Any thoughts on Lyman kits?

[Droppin Deuces]

I'm wanting to get something to learn with, then maybe move on to something a little bigger in the future. As I peruse the Cabela's catalog, I see kits from Lee, RCBS, and Hornady. I was about to commit to a Hornady kit, but I started noticing that the Lyman stuff really gets better reviews than any of the other stuff.

Here's the kit I'm looking at..

I was hoping to find some info or reviews here, but my searches aren't really coming up with anything useful. Is there a reason for that?

Thanks in advance!

[XDRoX]

They make quality stuff that'll last a lifetime. However, I think the other brands like Hornady and RCBS are better. The only problem with the Lyman presses is there is slop in them. More movement than the other brands. I hate slop in a press. I just sold my Lyman single stage orange crusher for $50 to a buddy. It had a lot of slop in it and I've read that the turret does as well. Something to consider.

[Droppin Deuces]

They make quality stuff that'll last a lifetime. However, I think the other brands like Hornady and RCBS are better. The only problem with the Lyman presses is there is slop in them. More movement than the other brands. I hate slop in a press. I just sold my Lyman single stage orange crusher for $50 to a buddy. It had a lot of slop in it and I've read that the turret does as well. Something to consider.

That's exactly the kind of info I'm trying to find. Thanks. I'll keep doing research and hopefully figure it out.
Initially, I wanted to go with the Hornady Lock N Load progressive, but I thought I might be jumping right into the deep end by doing that.
But since I'll be loading for AR's and handguns primarily, I want to start with at least a turret press. Is my thinking correct here?

Thanks again for he help.

[XDRoX]

I think every reloader needs a good single stage on the bench. I had two single stages on my bench, but just sold the Lyman. Both got used constantly for odds and ends. A SS is never a waste of money IMO. I have an RCBS SS still on the bench and it comes in handy all the time.

A turret is also a good way to go. I would just get the Lee Classic Turret. It's a great press. Well built and very inexpensive. I also have one on the bench and it gates used all the time as well.

Jumping right into a progressive won't kill you either, and the LNL is a great press. My neighbor has one.

My advice is to not buy a kit. I'd just buy the essentials that you'll need. I started out with a $300 kit and don't really use any of the stuff any more except the press.

I'd suggest either the Lee Classic cast SS, the Lee Classic Turret, or the RCBS SS Rock Chuker. Any of these will be great to learn on and will still get use when you move up to a progressive. I'd be happy to help you figure out what else you'll need besides the press to get up and running.

[Droppin Deuces]

Thanks! That would be great. What do you need to know?

I'm primarily just loading for AR plinking to begin with, which I guess is why I was looking into the progressive press. I do have a gun with a match quality barrel, so I'd like to learn to find a good recipe for that thing as well. But only after I've learned how not to blow my guns up

Thanks again!

[XDRoX]

Thanks! That would be great. What do you need to know?

I'm primarily just loading for AR plinking to begin with, which I guess is why I was looking into the progressive press. I do have a gun with a match quality barrel, so I'd like to learn to find a good recipe for that thing as well. But only after I've learned how not to blow my guns up

Thanks again!

Do you just want to drive down to my house and I'll give you a lesson? I have a SS, a Turret, and a progressive all set up, and you could try loading on each of them. I'm probably about an hour away from you.

[Divernhunter]

The only thing you gain on a turret press is the 15-30 seconds it takes to change dies. If you do not batch process your brass you are a fool. I also hand prime while watching TV. So you put in a sizing die and do 100-1000 cases then remove it. Then hand prime. Then if pistol brass screw in the expander die and do them all at whick time you remove it. If rifle brass skip this die change. Then use powder measure or however you charge the 50-200 at a time cases. Then install the seater die and seat the bullets. Then remove that die and shellholder and put them away. Unless you want to do a seperate crimp then you have one more die change.
Each die change takes 15-30 seconds. So what is so time consuming about that and you do not have a turret to work loose and screw up your uniform reloads.
I use a single stage press and turn out from just a few to 2,000 rounds at a time and it does not take all day.

[XDRoX]

The only thing you gain on a turret press is the 15-30 seconds it takes to change dies. If you do not batch process your brass you are a fool. I also hand prime while watching TV. So you put in a sizing die and do 100-1000 cases then remove it. Then hand prime. Then if pistol brass screw in the expander die and do them all at whick time you remove it. If rifle brass skip this die change. Then use powder measure or however you charge the 50-200 at a time cases. Then install the seater die and seat the bullets. Then remove that die and shellholder and put them away. Unless you want to do a seperate crimp then you have one more die change.
Each die change takes 15-30 seconds. So what is so time consuming about that and you do not have a turret to work loose and screw up your uniform reloads.
I use a single stage press and turn out from just a few to 2,000 rounds at a time and it does not take all day.

Although nothing wrong with a SS, it does take a lot longer to load.

Starting with clean pistol brass, how many rounds can you load in an hour from start to finish? I loaded for a long time on a single stage. Even in batches most people can load about 50 to 60 rounds an hour. Anything over 60 rounds an hour, they're even fibbing, or practicing unsafe reloading techniques.

A Turret press can easily turn out 200 rounds an hour. 250 if you'll hauling ***.

To me the biggest time saver is the powder measure on the press. That's a whole process that the turret reloader gets to skip that the SS loader has to make time for. Plus priming on the press, a step that the turret reloader gets to skip.

I don't mean to sound argumentative, but a turret is way faster than a SS IMO.

These are numbers that I've timed myself loading on my own machines.

50 rounds an hour on SS
220 rounds an hour on turret
550 rounds an hour on progressive

[Droppin Deuces]

Do you just want to drive down to my house and I'll give you a lesson? I have a SS, a Turret, and a progressive all set up, and you could try loading on each of them. I'm probably about an hour away from you.

Thanks for the offer. I would love to do that. Send me a PM and let me know when a good time would be(next week at the earliest for me).

Thanks!

[LGB Loader]

Each die change takes 15-30 seconds. So what is so time consuming about that and you do not have a turret to work loose and screw up your uniform reloads.

Are you speaking from experience or from what you have heard or read on the forums?? No malice intended. Just curious.

I have a few SS presses, a few progressives, and a Redding T7 (Turret). I would put that T7 up against any SS and check for concentricity. I seriously doubt that there would be any difference at all. Truth be told, you can load good ammo even with a press with slop. It's the operator that cannot be sloppy.
I have proven this before with an old rusty Lee Challanger (without the breech locks). I made precision ammo with that piece of sh*t press with virtually no bullet runout.

LGB