Author Topic: best kit for basic loading (Read 876 times)

no guns here · « **on:** July 22, 2009, 04:18:25 AM »

Gents (Ladies as applicable),
I'm going to buy a basic reloading kit. I don't want anything electric. It should be able to be used for everything .223 to .30-06 length. It should be able to load .38/.357/.44/.45. I don't mind slow. I don't mind one step at a time. Manual scale or dippers are okay. All I want is to be able to produce standard ammo, not match grade, but good enough. Do you see where I'm going with this? I already have three sets of RCBS dies and shellholders in .308, .30-'06 and .376 Steyr if that makes a difference.

What do you recommend?

As an aside... I'll be buying a more comprehensive setup with electric accessories as well. I want the first set as a "fall back".

NGH

Scibaer · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:38:36 AM »

i did the same thing. i got the lee kit, i think it was the aniversary kit, it was pretty well complete and i still use it. i did move to rcbs components for some operations and as i did more reloading i wanted different ways of doing the same job, but the Lee stuff works pretty dog gone good.
take a look at the lee aniversary kit with challenger press, thats where i started

Catfish · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:00:21 AM »

I would recomand that you get a good heavy press. The RCBS Rock Chucker, the Layman Orange Crusher or similar. I load on a 550 Dillon, but keep a good heavy single stage press for case forming ect. If you buy mil. cases a heavy press is good for swedging primer pockets too where the lite presses aren`t much good.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2009, 12:22:14 PM »

give good look at the Lee classic cast, Its a lot of press for your money. I love mine.

yooper77 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2009, 12:59:46 PM »

Go with a cast iron "O" press, big heavy and last forever.

I read in this months American Hunter that said hand loading is dead, I believe it lives again.

I have reloaded for over 22 years and have saved huge amounts of money and it gives me an overall good feeling harvesting game with hand loads that I made. My father was born in 1923 and he taught me hand loading fundamentals at an early age. We used to sit up and talk about caliber, primers, bullets, cases and firearms into the night.

If I had to start over again today I would but Hornady equipment they give away free bullets for there items.
http://www.hornady.com/get_loaded.php

yooper77

teamnelson · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2009, 01:09:56 PM »

I started with the Lee Classic ($19 per caliber at MidWay) and haven't moved up yet. I think about it sometimes, but something about it appeals to my need for simplicity. I'm also getting into casting bullets, and I'm streamlining my herd down to a couple calibers.

I've met the guys who made a large capital investment on the front end and have found that they don't get the use out of it they imagined. It was one of them that suggested the classic for me. Its really up to you.

Savage · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:06:19 PM »

Most reloaders that stay in the game, acquire bench mounted equipment at some point. As the OP states that he wants a basic setup for "Fall Back" purposes. The Lee Anniversary Kit would be a tough one to beat. I wish that kit had been around when I got into reloading! No matter what you hear, the Challenger press will do what needs to be done for 95% of reloaders, for a lot less money than anything else out there. Don't own one myself, but have several friends that started on that press. Most still use them in addition to the more expensive presses they own. No matter how many progressives you have on the bench, you still need a good single stage. The Challenger fills the bill for little money. If you feel the need for a heavy single stage the Lee Classic Cast press is as strong as any out there for about half the money.
Savage

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:12:10 PM »

I like to advise people who are starting out to look in the classifieds here and the used rack/shelf at your local gun shops/clubs. You can get good quality used stuff that will better serve you than the junk you can buy for cheap, new.

First off, most guys here no I am not fan of LEE products, but for the costs it will get you going. High volume and frequent use will have you looking for better equipment sooner then later. But their kits are fairly complete. I would scrap/sell there scale and press and get a good name brand scale and a "O" frame cast press. Even the LEE cast press would be a better choice than the pot metal poo that they like to sell.

CW

Doug B. · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:20:58 PM »

I have not done wrong with RCBS gear. I bought a used Rockcrusher.......VERY CHEAP! Lucked out. It has been flawless and when I needed parts for other equipment, their CS has been top notch! I will stick with my RCBS equipment......no doubt.

