AusVarmint

G'day guys,
A while ago I ased about getting into reloading and the general concenses was that the rockchucker Kit was probably the best value for money for what I am after. At the moment I would only be loading for the 223. Main reason at the moment is that it is impossible to find 223 ammo loaded with anything other than varmint projectiles and I am after something a bit sturdier when the need arrises without having to buy a new rifle/cal.
Other reason would mainly be just to tinker and tune loads for my rifle and have somthing shooting to do when I cant actually go shooting.

At the moment the $500 or so for the rockchucker kit is a bit out of my range at the moment but I don't really want to end up with a lee kit either. So what is the best way to get quality for less $.
What parts would you buy new and what can you get away with 2nd hand?

Where does quality count and where can you skimp a bit?

Cheers
James

Get a Mate, do it with him, or go Halves.

bimbo wrote:
but I don't really want to end up with a lee kit either.
James

James, the Lee kit cops a bit of flak, but it does the job mate. If your only going to be loading for your .223, & are on a budget, it may be your only option.
I've been using the Lee Kit for a couple of calibres & have had no hassles so far, sure there are better out there, but it works, it produces ammo, & thats all I want ......just my 2 cents

Try the gun shows, the second hand stuff at the gun shows is cheap and most of it is hardly used.

+1 lee kit,cheap reliable,easy as pie.
just dont bother with the powder dipper if you have some digital scales.to much variation.

bimbo wrote: .....it is impossible to find 223 ammo loaded with anything other than varmint projectiles and I am after something a bit sturdier when the need arrises without having to buy a new rifle/cal.....

Federal put out the Sierra 55gr Gameking in 223, you just need to take a deep breath and be sitting down when you hear the price.

Mate I have a lee kit, My press actually broke, not sure how but between the family their is 3 presses and they have all be faultless anyway emailed Lee as I bought it direct, they asked for photo's and 2 wks later I had a brand new press, even sent me the newer breech lock version so they have good service. For making your own the lee stuff is fine.

IF you wanted to do some loads with a lee kit to see what you think my brother has dies for 223 and you could try mine out.

From my experience, Lee handler dies are no good, the purpose of reloading is to get
the maximum performance from your rifle, this can only be done by reloading.

Best cheapest route;
1) buy a second hand press, RCBS, Redding, Lyman - $150, doesn't matter if it's old,
you can't were them out. Find a shooter getting out of the sport, or deceased estate.
2) powder measure & scales - $100
3) dies(223), Redding body die, Lee collet, Foster competition seater - from Lock Stock Barrel
USA - AUD$150
4) digital calipers - $50
5) reloading bench, sturdy, from jarrah or steel.

Total $450

Factory ammo, most ptojectiles are seated too deep for best accuracy, ie in my CZ ZKK 600
270W, Federal 130SP 2.5 - 4moa!!! My reloads, Speer 100HP 55/4350, 1moa.

The only item I don't have is a cronagraph, from my experience reloading book velocities are
over stated, sometimes by 200fps.

Best way to learn is to keep asking!!!

Another way is load in friends equipment, that's what I do, since 1976.

frakka wrote: Federal put out the Sierra 55gr Gameking in 223, you just need to take a deep breath and be sitting down when you hear the price.

There was also someone making a round loaded with the nosler partition too but I have never seen them in the 2 local gunshops - had some good stuff in 22-250 but no 223 and as you say the price is far from what you would call reasonable.

I find my rifle shoots the winchester supreme the best - around the .5inch mark if i do my bit, but that stuff is around $1.50 per shot. I figure I now know what my rifle is capeable of and want to chase at least that with handloads.

Stinkitup once I get some gear together I am keen for someone who already reloads to show me the basics so I may well be in touch.

At the moment I am thinking of buying a press from somewhere like Sinclairs which seems like it would be around $200ish and a digital scale then pick up whatever smaller items I need which are surplus to other shooters requirements. Or even buy the rockchucker kit and sell off the bits I don't really need like the scale (I would prefer digital instead) and powder thrower.

Hopefully the tax man is nce to me this year

bimbo wrote:

frakka wrote: At the moment I am thinking of buying a press from somewhere like Sinclairs which seems like it would be around $200ish and a digital scale then pick up whatever smaller items I need which are surplus to other shooters requirements. Or even buy the rockchucker kit and sell off the bits I don't really need like the scale (I would prefer digital instead) and powder thrower.

Hopefully the tax man is nce to me this year

Just be careful when ordering from Sinclairs for a press kit it will be over $120US (closer to $180US) for shipping, if buying dies and other stuff it may work out cheaper than buying locally. Shipping will eat up any saving margins.
Ended up costing me around $900AUD for Rockchucker kit, 2 RCBS FLS die sets, 1 Redding Deluxe die Set, 2 bore guide and 3 brushes.

In shooters warehouse, they are selling rockchucker supreme kit for 600 and something by meomary, i even think its the master kit also.
The lee one is going for 150 or 160

I started with a Lee Loader (free), then bought a Lee Classic Cast press new ($140, it was a while ago) and got most of the other major gear s/h (Lyman scales, Hornady thrower, 5 or 6 loading trays, tricklers etc). Nothin wrong with s/h gear if in good nick.

I found its all the other bits you 'need' is what adds up. I somehow had the 'need' for a tumbler, neck turner, primer pocket uniformers, chrony, second press, ...............

Hey Bimbo

Tell us the volume of reloading you will be doing. Is it just the one calibre and say 20 rounds a week, or 6 calibres and 500 rounds a week.

Makes a big difference in the quality of equipment you need. The rockchucker is ummm, not a starter style or small volume loader, its the middle to upper end scale.

With the dies, buy them from Sinclairs, you can buy a 3 die Redding set for the same price as a Lee 2 die set from an Aussie shop. I have a few Lyman bits I could probably give you really cheap. I bought the Rockchuker and later upgraded with a RCBS chargemaster combo so I dont need the scales.

Not high volume by any means. At the moment I would only be loading for .223 and would go through only a few hundred rounds a year. Hoping at some stage to also get another larger cal (30-06/270/7-08) in the next year or so.

At this stage I am thinking of seeing what i can get 2nd hand and then fill the gaps with a sinclair order

the Lee kit will work fine until you want to get real serious about it. It will definetely allow you to produce ammo better than factory.

The classic cast press is much better than the challenger, you wont break it.


my first thought when I read you post was why spend $500 to try to make your 223 a medium game round when its still not ideal even with tougher pills. Why wouldnt you go buy a Stevens or Howa or the like in a suitable calibre?