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Reloading Questions?

jdyer
Also Posted in General Discussion
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Expert Opinions Please -

No experience with reloading rifle/pistol carrtidges, so should I purchase a Lee or other name brand kit at $250 to $350, or purchase individual components? I'll be reloading from 357 pistol to 308 and 45-70 rifle and magnum rifle cartridges.

I would rather spend $500 or $600 up front than to find I have to upgrade various components of a cheaper kit over time. I would also like to be as automated as possible.

Also, do any systems reload more than one cartridge at a time?

Any suggestions on getting started or good links?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • bpost
    Dillion Precision has good presses in the semi and automatic modes. RCBS offers full kits for reloading that have everything you need in one kit. www.MidwayUSA.com has many reloading components. I like doing busines with them.

    To help you decide, get a reloading manual form Hornaday, Sierria or others and read everything you can.
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  • GaBob
    I always advise a new reloader to buy a single stage press like the RCBS or Lyman rather than a progressive reloader. The rational is that the single stage press performs one task at a time while the progressives have several operations going on at the same time. This allows the new reloader to master the fundamentals before having to cope with several tasks for each pull of the handle.. Both RCBS and Lyman offer kits that will get you started. They are excellent quality and will never have to be upgraded. I use a Dillon now but reloaded for 40 years with single stage presses. I still reload large rifle calibers on the single stages. Also I always use at least two reloading manuals to check against each other. Don't need a typo causing problems.
    By the way, the reloaders have hijacked the Paintball forum so you may find info there.

    Keep Your Powder Dry
    NRA Life Member
    The only criminal class that is native to the United States is congress.
    MARK TWAIN
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  • drsck
    As GaBob has mentioned, it is easier for a beginner to get started with a single stage press than to jump right into a progressive press with all the complications. But you may never need to go to a progressive press, depending on how many rounds you're thinking of reloading. If you want to load more than a couple hundred rounds at a time, a progressive press will be where you go -- eventually. But until you develop an understanding of each of the individual steps and processes involved in reloading, it is best to stay with a single stage press. There is an old saying "It's not rocket science," well in the case of reloading, IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE and you or someone else can die if something gets screwed up. So, please, invest in a good quality, single stage press from RCBS, Hornady, or Lyman to get started. If you are near Cincinnati, I may be able to fix you up with a loaner until you decide what direction you want to go. Best of luck and let us know how it's going. Steve
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  • bobski
    dillon 550 and an rcbs rockchucker kit. period.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction. NRA certified instructor.
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  • badlandsbutch
    Essential that you get a case trimmer, caliper, deburring tool and case length guages. These are xtras that you'll need. I also suggest starting off with a single stage press.
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  • gotstolefrom
    I know you are tired or hearing it, and nobody is doubting your abilities, but go single stage. There is a good chance that will be all you need. You will need to 'develop the sweet loads' for your particular weapons. A progressive press just is not the tool for that. ENJOY

    If we do not hang together,
    We will most certainly hang separately.
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  • Turk
    The RCBS Rockchucker kit is a good starter. I have found that Lee Dies are among the best, easy to set, great lock ring set up, no set screws to mess with and very well made. Priced reasonable also.
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  • Pinhead
    I have a Dillon 550 progressive press and a Rock Chucker press. I use the dillion for pistol calibers and the RCBS for rifle reloading. I would suggest a RCBS kit with the addition of a case trimmer like the L.E. Wilson, an RCBS powder weighing machine, a Sinclair flashole reamer and a Sinclair primer pocket uniformer. For a primer I would take a look at the APS handheld primer by RCBS. These will save you time and also greatly improve your reloads. I would give the Sinclair folks a call and get their catalog and take a good look at what is available before I made up my mind to spend the cash. They are great people and will answer questions too. Do your homework before you buy and you'll enjoy what you get from the start. Good luck, Jim.
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