[GSPKurt]

Hi, All-
Newb here. :neener: I have done a lot of shotshell reloading in the past and have just been given an RCBS JR3 press. No die that I know of, but I'll keep looking, and a bunch of .223 brass. No manual. I would like to reload .44 Mag pistol and 30-30 and .300 Win Mag rifle. Will this press be sufficient to start out with? Is it any good? What else do I need? I have a digital caliper and a micrometer. ALL input is encouraged and appreciated.

[lee n. field]

Sufficent to start with? Yes.

Any good? Yes.

What else do you need?

scale
powder measure
die set
trimmer (in my experience, .223 quickly goes overlength)
loading blocks
reloading manual w/ load data.
shell holders
spray lube or lube pad
priming arm, ram prime die or hand held priming tool
powder funnel

[SASS#23149]

You almost never need to trim it,and if you buy carbide dies no need to lube it.It doesn't get much simpler than 'straight walled' ammo reloading.
For mild loads the new Trail Boss powder is a good one to start with.It's so fluffy you 'almost' can't double charge it.You do NOT want to double charge any ammo of course.It's a tad spendy compared to some but it's still a good one to start with .
I reccomend fourdies for pistol reloading,meaning a seperate one for crimping the bullet.When you seat and crimp on the same die it can shave lead or jacket material off and gum up the die .And DEFINATELY carbide for pistol ammo.
For rifle ammo you MUST lube the case as they will jam in the die tightly if not.
Welcome to the board,and ask questions until your fingers fall off.:evil:

[Ol` Joe]

I am still loading ammo on RCBS Jr my dad bought in the early/mid 60s` You have a good start as far as a single stage press goes. The window "MAY" be a bit small when loading mag cartridges but it can be done. The bullet seating operation will be a bit cramped.
The press comes, or at least mine did, with a primeing arm. The hand held primeing tools are a better way to go but the press will prime for you if you are trying to save a couple $$ for the moment.
You will need to start

-Scales

-Dies: I prefere carbide for straight walled cases and RCBS, Forster, or Redding for bottle neck.

-Shell holder: should match the brand of dies

-Lube and pad

-Caliper: to measure cases and cartridge COL

-Some way to dip or throw powder

-Funnel

-Loading block

-case trimmer: when you start loading bottle neck cartridges this is a must. Straight walled cases will "usually" require very little trimming.

-A recent edition manual: as many as you can afford isn`t too many to use for cross referance

- A log book: it`s a very good idea to log your loads and results for future reference. Believe me you won`t remember what you loaded today when you want to copy it next fall.

You`ll find other tools you "need" as time goes by but this should get you going.

[GSPKurt]

Thank you for the replies.
Can I use dies other than RCBS in it? Yes, it has a priming arm.
I think if I buy something for reloading, I will try and buy the best/nicest so I only have to buy once (Ex.- get a digital scale instead of a beam scale). Make sense to y'all?:scrutiny:

[Ol` Joe]

Lyman, RCBS, Redding, Forster, Lee, Hornady, they all will work for dies in your press. The thread is a std size within the major manufactures.

I agree with getting good equipment, however a beam scale is likely as high or higher in quality then a EQUALLY priced digital. The accuracy of both types is the same, 0.10 gr. I have both and perfere to use the beam for powder charges. When loading I don`t care if my charge wgts 4.5grs or 88.2 gr if my load data calls for 9.6gr. The digital will tell me the exact charge wgt yes, but I only need to know if the charge is right or wrong, "yes or no". Anything else is fluff. The digital is great for weighting bullets, cases, ect when you want to know a exact weight. To verify a wgt a simple beam works just as well.
There is a mountain of postings here on the pro and cons of these two scales. I would run a search and read before making up my mind.

Now I`ll duck while the digital boys have at me.................:neener:

[GSPKurt]

The digital will tell me the exact charge wgt yes, but I only need to know if the charge is right or wrong, "yes or no".

That makes a lot of sense.

Will any shell holder work with the RCBS?

I opened the boxes of what I thought were .223 brass- wrong. There are probably 2k or more .38 's in there, but no dies.

Anybody need a BUNCH of .38 brass? :scrutiny: Maybe trade for something? A scale? I need pretty much everything right now.

[skunkum]

The info you need about your press can be found on the RCBS web site. The following link is to their parts book:

http://www.rcbs.com/equipment/Parts_Book.pdf

Right there on page one of the RCBS Parts Book, it shows an RCBS Reloader Special Press & Junior-3 Press, saying that they are exactly the same press. All of the parts are labeled.

Now that you know that your press is the same as the Reloader Special Press, download the instruction manual:

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/Reloader_Special_Press_Instructions.pdf

Good luck! I think you are going to be happy with this press! (Until you decide a progressive Dillon is in the cards). Even then, hang on to the RCBS- there are some things you just can't do using a Dillon!