[elkhunter]

Just wondering.

My girlfriends parents cleaned out her grandfather's shop last summer, which in a box had her great grandfather's reloading stuff in it. It was all in new or like new condition. Actually the powder measure and scas was still in the original boxes.

Near as I can tell, everything is from the mid to late 60's. (At least that's when the books were published that were in there.)

Anyhoo, I finally got to building a bench, and getting it all set up.

For the record most everything is Lyman, and looks like it will be around for another 40 years if I treat it right.

[scotty]

Nice find!

Use it to load zillions of rounds, take care of it, and your grandkids will still be able to use it for zillions more rounds.

[The Bushmaster]

On my 20th year with the same Lee turret and dies...

[P95Carry]

I have added to my Lee gear considerably over the years but turret #1 - still goin' strong into its 22nd year I think. Similar category to Bushmaster.

I also was given by a club member his old Star lubrisizer - that is AFAIK even older - and is still a great piece of equipment.

[BigSlick]

I have an old Pacific single stage that I use once in a great while.

I got it used from an uncle that died 18 years ago, he got it used from someone else years before.

No rust on it since I cleaned it up when I got it, but the paint has faded and shows some wear. I leave it setup with a collet die to fix boo-boos. It came with a very used set of 30-06 dies and one 22 Hornet die. The dies were pitted inside, so I don't use them.

Everything else is circa ~1980 or since.

BigSlick

[Standing Wolf]

My RCBS Rock Chucker and .357 magnum dies are just about three decades old, and still work just fine.

[ACP230]

My oldest press, a Lee Turret, is 25 years old.
My newest press, a Lee C press, is has been around about 15 years, I think.

[rick_reno]

My RCBS stuff is about 35 years old - the Dillon stuff is 10.

[armoredman]

My RCBS Jr press was discontinued around 1978, according to the company, and I was gifted it about a year ago. Works just fine. A buddy of mine has a Hollywood Gunshop turret press, and I think it's about 50 or so years old. Works just fine. Just like your firearms, a fine piece of well made machinery, properly maintained, will outlive you.

[fecmech]

I have 2 Lyman "Spar T " turrets from the late 60's and a CH Auto Champ from the mid 70's plus various bullet molds and casting equipment from the same time period. All have been in active service for most of that time period and will last longer than I will! I have no idea how many rounds loaded or bullets cast but it's in the hundreds of thousands. Nick

[Uncle Don]

Lee Turret is slightly older than 20 years. Only change was to convert it to a 4 hole. I keep track of loads and I'm at 130,000 and most were done on that press. People who say that it is a "beginner" company crack me up.

[Art Eatman]

I still use some dies that were not new when I got them in 1950. :) Most of my reloading stuff dates from the 1960s, though. My progressive is a Dillon 350, from, what, 1984-ish?

Art

[Sheldon]

I gotta wonder if some of that stuff might not have some collector value due to the age of the stuff and its condition?? Might be worth investigating on Ebay if there is such interest in minty new in the package old reloading gear.

[Larry Ashcraft]

I bought my Baer Kodiak press used about 25 years ago (think heavy-duty Rockchucker). I still have some CH 30-06 and .270 dies my dad used in the 50's, and they still work fine.

My Dillon 550 is about three years old.

[JesseL]

I'm using my Grandfather's reloading equipment, mostly RCBS (press, dies, powder measure, scale) with some SAECO casting stuff, lots of IMR and hercules powder, a whole bunch of old Sierra bullets, and a few dies from long defunct companies. I've got a few thousand .38 special cases from 1954. I would guess that most of this stuff is from the 50's-60's (.22 Varminter and .308 Norma Magnum anyone?) but some seems to be even older than that. I found an unused box of .224 bullets that had a scrap of newspaper packed on top of the bullets - it had classified ads for 4 bdrm houses selling for <$3000!!

[Magnum Mike]

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker that I've been using since 1994. I started out with a cheaper RCBS single stage (forgot the model name) in 1986.

All of the equipment is stored at room temperature and I'm sure they'll be around long after I'm gone.

