Reloading kit help

[Bastard]

buy the RCBS RC Supreme Master Single Stage Press Kit, sell the scale & throw the case lube pad at your neighbor, buy some Dillon case lube (or make your own), a trimmer and a chargemaster and you will be good to go

[ar15robert]

the RCBS rockchucker is basically the standard, I am sure that I will get crap for that, but it will do everything you could ever want it to do & if I were to be buying another single stage press it would be either the rockchucker or the redding bigboss II... but only because the redding press has the empty primer tube, though I have seen that people are making a 3d printed primer collection thingie for the rcbs press now as well.

Been using a rockchucker for 18 years.I do all my rifle on that press and also 10mm.I prefer to inspect at every stage trim brass,clean pockets out.

Back then i also shot quite a bit of 45 and it was my only handgun caliber til recently so i bought a dillion SDB great press but when something goes wrong it goes quickly and can take time to get it running right again.

[TMB 1]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/720825/lyman-universal-trimmer-power-pack-with-case-trimmer-kit-power-adapter-and-9-pilots

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/102969/rcbs-sidewinder-rotary-case-tumbler-110-volt

[TexasJackKin]

Still loading with my 1978 Rock Chucker. The newer ones don't throw the primers everyplace like the old ones.

Same here, I bought my Rock Chucker new (as part of a kit) some time in the '70s. Still use it, it's not the best for priming, get the Lee auto prime or similar, as the Rock Chucker seems to want to install primers at the worst spot leverage wise in the stroke. I understand the newer Rock Chuckers handle spent primers much better.

I've moved on to a progressive (LnL) but still use the RC now and then for odd jobs like primer pocket swagging, and small batch stuff that I'm not set up to do on the LnL . I typically leave my RC set set up to swage primer pockets when I run into them while loading on my progressive.

[sc870]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/828368/rcbs-reloader-special-5-explorer-plus-single-stage-press-kit

Is this kit worth the few extra dollars? Also looking to reload for the first time

[Paseclipse]

That's not a bad kit but personally I'd look for something that has a heavier duty press.

[ExtremeX]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/828...tage-press-kit

Is this kit worth the few extra dollars? Also looking to reload for the first time

Its actually a lower end press than the Rock Chucker... it just has more accessories than the RC Kit so the price is a little more expensive...

If you want a single stage by RCBS, get the RC. That really is the best place to start.

The smaller cheaper presses like the Jr are great as a 2nd press for something like a decapping station or for bullet seating only but the RC has strength and isn't a aluminum construction like the one you listed.

[sc870]

Cool. Glad I asked. Almost pulled the trigger!

[Archon_g24]

If I had someone guiding me through the process, I'd piece a kit together. Lots of good used stuff comes up for less than a preassembled kit.

If you're in LA, head down to Reload OC in Anaheim and talk to Brian. He has a bunch of presses you can try and he'll walk you through the process and answer questions. I'm new to reloading as well and had questions at every step.

I bought the RCBS rock chucker supreme kit and ended up adding a used Lyman press for decapping, an RCBS Partner for swaging and seating, and use for the Rock Chucker for sizing because the of leverage. It goes quickly once you get past the brass prepping.

[bigbossman]

You might want to take a look at this :

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1194059

[stilly]

Making 9mm or even .223 on a single stage will not last long. Start with a turret at least...

Lee Classic Turret with 4 holes and carbide die set for 9mm. If your .223 is for a bolt gun, single stage is fine, but if you wanna shoot it out of an arf or semi- you will want to go faster, and you will be happier with a turret for being able to go faster.

But if you insist on following the previous advice, at LEAST get the quick change bushings. It will not turn your SS into a turret, but it will give you a bit more speed when it comes to changing out dies.

[LynnJr]

Stick with the single stage and buy it all separately to avoid paying for stuff you will never use or need.
Press
Scale
Priming Tool
Chamfer
Digital Caliper
Comparator
Powder Funnel
Reloading Tray
Everything else is fluff.

[ExtremeX]

Making 9mm or even .223 on a single stage will not last long. Start with a turret at least...

Lee Classic Turret with 4 holes and carbide die set for 9mm. If your .223 is for a bolt gun, single stage is fine, but if you wanna shoot it out of an arf or semi- you will want to go faster, and you will be happier with a turret for being able to go faster.

But if you insist on following the previous advice, at LEAST get the quick change bushings. It will not turn your SS into a turret, but it will give you a bit more speed when it comes to changing out dies.

You have to agree that most people who are "here to stay", will eventually end up with more than 1 press... and a single stage is never a bad thing to have around, even if you own a turret and/or a progressive.

IMO it really doesn't matter what you start with... I started with a RCBS Pro 2000 Progressive, and added a single stage because its that useful... but I do agree with your turret recommendation if pistol ammo is in the mix.

I just think a single stage should be on every bench anyways so why not start there?

[orangeusa]

I am often wrong. But the (Lee Classic Turret) turret press works fantastically for me for pistol rounds.

I do enjoy having turret tops that are for different calibers and are pre-adjusted. They can be swapped out in 30 seconds.

It works well for me and I don't load any rifle rounds.

.

[stilly]

You have to agree that most people who are "here to stay", will eventually end up with more than 1 press... and a single stage is never a bad thing to have around, even if you own a turret and/or a progressive.

IMO it really doesn't matter what you start with... I started with a RCBS Pro 2000 Progressive, and added a single stage because its that useful... but I do agree with your turret recommendation if pistol ammo is in the mix.

I just think a single stage should be on every bench anyways so why not start there?

You are correct. 100% ABSOLUTELY correct (in my mind anyways) but here is why. I am appealing to the OP's inner child of wanting to be able to crank out ammo as fast as possible while still learning and developing good habits.

But if my ONLY choice to start was a single stage, and I was shooting 9mm or .223, well, 9mm, then I would have been turned off by all of the work for highly precise ammo made to be shot out of a handgun with crappy iron sights. But having that turret and the auto powder dropper and all made reloading fun to start with. It was an explosive start (no pun intended) because all I could think about was all of the money I was saving making .44 mag and 9mm and being all scientific like with a chrony out in the range testing loads. I was performing a hobby with a purpose finally...

But I started on the turret. Had that been 9mm and on a single stage press, I would not have been as thrilled, oh WOW! a whole hour for 50 shots... But on the turret, oh wow, 200+ rds an hour starting out! Now I got a real pile of ammo that I was able to make...

Then when SHTF and obummer opened his mouth and .223 got scarce, I found a die set and a cheap press that I had had for a while (JRRC) and knew that if I wanted to make some .223 I needed to make the bullets first. So I started swaging on the SINGLE STAGE. Yeah, they may turn out excellent ammo, but I just needed it to smash lead into .22lr and derim them and form points... By that time I was able to recognize the value of a single stage. But even though I had a single stage before I bought my LCT, I never put it on the bench because I did not like the idea of making 9mm so slow.

So I am appealing to the inner funster. But yes, once OP settles down and decides that maybe he needs to swage a little here or there or resize or size pills, he should certainly get a single stage.

AND in the event that I am wrong, at least he should consider getting the RC with the removable QC bushings. Then it is ALMOST as fast as a turret (when you do loads in batches and have the dies set and each in the proper QC bushing and setup correctly).

That is why. But yes, certainly do not discount the value of the single stage press, but you can certainly consider it while you are making rounds faster on the turret.