choosing my first reloading kit

[VLQT]

My son just purchase a 1903a3 and wants to get a basic 30-06 complete reloading kit with all needed items except primer, powder and bullets of course. recommendations? I did see the lee classic loader for $35

[Spanky8601]

Nothing at all wrong with a Lee Loader. I occasionally use one for my 30-30.

I would suggest a used single stage press from the sale forum here or Ebay/Facebook Marketplace/etc. Something like a RCBS Rockchucker or a Lee Classic Cast. A set of Lee dies, used is okay, a good $20 digital scale, and a few other odds and ends.

Once you and he learn the basics and get comfortable you may want to upgrade to a progressive. But a good single stage never goes out of style.

Find a class or at least an experienced friend or neighbor to mentor you.

Lee used to offer some starter kits, I don't know if they still do.

However I hesitate to recommend Lee products. It's not because they don't work. They work very well. I have been using Lee stuff for years and years and have harvested many animals with ammo from Lee stuff. I shoot once a week firing about 200-300 rounds at a time with ammo from my Lee stuff.

But if you mention Lee on this forum the Karens get sand in their crotches and let you know right away that if you don't spend an arm and a leg on equipment and supplies then any rounds you fire will magically circle around and come back down your barrel, blowing up and killing you and all of your offspring whether they are there or not.

Lee or RCBS products are great for the occasional reloader. If you are going into production for large amounts, think thousands at a sitting get a Dillion. 1st thing to get is some books and really read up.

[bubbala]

So,, I taught myself to reload ,I got a Lee book and Lee equipment to follow along with the pics. Get the book first and read it. I still use my Lee single stage, but it's set up to pull bullets.

[VLQT]

30-06 Will only be reloaded for and shot through our Remington 1903a3. I can’t imagine needing to load more than 20 rounds for a day at the range. Reloading Speed is not necessary at this point

[OLD-skool454#3]

When I was just getting into reloading I foolishly spent a lot of money on equipment that I wish I hadn't. I didn't have or know anybody who reloaded and had to pick it up on my own as I went along. I would buy equipment that was super cheap (I thought), missing parts, rusty, broken, thinking I can make it work and save myself some money. Today, if the new me could go back and advice or suggest to the old me on what to buy it would be this...get an RCBS ROCK CHUCKER SUPREME. It is well made, has a wider opening for some larger calibers, can be configured for left/right handed users, can fit an auto prime system to it if that's of interest to you/son. Don't get me wrong, I own and use LEE equipment just the same and the difference in my ammo is marginal compared to using other brands. When it comes to presses though, I use RCBS and FORSTER CO-AX single stage presses exclusively. I use a FRANKFORD ARSENAL $35 digital scale ( when I'm being lazy) and an RCBS 5-0-5 (no longer made) balance beam scale to check my digital. One of my best investments and my number one favorite reloading tool is my BERRY'S bullet puller hammer (can also be offered to friends and family when they need to go pound sand). Dies tend to come down to brand preference in my experience...Chevy vs Ford...I prefer Hornady, however, I do also own LEE, RCBS, and a few REDDING. A LYMAN case prep hand tool does a slow turtle paced job, but it does it lol. You'll need calipers or a way to measure your reloads. A really nice item to have in your case would be a SHERIDAN case gauge, about $70 bucks but well worth the investment. Of course, reloading manuals, books, magazines, pamphlets...can't stress enough how important they are even when it seems they are not...the life you save could be your own. These are just my opinions/preferences.

[VLQT]

For a beginning reloader living in an apartment how about the Lee handpress? My son will only be reloading a single caliber 30–06

[anyracoon]

Started out with a Rock Chucker way back when, over 30 years ago. Even though I use several Dillons now, the Chucker still gets used at least once a week!

[bubbala]

Yeah, give his pecs a workout,midway also shows a Lee classic ,once taught a guy to use one years ago,kinda forgot about it. Just need a hammer😇

[sghart]

For a beginning reloader living in an apartment how about the Lee handpress? My son will only be reloading a single caliber 30–06

The Lee handpress is awesome. I used to travel for work staying in motels. I had an ActionPacker full of my reloading stuff. I would size the brass, trim if needed and prime all while hanging out in my room.

I would sometimes finish the whole thing but if not I had brass all ready to go when I got home.

The handpress would be a great place to start.

[Imageview]

The only thing that might be a bit annoying on the hand press is full length resizing. And since it’s for only one rifle, he’ll mostly be able to get away with neck sizing. I really enjoy lee loaders (using a mallet, no press), but maybe not what I’d recommend as an only option. They do work though. I’m currently looking for one in 6.5 Swedish.

A basic single stage press or turret press takes up more room, but is a lot more convenient to use once it’s set up. Or you could go with a fancy hand press like the one made by Randy. But while he makes an awesome product, it’s definitely overkill for your needs.

[SGVgunner]

When I first got into relading many years ago I took the advise of a friend that suggested the RCBS rockchucker kit. I was a very good buy then and has served me well for many years till I slowly upgraded to my T7 and and a couple of 1050's.

[BigBronco]

Here is a nifty little press that can be used as a hand press or mounted to a bench

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276488304499?_skw=lyman+hand+press&itmmeta=01J8TSE59J1D43DR383F9JE4PH&hash=item405ffcb773:g:tq8AAOSwdT5mWNuz&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmge1oDmJD%2FYAsiD6QE68AO7GFLWPeSbEqN0GZON2DqwobGMX1DoKZjBT20lWGQ20oI0dSJyDFMeuvcRifIUFeFgjpidkHaH87gh5slZr9hyh2B1arSbqHbkeWdKKQTdgAawQJC7wsAVXrtI6dJnSwnApLUpJk4tplNkZzmaveUEJljl1M%2BOvUPmC4FHMtR%2BfcwPwxx0sZ11nmYBrzgDpQG%2BzlN4RqtmjuTZufZwOQj4pxIhuOK4RiYARFb%2BBJMQFA%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_bUuNnGZA

[Duck Killer]

For as little as you are shooting just buy the ammo. Reloading will cost you a lot more.

[Sailormilan2]

I learned to reload a long time ago. A really long time ago. I started with a 9mm Lee hand loader. Which lasted one weekend. I upgraded to a RCBS Jr press. Which I used for years. It got replaced with a RCBS Rockchucker. Now I use the progressive Hornady LNL Auto. I have never used the Lyman hand loader press.
If you reload a bunch of once fired(never reloaded) bottle neck(most rifle brass), it will need to be trimmed. Lee makes a hand trimmer, which works okay for a few. I started with that, then upgraded to a Forster lathe type hand turned. It was upgraded to work with a battery powered drill. I now use a Dillon trim unit, which sizes and trims at once. It won’t deprime.
I used to prime with the RCBS priming unit on the press. I ended up going with a Lee single priming tool. That eventually got changed to a Lee priming tool with the round primer feed. When I went to the Hornady progressive, I used its priming setup. But, I‘ve since gone back to the Lee priming tool.
If you reload any military style brass, you’ll have to remove the primer crimp the FIRST time you reload. I started with a burring tool. Upgraded that to a RCBS primer pocket swagger. Eventually I changed it to a Dillon swaging tool.
So, to answer your question, it will cost several hundred dollars to get a really decent setup. I would use a single stage press, and go from there.

[justMike]

Here is a nifty little press that can be used as a hand press or mounted to a bench

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27648830449...Bk9SR_bUuNnGZA

Anyone on the forum buy this perchance? I could use a copy of the user instructions. Thanks.