[happy old sailor]

some is 40 yrs old ( Lyman Spar T) and some is only two yrs old, like my LnL AP. let my rockchucker(50s), i think, go some time back to a shooter friend i got into reloading. he loves it and plans to upgrade, with the rockchucker coming back to me. so, i did good in getting another shooter to reload.

the initial outlay for reloading gear may be a little pricey, depending on what you buy, but it will last a very long time with reasonable care. i recommend reloading to all shooters. and, the littlle LEE Turret Model is one of, if not the, best buys going. for entry level reloading, i dont think it can be beat and serves reloaders of many years experience just as well. for about 10 years, the wife and i tried to wear mine out, without success. yep, she reloads her own stuff.

so, how old is my reloading equipment? i can only remember the decade i got it, so, i dunno

[OneFireStick]

My Dillon 550B is a year old.

[Souris]

My Dillon 550b is only about a year old.

My Scale and Single stage press are much older.
There were made by Herter's and are probably at least 50 years old.

The Herter's Super #3 press is MASSIVE. It probably weighs more than my Dillon. It still works flawlessly.

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

From the 1950's I have .38/.357 Star Progressive Reloader, A rockchucker, Lachmiller and several new in the box C-H "O" presses, from the 70's a C-H 4 position H press that I had a hand in designing, Dozens of Caliber conversion kits for it and the 3 position H press new in the box, C-H Auto Champ Progressive reloader Caliber conversion kits for the MK3, 4, 5 and 5A presses with hundreds of parts, Hundreds of parts for The Star Universal Reloader and two of the Star Universals from the 70's in 45acp caliber. Dillons first .223 RL1000 $5,000 worth of parts he scrxxed me with as his first dealer $%^%$. Dozens of Lyman, C-H, RCBS Standard reloading die sets. Star Luber new sizing die sets in .356, .410, .429, 3 Star Lubers all from the 70's, Ohaus triple beam scale, Lots of new California Saeco 4 cav bullet molds and many other things I have buried in my survival stash and collections that I have forgotten about including a powder measure my gunsmithing instructor helped me make in 1952. my own C-H powder measure and a couple dozen rifle and pistol micromerters for the powder measures new.

[308win]

RCBS Jr. and dies from 1977; MEC Jr from 1976; Ohaus scale from mid 1960's. Still use 'em all.

[cracked butt]

My rockchucker is about 30 years old- my dad used it for about 20 years before giving it to me about 10 years ago.

[Chuck R.]

My RCBS Rockchucker is 30 years young, got it new when I was 15. My Dillon 550B is 17. I've also still got my Ponsness Warren 375C that's turned 32 this year. My "youngest" press is my Ponsness Warren 900 Elite, and its 16 years old. I've still got and using my original RCBS .357, 30-06, 6mm Rem dies that I bought with my Rockchucker.

Chuck

[ReloaderFred]

I'm still using the Hollywood Press I bought used in 1963, along with an RCBS Rockchucker that RCBS replaced for the one I wore out several years ago. My progressive is a Hornady Pro-Jector that I bought new in 1986. I also have a Magma Case Size Master Jr. for full length sizing of rimless pistol cases, including the rim.

For powder measures, I have a Belding & Mull, 3 Redding measures, a Dillon on the Pro-Jector, a Hornady, a Hollywood and in the cupboard are several more.

I have dies that were made back in the 1950's and some that were made this year for the 26 calibers that I currently load for.

Fred

[yorec]

The scale I bought last week is... well, a week old.

Some of my other stuff dates back to the fiftys. Herters stuff.

Only thing I've ever had to replace was the scale, a Lee which I dropped and stepped on. :( Bought another one just like it cause I liked the old one so much. Reloading equipement lasts and lasts...

[P95Carry]

for the 26 calibers that I currently load for.Fred - you definitely need more calibers!! :p :neener:

[ReloaderFred]

I'm just starting to shoot Cowboy Action and they're trying to get me to use 44-40, but I thought taking on one more caliber might just push me over the top. Twenty-six calibers is comfortable, but twenty-seven might be considered excessive.................

Fred

[C. H. Luke]

My Brother and I both bought Ohaus 10-10 scales in the early to mid '60's. One is still in use even though have a PACT scale....

[Peter M. Eick]

Most of mine is about 20 years old. The newest is the Pro2000 which I bought in 2000 with my Russian work bonus. Other then some dies everything else dates backs when I started.

