New Guy, Wants to buy new setup
I am looking around, and really dont know what i am getting into w/ reloading. I have read a ton of info, and i cant seem to find a "kit" that i want to walk away with. Maybe i just dont have some common sense help. Is there a kit that will start me out to reload out the door, minus bullets, brass, and primers? I went to a local gun store, and they wanted me to spend almost 700 buck just to get me started, and that seem a little high. All i shoot is .308, .243, .223, .357, and 9mm. I want to start on the military rounds, because i have a ton of LakeCity brass that i shoot/save. I have been told the rifles i use need "short" dies because they are semi-autos, so..... any help for this Newbie on a package, and some dies would be GREAT! thanks to everyone for reading my NOVEL!
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I don't thing that anything is wrong with RCBS they are a little costly but I know guys that have had the same Rockchuckers for 20 years. I do use a lee challenger because, It was given to me as a gift. I have had people tell me that it won't last, but so far so good! 0 -
If you go to Midway and read all of those bad reviews most of those guys are complaining about spent primers missing the catcher and getting on the floor and the catcher being a little awkward to get off of the press. The easy way to keep from spilling the primer catcher when removing it is not to let it fill up to overflowing before you emty it.
For my money it will always be an RCBS or a Redding.
Good luck with whatever you decide[;)]0 -
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Dillon presses.
I have been loading rifle pistol and shotgun since 1963 and at one time or another I think I have not only used but still have in working order most of the presses mentioned here and then some. In fact it ususally works out to a sepcific press for specific ammo when all is said and done.
I have an old CH press that I bought in 1989 and still use it once in a while but my Redding, Lee and RCBS have all been shelved in favor of the Dillon presses.
I have the 550 for rifle ammo especially for loading my varmit ammo which I want the best accuracy that I can get with a multiple stage press. It has been my go to press for a long time and doesn't matter whether I am loading my 22s or 257 or 30 cals. It always throws rounds accurate enough to cover 3 shot groups with dime to quarter size holes over and over. Most of the growing groups has to do with my advancing age than poor performance with a press.
I also use the 650 and 1050 for pistol rounds but it is only because I already had the presses and just have them all set up so I don't have to make many changes.
I use a MEC 9,000 for all of my SG loading.
But the point is that with the warranty that Dillon has on all his presses along with their durability and accuracy I find it hard to beat even the going prices as mentioned in one of the other repllies.
I am currently helping a couple of younger guys get their first set up and it is the Dillon 550B and they are going in together for all the pieces and parts and will both be loading 308 to begin with.
My personal recommendation would be to check out all the benefits of the Dillons before you put any money into any other press.
A good example for me is that I had used the 550 for about 6 years and then decided to have them check it out and replace anything that was worn etc. I got it back about 5 days later with nearly every part new and they never charged me a dime. It is true I load a lot of ammo on mine so they do have a chance to wear more than usual but Dillon after rebuilding all of my presses has never charged me for checkup. In addition if you ever have a problem, they have someone to guide you or help you immediatly.
Just another little bit of food for thought. Why not buy the best and know that for as long as you own it and regardless of how you use it, they will and do stand behind their products.
Kenny0 -
quote:Originally posted by csjs1194
If you go to Midway and read all of those bad reviews most of those guys are complaining about spent primers missing the catcher and getting on the floor and the catcher being a little awkward to get off of the press. The easy way to keep from spilling the primer catcher when removing it is not to let it fill up to overflowing before you emty it.
For my money it will always be an RCBS or a Redding.
Good luck with whatever you decide[;)]
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Mike, you have been given a lot of good advice here and you couldn't really go wrong with any of the recommendations. Now-a-days it pretty much depends on how much you want to spend and how glamorous you want your reloading area to look. As for me, I started out with the Lee single stage reloader kit (paid $68.95 brand new) and I haven't regretted it a bit. With that kit all you need to add is a set of dies, (I also prefer Lee), and your components....brass, powder, primers. I would also invest in a good Tumbler and right now MidwayUSA has a very nice Frankford Arsenal tumbler on sale for $35. You can't beat that price anywhere. I bought one last year when they were on sale and absolutely love it. Whatever you decide to buy I'm sure you will love it and I wish you well with your (our) endeavors. Good luck and safe loading.... 0 -
I finaly got the kit in the mail on friday, and WOW. It has a lot of stuff. It came w/ some manual, mainly on grain for each load, but was made by a powder company. I had my wife pic me up some short .308 dies for m14, a Speer Reloading manual, and some other little things. I do need a tumbler because most of the brass i have is LC, so will check out Midway. Now, on a tumbler, is it best to get one that does EVERYthing, or one that is more a do-it-yourself setup? I understand what a tumbler does, just dont know how it works. 0
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