Reloader package...Calling all pros....

[Spanky8601]

Do I need a case trimmer ? i will mostly reload 10mm, 45, 30/30 and 357 magnum and .38spcl..... Can anyone recommend a good source for primers, Bullets and Powder ? Any help is appreciated...

If there are no upcoming gun shows nearby, try Powder Valley for your supplies. The have one HazMat fee of $25.

[NotEnufGarage]

I second the vote on Lee for the beginner. If you think you'll one day move up to a progressive, the $100 Lee kit gives you everything the $274 RCBS kit does, plus $175 in your pocket for dies, components, etc.

Be prepared to spend another $100 for primers, powder, ammo boxes, labels.

Each caliber you want to load will require a set of dies. The RCBS dies are $40 - $50 a set, plus another $7 for a shellholder for that caliber. The Lee dies are about $30 and include the shellholder and a load sheet for that caliber, so you won't have to shell out $30 or $40 for a Sierra or Speer load book.

I have RCBS, Hornady and Lee die sets. I think the Lee are superior when it comes to features, especially the powder through expander and the Factory Crimp Die.

Whatever kit you get, toss the beam scale and get a small digital. Mine was only $25 and it speeds up the process, since it settles faster than the beam does. A powder trickler is good to have, too, as well as a powder weighing pan with a built in funnel.

I can do 50 rounds per hour of anything (9MM, .38/357, .45 Colt) with the RCBS dies I have. I can do more with the Lee dies, since I prime, expand and fill the cases in the same step. I don't have to handle the case as many times this way.

The breech lock Lee is nice, since you don't have to readjust your dies each time you switch, but the sleeves are about $3.50 each, so add $14 to the cost of each caliber.

Read some load data sites for the calibers you want to load and pick a single powder that will work for all of them. In my case, since I'm loading both lead for cowboy action and plated/jacketed for range, I choose to start with 2 powders, Bullseye and Trailboss. The weigh about the same but the Trailboss is "fluffier" so it fills the big .45 Colt and .454 Casull cases better with low velocity lead bullet loads. Bullseye seems to work great for 9MM, .38 and .45ACP.


Good luck. Whichever way you go, just do it. Each brand has strengths and weaknesses, but you learn those with time.

It's a fun way to pass the time. Put your setup where you can see/hear the TV. The hours fly by.

[WDE91]

with reloading I have learned you are NEVER done buying equipment
there is always something that makes the process faster,more precise,more efficient

There are many small pieces that make up a reloading setup

[IPSICK]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Dillon yet. Expensive but awesome. And actually, it looks like you will mostly be reloading for pistol ammo. Have you looked at the Dillon Square Deal yet? Does all the calibers you list except for the 30/30 I believe and it doesn't cost much more than the Rock Chucker. One drawback with the Square Deal is that the dies work only with the Square Deal. They do have good resale value though and if you buy used, Dillon's lifetime warranty goes to the new owner.

You can always go full monty and get the 550, but then you're back to my second statement above.

[Tzvia]

After I saw my brother's broken Lee Challenger, I went out and bought a Redding Big Boss press, and just love it. It is an awesome single stage press and I think it is a good value. I figured I will have it the rest of my life, and it will pay for itself real quick making precision rifle rounds. I'm making match .308 at under 13 bucks a box vs. 35 or so for commercial 'match' ammo. It didn't take long for it to start paying me back...

Even if you end up buying a progressive press for pistol, that single stage will still be handling the rifle reloading so it's not a waste. I currently have a Dillon 650, the Redding, and an RCBS 'Partner' press that I use with a Lee press-mounted priming tool for rifle priming.

For 30-30 reloading, I find the brass really grows on mine as I'm shooting old Winchersters (1909 through 1921 vintage) so trimming is a must. So is checking for case head separation and limiting the brass re-use to 3 or 4 times. That Lee Factory Crimp die is really nice- for 30-30 a good solid crimp is a must.

[r3dn3ck]

i like the lee kit for price. I've had mine more than 10 years and it's still as good as the day I got it. The scale is only so-so but the rest of the kit is nice.

I use RCBS and Lee dies, dillon lube and a hornady dial caliper. I don't think it matters what kit you get as long as the press is bench mounted and you get some good instruction.

[Bill Steele]

Good price.

I want to get started to load my own ammo. I've been going crazy trying to figure out out to get and a came upon this.....

http://jrdsportinggoods.com/product_info.php?products_id=10692

Would this be a good starter package for a beginner ?

That is a really good price for an RCBS RC Supreme kit.

The RCBS RC is one of the best single stage presses out there. The scale that comes with this kit is simple but well built and will last a lifetime.

[Bongos]

Actually, I would skip the pre package manufacturer deals and buy parts individual peices.

Here is what I would suggest:
RCBS Rockchucker $65-$75 used (or if you can find it "Rare on used market" a Forster/Bonanza Co-AX used $180 (new $240))
Hornady Electronic GS-1500 scale $30 new
Redding 3BR Powder Measure $120 new
Lee hand priming set $18 + $15 caliber shellplate (The RCBS is good too but changing over to difference calibers can be a pain $35)
imperial wax $6 or Dillon case lube $9
loading block $5
Lyman reloading handbook $25
Deburring tool $5

As you can see, if you went with the used Rockchucker with the above listed items, you will have better equipment for about the same price. Good luck

[Markus]

The lee classic turret press is also another good choice. You can even run it single stage while learning!

[pepsi2451]

I bought an RCBS turret kit that came with the same accessories as the RC kit. I eventually bought an RCBS digital scale but I still use just about everything else. RCBS has great customer service, I broke the priming mechanism on my press and they sent a new one no questions asked.

I haven't used much lee stuff outside of casting so I can't comment on them but I'm sure the lee kit would work just fine. The lee kit doesn't look like it comes with a manual though so if you go that way make sure you order one.

Like someone else said you will need calipers either way. I would also go ahead and get a bullet puller. You will probably want a tumbler also, I went with the
Frankford Arsenal kit with the media separator, it has some bad reviews but I have gotten a lot of use out of mine and it still works. I got the 220v model because they were out of the 110 at the time.

[Peter W Bush]

I think I saw someone mention you could save money by not buying a reloading manual...

I think EVERY responsible reloader would agree with this statement-

BUY AND READ A REPUTABLE, CURRENT RELOADING MANUAL BEFORE YOU EVEN MOUNT YOUR PRESS. It is so easy to make a bad mistake when loading ammo. There's nothing better than knowing what you're doing. Please buy a reloading manual and read it. You can have my old one if you're in LA.

[Fishslayer]

You will not need a case trimmer if you only load pistol cartridges. You will want a bullet puller and a caliper.

Actually, a trimmer will make roll crimping your .357 Big Dog Magnum loads way easier. If you're just going for light target loads with fast powder then the taper crimp or no crimp will do. I got the Hornady cam lock & it's the chiznit! I would suggest loading a lot of light target loads at .38SP or +P levels first though. Penalties for screwing the pooch with heavy bullets & charge weights can be severe.

Bullet puller: Mandatory

Caliper: Mandatory. Find a coupon & get a digital one from Harbor Freight for $10, $20 without the coupon. Sure, there are better ones but why? The CenTech is plenty accurate for what we do.

Scale: Mandatory. Two is better.