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2009, 03:38:54 PM »

Truth is, any "O" frame press of current manufacture will load more ammo than you can afford to shoot in a lifetime. And yes, a 30# cast steel press is more sturdy than a 8# cast aluminum one. Both will load good ammo, the difference is price. Spend as much or as little as you like. It's great to have options!
Savage

sixgun_symphony · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2009, 10:42:14 PM »

Check ebay for bargains on vintage reloading equipment. I just bought a very large Herters single stage press for $20 on ebay, shipping was $20, so the total cost was $40.

A bargain when a new reloading press can be well over $200.

Thing about the vintage presses, they have propietary shell holders. Good news is that CH/4D makes an adapter. There is a company that makes the old style shellholders, Vega Tool Company. You can also find vintage shell holders on ebay under the manufacturers name.

http://www.ch4d.com/

http://www.vegatool.com/

Sweetwater · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2009, 03:12:59 PM »

CW+1

There are loads of used presses out there!! I just posted on another similar question about the 1934 patent date Pacific I found at a gun show for $5. It sits between my 1957 Herter's Super 3 C press and my 1961 Pacific press.

Don't see a model on the 1961 Pacific, but it has a removable piece that changes it from a C to an O press. That piece was taken out a long time ago - and probably has been lost to history. The O press capability apparently was never needed by the three generations that have used this press (it was my Grandfather's).

I tried taking a picture of my "progressive loaders", but it didn't come out well at all, but I have certainly enjoyed the flexability this setup has afforded me!

The only "new" item I have purchased was a Hornady (by Pacific) magnetic scale. I liked it enough that I got another one for my Dad a few years ago. Now, I sadly have two of them, as Dad has retired from the handloading game at 82 years old. Just a reminder to me that I too shall call it quits some day. Not fun.

My loading bench has an inventory acquired by three generations over a span of 52 years. Most of it was used when it came into the family and all of it was cheap and good. Even the Herter's stuff has been very usable, though some I didn't care for and replaced with RCBS, Hornady, and Lyman (all used). Specifically scales and powder throwers.

The "best kit" will be the one you put together and find satisfaction using, within your budget. Not sure anyone makes such a ready made kit that would fit my budget in today's economy. Too much used stuff available too cheaply.

Regards,
Sweetwater

charles p · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2009, 03:31:40 PM »

Heck, get two old used ones. Use one for sizing and the other for seating.

Casull · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:36:33 PM »

Quote

First off, most guys here no I am not fan of LEE products, but for the costs it will get you going. High volume and frequent use will have you looking for better equipment sooner then later.

Twenty years and over 10,000 rounds (high volume at times and no volume at other times) say your wrong. The Lee presses will outlast most reloaders.

sdkid · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:16:56 PM »

I started with the LEE anivesary kit. 2 complaints. I found both the scale and powder measure clumsy for me to use. Sold them on ebay and paid for 1/2 the LEE kit. Bought used RCBS on ebay at great prices. Iv'e been using the LEE press for about 7 or 8 years now. No problems. I will upgrade to the LEE classic cast press. I like the looks of it.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:24:49 PM »

get a lee auto prime hand primer

get the set of 12 shell holders

i have the lyman terret press but never used any other press in 30 years

cwlongshot · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2009, 12:13:53 AM »

Quote from: Casull link=topic=178552.msg 1098857335#msg 1098857335 date=1248402993

Quote
First off, most guys here no I am not fan of LEE products, but for the costs it will get you going. High volume and frequent use will have you looking for better equipment sooner then later.

Twenty years and over 10,000 rounds (high volume at times and no volume at other times) say your wrong. The Lee presses will outlast most re-loaders.

As I have stated many times, almost 20 years selling them and almost 30 personally reloading and many thousands of customers using and breaking the products. We sold most other brands of equipment as well. NONE where returned broken like LEE products. Most where replaced, but better materials and a slightly higher initial cost would have prevented this. LEE prefers to dump this burden on the customer under the guise of lower initial costs. I would MUCH prefer my hard earned $$ get spent on something that will last. This is how I arrive at my opinions. I am very glad yours works so well. IMHO, yours is the exception, not the rule.

