My major interest, when I decided to get back into reloading after 50 years of being away from it, was Redding's T-7 turret press so I got that and decided to get Redding dies for .38/.357, .44 Special, and .45ACP. I also have Redding's pistol powder measure.
Co-AX press, C&H Press, RCBS trimmer, Hornady Auto Charge Powder Dispenser and bullet puller, and case prep station. Dies from C&H, Lyman, RCBS, Hornady, Lee, Forster, and Redding. No brand loyalty. Try to find what works best and get me one. Forgot to add, I also have one Dillon Super Swage.
I am a frog of many many different colors/brands and do not want to waste the bandwidth/time to list it all. Been reloading on my own off and on since 1970 or so. Most of what I have has been purchased used over time with an end goal to reload all firearms I own. Found out early that most things reloading are fair to great quality. I will follow that statement that things made today do not seem to have the same quality control as past items reloading related just like all merchandise. I have had some things that are not as precise/easily used as I need so then purchased a different item to try. Usually gave away or sold what I felt was not for me with the reason to the person receiving item. These days I usually purchase from estate sales in lots. I then remove items of interest and resell the balance at fair prices or give it away to new reloaders. Sometimes I will end up with a set of dies and a bag of brass of a different caliber than what I use, then find a firearm to use them with.
Almost everything I use is Lee, except my two presses. One is a Redding Boss while the other is a C4H 444 press. I have rarely been disappointed with Lee products, and have been loading over 10k rounds a year for 5 years now.
I have always used Lee equipment, for the most part. There are a few things like inertia puller, dial calipers, digital scale, trays, and such, that I bought other brands. The main gear, though, like press and dies, have always been Lee. Been working well for me since 1990.
Presses: Lee "Deluxe" 3 hole turret, Hornady LNL progressive
Dies: Hornady, Lee (most of them are Lee), RCBS
Scale: RBCS 5-0-5, Frankford DS750 Digital, GEM 20 Digital
Measures: Lee Pro Disk, Lee Disk, Lee Perfect Powder measure, Hornady measure
Tumbler: Frankford vibe type
Misc: brand odds and ends
I use Lee products but that is not written in stone. My criteria for loading equipment is, if it works well and goes for a good price I will go with it regardless of the brand. The way it has played out is that Lee products have fit that criteria more than not.
Mostly lee but not because I'm a fanboy. I'm relatively green at reloading and it hasn't let me down so no reason to stray (yet). Have a single stage and turret press along with dies from them. Also have a few things, tumbler, caliper, and bullet puller from Frankfort Arsenal.
Nothing like a CO-AX. I think most own a lot of equipment from all different manufacturers. I think there is a lot of stuff that is still made pretty good.
People have different needs, values and situations - financial, logistical, etc... I use what works best for me and suspect you'll use what works best for you.
I don't mind being judged, but prefer to be judged by my downrange targets and not the color/brand of my press.
It happens to be a Lee Challenger press with RCBS dies though. I'm not in a rush and enjoy the processes surrounding a single stage.
Have the typical vintage Rockchucker but have upgraded overtime to add the Forster Co-Ax and the Hornady LNL AP. Have converted mainly to Redding for pistol dies and Forster for Rifle dies. But I have inventory of many different brand dies over 40+ years. Still have the old Lyman 310 tool that I started with.
Presses, powder measures and dies are all RCBS and Dillon. I have a few things from other companies like Redding and Corbin. Tumbler, loading blocks and cartridges boxes are mostly Midway/Frankford.
I use RCBS for my main press, powder throw, and rifle dies. I use Lee on a few other products such as hand primer, zip trim, and pistol dies. The rest is misc. brands.
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