WHAT RELOADER?
IM THINKING OF BUYING A RELOADING KIT. I WOULD LIKE ONE THAT I CAN LOAD MANY DIFFERENT CALIBERS WITH.CAN YOU RELOAD PISTOL AND RIFLE CARTRIGES WITH THE SAME UNIT? AND ARE THE DIES FROM ONE TO ANOTHER INTERCHANGEABLE? IVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE "LEE 35 ANN.KIT" BUT IM NOT SURE IF THIS WILL LOAD WHAT I WANT,..45/70,6.5 JAP,30/30,.44MAG, ANY INFO WOULD BE OF HELP AND REALLY APPRECIATED, THANK YOU,
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My choice for the all around reloader is the rcbs they have a few beginners kits with everything you could want and boy are they tough have had the same press for 30 yrs. I have a gun shop and have used mine for custom loading works great.They also have a great selection of dies and acc. [ 0 -
Go to a local gunshop. Even if their prices seem high , info generally is free. Cost is ususally a big factor. Long lasting sets like RCBS of Lyman are good starters, but if you have the bucks and are going to shoot a lot the progressive loader would be the way to go, like Dillion or RCBS. Dillions are not as pricy for what you get.[?][?][^]
Hope this helps.
Talk to some shooters who reload, because you may find most calibers are available as surplus, and are cheaper than you may think after adding up the costs of bullets, primers, powder, shells lube, scale, loader and dies.0 -
I am a very big fan of the RCBS line, particularly the "Rock Chucker".
If you buy one of these RCBS presses at the start, I think you'll probably stay with it for life- until you feel the need for a progressive, then go with the Dillon. I have had a Rock Chucker for decades and the thing still works like it was new- I don't think you can wear one out! I've used mine on everything from .380 up to .375 H&H and it simply WORKS.
The Lyman, Foster, Hornady, and Redding lines are all excellent, but I simply prefer RCBS for rugidness and its ability to do nearly any type of reloading, year after year. Although many folks have purchased Lee equipment and been satisfied, few seem to speak as highly of their products as some of the other Manufacturers I've mentioned. Lee will do the job- and I like their dies, but I just don't think the quality is there. Of course everything depends on you budget.
Don't forget to get the best possible scale you can afford- it makes the job so much easier with a top quality scale- and on this I feel that the Lee scale is nearly worthless. I use an Ohaus electronic scale and it is the finest made (in my opinion). Unfortunitly these Ohaus units cost a small fortune and they may well be out of your reach. While electronic scales are a bit faster to use and a little easier, They really are no more accurate than the traditional types...I'm just lazy!
Mark T. Christian0 -
I had a small Lee kit for starting, but it's not something I can recommend. I'm using a Hornady Lock N Load single stage press and am very pleased with it. The Lock N Load makes it really easy to change dies. I like RCBS and have a bunch of there stuff as well as some Redding dies. You can adapt the Rock Chucker to accept the Hornady Lock N Load system.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
RCBS gets my vote also,after trying several manufacturers over the years I have always came back to RCBS,Bob. 0 -
DILLON DILLON and DILLON
shootlow RRG0 -
I can't add to what Shootlow said, except DILLON!! 0 -
I my self use LEE and I belive that RCBS is more robust and I am not saying there is anything wrong with Lee, but I must ask, Mark why do you think the Lee scale is worthless? it weighs charges very accurately and seems to be fairly consistant from charge to charge. I know this because I also had my doubts. And I checked the weights with a barrowed Elect. Ohaus.
Thanks Jim.
You'v gota kill it to grill it0 -
The Lee scales that I have seen use a sort of resin for the base and it is too light to provide a stable platform. The balance of the unit is made of plastic and is hard to adjust with acuracy and some of the parts don't really seem line up too well. I also feel that the markings on the Lee are very hard to read and keep in mind, a conventional balance scale should be read at eye level and not by looking down at it on a bench. Perhaps Lee has improved their scale design of late. I feel that a scale is probably the most important item in the reloading process and I beleive there are better (much better) models available than Lee. These are just my opinions and others, like Jim, may feel differently. Feel free to purchase a Lee scale if it fits your budget...I won't mind at all.
Mark T. Christian0 -
DR, first off - welcome aboard! Now to your questions . . . .
The standard presses will reload virtually all metallics. Shotshells require entirely different equipment. Virtually all reloading tooling is based on the 7/8-14 thread. Standard dies will work in all standard presses. In most instances, you will need to purchase different tools for each different caliber.
As to what to buy, unless you are absolutely *certain* you will load an enormous amount of handgun ammo, there is no need to invest in a progressive loader. I loaded 100s of K rounds of pistol / rifle ammo on two RCBS single stage presses over the past 30 +/- years - I wore one of them out, in fact, but it took 20+ years to do it. A single stage press is simple, easy, and once you are familiar with the process, you can load 100+ rounds an hour outside of time spent cleaning brass &/or trimming it if needed. My vehement opinion is that there are only two companies worth considering: RCBS for single stage equipment and Dillon for progressives. Their products are absolutely top shelf, their customer service even better. You can load virtually *any* metallic cartridge on the single stage press - even a .50 BMG with special adaptor tooling. You can form brass from caliber A to obsolete (or very expensive) caliber B. Personally, I don't find I gain very much trying to load rifle ammo on a progressive, but straight wall pistol ammo . . . 500 to 1000 an hour, for sure. Lee has their supporters, but the quality is not as good IMHO. If you reload for years, the better quality of the RCBS tools will more than pay for the comparative premium up front. If you try it and don't like it, you'll recoup more of your costs with RCBS equipment and tools when you go to re-sell your items than with Lee.
You will need auxiliary equipment such as a powder scale, etc. RCBS puts together a basic package deal which is a good starting point. At some point, you may decide you want a digital scale & other more sophisticated items, but don't invest until you actually feel the need.
Two best references: NRA Guide to Reloading and the Lyman Metallic Cartridge Reloading Manual. I have many others, but I find I *always* consult the Lyman *first* and then, sometimes, look elsewhere. The great thing about Lyman is that they are not beholden to a particular line of bullets or powder as are the publishers of other manuals, so there are a variety of combinations, including lead bullet loads, across the entire spectrum of possibilities for most all 'normal' calibers - obviously, loads for .600 Nitro Express and the like are not covered.
Absolutely essential - IMCO - are a good set of calipers and, ideally, a good 0 - 1.000" micrometer. But the calipers for sure. Don't go cheap on this. Good measuring tools will pay for themselves many times over and properly maintained will last practically forever. I still have the verniers I bought when I started and the mic I bought a few years later. I'm sure I've used both 20,000 times ('Course, I measure a lot of collector ammo, also). Note - you can often find quality used tools; both of mine came from machinists moving up to digital tools, both had been used for a good five years in machine shops before I bought them and, like I said, they are still going strong. If you are in the bifocal generation, I'd invest in digital tools; I will have to do that soon.0 -
If you're just starting to reload just about anything will service you Lee,RCBS,or Hornady.I would not recomend a progressive type like the Dillion or the Lee Pro 1000 for a person just starting to reload.
[8D] [:)] [:D]
ATF0 -
Iconoclast laid it out pretty well, go with the RCBS Rockchucker which comes in their 'AmmoMaster' kit (I think they still sell that kit). It has everything you need to get started. Get the Lyman book AND find a friend who reloads and can walk you through the process a time or two.
Eventually you will need (want is a better word) more 'stuff' but the kit has all the basics to get you started http://www.rcbs.com/guideframe.html
You will still need to get the caliber specific dies for each caliber you plan to reload.
Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis0
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