[Prof]

I have (finally) decided to take up reloading after 20+ years of shooting. :) However, I am overwhelmed by the number of types of presses and brands. I plan to reload rifle ammunition for the following calibers: .303 British, 6.5X55 Swedish, and .30 cal M1 Carbine. I'm not necessarily wanting something that produced hundreds of rounds an hour like the Dillons advertise. I am more of the slow, methodical type. Any suggestions will be welcome and appreciated!

[Grumulkin]

Reloading kits are available that have a simple press, scale, powder measure, etc. to get you started. You will also need dies for the cartridges you intend to reload and a reloading manual or two (be sure to read them). I bought an RCBS reloading kit years ago with a simple press that I still use for everything (I'm also methodical) but Lee's kits are probably fine as well (I have a number of Lee dies). My kit has served to load may different cartridges from .44 Remington Magnum to .458 Lott.

You need a reloading bench or table as well. I have a fairly simple metal table that I scewed to my basement floor via cement screws.

As far as where to get reloading supplies are concerned, your local sporting goods store may have them. You can also get them via mail order or over the internet. I buy a lot of stuff from www.midwayusa.com but there are many other sources you can go to for the best deals.

[dtalley]

I started with a $15 used Lee Challenger Press in 1989 for 2 different rifle calibers and 1 pistol caliber. Used it for about 3 years and had to put it in storage. Kind of got out of reloading all together until 2005. I pulled it out last summer knocked the cobwebs off of it and steelwooled some of the rust off of the handle, put a drop of oil on the ram and it is working great. I am now reloading 4 pistol calibers and 4 rifle calibers. Since I started Cowboy Action Shooting last summer I am reloading around 200 rounds a week in just 45LC not counting the others.

I guess What I am saying is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to reload. Believe it or not, I also find the single stage press relaxing.

Just my thoughts.

[Prof]

Thank you, both, for the quick replies. I'll check out the RCBS and Lee presses. From your comments, I am assuming that you can use one company's dies on another company's press? Or do you have to use one brand's equipment across the board?

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Maybe I'm butting in, but you might consult this guy.


http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=182945

[Father Knows Best]

Thank you, both, for the quick replies. I'll check out the RCBS and Lee presses. From your comments, I am assuming that you can use one company's dies on another company's press? Or do you have to use one brand's equipment across the board?

I second the RCBS recommendation. I'm not a big fan of Lee presses, but that's not to say that they won't work for you.

In general, presses are set up to take standard dies. I use Dillon and Redding presses, and my dies are from Lee, Lyman, Redding and RCBS, among others. About the only exception I know of is Dillon's "Square Deal B" pistol caliber press, which uses proprietary dies you have to buy from Dillon. Also, be advised that .50BMG dies use a different thread pitch and are too large for most standard presses, so if you decide to reload the "big fifty" you will need a specialized press for it.

[xtarheel]

I'm not a production guy either. I've used my RCBS Rock Chucker for the past 30 years and am very happy with it. Last count I had 24 sets of dies, about halk of them LEE. That would be my reccomendation RCBS press and LEE dies. And yes, you can mix and match manufacturers.

[Prof]

Thank you, gentlemen. I'll check out the RCBS press. Glad to know about the dies being interchangeable. Simplifies things a bit. :)

[caz223]

I'm not a big lee fan, but I've heard their classic cast press is as good or better than any RCBS press.
It just pains me to say that, but I've swept primers off the floor too many times, the LEE has a system that won't spill primers on your nice clean floor.
The classic cast and the new cast turret are the only lee presses I can recommend.

[Uncle Don]

I owned a Rockchucker in my life too and while I think it's a great press, for me, the Lee Classic Cast is the better value. It's got more clearance, a slightly thicker ram and it's the same cast iron and steel linkage. Additionally, it's got the primer catcher system and it's about half the price. I understand they were made from Railroad track material that had been "recycled". Based on that, I bought a Classic Turret and am just as happy with it now.

[The Bushmaster]

Prof...Make sure you have at least two load manuals...I would suggest that one of them be Lyman 48th edition... A turret press should fit you needs and a single stage for those odd projects and resizing/decapping those rifle cases...

[Prof]

Bushmaster: Thanks for the advice on the manuals. Is a turret press the same as a "progressive" press?

[The Bushmaster]

No...Everything you do on a turret press is manual except the indexing of the dies and that is done as you return the handle to its upright position...It's slower then a progressive press, but I prefer them over a progressive because I get to inspect the cases more often. And, I believe, have more control over the end product. I do all the procedures on a Lee turret except resizing/decapping, and I do that on a single stage press set up just for that purpose...I also prime my cases on the turret by removing the indexing shaft which turns the turret into a single stage press or manual indexing...

[Matt Dillon]

I have had several presses, but the big Lee Classic is a great press, will do 50BMG, and is available at a great price. I'm not affiliated with Lee, but do think that this press is the best bang for your buck, and if I were to recommend one press to a new reloader, it would be the Lee Classic.:)

[Schleprok62]

I'm just curious...

What's the big deal about a press being manufactured from recycled railroad track material?


I'm also looking into starting to reload...

[Uncle Don]

I'm just curious...

What's the big deal about a press being manufactured from recycled railroad track material?


I'm also looking into starting to reload...

Nothing really, I was just trying to make the point that this particular press is no lightweight.

[hoghunting]

I have used the RCBS rock chucker press for about 25 years and have been very pleased with it. If you are reloading for competition, I would definitely use a progressive press, otherwise a single stage or turret press should work very well for you. I like the Hornady dies because they have a floating bullet alignment tube that keeps the bullet from canting during the bullet-seating stage.
I also recommend using reloading data from the powder manufacturer because some of the loading I have used from different manuals far exceded the manufacturers loads. Hope this helps.

