Newbie reloading kit recommendation.

[Gino+5]

Hi. Looking for advice and recommendations on a kit for a beginner. Is the Hornaxy lock n load classic kit deluxe good to go? Suggestions? Any additions needed for this kit?

[Divernhunter]

What are you planning to load for? That can make a difference as to which stuff is best suited for you.

The Hornady and the RCBS kits are very good. Some here love the lee stuff. "I personally" do not and the lee war has been crap for many years. RCBS and Hornady have been super and even on stuff you buy second hard. Lee always wanted items returned and proof of purchase when I delt with them. Just a phone call and new parts/items were shipped free to me from RCBS and Hornady.

The call is yours.

[Citadelgrad87]

At the top of this page is a great sticky with setups for various budgets.

[1sicklx]

Im my opinion start with a single stage press..(I recommend the rcbs supreme)
Then learn and work into a progressive press...

[Gino+5]

Thank you for the quick replies. I plan to start with the single press first to really learn to do it right. Quality instead of quantity.. Lol. I plan to reload 9mm, 40,45,10mm,22lr and 556. I am planning to buy in a month .

[jwest]

It's a myth you can't produce quality with a progressive.

Randall gave me GREAT advice when he convinced me to go big BLUE.

[Divernhunter]

22LR can be reloaded but is a lot of trouble since it is not primed by a removable primer.
I have 3 single stage presses and a Dillon 650 with case feeder and such.

I would start with a single stage and batch process you brass. Later if you shoot a lot then a Dillon 650 is great especially for pistol rounds.

[TATER313]

I started with a Lee classic turret press, price was great and was easy to set up. Less work then a single stage, and great to learn on. I just recently purchased a Dillon xl 650 and set it up this week. I reloaded 500 rounds in less then an hour, that was with tons of charge weight checks , measuring the finished bullet making minor adjustments. Learning the machine. You can learn safely on the progressive if you do some homework, work slow and be very detailed on the process. With any press you do not want distractions. While making a bullet and you think you may under or over charged the powder drop, the pull then bullet. The hour it takes me to load 200 rounds on the Lee turret press, I can do in 10-15 mins now. The turret is A step up from the single stage and with all those calipers, you can do some fast caliber changes. Well good luck with what ever you decide.

[Metal God]

Lee classic turret press is what you're looking for . If you were primarily going to load rifle I'd say a single stage but mostly pistol says LCT press . If you must go with the single stage I'd go with Horndaddy . Only because of the die bushings that make changing dies very quick . You will constantly be changing dies when loading pistol and the single stage presses that use die bushing are the way to go . The Hornady LnL classic kit was my first set up . I still use most of the kit . Digital scale died but I actually may still use everything else in some way . Sometimes you buy a kit and quickly out grow most of the stuff , not the case for me .

Looking at the deluxe kit I'd say that's a nice set up .I have everything in that kit but bought the stuff later . The only thing for sure I see you'd need is a beam scale . There digital scale is OK but I would not trust it for pistol loads .

[tanks]

Thank you for the quick replies. I plan to start with the single press first to really learn to do it right. Quality instead of quantity.. Lol. I plan to reload 9mm, 40,45,10mm,22lr and 556. I am planning to buy in a month .

I'd recommend a Dillon 550B for what you are planning to do. For those calibers it will create quality ammo. Also, nothing prevents you from using it as if it is a single stage either.

Here is a pretty good write up of various options.

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html

[Bastard]

virtually any of the kits are a good place to start - the Hornady had the advantage of coming with the free bullets rebate

[Divernhunter]

You do not need to change dies often is you batch process your brass. It takes awhile to size 1000-5000 cases. Then hand prime while watch TV. Then bell the cases for straight wall brass. I do this as I have time or the urge to do so. Then when I want to load it is a simple matter of dumping powder and seating the bullet.
The 30 or less seconds it takes to change the dies is nothing.
Now if you are dumb enough to each step for each piece of brass(or 20) then do it all over for the next one a turret would be best. However there is more flex in a turret than a good single stage.

If you want to come over I will be happy to help show you how to reload and tips I have learned from many years of reloading. I have 3 single stage presses (2 RCBS and 1 Hornady) and a Dillon 650 set up.

[Gino+5]

Thank you for the replies and great information.

Divernhunter- Thanks for your generous offer. Maybe someday I will, I plan to do alot of reading on the subject of reloading and even some videos to start off.

[Divernhunter]

Buy the Lyman #49 book and read it. It will answer most questions. It also is very good for reloading data.
Just let me know and I will help. You can PM me for my phone number and I can help over the phone also

[liber]

At the top of this page is a great sticky with setups for various budgets.

^^^this

Too many people neglect to read the stickies.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=158086

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=229221