About to buy first reloading set

[Buckfever]

Gentlemen, I am going to either get the RCBS rochchucker set or the Turret set from Lyman both Kits.  The Lyman comes with a digital scale and I will be reloading for 2-3 guns so all the dies are set to go.  Am I missing something here?  Everyone says the Rockchucker is the best way to go?

Next I have a small workshop with a gas heater on the ceiling, in my garage.  I am concerned that the heater kicking on maybe risky.  But I have all the set up to mount the press, and get it going.   I am out there alone, a little Country Music, no distractions.  I have learned a lot from this and other threads about re-loading so here goes, thanks for sharing your years experience on Greybeards.   Live in Minnesota so the heater is a necessity.      Thanks Buckfever

[larry223]

both will work well l have the lyman turret and it works for me i like
the idea of putting other die sets and change the shell holder to change
calibers. the best thing to have are good reloading books and to
write your loads down. my 2cents
have fun.
larry

[oliverstacy]

Well I've owned both of the presses.  When I started out reloading back around '94 I bought the Lyman T-Mag press in the starter kit from I believe Cabela's.  It had everything I needed at the time for my 40 S&W, 44 Mag and 30-30.  This is at the time the only three things I reloaded for and the turret option was a nice thought.  Lyman dies have all the things you'd want...sizer, expander w/powder measure adaptor, seater and crimper.  I'd set them up in the press and would leave them there until I was done reloading a batch, usually a batch of 50 or 100.  This was great for things like the 40 S&W...I didn't have the money for a Dillon (still don't) and this was the next best thing.  I probably loaded up around 2500 rounds of that ammo over a couple of years and it afforded me a lot of shooting back in the day, every penny helped since I was in the Air Force and didn't have much $.  

Things I've noticed using the T-Mag press by Lyman.  Make sure the "nut" on top of the turret is tight (and the "nut" operating the press is awake), if it comes loose the bullets could be out of round.  This is caused by the ram lifting the turret slightly upon seating of a bullet.  Also make sure the device on the back of the press that can be set to touch the bottom of the turret head is against it.  If you've ever seen one of these presses you'll know what I'm talking about.  Other than that you're all set with everything else that comes in the kit.  I used the balance beam scale for way too many years and as you state they come with a electronic scale now make me jealous.  

If I were to get this combo I'd also get a second manual buy someone like Hornady, Speer, Nosler or Sierra.  It just gives you more options.  

Now for the RCBS...love this press.  I've gotten away from handguns, still shot them some, but for the most part load and shoot rifle rounds.  I've also become very precise in reloading and wanted a good single stage press and looked them all over and settled on the Rockchucker.  Very strong press and loads all rounds with ease, just a very smooth press.  Cannot say enough about this press.  I load each round as if it were to make a 400 yard shot if needed and spend a lot of time doing so.  I size all the brass, clean primer pockets, check length, chamfer inside and out, through low and trickle up powder charges, seat and inspect all round for uniformity.  I want to get into case mouth turning and more precision oriented things.

I guess I feel the RCBS (or other single stage) presses are more of what I'm looking for these days.  I started out some twelve years ago wanting to save money (that a novel concept, how do you do that with all that stuff out there you can spend money on in the reloading realm)!!!  I find myself looking at purchasing firearms not on the ease of finding factory rounds but dreaming of the load combinations I'm going to come up with to work in the rifle.

This turned out to be much longer than I intended it to be, just remember I started out with a modified TV stand and now have a huge bench and several different calibers and a very set way of doing things.  Your on the right track reading, I can't stress this enough to new reloader I have ask me questions.  Make sure you look down the road a few years and see what direction you intend to take things.  If I were to get a progressive press I'd buy a Dillon Square Deal.  Don't need the 550 because I'm not going to reload rifle that way. I'd only load things like my 40 S&W or 357 Mag.  