The oldest is my lee 38 special handloader kit. It is 26 years old now and still gets used for primer removal sometimes.

[HankB]

My first Rock Chucker press dates back to around 1969/70 . . . they were still shipping them with aluminum primer catching pans then.

My original reloading scale isn't actually a reloading scale at all - it's an old lab scale of my father's dating back to, I suspect, the 1930s . . .

[BluesBear]

My Lyman Orange Crusher is one of the early 1980s ones.
My RCBS Uniflow dates to about 1976 back when they still used aluminium drop tubes.
I bought my ugly brown Ohaus 10-10 scale in the early 80s.
Most of my Lyman dies came in the old cardboard boxes. Some of my RCBS dies have the decapping pin mounted on the expander.

[klw]

If memory serves, and at my age it doesn't always, reloading equipment as we now know it started to appear in the late 1920's. Ideal (Lyman) had equipment far before this, maybe starting around 1900 but, well, it was a bit odd.

Modern reloaders developed backwards from what you might think. The Star progressive, for example, appeared in the late 1920's before the turret press. In fact most modern equipment had its start somewhere in the 1930's.

The Star progressive was, oddly enough, designed after a tool used by Winchester in the 1890's. Except for handtools I think that means that progressives have been around longer than just about any other kind of reloader. Somehow that has always struct me as odd.

[P95Carry]

IIRC Paul ''Fitz'' Jones - was a Star agent if not something to do with design. Paul - apologies if I remember badly!!

A kind buddy at one club recently gave me his old Star lubrisizer - I am unsure of its age but suspect it is in the three decades category. A simple but effective piece of gear.

[TooTaxed]

Herter's single-stage cast iron "C" tool, over 50-years; RCBS Jr2, about 40 years. Both get heavy use...say 10,000 total rounds per year of 9-mm Mak, .38-Spl, .357 Mag, 9-mm Luger, .40 S&W, .45 Auto, .45 Colt; 5.56 NATO, 6.5x55, 6.5 Jap, .308 NATO, .30-06, 7.7 Jap, .303 Brit, 8-mm Mauser, and .45-70. I set them up side by side to handle different steps as a "poor man's progressive". (Can you estimate what it would cost to set up for all these on a Dillon 550B?! :what: )

Yes, I shoot a lot..on the average, twice a week...it's nice to be retired!! :D

[klw]

You are retired and you only go shooting twice a week?!

Monday through Friday 8 guns a day.

Keeps me more active than when I worked.

[Sam]

Still have a functioning Lyman TruLine Jr. (turret press that takes the old 310 dies 5/8"/24) and an Ideal(not Lyman) tong tool with a built in bullet mold.

Sam

[bpisler]

I thought my lee press and dies from
the early 90's were old :)

[Unisaw]

I use a single-stage Pacific press that I bought new in 1980, an RCBS 5-0-5 scale that I bought the same year, and a Little Dandy pistol powder measure that I bought in about 1983.

[Jet22]

I didn't know anyone that reloaded but that didn't stop me from buying my first press...a Lyman All American turret press in 1973. I love that press and used it two weeks ago to load some 45 Colt hot loads for my Contender. Since then I have bought many presses and find I like them as much or more than guns! I own more presses than I can count. Some of my faverites are also the oldest. Who knows when my three Stars were made. They are all Universals so I guess that would make them after 1958. My two Dillon RL1000's are also faverites. They were short lived and only about 1100 were produced 20 years ago or more but they are about the finest hand operated loaders ever produced. I loaded a bunch of 45acp's on one of them earlier today! I love the RCBS Piggybacks (have 5 of them) and loaded a bunch of 357's yesterday on a very early Piggyback (I bought it the first month it was out about 18 years ago). Also, yesterday, I introduced a friend to reloading on a Lyman 6 station turret. He bought a 300 Whisper and needed ammo...where else are you going to get it. Now he wants a press like it(can you say HOOKED). I guess the answere is that as long ago as they were making guns, they were making reloading equiptment...and if a Winchester or Colt that was made over 100 years ago and is in good condition can still be used, so can the equiptment that loaded the shells for it!

[newfalguy101]

I got my RCBS set-up used from a guy in 94 or 95.

I dont really know how old it is.

