Looking to reload

[pbgrasso81]

Hey guys, I'm looking into reloading. I cleaned up my garage today and and made room on my bench for a press. I plan on loading 40S&W to begin, and maybe trying 7.62x54R for my Mosin. Eventually I'd like to get into other calibers, but that will only be when my gun collection increases as well. I'm considering a single stage or turret press (progressive would be nice, but I'm trying to take a frugal route). Cabela's has a RCBS Explorer kit for $319 with a $50 rebate or 500 bullets, a Lyman Crusher single stage press for $150, and a Lee Turret Press for $90. Which way would you go? Are these decent prices? Should I hold out for a used press?

Is it better to start with a kit, or to pick up single peices of equipment for your specific needs as you go? Thank in advance for the input, much appreciated.

[russt]

If your on a budget I think many will agree lee classic turret press is probably your best bet. You can use it as a single stage or auto index turret or manual index turret. I have one and love it.

[EscalonShooter]

I would look at the Dillon BL-550 http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...0_Basic_Loader

Doing this, you can later upgrade it to a full RL-550 plus it is capable of doing just about any caliber you want.....

[Bill Steele]

If your on a budget I think many will agree lee classic turret press is probably your best bet. You can use it as a single stage or auto index turret or manual index turret. I have one and love it.

That would be my advice as well.

On the other hand, a quality single stage will always be useful, even when you outgrow it with your handgun loading. If you decide to go single stage first, I would upgrade slightly on your list and get the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme reloading kit. The components that come in that kit (505 Scale, etc.) will serve you longer.

Good luck, have fun.

[asm_]

If you are going with the frugal route, I would probably avoid Dillon. They are on the expensive side. I also agree with others advise to go with either turret (Lee Classic) or single stage press (Rock Chuck or Hornady Classic). If you are going with a kit, make sure your kit include powder measure like this one. As for scale, balance will work fine since you'll only be using it to verify charges. Of course, a good reloading manual and digital caliber - available from Harbor Freight for about $15.

Actually, come to think of it, Hornady's classic kit look like a good choice. Besides it's not turret press.

Have fun and go slow.

[reg290]

That would be my advice as well.

On the other hand, a quality single stage will always be useful, even when you outgrow it with your handgun loading. If you decide to go single stage first, I would upgrade slightly on your list and get the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme reloading kit. The components that come in that kit (505 Scale, etc.) will serve you longer.

Good luck, have fun.

+1 on this.

I started out with a lee anniversary kit. Came with everything you need to get started. After you become prolific and know what your doing, then upgrade to a progressive. I love my Hornady LnL ap....but keep your single stage for Mosin or any other rifle calibers you get.

I also think that benches that have two presses on them look bad-@$$.

[stilly]

If your on a budget I think many will agree lee classic turret press is probably your best bet. You can use it as a single stage or auto index turret or manual index turret. I have one and love it.

I have to agree with this. NOT only that but I think that there is NO need for a single stage for anyone who is NOO to reloading.

Lee Classic Turret should be the first turret that EVERYONE buys.

It is faster than a single stage (ANY of them).
It is CHEAPER then many single stages.
It is faster than a single stage!
It will allow you to learn while being able to keep your attention and evelop good habits because let's face it, nobody NOO to reloading has ever made their most precise rounds on their first press when they learned how to make rounds except some guy named Richard Lee or as others might know him, R.Lee Ermy...
(yes that was a j/k)
The Lee Classic Turret is just straight out of the box aWeSoMeNeSs and it allows you to buy it and use it and NOT declare what color of reloader you are unless you buy at least two more...

[bigchinner]

That is is a sweet setup reg290.

[koehn,jim]

I tend to have a different thought than most people. I prefer a single station press for all load development and a progressive for quantity. If you start with an RCBS press you will never regret it. I have both a Dillon and A STAR progressive and love them, but they each have a layer of comlexity. It is hard enough to learn the basics one step at a time without thinking about the five things at a time a progressive press is doing. You may also find that some people just to not like to reload.

[rsrocket1]

I would throw in with the Lee Classic Turret route. You can start with the turreted press as a single stage press, then use it turret style to produce handgun rounds at a faster rate. There is so much prep in rifle cases that a single stage press is sufficient.

That being said, I knew I wanted to get a progressive and I was torn between the Hornady LnL AP and the Dillon 550. I had a coupon for a $150 gift card if you spend $500 at Cabelas and they only carried the Hornady. That and the 500 bullet rebate made the choice a no-brainer. I found a good deal on a used Lee Breechlock Challenger Kit so I bough that and loaded single stage for a month before setting up the LnL AP. I'm glad I did and still use the single stage press for rifle and lots of other loading uses such as sizing cast bullets and swaging military crimped primer pockets.

So even if you eventually go to a full-up progressive, either a single stage press or the Lee Classic Turret will serve you well in the future.

[reg290]

That is is a sweet setup reg290.

Thanks big.

I don't know what is more fun. Reloading on my bench, or when I built my bench....

[emptybottle151]

Get the Classic Turret Press, but not the kit. You say your trying to take a frugal route, and the kit includes things you may not need at this time or will quickly upgrade. Considering your starting out reloading .40s&w and 7.62x54R.
Lets look at the kit.

Lee Classic Turret Kit at $300 includes
Press $152
4 hole turret $13.98
Pro Auto Disk $52
Auto Disk Riser $9.98 You can lower the the press handle to clear the Safety Prime.
Safety Prime Feed Small and Large $30
Case Conditioning Combo $12.98 Not essential for straight wall pistol cases and you may want to upgrade to something better when you do need to trim cases.
Safety Powder Scale $33.98 The one thing I wish I spent the money on a digital scale, which you will eventually buy.
Resizing Lube $3.98 I like it, but there's other options.
Modern Reloading 2nd Ed $30.98 Its ok, you would have more recipes in the Lyman 49th Ed

So the grand total $247.98 Not much savings but that money can be used towards better equipment, dies, and reloading components. If I could go back I would have pieced my kit together.

[pbgrasso81]

Thanks for all the input guys. Much appreciated.