CW

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2009, 01:37:20 AM »

lee isnt a bad way to start but if your sure your going to stick with it theres better equipment. My buddy just bought the lee kit at my recomendation and i hadnt used there stuff or a while and was actually dissapointed in the stuff he had. the press was stiff and kind of rough and the scale and powder measure got filed in the garbage and i gave him a rcbs scale and measure i had extra. A good deal right now is the hornady lock and load kit. Ive got one and its a good press. As good as the rcbs rockchucker and lyman orange crusher ive owned in the past and there good presses too. the hornady has one great feature the lock and load bushings (which lee does now too) It makes die swapping much easier. the neat thing is right now hornady will sell you there complete package for about 300 bucks and when you buy it they give you a rebate certificate for 500 free bullets. thats worth at least a 150 bucks which brings the price real close to the lee set up and its worlds apart in quality. this deal is so good that i bought one of there single stage presses and two of there progressives just because with the bullet offer there about giving them away.

Savage · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2009, 03:28:12 AM »

For about the same money I'd buy Hornady. The advantage of the Lee is a good price for equipment that will get the job done. At the same price point, anyone in their right mind would buy Hornady! I have no brand loyality, I own/have owned, Dillon/RCBS/Lyman/Lee/Bair/Mec/Forster/Hornady presses and equipment. I have gotten good service out of all of them. I buy whatever I perceive to be the best value for my buck. Same goes for cars and guns.
Savage

Casull · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2009, 06:51:28 PM »

Quote

Most where replaced, but better materials and a slightly higher initial cost would have prevented this.

CW, I don't know what you or your customers were doing to be so hard on your reloading equipment, but I've yet to break a single piece of Lee equipment. Hell, I've used the Lee handprimer to prime military 30-06 without first swaging the primer pockets (hard on the thumb, but I'm still using that handprimer). I am still using my original .44 mag carbide dies, and for the first 15 years, I didn't have a tumbler and did not clean my brass first (and was shooting the same 300 rounds of brass monthly). And, as far as there being a "slightly" higher cost to the other equipment, that is a joke. 100% to 500% more is not slightly more. The basic Lee press (not the cast iron, but the cast aluminum) costs somewhere around $25, while most others' presses start at over $100 (most considerably over).

Tom W. · « **Reply #20 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:08:18 AM »

Lee is good for a fallback, but I've found that RCBS and Redding make, in my view, a better product. I do believe that the Lee scale and powder measure should be avoided at all costs. The dipper set is good to have.

Savage · « **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:28:20 AM »

I agree the Lee scale leaves a lot to be desired. I actually prefer the Lee powder measures. I have three of them and one RCBS Uniflow. The Lee works much better with extruded powders.
Savage

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #22 on:** July 25, 2009, 01:38:54 AM »

buddy showed up with the new lee set up i recomended he buy. the press operated rough, im sure it would smoothen out with use though. The scale and powder measure were junk. I promply tossed them in the trash and gave him an extra rcbs measure and scale i had. If you insist on lee buy the press and the priming tool from them and shop elsewhere for the rest of it.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2009, 01:49:08 AM »

Go with LEE products. I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on my turret press. The LEE scale, while pretty basic is very accurate, and that is my profesional oipinion there. The powder measure works excellent also. I like the turrtet press because I have a seperate turret for each caliber to make it simple.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #24 on:** July 25, 2009, 03:35:55 AM »

Quote from: Casull link=topic=178552.msg 1098858028#msg 1098858028 date=1248497488

Quote
Most where replaced, but better materials and a slightly higher initial cost would have prevented this.

CW, I don't know what you or your customers were doing to be so hard on your reloading equipment, but I've yet to break a single piece of Lee equipment. Hell, I've used the Lee hand primer to prime military 30-06 without first swaging the primer pockets (hard on the thumb, but I'm still using that hand primer). I am still using my original .44 mag carbide dies, and for the first 15 years, I didn't have a tumbler and did not clean my brass first (and was shooting the same 300 rounds of brass monthly). And, as far as there being a "slightly" higher cost to the other equipment, that is a joke. 100% to 500% more is not slightly more. The basic Lee press (not the cast iron, but the cast aluminum) costs somewhere around $25, while most others' presses start at over $100 (most considerably over).

As I said, I am glad it has worked so well for you. They do make a couple neat products that seem to work very well. I will not buy them. I have personally worn out a press and a COUPLE hand primer tools. Sure, some people abuse things and can break a ball bearing if given the time and resources. My point is with the vast numbers pf people I have had personal experience with to have SO many problems with this product... They all cannot be abusive to their equipment...
Also, if you re-read my first post, I suggested it would be a OK purchase for the beginner.

CW