[P-32]

I have always thought it was best to buy once. I'm not counting up grades which I believe going to a progressive is. Sometimes you pay more at the begining, but it will last. Unless your are going to be shooting 1,000's of pistol rounds right off the bat, I highly recommend a good single stage press. This teaches you the basic's very well and it's harder to get a few hundred mistakes.

So, Prof, here it goes.

I own a piece of something from all the manf's. I started with and still use a RCBS "kit" I bought back in the early 80's. I will not own Lee dies however. (first and only set of Lee carbides was for 38/357 and felt like I was l sizing rocks. RCBS carbides= smooth) I hunt with a '06 and have a '06 M-1 Garand. (RCBS) I shoot High Power and have a tuned 308 M-1 Garand as well as a Top Shelf AR. I also have a couple of other rifles that I reload for which could be used for hunting at any minute, a 300 H&H (Hornaday) and a 30-30. (RCBS) I reload all of my pistol ammo using RCBS carbides, see above. I have found RCBS shell holders to be better than the cheaper Lee's.

So far a single stage has done it for me. There is some thought a strong "O" press builds more uniform rifle brass which is important to me. The match dies are mixed, with the 308 and 223 size dies being Hornaday match bushing dies, the seating dies being a match Redding for the 308 and the 223 being a match Forster.

I prime with a cheap pot hand held metal Lee auto prime 2 which has worked for me many years without failure. A little lube goes a long way.

I tumble in huge older Dillon tumbler which is close to being 20 years old. I can do 1200 9mm cases at a time. Most of the time though it more like a 100 308 or 223 cases at a time.

I weigh rifle power on a Lyman DPS 1200. If I was going to buy a elec powder throw today, I would get the new RCBS one. Not that the Lyman won't do a good job, because it does, but the RCBS is easier to clean and is just a little faster. The Lyman also takes 30 minutes to warm up which requires a small amount of planning is some cases.

I trim with a Forster hand cranked trimmer. Each match case is trimmed after sizing and only takes a few turns of the crank to get it done.

[darwin-t]

I understand they were made from Railroad track material that had been "recycled".

They were made of manganese?

That's what the switches and crossings are made of, I assumed the tracks were, too.

I have an ashtray I made out of manganese - while the boss was out of town when I worked in a foundry. It weighs 8 lbs, IIRC

[darwin-t]

Is a turret press the same as a "progressive" press?

A turret press does one operation each time you pull the lever. The dies rotate into position each time, too, so it takes 3 or 4 pulls of the lever to load a round.


A progressive does several things each time you pull the lever. It resizes/deprimes one round, fills another with powder, seats the bullet on another round, etc all at the same time. Each pull of the lever spits out a finished round. I don't know the details on exactly how this happens because I've never seen a progressive press. ;)

[CB900F]

Prof;

You might wish to haunt some pawn shops in your area that handle a lot of firearms. If you can find any of the better single stage presses, they're likely to be able to be had at bargain rates. RCBS Rockchucker or Jr., Redding, Lyman, anything that takes the standard 7/8" thread dies. Lee's hand held primer seater is a beaut, actually easier to use than trying to seat primers on the press.

Then look & see if some of the other necessities might be there also. You might be able to build your own package deal with the shop, doesn't hurt to try. A scale that I haven't seen mentioned above is Ohaus. They are the people who make a lot of scales that carry other brands. If you see one in good shape, get it. However, with any used scale get a set of check weights & use them, that's important.

Good luck & happy reloading!

900F

[vzwnnj]

I've got a Dillon 550 that I use for 45acp, but for .223 rem, I use a Lee Classic Cast press. I bought it for the price I would pay for setting up the Dillon for 223 and I don't need the volume to justify it..I looked at the RCBS, but it was twice the price of the Lee.

The decapping setup is excellent with rarely a dropped primer and while slower, I can prime some types of 45acp brass that choke up the Dillon setup. It's a good machine

[Prof]

Thanks, again, everyone for the great information! :)

[BigJakeJ1s]

They were made of manganese?

That's what the switches and crossings are made of, I assumed the tracks were, too.

I have an ashtray I made out of manganese - while the boss was out of town when I worked in a foundry. It weighs 8 lbs, IIRC

Railroad rail is made of steel. Thus the Lee Classic Cast press is cast steel/iron. I think they make a big deal out of that because their other presses are pot metal (other than the new Classic Turret press), and have a reputation of not holding up too well. OTOH, there are some users who swear by them...

Andy

[darwin-t]

there are some users who swear by them...

Andy

By or at, huh? I'm a "swear by" guy.

[Zen21Tao]

(this was a reply I posted on another thread but feel is relevant and possible helpful here too)


I just started reloading about a month ago so perhaps my newbie experience might be of some help. I began by reading The ABCs of Reloading, a few web sites, and Hodgdon’s Reloading magazine. I would recommend reading on the ins and outs of reloading quite a bit before trying to start reloading.

The press setup I ended up going with was the Lee Turret kit from Midway USA (I love buying from them because they given me great customer service. But I have also dealt with Natchez and find them great to work with as well). Initially I wanted a Dillon 550 but I felt that a progressive press might offer too many opportunities for a newbie such as me to make mistakes. Plus, the Dillon was a lot more money for the press and requires a separate conversion kit for each die set used. So far I find the Lee Turret to be a great press. It does everything for me that I need at this point in my reloading. I especially like how easy it is to go from one caliber turret to another. Just pull down the lever to rotate the turret a little bit and lift up, it will pop right out and another one just pops right in. One added benefit of a turret is that by simply disabling the auto indexing you it can also be used as a single stage press as well.