Starting over, looking for suggestions.

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mshootnit

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We moved and all my reloading stuff is in boxes, my son and I just built a bench today.
So I am at an ideal point to change it up if there is something better. I am just a hobby single stage press guy. I measure my throats, look up a recipe and make about 150- 200 hunting rounds a year for hunting rifles. I shoot for sub moa performance from my hunting rifles. I don't volume reload, nor do I reload for competition.
Now that you know what kind of reloader I am, here is what I have. I use Redding Big Boss with their primer auto feed system which is OK. Good enough press you think? