Down the rabbit hole for a beginner

[beetle]

looks like the OP is looking for quality equipment. In this case I recommend the following:

Press: Co-Ax
Dies: Redding or Whidden
Scale: RCBS Chargemaster
Trimmer: Giraud

these are all high-end pieces until you get into the world of benchrest shooting -- that's another world. (my uncle used to do this -- it's insane).

[God Bless America]

Then again, I'm new and you guys are experienced here; I don't know how much of a difference there is with a $50 die set and a $300 die set.

Interchangeable neck bushings to customize your neck tension and maximize brass life, and two micrometers.

Unless you are going to uniform your neck thickness, which I do not recommend to you (or other non-BR shooters), then the bushing is not needed. The micrometer sizer is not needed either.

Just get a full-length set with a micrometer seater, that's all the bells and whistles you want for dies right now. Anything else is wasting money on variables you do not need or want.

If I needed to have the best for an AR, I would get these https://www.midwayusa.com/product/24...-223-remington

[RandyD]

Since you asked for a single stage reloading press, I recommend the Redding Ultramag press. It may be a little over kill, but I have been using it for about 20 years to reload my precision ammo. http://www.redding-reloading.com/onl...eloading-press

I also favor Redding Competition Bushing Dies, which I use exclusively for my precision ammo. http://www.redding-reloading.com/onl...s-bushing-dies

With the above Redding set up, I can easily adjust headspace, neck sizing tension and bullet seating depth quickly and accurately, and I have little to no run out on finished rounds. I believe the only level above this set up is an arbor press with custom dies, which is what a lot of benchrest shooters use.

[drkphibr]

Who is considered as making some of the best single stage presses available?

Dies are the real heart of a reloading setup, so I'd also want to know who makes the best dies as well IE Lee's, RCBS, etc.

Asking someone else who makes the best press/dies is akin to asking who makes the best car/engine. SO many choices and just as many pros/cons and variables depending on YOUR needs. IMO, you'll be happier with your own decision/selection by doing your own research and not relying on someone else's needs/opinion. Did you buy your current car by asking others to tell you what car you should buy?

[Kwikvette]

Asking someone else who makes the best press/dies is akin to asking who makes the best car/engine. SO many choices and just as many pros/cons and variables depending on YOUR needs. IMO, you'll be happier with your own decision/selection by doing your own research and not relying on someone else's needs/opinion. Did you buy your current car by asking others to tell you what car you should buy?

I appreciate your thoughts, but I don't see it that way when I asked my question.

If I asked "what's the best rifle between DD, BCM, etc." then the analogy about different engines would apply.

My question is closer to "what's the better car for autocross in stock form; a Z51 equipped Corvette or a Challenger R/T"

[OpenSightsOnly]

With the end of the year coming close, I just decided that I'd rather buy reloading gear than deal with the stupid ammunition laws next year.

I've got the jest of reloading/etc. so I'll make it easier for you guys to help me out here -

Who is considered as making some of the best single stage presses available?

Dies are the real heart of a reloading setup, so I'd also want to know who makes the best dies as well IE Lee's, RCBS, etc.

My aim is at reloading for accuracy, so I'm looking for a setup that'll be as consistent as I am.

I plan on only reloading for .223/5.56 and possibly .308 (got rid of most other calibers).

PS What's an efficient, yet quiet way to clean brass? Tumbler's are loud

Since you are bent on reloading 223 on a single stage, sign up for a reloading class so that you can see and touch the equipment that you may potentially buy.

I currently use a Redding Big Boss II. If you decide on a Forsters Co-Ax, make sure that you use the Forsters FL die set for 223. Those are meant to work together.

Buy an RCBS Chargemaster, RCBS brass/media separator (the cover cuts down on the dust), Giraud Trimmer, and a Dillon CV 750. The CV 750 is quieter and if you have wooden floors use a rubber mat as a dampener.

Since you are going for accuracy, are you loading for a 223 gas gun? If so, is you upper at least 0.75 MOA? If so, buy H4895 or Varget, and use the 75 or 77 grain bullets.

[Kwikvette]

Since you are bent on reloading 223 on a single stage, sign up for a reloading class so that you can see and touch the equipment that you may potentially buy.

Sounds easy, but I work way too much. The little time I do have available is spent enjoying it as much as possible with my significant other IE shooting, traveling, etc.

For this reason alone, I am not budget-conscious and would rather buy something nice versus buying something cheap, only to hate it and replace it.

I currently use a Redding Big Boss II. If you decide on a Forsters Co-Ax, make sure that you use the Forsters FL die set for 223. Those are meant to work together.

Thanks for the recommendation; this is where others have opposing views (dies). You state I should use Forster, someone else stated suggested the cheaper Lee variants, and another linked some RCBS national match set.

In this regard, I'm valuing what GBA sated above.

Buy an RCBS Chargemaster, RCBS brass/media separator (the cover cuts down on the dust), Giraud Trimmer, and a Dillon CV 750. The CV 750 is quieter and if you have wooden floors use a rubber mat as a dampener.

The RCBS chargermaster has been echoed here many times and is on my "must buy" list as is the Co-Ax single stage press

Since you are going for accuracy, are you loading for a 223 gas gun? If so, is you upper at least 0.75 MOA? If so, buy H4895 or Varget, and use the 75 or 77 grain bullets.

I have a few AR's that are capable of less than 3/4"; it's not to say I can achieve it often though. Ammunition is one hindrance in which I wish to relieve.

