I finally decided to get into reloading and I chose my press/kit

[NewYorkRifleMan]

http://www.natchezss.com/brand.cfm?brand=RC&mfgSubGroup=1696

I'm gonna go with the Rock Chucker Supreme kit. Its on sale at Natchezss and I've looked everywhere else for it cheaper. I took a class on reloading at my gun range about 3 years ago but never bought the stuff other than the tumbler, caliper, and a RCBS case trimmer. We used the Rock Chucker in the class which is another reason that I'm gonna go with this model. Damn thing is solid as hell ! I also have various books on reloading as well: Speer, Lee, Hodgen (spelling), Nosler.  I'm going to reload .38 , .357, .44, .308. I'll maybe do .223 and  45.70 when I buy the barresl for my Handi Rifle. For Dies, I'll go with RCBS too. I look at Ebay and all RCBS products hold they're value.

I'm going to try out the .357 first in my Handi Rifle. I dont hunt, I just shoot a lot of paper and sometimes bowling pins (they're tough!!). What powder do you guys like for .357? I want to stick with 158 grain jacketed wadcutter  but also load JHP to see what kinda accuracy I can get. Am I going with the right stuff? Thanks.

" If The Ship Goes Down, Hold On To The Railing "

[stimpylu32]

NYRM

Just starting out , 2 powders come to mind , Bullseye for the Handgun rounds and H4895 for the Rifle rounds as it will work for 223 all the way up to the 45/70 .

Both are used a bunch in my reloading room . 

stimpy

[Lloyd Smale]

hard to nail down one powder. Bullseye works great for light loads in about any caliber handgun but is not good for heavy loads. 2400 aa9 and 4227 are flexible powders that can do medium to heavy loads. If your just looking for one powder to do it all hs6 is a good one. It can handle almost top end loads and be loaded down to light midrange loads. If i had to have one powder for all of my handguns though it would be defineatly unique It lacks the top end a little and the bottom end a little but will just about cover all of the bases fairly well and is an accurate powder to boot. Its a powder that any serious handguner cant live without.

[Evil Dog]

Definitely Unique.  Also get the carbide dies whenever they are available.

[beemanbeme]

Welcome aboard.  I'm not a pistolero so I can't help you much but there are folks in here that can take you to pistol school and walk you through it.  Enjoy.
Also remember when the guys are having a spirited exchange of opinions in their high, whiny voices, its all in fun. 

[quickdtoo]

I'm gonna go with the Rock Chucker Supreme kit. Its on sale at Natchezss and I've looked everywhere else for it cheaper.

I hope ya haven't ordered it yet, GBO sponsor Midsouth's regular price is lower by $20, and I bet their shipping is less too, from my dealings with Natchez.

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357

[goodwrench6710]

Good choice! I just started my self & bought the same. But thats just the start of it. I also bought the Lyman universal case trimmer, Its pretty easy to use & set up. Get a good set of digital calipers, an extra loading block, take apart the powder measure & clean it good, a baffle for the measure, take apart the new dies & clean good with a degreaser to remove all the protective grease.

[NewYorkRifleMan]

I'm gonna go with the Rock Chucker Supreme kit. Its on sale at Natchezss and I've looked everywhere else for it cheaper.

I hope ya haven't ordered it yet, GBO sponsor Midsouth's regular price is lower by $20, and I bet their shipping is less too, from my dealings with Natchez.

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357

Thanks!!!!!!!! I didn't order yet, thanks for looking out. I was out shopping today with the little lady so I didn't get a chance to order it. Should I order powder  / primers through the mail or just check out the area for powder? There's stores in my area that carry powder and such but I don't know how fresh it is. Not that the customer service rep will know how fresh the power is through catalog companies but it is  concern that I have. But then paying the hazardous shipping fees is another. Thanks!

[quickdtoo]

I prefer to buy locally, but that depends on whatcha got locally, sometimes that's not an option for some. In the quantities that most of us use, buying powder on the net isn't real cost effective. If you buy bulk tho, you can save some money from some sources.

Tim

[Graybeard]

Don't worry about how fresh it is, that's NOT gonna be a problem. Also don't try to order it yourself as the HAZMAT fee will eat you alive. To buy powder or primers you really must buy in large quantities or it will end up costing you more than buying from a dealer. Just buy your HAZMAT items ie., powder and primers locally where ever you get the best prices and buy what's in stock unless you're will to wait until they are getting in a regular order or you'll still get hit for the HAZMAT fee.

Always check out GBO Sponsor Midsouth Shooters Supply before ordering they have some really great prices which is why I've been dealing with them now for close to 25 years.

[goodwrench6710]

The powder I bought was at a local gun shop. Their price was comparable to the prices on the net. No shipping & no $20 hazmat fee. Seems like most are around $17 to $22 a lb.

[dw06]

You will never regret the choice you made on the press,I got a rock chucker 26 years ago and never ever regreted it!Don't know how many rounds have been reloaded on it with my shooting needs and for friends,but its quite a few and its still good as new.RCBS is fine too,I have many that are from the 60s and never a bit of trouble.
Keep us posted on the 357 as I'm interested in how it does,been itching to get one.

[DWTim]

I have the same press, and I love it. If you're going to be loading for 38/357, and you are not already supplied with one, I'd recommend also ordering the small cylinder for the Uniflow measure... Or politely ask RCBS to send you one. It really made my life easier with metering certain propellants. I likewise feel that Unique is a good choice.

Midsouth Shooter's Supply also carries Magnus Bullets. I ordered some .357 JSPs and tried them out today. I'm impressed. They're cheaper and as good as (if not better) than bulk Remington, which were my mainstay for affordable jacketed bullets.

(Definitely happy with Midsouth here. I often end up ordering at night after I get home. They always process and ship the next day, not charge a "handling" fee and mysteriously sit on my order for a couple days, like some other famous national companies who shall remain nameless.)