Ammo Reloading Press.

[brooTool]

I am looking into buying an Ammo Reloading Press kit. I am new to ammo reloading and have no clue about how to do it. Is there any recommendations for a decent reloading kit for around 200-300 dollars? Also, is there a guide here on the forums on how to reload my ammo? I will be reloading .45 ACP ammo and possibly .270 win depending on how much I feel like shooting my Savage Arms Rifle.

[ShadowX]

This is a good kit that will last you a lifetime of reloading. The press will be one of the cheapest investments you make in reloading. The RCBS Rock Chucker is a solid press. The price is reasonable since you have a $50 mail in rebate also. If I was to start all over, this would be the press I would get as a starter set. If you have the money, you should get a RCBS ChargeMaster system in the future. Its definitely a great tool that save a lot of time when you plan to do high precision rifle loads at a later time.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449361

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0004498923

As for cleaning the brass, I prefer to use the wet tumbling method with stainless steel media. People have different preferences, but it has worked out great for me so far. There are lots of great videos on Youtube showing you the ropes from the the process from beginning to the end. The harder part is figuring out how to set up the dies and how to inspect the cartridges for damage/quality. There is no better way to learn than to look up videos until you understand what is required. One of the best resources is reloading manuals. The kit above comes with a great manual. Hornady and Lyman has great manuals also.

[brooTool]

Thanks, I will look into these. currently watching the reloading process. looks a little tedious but I have to to spend and need to save money because ammo is over priced in my opinion. By the time I buy ammo, pay to use the range, gas, food, etc, I am flat broke. This will be a great investment. Thanks for the info

[Paperchasin]

Check out RCBS Roc Chucker Supreme. I think RCBS is still running their $50 rebate til the end of the year.

[mnichols]

Everything you need to know is here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=89

[morrcarr67]

Is $200-300 you total budget or is that the budget for the "press"?

I ask because there are more things you'll need.

Press
Dies
Tumbler
Powder Scale
Reloading Book
Primer
Stand (if you don't have a bench to mount your press to)

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff.

I have a Lee Turret Press and really like it. It will load any handgun calibers and short action rifle calibers; and I don't believe a 270 can be loaded with this press.

So check out this stuff:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press-Kit/1374275.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dlee%2Bturet%2Bpress%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=lee+turet+press&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Carbide-Pistol-Three-Die-Set/731713.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dlee%2Bdies%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=lee+dies&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Reloading-Stand/1222820.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dlee%2Bstand%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=lee+stand&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Auto-Prime-XR/741093.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dhand%2Bprimer%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=hand+primer&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-metal-vibrator-tumbler-67617.html

So, with everything I have listed there you are looking at $439 to get you started reloading for handguns. As you add calibers to your collection all you will need to buy would be a new turret and a new set of dies; about $65 per caliber.

Now if you want to reload for your 270 at a later date I would recommend the Lee Hand Press

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Hand-Press-Kit/1172297.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dlee%2Bhand%2Bpress%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=lee+hand+press&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Product

[Capybara]

Not sure where in the desert you are located but I would encourage you to attend a CGSSA Reloading Club clinic near you before you buy a lot of gear. You will get instruction on how to reload safely and you will learn about why certain pieces of gear may function better for your needs than others. The threads for the individual clubs are at the top of the Reloading Forum.

[Bill Steele]

Not sure where in the desert you are located but I would encourage you to attend a CGSSA Reloading Club clinic near you before you buy a lot of gear. You will get instruction on how to reload safely and you will learn about why certain pieces of gear may function better for your needs than others. The threads for the individual clubs are at the top of the Reloading Forum.

Excellent advice.

At a minimum, go over to the Reloading Forums here on Calguns and get advice on a few books to buy, then read them. It will save you a lot of money buying things you don't need. Reloading is not difficult at all if you know what to do.

[Tom-ADC]

I started out years ago back in the 60's with a RCBS rock chucker JR used it to load everything from .380 to 45-70, then in the early 90's my wife bought me a Dillon 550, a pretty big investment new but the warranty is a lifetime, if you can locate a used one for a good price buy it and never look back.
Nothing wrong with a single stage press but I really like my Dillon.

[ParaLarry]

SAve up and go for a Dillon.
No BS warranty; used it once in 20 years and they took care of it no qyestions asked.

[neal0124]

SAve up and go for a Dillon.
No BS warranty; used it once in 20 years and they took care of it no qyestions asked.

I didn't know anything about reloading when I started and this is what I ended up doing. I went halves on a used 650 with a buddy, it came with the case feeder, 3 extra toolheads, 3 powder charges, 5 conversion kits, 4 die sets and all the cleaning equipment needed, $700 each. I'm loading 9mm at about 1000 per 1.5hrs and at $.12 per round (I buy powder in 8lb jugs, primers in 5k piece cases and projectiles at 2k per order).

The Square Deal B, or 550 would be awesome to start with. You'll load pistol ammo at a much faster rate. The 550 is capable of loading rifle ammo, the warranty is awesome, and if you ever wanted to sell it you can almost get what you payed for it. They come with a DVD that shows you exactly how to set them up and load with them, couldn't get much easier.

[brooTool]

Thanks guys, very thankful for the info. I need to rethink my budget. I don't have a lot of money to spend especially due to the time of year, but i also do not want to buy a lesser quality system. Maybe used set might be the way to go for me. I don't want a one stage reloading press, i want the one that swivels and has all the dies so I can reload fast.

[brooTool]

ohhh, so how much "in the ball park" for a decent complete set everything included except powder, primers, and bullets.

[ExtremeX]

Thanks guys, very thankful for the info. I need to rethink my budget. I don't have a lot of money to spend especially due to the time of year, but i also do not want to buy a lesser quality system. Maybe used set might be the way to go for me. I don't want a one stage reloading press, i want the one that swivels and has all the dies so I can reload fast.

[alfred1222]

Thanks, I will look into these. currently watching the reloading process. looks a little tedious but I have to to spend and need to save money because ammo is over priced in my opinion. By the time I buy ammo, pay to use the range, gas, food, etc, I am flat broke. This will be a great investment. Thanks for the info

ohhh, so how much "in the ball park" for a decent complete set everything included except powder, primers, and bullets.

Ok, so lets break this down:

to reload progressively, you will need a

Progressive press-Hornady LNL or Dillon, those are the best
Shellplates
Dies
Powder measure
tumbler
tumbler media
case lube (if youre reloading non-straight wall cartridges)

You might also WANT:
a case trimmer
a case feeder
a primer pocket swager
add a couple other things that i cant remember right now.

My whole setup, with everything listed above, ran me close to $2000. But then again, i got the case feeder, bullet feeder, and a lot of different die sets. You can probably get everything for under $1000
Now factor in what you will pay for powder, primers, bullets, and cases, and youre around $1200-$1500. Thats if you want to go progressive. If you go single stage, you can get into it for under $500