[coonan357]

bought most of my stuff new in 95 , but was recently given a bunch of stuff that was from the 70'sfrom a freind that bought it used , as long as you keep it lubed and cleaned it will keep working .

[RugerGuy]

All my reloading stuff is one year old. Hope my 550B is still rolling in 25 years.

[Ben Shepherd]

My first press, an RCBS Jr., is about 45 years old. My rockchucker supreme just turned 5, and my dillon 650 just turned 3. :D

[Detritus]

well the Herter's "model One with stabilizer" scale (still in original box with the instruction sheet) and the 2-die .308 set (which i can not find at the moment but i think is also a herter's product) are both nearing 40 years old, my father bought them either while he was still in or just after leaving the Air Force which narrows the time frame to the mid to late sixties (66-69)

the rest of the stuff, which other than a lyman powder trickler is all LEE, was bought during or after 87-88

[Scoupe]

I think my pistol press is about 30 years old. My boss gave it to me. Only marking on it is "Brown Bair". Heavy duty, well-made, three station press. My MEC is around 15 years old or so, but it's new to me!

I'd never heard of the Brown Bair press before, but it certainly works well, if a little slower than a MEC 650. ;)

http://www.planetkc.com/scoupe/rl-bench.jpg

[BluesBear]

Bair made some damn fine stuff.
I have had several sets of their dies and they were all top shelf quality.
I wonde what a set of Bair .401 Herter's Power Mag dies would be worth now?

[Rinspeed]

I think my Dillon SDB is about 8 years old. I would like to get a 650 but I don't really have enough room.

[Dave R]

My $20 used Herters press is probably as old as I am. And I was born in the '50's. Now my chamfer/deburr tool--that's only a year or two old.

[Rottweiler]

My Dillon 550 is one of the first ones made. The number stamped on the bottom is 115 I think that is its serial number. It's not a cast in number it was really stamped

[m21black]

I started reloading with my RCBS RockerChucker when I was 15 I'm now 45. I bet in another 30 years the press well still be operating, Just hope I'm the operator.

[Ross]

I prime and decap on Frankford Arsenal (1909)tools still. My first press was a Lachmiller, complete with its bench mounted primer seater. There are Belding and Mull tools, as well as Ideal, Modern-Bond and C.V. Schmitt Fielding B. Hall and others seldom if ever used anymore. My Universal serves as a powder measure stand while an RCBS A press serves yeoman duty forming and loading.
None of the above have been on the market for a few years, but are quite serviceable yet.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

[45auto]

My Mec is 21 years old and I believe my SDB is 15 years old.

[qajaq59]

My stuff is all about that same age, except for the Herter press which is even older. If you take decent care of it you can pass it on to your grand kids. And my scale and the rest are also still in the original boxes.

[2400]

I bought my Rockchucker in late 69 or early 70 and it's loaded 100's of thousands of rounds since then. My Square Deal and 1050 were among the first ones produced. They are all still going strong.

[Rico567]

Over the course of 40-plus years reloading, I've given away some of my oldest stuff to people starting up in this pastime of ours. I let an RCBS Jr press and a Lyman Spar-T go that way, and gave all my casting stuff away 15 years ago. I still have a rather ancient MEC 600 Jr in 20 ga. and a Lyman 45 luber-sizer that are probably as old as any pieces I've got. I've got a MEC Grabber 76 that's got to be 25 years old. My Rock Chucker was bought about 30 years ago, could never part with that one. My main production piece is about 5 years old, a Dillon XL650. Then there's the usual assortment of scales & measures, of various types and vintages....

[9thhour]

I use an old C&H single stage press that my father bought in the late 50's. He and I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on it and it is still going strong.

[Falconeer]

My metallic press is new (Lee Classic Turret), but my shotshell is a MEC 600jr handed down from my father. That press is 30+ years old, and still going strong. :)

[armedandsafe]

My Dad's cousin owned a precision machine shop after he returned from the war. He built our first 30-06 dies as practice for an apprentice in 1948. I bought a Lyman single stage when I returned from Europe in 61. I have a newer (1963) Lyman/Ideal tong tool and an older one (vintage unknown, but found in a cabin which had been abandoned during WWI.) My Dillon 500 is about 12 years old. The Lee LoadAll in 16 GA is about 6 weeks old. I have just about finished adapting that one to load brass shells.

