or better than any other press out there for the money. Also, a really nice scale at a good price is the Dillon (Ohaus) Eliminator-very user friendly.
Keep an eye on Natchez Shooters Supply for their sales and closeouts, you can get some smoking deals.
Old age ain't for sissies!
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: toolman]
#3978380
01/22/13 02:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273
blackcoal
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273 |
Get a mentor to help you.
The Greatest Enemy of knowledge is not ignorance,
it is the illusion of knowledge.--Stephen Hawking
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: blackcoal]
#3978689
01/22/13 03:35 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,522
syncerus
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,522 |
Well ...
How much do you want to spend? Do not, ever, buy a progressive as a first press. You'll make crappy, dangerous ammo very quickly.
I really like the Redding turret press and the Lee Classic Cast press, but I've heard the Forster Co-Ax is an exceptional piece of equipment. If you're going to invest in any one expensive piece of equipment, it would be in the RCBS Chargemaster, which is absolutely terrific, and a giant time saver.
I currently own a Redding T7 turret, Lee Classic Cast, Redding Boss, and a Hornday Projector; I've owned a RCBS Rockchucker and a 4x4 progressive in the past. When you do go progressive, which should be in no less than a year, go Dillon.
NRA Patriot Benefactor & DSC Lifer
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: syncerus]
#3984264
01/23/13 05:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,406
scot
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,406 |
Id go with the lee kit and add a good scale. It's the slowest part of the process but means the most with accuracy.
If I get back into it it will be a lee with a RCBS digital or chargemaster
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: scot]
#3989065
01/24/13 08:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 759
ChipChipperson45
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 759 |
Whatever you go with, just don't get a digital scale. Got an RCBS 505 and its dead on every time. I loaded about 200 hot rounds of .45 Acp because my cheap Hornady digital scale was drifting.
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 Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: ChipChipperson45]
#3989303
01/24/13 09:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 323
fatboy-john
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 323 |
Whatever you go with, just don't get a digital scale. Got an RCBS 505 and its dead on every time. I loaded about 200 hot rounds of .45 Acp because my cheap Hornady digital scale was drifting. just a Q there....do you check accuracy with a known weight ever hour or so? Most digi scale are very accurate...if the battery is weak, then you can get intermittent loss of power, if that happens, you can lose your "0".
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: lavonfisher]
#4027723
02/06/13 03:38 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,957
bigjoe8565
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,957 |
I purchased the Lee Turret press kit. Hind sight being 20/20 I'd spend more money and get a better press. My plan is to upgrade my press and dies this year.
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: bigjoe8565]
#4031618
02/07/13 05:21 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 607
ASIC777
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 607 |
I started with a Lee turret, after several years upgraded to a Dillon 650. Massive improvement, especially for pistol. I still size rifle brass outside the Dillon on any one of a number of single stage presses, this way I can clean and prep the brass after lubing and sizing. Magnum rifles get hand loaded one at a time. .223 and 30 carbine go into the Dillon for prime, powder, powder check, bullet seat, crimp if needed.
I still use the Lee for .38 special since I just did not want to buy another caliber conversion kit and I dont shoot it as much as some other pistols.
Last edited by ASIC777; 02/07/13 05:23 AM. Reason: typos
Lifetime NRA Member
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: ASIC777]
#4033721
02/08/13 12:21 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 129
xgenex
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 129 |
Its my next buy a new reloader. Been wanting to learn
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: xgenex]
#4048578
02/13/13 01:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 556
Loden
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 556 |
Texas CHL Instructor
TCLEOSE Firearms Instructor
Cherokee County 4-H Clay Crushers Coach
Master Mason - Euclid Lodge #45
"Perfect practice makes perfect"
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: Loden]
#4065168
02/19/13 08:00 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 234
jphillips
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 234 |
I actually started out years ago with the RCBS rock chucker press and kit. It is a really nice starter with everything you will need to get started. I have since moved on to the Dillon 550. I will never own another. This one is sweet. ALso, they have a lifetime gaurantee on all their parts. I once broke a shell plate I had borrowed from a friend. I called them up and said I had broke it. They said they would send me another one no question asked. I had to comment to him that he had to know I had never purchased the shell holder from them. He told me he knew but really just trusted me. I told him the full story. A few days later the replacement parts showed up at my door. Now that is the way to do business. Like I said, I will only do business with Dillon from now on....
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: jphillips]
#4068146
02/20/13 08:54 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,290
Roo Basher
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,290 |
I use a Lee classic press, a RCBS chargemaster, and an Arbor press.
Buy a press big enough and strong enough to do the biggest rifle cases you will most likely use.
I have a friend that uses his 50 BMG press for everything.
I like the Arbor press for 99% of what I do, but some cartridges I don't have those kinds of dies for.
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Re: Reloading starter kits?
[Re: LFD2037]
#4068152
02/20/13 10:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 473
killen
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 473 |
rcbs progress type press like dillon would be ok for pistol and some rifle depending on what powder u use but i weigh every charge on most
Last edited by killen; 02/20/13 10:48 AM.
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