Buying my first reloading kit...

[Hawkeye77]

Hi all,

I've decide that i should start reloading for my rifles, so my question is;

What brand / type of press and other associated equipment should i buy? I want to buy new because i will have it forever, and i want to buy good gear that will last that long too. So what should i buy?
I want one that is fairly efficient, but not necessarily a 'progressive' press as i have a Lee 1000 progressive for my 9mm and its a pain in the ass to use, i'd rather something a little more simple, but not too slow to use.
I have seen some kit deals that have press, scales, trimmer, and other various hand tools, bits and bobs that come in around $600-$900 mark. The one i have my eye on ATM is a Lyman T-Mag expert kit. I mainly like it for the 6 position turret press and the fact that you get a digital scale with it too. I think the multi station, turret type press it the go, its just a matter of whats the best one for the best price?
Lil' help???

Thanks

Hawk

[Plowboy]

So this T mag press is a multi station but without the ability to use as a progressive? So really it's a single stage with all the dies mounted on a turret yeah? I am new to reloading so I am not going to give advice worth listening to but I am intending to load batches of ammo lots of 50-100 rounds. So I will go through each stage for the batch. I would have thought that after doing one stage with a batch I would be ready for a coffee or a walk. I have a Lee breech lock kit. So my kit comes with a collar that allows quick changes of the dies to pre set positions so die changes are done in seconds and from what other have told me, dies are best stored in the box they came in to avoid rust. So I really don't see how they would be so much quicker than a quick change single stage.

[Seddo]

Hawkeye,

I have a 550 and 1050 that i use to load pistol ammo. When it comes to rifle ammo i use a Hornady LnL Classic single stage press. I can load anywhere from 50-100 roudns in an hour from tumbled cases. Mind you i have had lots of practise over the years as i use to load 200 rounds 45acp a week on a single stage press for 3 years before i got a square deal.

The big plus with the L n L is you have collets so you can swap the dies very quickly and this helps with reloading time and switching between calibres. I throw powder with a lee perfect powder measure ($50-60) and then on a set of dillon elec scales and trickle the last 0.5gr.

i googled LnL Classic and came up with this kit....
http://www.claytonfirearms.com.au/produ ... 5&vmcchk=1 - $760

http://www.cacanvas.com.au/?stg=431&sw=7 - $695

not bad prices, add a set of Lee Deluxe Dies (collets neck & FL) $70 and you are good to go.

Seddo

[trevort]

you could try the search function.

Rockchucker supreme kit

[cam_mackps2]

Rockchucker supreme kit

I really like the kit it has everything except for a powder trickler ( would be real nice if they included it, i believe they used to).
The only down side to the rockchucker, that i have found, is the spent primer system. They exit the ram and get filtered into one of two holders. The holders get full and you take them off to empty but in getting it off it flicks the spent primers everywhere. Shits me having to clean the little buggers up.
For this reason i would suggest a redding big boss pro pak. Comes with everything except for the powder thrower but includes a powder trickler. It is around the same price.

[frakka]

Yep, me too Hawkeye, although I used to load some time back with the old Lee Loader kits. I bought the Rockchucker Supreme press, some bits locally and the rest through Sinclairs. RCBS deluxe dies to neck size first until the cases grow, Hornady oal gauge, Sinclair comparator, still got my old Bair scales from 1972, Lyman trimmer, RCBS hand primer, good set of digital calipers ordered through business , my powder feed is a spoon tapped with a pencil, the forerunner of the modern trickler pretty anal but I'm only building set's of three to develop a load just now...................

[Glenn]

I brought a Redding Big Boss II kit.
Good quality gear that will last a long time!

There is only one trimmer to buy and that is a Wilson.
BRT sell a kit now for a good price!

You can use a powder thrower and a trickler but if you can stretch the
budget to a RCBS Chargemaster it is a big bonus!

Glenn

[dave]

I brought a Redding Big Boss II kit.
Good quality gear that will last a long time!

There is only one trimmer to buy and that is a Wilson.
BRT sell a kit now for a good price!

You can use a powder thrower and a trickler but if you can stretch the
budget to a RCBS Chargemaster it is a big bonus!

Glenn

rcbs chargemaster combo first thing im buying when i get back into the counrty, they are awesome!!!

[Hawkeye77]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the input, i've been a bit busy trying to buy/sell a house atm so this idea was on the backburner for a while, but it was my birthday recently and guess what my lovely missus bought me??? A Lyman T-Mag expert reloading kit!!!
She did very well i must say! Now i guess i have to be nice to her and do what she wants me to for while

So anyway, i guess which kit to get is now sorted, the next question is what other gear should be the next priority?

I guess first and foremost should be sets of dies... but which ones to get? What is the difference between them? What different kinds are there? And what would suit my new press? (I'm under the impression that virtually all dies are universal and different brand dies and presses can be used together???)

Its a turbo tumbler an essential tool in reloading?

In regards to your own personal experiences, what other little bits and pieces make reloading quality ammo easier?

Im completely new to reloading, i've only just started using my Lee progressive to reload 9mm stuff so far. So any info or wisdom is appreciated

Hawk

[gigitt]

I got a RCBS Rockchucker supreme kit - really nice.

What you also need to get in order of basic to experienced kit upgrades
Powder Trickler
Bullet Puller
Case Trimmer (basic is a Lee or just go hog and by a Forster or Wilson to do any calibre)
Primer Pocket uniformer
Flash Hole deburring tool
RCBS Chargemaster with scale

Rockchucker supreme kit

...The only down side to the rockchucker, that i have found, is the spent primer system. They exit the ram and get filtered into one of two holders. The holders get full and you take them off to empty but in getting it off it flicks the spent primers everywhere. Shits me having to clean the little buggers up.
...

easy fix for spent primers = VACUUM CLEANER!!!
2 seconds and they are gone - no messing about trying to take that stupid thing off!

[chris.tyne]

Next thing...........................................................a good reloading manual.




Regards Chris.

[Plowboy]

LEE presses catch the spent primers in a little tube. Has a plug on the bottom and you either take out the plug or slip off the tube. Really easy and no mess(so far). I don't have a tumbler and dunno it I would get one so far. I don't shoot enough to need one I think.

[trevort]

So any info or wisdom is appreciated

Hawk

learn to read. everyone told you what to get but you didnt read the instructions, now what else will we tell you

[Hawkeye77]

The kit comes with Lymans, 49th edition reloading handbook. I've had a quick flip through it, it seems fairly comprehensive. So i think the book is covered, unless you can suggest a better one?
It also came with a case trimmer, so i wont need one of those. Im thinking: a trickler, a tumbler for case cleaning, a hand primer seater (the press has an 'auto' feed primer system but i don't know how reliable thats going to be, as i have one on the Lee 1000 and its a pain in the arse, every 7th or 8 primer is either upside down or sideways in the shell... not good!!!),
and i reckon that i'll get the lyman case prep tool pouch as its got about 8 different tools for preparing cases.
Chargemaster? Hahaha, yes that would be nice but a little too pricey! Plus the kit came with a digital scale and i've already got a RCBS 505 so i should need anything else in that respect.

As for learning to read... those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I did say the missus had bought me the kit as a birthday surprise...

Hawk