Pops

[MarinePride]

I bought an RCBS Rock Chucker and ammo crafting kit back in 1987 and I still use today. I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds with this one and only setup over the years. It has paid for itself many times over and I have no plans to upgrade to a progressive press, although it would save me a lot of time. The only problem that I ever had, and it was my fault, was the primer seating cup got smashed out when I put out A LOT of pressure on the press trying to seat a .45 ACP primer in a case that had a military crimp. RCBS replaced the part quickly for free after a phone call even though it wasn't thier fault. At some point I'd like to upgrade to a progressive, but then what would I do with my Rockchucker?

[Randy in Arizona]

One of my RCBS A-2 presses has the reducing bushing the other one does not. The one without (newer) was purchased new in 1970.

Otherwise I have a Hollywood Gunshop Turret tool with both diameter die holes in the turret. Vintage unknown.

[frosty]

My outfit is an old Lyman Spar-t turret press. The thing was in a box with a complete reloading outfit, and I load perfect black powder ctgs on it every week. I actually think that the older stuff is of better quality:evil:

[mrb302]

I had a friend that was trying to get rid of his reloading equipment. It turned out to be hand-me0down from his dad.

I picked up:
Lyman Spar-T turret (Vintage 60's or 70's?)
Lyman Case Trimmer w/ guides
Forester Trimmer
3 sets of rifle dies
4 sets of pistol dies
3 loading trays
calipers
case lube pad
generic paper bullet/shell boxes (new, never used)
a butt load of 9mm brass
a half butt load of 7mm Rem Mag brass
308 brass
3000+ primers, assorted sizes
funels, tools, etc.
Dillon CV-500 case cleaner
brass tumber (media seperator) w/ bucket adapter
etc. etc. etc.

Basically stole it for $200.:D

With a little clean up and lube everything works like new. I've been loading with it for over a year now.

[StrikeEagle]

My RCBS Jr press is close to 35 years old. My Dillon 550B is 20.

This stuff is cast iron and just doesn't wear out beyond what you can fix easily with small, inexpensive parts. I would be perfectely comfortable buying used reloading gear too, pretty much.

[g56]

I have a Lyman Spartan press I got in the 1960's
I have a Lyman/Ohaus scale of the same vintage
I have a Redding powder measure of the same vintage
I have a RCBS Rock Chucker that was manufactured 1970 that I got in 1970
I have a Dillon RL550 that I bought in 1985

In a drawer I have some reloading tools that I inherited, they date (I believe) to the 1800's, I have no idea exactly what they are or how they are used, my Grandfather told me they are reloading tools.

RCBS Rock Chuckers have (or had) manufacturing dates stamped into the frame, see photo.
http://www.pbase.com/wingman26/image/46715815.jpg

[claimbuster]

I have a Pacific "C" press that is an upstroke model. I've used it for 40 years, my grandfather used it for 20 years before that. Originally it did not come with swap out shell holders, you changed the whole upstroke rod. This tool is still used for pistol ammo. Too small and flexible to size heavy rifle.

The PW375 is 31 years old and stands in a corner. It has been retired for several years now by a PW950.

[Gewehr98]

One of my Dillons is a divorce-sale 450 that I sent back to have upgraded to 550 configuration.

I use a Pacific (Hornady) 007 O-frame for case forming and BP powder compression.

A few months ago, I found this sweetheart of a C&H O-frame press, with linear 4-position shellholder. 8 shellholder plates were included in the deal, and it has since become my favorite for stuff like .45-70 BP loads, among others.

http://mauser98.com/chpressposition1.jpg

[MCgunner]

I inherited my grandpa’s old Pacific press, still use it. The only shell holder for it is for rifles on the .30-06 head size and it's not interchangable like the new stuff. It is the upstroke type press and it's sturdy to the max. It was bought back around the mid 1950 and will be here when the rest of the world isn’t. They built stuff to LAST back then. LOL My Lyman turret press is mid 70s vintage. My Dillon Square Deal is about 10 years old.

I still use an RCBS scale that was used with that Pacific press. I have dies that were used for that press. Only die I make use of that is mid 50ish is a Pacific die set for the .257 Roberts that I also inherited that was my grandpa’s gun.

