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Originally posted by Kestryll
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+ the cost of a new scale, which is like the most important part of the entire kit... The Hornady scale is terrible.
RCBS kit is another good valid option.
Less $50 rebate if you spend $300 (just add some shell holders)
With that said… I only load rifle on a single stage. I do all my pistol ammo on a progressive.Last edited by ExtremeX; 12-10-2013, 11:34 PM.ExtremeXComment
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hmmm, headache...my girl is going to kill me if i drop 500-1000 bucks. I'll look into some used systems. Maybe some one will have everything for around 400-500Comment
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The press will be one of the cheapest investments you make in reloading.
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I load on a Forster Co-Ax. Can't believe no one has recommended one yet.Comment
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THIS x100000. The money you spend on the press is not the issue. The money you spend on powder, primers, and bullets is what will cost you the serious money. Ive spent 4x what ive spent on equipment on components.
I love my hornady scale, never had an issue with it, but then, to each his own. RCBS is also great, i use an RCBS for my dedicated 308 precision+ the cost of a new scale, which is like the most important part of the entire kit... The Hornady scale is terrible.
RCBS kit is another good valid option.
Originally posted by Kestryll
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I have a Forester Co-Ax too, but for a complete starter kit in the $300 range, the Forester is not the right press. The press itself is at least $250-$300, if you can find it in stock. If money is no object, that's another issue. Nothing beats the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit for $289 with a $50 rebate.Comment
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You're not even married yet and you worry. Its always easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
I'll be brutally honest. I don't think you know what you want when you said you want a progressive press setup. Based on your lack of experience with reloading and limited budget, you are not ready for reloading with a progressive. Since you are just starting to reload, get the RCBS Rock Chucker kit and start with that for now. I wouldn't get a used kit unless its a complete kit. The Rock Chucker kit above has almost everything you need to start. If you buy each item individually, it would cost at least $400 or more. You spend more time looking for all the pieces vs having most of what you need to start in one kit. The only thing you need to add to the kit are brass cleaning equipment (tumblers, etc), dies, case gauges and a case trimmer if you do rifle brass. I'm not fond of having a manual balance scale, so I prefer to add a digital scale. Other than that, you have everything you need to start in one kit. Even with a single stage, you can crank out hundreds of rounds in a few hours (especially pistol). For precision rifle rounds, most of the time is spent on the brass prepping (case trimming, sizing, sorting), so a progressive will not help you as much.
Don't even listen to the crap people say about starting with a progressive. Once you understand more about reloading on a single stage press, you can then make a better decision on what progressive machine at a later time. You can do as much on a $100 single stage kit as a $2000 progressive setup, but you will just be reloading at a relatively slower pace. The quality of the ammo is not based on how fast you can yank down that handle on a progressive press. Its easier to learn at a slower pace and learn each step of the reloading operation and understanding how to inspect each round to make sure its safely loaded. Progressives are great for cranking out pistol and rifle ammo by the thousands. The problem is the setup time if you change from one type of ammo to another. The single stage is much easier and faster to reconfigure if you do small batches of ammo. Even if you moved up, you will still be using the Rock Chucker to either set up the dies or do small batch of reloads. Setting up a progressive press is more complicated. If it is not set up properly, it will be a major headache. That's why some people have multiple setups that they can swap out because they don't want to mess with the dies once its set up just right. The single stage press is much easier to use since you are doing one operation at a time instead of doing 4-5 simultaneous actions each time you pull the lever. Before you can be confident with such a set up, you need to learn how to make rounds that are safe. You need to be able to inspect each case for damage and measure/gauge the loaded cartridge to make sure its within SAAMI specs.
Even after you add more tools later, you will always keep the Rock Chucker Supreme because its a very solid piece of equipment. The good thing about reloading is that you don't need all that expensive equipment to start. You just need a basic kit to learn the ropes and add the tools as you need them. As you progress, you will add new equipment that will save you tons of time and improve the quality and consistency. When its all said and done, to reload properly with quality tools, it will be at least $1000. If you factor in various dies, case trimmers, brass, benches, tool boxes, gauges, etc, its not a cheap hobby. Reloading pistol ammo is relatively easy. Rifle ammo is a whole different animal when it comes to case prep. Its not hard, just more time consuming, especially with case trimming. That's where buying powered tools in the future will help make case trimming faster and easier.
If you think you are going to save money by reloading, you will not recuperate that investment for a long time unless you shoot a lot. However, there is nothing more satisfying than to shoot your own rounds that you made yourself and to hit the target very accurately.Last edited by ShadowX; 12-11-2013, 1:55 AM.Comment
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Yeah,
I'm kinda sad now, its soooo expensive lol. Guess ill start saving my pennies
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Dont be sad, just save up and it will come together. It took me 3 months to get all the cash together to buy all my presses and components and stuff at once. When i got all the giant packages though, it was like christmasOriginally posted by Kestryll
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Maybe you should look at this post again.
This set up has everything you need to start. Sure there are some extras that you might want to get at a later time but other than cases, bullets, powder and primers you are good to go. And if you had a bench you can mount your new press to you can drop $100 for the stand I have listed.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:
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-H...ch-All+ProductYes you can have 2 C&R 03 FFL's; 1 in California and 1 in a different state.
Originally posted by Erion929Comment
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A lot of people responding to you have been reloading for a long time and have very valuable input and experience. If you really want to learn how to reload, you can get started for your budget, you just won't have a progressive and won't have top of the line. Ammo doesn't really care if it is made on a $69.00 Lee Challenger or a $1,000.00 Dillon. It's really more about your skill set and how well you learn how to reload.
Spend a few dollars and attend a reloading clinic and get your hands dirty and then you will have a much better idea about what to buy, how much it will cost you, etc. I too will vouch for components costing a lot, especially for rifle cartridges. You can reload on the cheap for your budget, but you cannot reload thousands of cases without spending some serious money on supplies.NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor, Shotgun Instructor and Range Safety Officer
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Solid advice by ShadowX... I've been cranking out rounds on my old single stage for 20 years now. I'm perfectly happy with it as I usually shoot multiple calibers and can change out dies quickly.Comment
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