How do I pick a reloader?

[phrogg111]

How do I go about picking a reloader? Will any of them do? Any to stay away from?

Will a cheaper reloading press fit into a box that's easy to hide away from prying eyes?

Calibers I need to reload: .500 S&W, .300 win mag, .30-06 (Garand), .223/5.56 (bolt gun), .38 special, and possibly .45ACP

[Bill Steele]

How do I go about picking a reloader? Will any of them do? Any to stay away from?

Will a cheaper reloading press fit into a box that's easy to hide away from prying eyes?

Calibers I need to reload: .500 S&W, .300 win mag, .30-06 (Garand), .223/5.56 (bolt gun), .38 special, and possibly .45ACP

How many of each, per week, etc. ?

[BajaJames83]

If you are going for volume. Then you'll want a progressive. I would highly recommend Dillon. And the 550b. You can use it as a single stage and progressive.

[CSACANNONEER]

With the calibers your planning on loading, get a single stage press. The only thing worth using a progressive for are .38 and .45acp.

[Dark Mod]

A cheap single stage would suit your needs, at least in the beginning. Ill recommend the Lee anniversary kit, its great and its cheap

[Cheep]

You can use the Lee Cast Turret as a single stage or a turret when you get familiar with the process. It will reload all the calibers that you listed. and if you are wanting to be a little more methodical and study the processes involved then I would recommend the RockChucker from RCBS-it will do anything, but a little slower...

[Thomas1190]

Another vote for the Lee Classic Turret. It's just a great all around press.

[JNunez23]

Yeah. Depends on the amount you plan on shooting. Single stage is safe. I started with a progressive and have not had any issues.

Whatever you feel comfortable with, and how much you want to spend.

[Colt562]

How do I go about picking a reloader? Will any of them do? Any to stay away from?

Will a cheaper reloading press fit into a box that's easy to hide away from prying eyes?

Calibers I need to reload: .500 S&W, .300 win mag, .30-06 (Garand), .223/5.56 (bolt gun), .38 special, and possibly .45ACP

personally I started with the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Kit, with the hand primer. I prefer priming by hand. I can load about 100 rounds in about 45 minutes to an hour. I can fit everything I have, which includes the press on a 2x6, the powder loader on a 1x6x6 piece of wood, all my bullets, primers, brass, powder, dies, manual, notebook, hand primer, and some other small stuff in a small cabinet. And i might add that everything has its spot and very organized.

[fremont lapua]

I like the dillon 550b as well great for pistol and rifle. If I had to do it again I would either go with the dillon 550 or 650, the difference is the 650 auto indexes and has an extra position.

[Fyathyrio]

Probably the best way to decide is to find a shop or local reloader with a variety of equipment and go get your hands on them, ask questions, and see which ones fit your mechanical abilities and comfort level.

Next is determine your budget, then at least double it as no kit includes everything needed. Once the dies, brass cleaning and other brass prep tools, equipment, tools such as calipers and scales, ect are all added in you'll have a pretty good sized shopping cart.

Many will say to start with a single stage until you learn the process, but if you're very mechanically inclined and can follow directions and focus on the task at hand a progressive can work as your first press.

Single stage is better for precision rifle, and small batches. Progressive can make good rifle ammo also, and really shines churning out tons of handgun stuff. If you start with a progressive, you will likely eventually end up with a single on your bench also.

Singles are a little smaller then progressives, but progressives tend to have many add-ons that generally would make hiding them in a box somewhat difficult. With the rifle rounds you want to load, you will need a sturdy bench, but that could be as simple as mounting the press to a piece of 2x6 and clamping that to a strong desk or kitchen table.

Lee is inexpensive, and may have some quirks, (actually they all have some) but makes fine ammo for those that use them. They make both single, turret, and progressive presses. A turret press is basically a single stage press with a rotating head to allow you to spin the various dies over the shell being worked...halfway between single and progressive. Many just skip the turret and go right for the progressive as they are generally closer in price to a progressive.

Hornady is nice with great customer service and a lifetime warranty, but more $$ to go along with the quality and service. They make single and progressive presses.

Dillon is the most expensive, also has great customer service and warranty, and seems to be a touch better quality based on internet comments. Dillon makes progressives.

Pretty much the favorite single stage press is made by RCBS, they also make a turret and progressive one, but it's not terribly popular. Same lifetime warranty as Hornady and Dillon.

Lyman makes a nice single or turret press also if you go that route.

Really, it comes down to how much you wanna spend, and how much you wanna make? Those two answers will help you get better advice. FWIW, I went with Hornady progressive and I'm very happy with it, and I later added an RCBS Rockchucker single that is great also.

[Cowboy T]

If you had a bit more space, I'd say single-stage and a progressive. First, start with the single-stage and learn how to reload. After you get some experience, then a progressive for your handgun rounds will speed up your production there.

However, since space is limited for you, it looks like we're talking one press. If I had to pick just *one* press for my bench, it'd be the Lee Classic Turret Press. It will do anything short of .50 BMG-class, and it'll do it at a good pace. It's also relatively compact, about the same space taken up as a Rockchucker. Finally, it is easy, quick, and inexpensive to change cartridge types (e. g. .38 Special to .300 Win Mag). I can do it in a minute and a half, worst-case-scenario.

Here are some videos of one in action.

http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/classicturret.html

All the major reloading companies make good gear, BTW. While I happen to use Lee presses and dies, I would have no problem with RCBS, Hornady, Dillon, Forster, etc. also residing on my bench. Matter of fact, my scale and primer pocket swagers are both RCBS units, and my sifter is from Lyman.

[Divernhunter]

First thing to do is buy the Lyman #49 Reloading Manual. It will answer most questions and has data for loading.
Get a single stage KIT. If you want cheap get lee. I would have a hand primer no matter what you get, except a progressive machine and that is not in what you discribe you want. "I" would get a RCBS or Hornady kit myself.

[M27]

Go over to discount shooters supply in Roseville (I don't know where you are in Folsom but it is probably 20 to 30 min away) they have several reloading setups in there back room and they are very willing to take you in to the back room and show you the different setups.

[rromeo]

I started loading .38 special with a Lee Classic Turret. The complete kit was right around $200 +$30 for a set of dies. Additional turrets are $11, so you can set up dies for each caliber and replace the turret to change over in 20 seconds.