[highlander 5]

I started with a lee basic kit(hammer brass in die) my buddy has a rock chucker thats at least 35 yrs old
me I had Dillon that started life as a 450 buoght not long after they went factory direct paid $170 upgraded to 550 had that for approximatly 25 yrs sold that and bought a 650 maybe 3yrs ago.
Reloading equipment will last damn near forever is treated with tlc. Dillon and RCBS will replace parts that break free of charge

[3rdpig]

My gear is from all over the map, age wise. I've got some stuff my Dad bought before I was born (I'm 49) or when I was very young, an old single stage CH "C" press, some Lyman dies and an old Bonanza scale. Then around 20 years ago we bought some new stuff, new dies, upgraded priming for the old CH press, a new RCBS scale, a Lyman Turbo 600 tumbler, a Forster case trimmer, and a host of small stuff. Then about 3 months ago I bought a bunch of new stuff again, a Loadmaster press, new dies, a Lee Pro 20-IV pot, 3 Lee molds, an RCBS hand priming tool.

I love the Loadmaster, but that old CH press still comes in handy for a lot of things, it's probably the one piece I own that will never die. They really built the old stuff to last.

[Cowboybootnut]

My RCBS Rockchucker, scales, and powder dropper are about 25-30 yrs old. The only equipment I have that is younger is my Dillon tumbler, about 15 years old. Some of my dies are 30+ years old.

[flutedchamber]

My old favorite RCBS Jr press is 44 years old and going strong. The rock chucker is 31, the Forster co-ax is 22 and the RCBS A4 is about 32 years old, the RCBS for the 50 BMG is six years old, and my two dillon 1050's are 21 and 4 years old .

[Ala Dan]

Most of my current handloading set-up was purchased new in 2000. It
includes an RCBS Rockchucker press. Prior to that, and some thirty odd
year's ago I loaded on an RCBS Jr.:uhoh: :D

[loadedround]

I also just gave away a Bair Grizzley press to a new reloader that I had purchased new in 1965. Press was mechanically like new after loading many thousands of pistol and rifle rounds on it. One of the best presses that I have ever had.:) l

[ozgood948]

I bought a Hollywood Jr. reloading press (new, but as an obsolete product) in 1965 for 5 bucks. It's still the strongest of several presses I own. At the same time I bought a set of Lachmiller dies in .303 Brit (hey, I was 18 and it was all I could afford). I also bought, and continue to use, an RCBS powder measure.

Since then, I've acquired an RCBS Rockchucker, a MEC 650, and a Spolar Gold. They're all good, but the Spolar is awesome. A thousand rounds an hour is a piece of cake!

Take care of your reloading gear, and your great-grandchildren will bless your memory.

[Geeko]

I bought: RCBS Green Machine - early 80's, RCBS BigMax - early 80's, RCBS Ammomaster Progressive - early 90's, P&W800 - late 70's

All fine equipment.

[revolverman357]

Mine is almost 1 year old. I might have a birthday party for it soon.

[rbwillnj]

I do all my reloading on Star machines, Stars were made from 1932 to 1993, and there were so few changes to them its almost impossible to tell how old one is, and they last forever. I think my oldest goes back to the mid sixties, but its though to tell, but I think they probably have another 50 years in them

[Scooter72]

About 5 months old. Just under 2000 rounds loaded. Dillon 550B, I love it!

[vicco27]

I started helping my dad reload when I was about ten, that would be in 1952. I still have some of his reloading things that were not new in 1952 . A couple of the things I still have are a nice hinged wooden shell holder for 270/30-06 shells, an old Pacific powder scale that has no dampening and will oscillate forever if you don't make it stop, a certified weight set and some funnels and drop tubes. I got rid of his old Lyman Tru Line JR press in 1975. I then bought a Lee Turret press an RCBS powder throw, trickler, and scale with dampening, a Wilson case trimmer and some other assorted things which I still have. I also have an old Texan 12 Ga shot shell reloading press that was made in the 60. I installed a Multi-scale Ltd micro adjustable charge bar in it in 1976. Though I like the old Lee Turret press I"m thinking of getting a Lyman T-Mag to replace it.


Paladin - Have gun will travel

[JimKirk]

I got the first of mine in 1969, A RCBS press and Mec 600 jr. Sold the press 1 yr later and got my Forster CoAx. Been adding accessaries, dies and molds ever since!

