Single stage presses?

[wpod]

My Lee turret setup.
When not in use, everything gets locked-up. It can be wheeled out of the way when not in use.



Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[mindwreck]

I;ve had my lee classic for as long as i can remember. cheap, easy to use. loaded countless 500sw and 30-06 rounds on it. I still use it side by side with my dillon machines.

[knucklehead0202]

If you've been shooting bulk rifle ammo, you'll be shocked at the level of precision a Lee setup can do. It'll easily exceed premium hunting ammo too. My Lee made loads created for my rifle are quite a bit more accurate than off the shelf hunting ammo out to 200.

Lee is good stuff! The precision rifle guys are truly a whole different league of accuracy. I don't have the equipment or a tenth of the skill to use better ammo than what I can make on a lee press and dies. I let a Marine buddy shoot my rifle and ammo and he made a clover out of 3 shots at 100.

I'm sure Redding dies are great, and Forster presses are too. I would totally waste the benefits of that level of gear.

I can shoot about an inch at 100yd. In my experience at the range, most people shoot more like 8 inch groups at 100. I think most of us don't need that level of precision in ammo.

^^^This. Unless you're a competitive match-grade shooter, why spend 5-times as much on dies? Most of my rifles are way more accurate than I can shoot so blowing a ton of money on my equipment is ridiculous. Most reloading equipment I buy is to make things easier for me so i'll actually do it. Far as ease-of-use goes, it literally doesn't get any easier than lee, especially the dies. For the record lee has quick-release bushings too if you get the "breech-lock" press.

I purchased the whole kit with the press, measure, cheapie beam scale and all that junk for like $120 years ago. I've since replaced certain bits but the press is broken in and works great. Recently acquired an RCBS Jr. press for a good deal and figured i'd try it out. Totally hate it. Put it away and am back to the lee. Your experience may vary I suppose, but don't discount the "cheap" stuff because the range ninjas say you should spend more for the same result.

Hornady also makes great stuff and the prices are good. I have 2 hornady die sets I bought during the panic a few years back when lee weren't available. They work fantastic and are almost as simple to use, as well as being priced decently. Haven't used their presses ever but i'm sure they are good too.

[JagerDog]

If the funds allow, get a Redding T7 turret. Best of both worlds IMHO.

Some Redding Class A dies (and a Lee collet die if you shoot bolt guns) and you're set for all but serious competition.

[tonyjr]

By funds , he means check out price of bushings , if you can find them .
Their tool heads start at about 50 .
Last year my nephews were saving up for one [ T-7 ] and figured it would be around 1000 [ we do a lot of calibers ]
Anyway they went into CC % and got 2 - 308's and a 762 .
Now they are talking about another load master - tool heads are cheaper and easier to find . [ I keep 2 spares all the time ]

[JagerDog]

By funds , he means check out price of bushings , if you can find them .
Their tool heads start at about 50 .
Last year my nephews were saving up for one [ T-7 ] and figured it would be around 1000 [ we do a lot of calibers ]
Anyway they went into CC % and got 2 - 308's and a 762 .
Now they are talking about another load master - tool heads are cheaper and easier to find . [ I keep 2 spares all the time ]

For 2 calibers, 1 T-7 head is more than ample (holds 7 dies). Bushings?

[tonyjr]

Bushings = go to ebay - some tool heads say with bushings and others don't .
Other than on web , I have never seen a T-7 .
I decap and clean , recap off press for pistol rounds and use all 5 stations .
For rifle / bottle neck - decap and size on press , then they go to vibrator, then I reprime by hand .
I looked at the T 7 and decidedI would stay with Lee .
3 of my nephews wanted another press , At 3 showing up , one would deprime , one would set up and use press while 3rd would clean the gun [ s ] .
Since I have 6 nephews and 2 nieces that reload here another press would be helpful .
When 3 of them decided to beat deadline , the mew press kitty got M T' ed .
Since that money was from brass , bottles and cans , it has built up again .
6 nephews , 2 nieces and me saving - it is building up again . I figure around Xmas , people will be dumping their machines , but I would rather buy new .

[Recon-01]

I ended up ordering a Lee classic cast to try out. It was pretty inexpensive and if I don't like it, I'm sure I could always find a purpose for it.
Where are some good places to order components? Projectiles and such...

[tonyjr]

I would size up on a few - Midway [ they do bait and switch - S/H ] Cabella's , a few other reloading sites .
Go to forums here , then look . There is a list of sites that sell .
Now is a good time - Father's day specials .

[Milsurp Collector]

Where are some good places to order components? Projectiles and such...

https://www.grafs.com/ for brass and bullets. Buy powder and primers locally to avoid the $20 hazmat fee.

[tonyjr]

I would say the Lee hand loader .
It is good to learn on . It also sells between 25 to 50 .
Everything is in a box about 4" X 5 " . You still need bullets , primer and cases .
I still use mine for building up loads . After a 100 or so , you will / should know weather you want a hand or single stage .

[gsparesa]

I own a Lee Classic Breech Lock. The bushings work fine just like the Hornady. The press is cheap and works very well. One of the best features of the Lee is being able to postioning the handle in different spots. That way you can change the throw of the lever.

Agreed. It's cheap but well built. Add the safety primer feed and you have a nice system for loading all calibers.

[hambam105]

Single Stage...

Redding Big Boss 2.

My 1978 Rock Chucker has never let me down and is still in service. However, for a new Beginner, .223, resizing thousands of same....yea, real sure BB2 has eclipsed the Rock Chucker. I wouldn't be buying any packages of any kind for sure.

And prime off your press.

[Citizen One]

I think I have researched enough to get a good "novice friendly" but still highly tuned setup.

• Lee hand press: since I lack space
• (with DIY) RCBS Rock Chucker: only if I can swing making a portable reloading station myself
  

  http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=993238

  
  

  http://www.saubier.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3348&page=2

  
  http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...h-bd-workmate/
• RCBS full length X-die (maybe small base, if paranoid): so I never have to trim again, and can still bump back the neck for precision
  

  http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=312101

  
  Apparently you shouldn't partial size with an X-die, at least not with the x-mandrel installed. Bumping is still ok!
  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUyXZdQ00s0

  
  https://blog.hsoi.com/2010/12/16/rcbs-x-sizer-die/
• (if I can afford it, precision) Forster precision seating die: for match-grade powder-compression loads
• (if I can't afford it, reliability) RCBS tapered crimp seating die: since I do not want to accidentally compress a bullet into a case while rattling in a mag, and tapered is better than crimp for semiauto
• (if I am in the middle) Lee neck size die: if I am worried about a safe balance between crimping and not
  

  http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=502544

  
  The argument about crimping can go on forever, as well as neck sizing/tension. I don't think I'm quite there yet.
• Frankford Arsenal DS-750 Electronic Powder Scale: because why would anyone use analog with today's advances in electronics (so long as you use check weights to verify linearity)

I'll edit this post and fill in details as I think of them. But this should let me make match-grade ammo on the cheap. Then again, even reloading in general will give you match-grade.

[nedro]

I ended up ordering a Lee classic cast to try out. It was pretty inexpensive and if I don't like it, I'm sure I could always find a purpose for it.
Where are some good places to order components? Projectiles and such...

Midsouth shooters supply
Academy
Powder valley
Natchez
Get your dies and accessories on ebay