I was in Cabelas the other day and over heard a person asking if it was worth the cost to get into reloading.  I replied...don't do it because before you know it you'll be 4,5,10 cartridges into the game, you'll want the newest gear your wife will never see you because you'll be either at the reloading store, reloading bench or at the range trying to save money over those $13 boxes of cheap ammo at walmart.  I does sound nice doesn't it.  :twisted:

All right probably way too much here, what ever you do spend your money wisely.

Josh

[Dand]

I load with a Lyman Turrett and I like it.  I load small batches of 5 rifle cartridges and larger batches of 9mm, 38/357, 41mag.  Like others said, its my compromise instead of a progressive.  If I prepare well I can crank out a fair amount of ammo with it without going to the cost of a progressive.  I have 4 turrett heads loaded with dies.

Before, I had an RCBS JR and it was fine too but I like the compound leverage of newer presses. And it was real slow.

Have you looked at the RCBS turrett or the Redding? Both nice too though I think Lyman with its knob handle lends itself to semi progressive use compared to the RCBS.  I don't know much about the Redding except they make good stuff and I'd like to check one out some time.

Then there is the Dillon turrett too.  I didn't go with it because I knew I'd end  up building it into a progressive, possibly at more cost than just going to a 550 to start with.  And being left handed I'm not sure the Dillon would work for me.

Definitly buy all the manuals you can get - pick up the free ones from the powder manufacturers too. Read em.  Have fun.

[Questor]

Buckfever:

Both of those presses are of good quality, so just pick the one you like. The Rockchucker is rightly recommended so often because the press itself is good and the kit that it is packaged in is very well thought out and contains nothing but high quality equipment. You really can't go wrong with either press. Just be selective about the accessories you get. Your scale, powder measure, and digital caliper need to be of good quality (I can vouch for the quality of RCBS equipment.)  You will also need a priming tool.  I used to use the Lee hand priming tool, but the last two I've gotten were defective and so I now only use the RCBS hand priming tool, which is not as good a design as the Lee tool, but is a real workhorse and is totally reliable and durable.

I am not concerned about the gas heater kicking on overhead unless there is a way for flame to come in direct contact with powder or primers.  If it's set up like a typical Minnesota workshop and you can safely use solvents in that area, then you can safely use gunpowder in that area.  My biggest concern about loading in a shed like that is what it will do to the batteries and mechanism of your scale and other battery powered accessories. The cold may run the batteries down very quickly.  The cold may also be out of the range of operating temperatures, particularly, for the electronic scale.

[Buckfever]

Thanks for the information on the gas heater.  I leave it on for the winter so the temp is always over 50 degrees.  Thanks also to all who have responded.  I have a Speer, Nosler and Norma reloading books.  Buckfever

[Questor]

Buckfever:

I've found that the velocities published in the Speer book are typically very close to what you can expect.  Nosler velocities have been consistently significantly higher than what I've seen from actual loads.

Your work area isn't signifcantly colder than my work area, which is a corner of an Minnesota unheated basement. I haven't had any battery problems. One thing to be wary of in sheds is humidity that can cause corrosion on high carbon items like dies. I haven't had that problem even though my basement gets humid during the warm months, but it's something to keep an eye out for.  Don't discard those little anti-corrosion tabs that come with dies. Hopefully your shed doesn't get blazingly hot during summer, because that might cause some problems I'm not familiar with.

[Mac11700]

I used the older version of the Lyman your interested in for about 25 years..it is a very good press..and will certainly speed up your reloading process a-lot.As mentioned..Redding makes one as well..it's called the T-7 and it has 1 extra hole in the turret..and a much better primer attatchment than the Lyman if your interested their kits are a-lot more money too..The RCBS is a great single stage press..it will do a admirable job for you...If your looking into buying one of the master kits available..also take a look at the Hornady Lock & Load Classic kit's..I have one of these and am very pleased with the ammo I can produce with it..I haven't seen this paticular Lyman kit that comes with the digital scales..most I've seen come with the #500 beam scale and the #55 powder measure,and the unversal trimmer and pilots..all of these accessories are very good products..


Mac