Jimmy K

[loadedround]

The beginning of this year Ihad given my buddy, a new reloader, a Bair "Grizzly" O-type press and several sets of "Bair Cub" dies. This press was purchased new in 1964 and had been in use until replaced by a newer Redding press. Bair Machine Co. has been out of business for over 40 years. :)

[ADKWOODSMAN]

My first press (1968), after almost going with Herter products, was an RCBS Jr. Since then I have added a Rock Chucker. My shotgun presses are all Mec. 12 ga. 700 Versamec, 20 ga. 600 Jr. , 28 ga. 600 Jr.

I have both the Lee and RCPS hand priming tool. Don't use them much. I prefer the RCBS bench mounted priming tool.

My powder measures are RCBS Uniflo and Little Dandy.

I have die sets RCBS, Redding, Lee speed dies, and Lyman.

Last year I purchased a Dillion square deal B, for .45 acp.--IPSC.

I still use single stage for SASS but may upgrade to another Dillon SDB.

My casting equipment has gathered much dust but may be put back into use with the current prices of bullets.

[rklessdriver]

I have a Lee Turret press and a Lee carbide .45ACP (3) die set that I have been re-loading with since 1996. I have cranked out thousands of .45ACP rounds with them over the years.

My first Lee Autodisk powder drop is about 9yrs old now. Still works perfectly... has never had anything other than the one plastic disk in it (set on .53 or .57 dropping 5.6gr or 6.1gr of 231 every time I pull the lever).

My Lee Safety Scale is the same age as I bought it and my first Autodisk together. Still accurate and still a PITA to get both the 9 and 0 to line up at the same time.... Been wanting to upgrade to something easier to use for... well since the first time I used it, but honestly as long as it keeps working, I'll probally keep cussing everytime I try to get it set perfect....

I have a set of RCBS .223 Rem dies that are 10yrs old and I have cranked out quite a few hundred hand loads with them.

A set of Lee 30-30 dies about 10yrs old and I have never used them but honestly I haven't shot my 30-30 since I bought them either.... might need to do something about that.

Last year I finally bought a Lee hand prime. *** was I doing -Why was I fooling around with priming brass on the press for so long....

Last year also I bought a new set of Lee 9mm dies and have cranked out over 3000rnds of 9mm to date. A new $8.00 turret head and Lee Autodisk powder thrower also accompanied them and is dedicated to doing only 9mm.

At the same time with brass getting so expensive I felt like I may want to start cleaning all the grungy range brass I'd started picking up at WMA's so I bought a Harbor Freight tumbler. I run it 2 hrs at a time and it has been doing a good job so far... the bucket hold down stud does require tightening occasionally but so far so good. We'll see how much longer it last.

3 months ago my new Lee .38spl dies arrived and they have cranked out a little over 500rnds to date. Again a new 3 hole turret and $20.00 Autodisk powder thrower is dedicated to loading only .38 spls.

I like my set up. I like the fact that for about $30.00 I can set up my pistol stuff with its own powder thrower and turret. Once it is set up I never have to fool with it again except to clean or change powders. Changining turret heads is a snap, 2 seconds and I'm ready to load something else.

Things I'm looking at upgrading/adding.

1. A better scale. I hate mine. It works and is plenty accurate but its hard to read and hard to slide the plastic thing back and forth over the numbers.
2. A powder trickler for rifle hand loading. It's a PITA to try and drop one granual/stick of IMR 4064 at a time out of a tiny little powder scoop on to that little powder pan my scale has to get the charge "perfect".
3. More bullets, primers and powder.

Best of luck to you. It's been a very rewarding hobby for me and I don't intend to ever stop.
Will

[esq_stu]

I acquired my press Pacific Tool and Die Model 0-7), scale, primer feeder, and most other hardware about 30 years ago (1979).

[Floppy_D]

1984 Dillon 450, and an RCBS RS2 that's probably older.

[ranger335v]

My original '65 purchase included a Lyman Spar-T press & a couple of die sets, Ohaus M5 scale, Redding Master measure, plus a Lyman load book, Flambeau funnel, and some plastic loading blocks. I've added a LOT more "stuff" since then but all of those original tools are still in my (5th) loading room, still working perfectly.