I specifically mentioned AR's because it's what I shoot the most. The above target is out of said-AR but I will be shooting my bolt guns as well (also chambered in .223).

As for projectiles and powder, thank you. I was stuck on thinking I should buy Sierra Matchking projectiles but if there are better, I'd like to hear it.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Signing up for a reloading class was the best thing for me since I ended-up playing with the equipment for two days.

Reloading is "experiential learning" so the more info or idea of what and how the equipment is and how it works would be better for you not just a buy once/cry once thing.

I have a collection of RCBS 223 and 308 die sets from the 70s as well as Forsters FL die and micrometer seater. I'm not going to sell you on Forsters die set but check out the design of the dies and seater. Just don't get caught up with the brand - see the value of the product and what it can do for you.

For mag length 223 ammo, Hornady's 75 HPBT or 77 grain SMK are very good for my WOA A2 upper. 23.5 gr of H4895 or 24.5 grains of Varget will work for either bullet. Lapua Scenars are very good and very expensive.

[stand125]

If you are truly trying to get quarter inch groups consistently then the press and dies are a small part of the process. You have to use the same brand of brass and fired the same amount of times and check the thickness of the case neck and then you have to have different loads for different temperatures. I'm not trying to discourage you but my $200 Lee classic turret with my $30 die will get me half inch groups on a calm day out of my 18 inch AR if I use 21 grains of h322 and the same headstamp of brass.

I started out with a $30 Lee classic loader and achieved sub one in groups with the powder Dipper, no scale and loading on a two-by-four at the range. The gun was a $400 Mossberg MVP.

[stilly]

With the end of the year coming close, I just decided that I'd rather buy reloading gear than deal with the stupid ammunition laws next year.

I've got the jest of reloading/etc. so I'll make it easier for you guys to help me out here -

Who is considered as making some of the best single stage presses available?

Dies are the real heart of a reloading setup, so I'd also want to know who makes the best dies as well IE Lee's, RCBS, etc.

My aim is at reloading for accuracy, so I'm looking for a setup that'll be as consistent as I am.

I plan on only reloading for .223/5.56 and possibly .308 (got rid of most other calibers).

PS What's an efficient, yet quiet way to clean brass? Tumbler's are loud

Ford Chevy. Troll!

I kid. Single stages for plinking rounds come down to RCBS Rock Chucker or JRRC for Entry Level or Lee Classic Cast.

LOTS of RCBS fans and who can hate on RCBS? They are a good company. I prefer the Lee Classic Cast because it costs less and it just as much if not more HD then the RC. And the Lee metal comes from melted down Rail Road rails so if you hate on Lee then you hate on Americans you commie bastard!

I would say to start at Entry Level, build up some good habits and then move to a most precise press or a faster press depending on your needs. Faster = Turret or progressive, more precise is Forster... Your wallet/developed needs & wants will make the determination.

Starting Dies are Lee- then once you like Lee, RCBS dies are a general good all around die. Hornady dies are **** with a Titanium coating to attract folks that like sparkly things, and Dillon dies are Sloppy (but there are a LOT of sloppy seconds folks out there) since Dillon makes dies meant for the progressive presses.

Start with Lee dies- OR, better yet, since you are making .223/.308 maybe RCBS X-Dies (I like the X-dies notion, but I do not yet know if it is a gimmick or not, but it seems legit, kinda.)

Tumblers. Hmmm. I push for wet tumbling. Or rather, I suggest Wet Tumbling. Wet tumblers can run dry media as well. But Vibrating dry media tumblers can not run wet.

[eric n]

I think a lot of you would be shocked with the equipment many short range br guys use to load with.

Save your money on that necksizer set. You will have to eventually full length size, the micro top for a necksizer is worthless, and neck sizing gains you no accuracy. Also, you will run into chambering and extraction problems with your AR by having a tight chamber fit. I don't shoot AR's anymore but I would want a die that sizes my brass too much as opposed to too little. Another point is how hard AR's are on brass. Your case mouths are going to get thrashed a lot.
If you have the money Whidden dies are good, if you are shooting a bolt, Harrels make good semi custom dies that will closely match your chamber if you send them brass that has been fired 3x. Redding bushing dies are good. My experience with forster and rcbs non bushing dies are the neck diameter are on the small side.

[JDay]

The Dillon 650 is an awesome tool but it is Advanced for a beginner I would recommend having a Lee single stage and also a progressive you can't go wrong with Dylan products

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The 650 is not too advanced for a beginner. Just be sure to read up on reloading and take your time setting up the press/dies. Then go slow, constantly checking your work until you get comfortable with it. At that point you can start cranking them out. Do the same for each new caliber you load.

One more thing, the powder check is a must have for this press, especially if you're loading pistol calibers.

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[rawkstarr71]

The 650 is not too advanced for a beginner. Just be sure to read up on reloading and take your time setting up the press/dies. Then go slow, constantly checking your work until you get comfortable with it. At that point you can start cranking them out. Do the same for each new caliber you load.

One more thing, the powder check is a must have for this press, especially if you're loading pistol calibers.

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Just my two cents for someone that has never used a Progressive it can be a little overwhelming

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[JDay]

Just my two cents for someone that has never used a Progressive it can be a little overwhelming

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I started on the 650. As long as you take your time getting started it's fine. Setup one station at a time then check them again as you go.

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[RiskyBusiness]

I believe that I'm a good shooter (in my own mind), but by no means will I achieve said-groups consistently. 3/4" is pretty consistent if I'm feeling good that day.

s.

At what distance did you hit that .25" group?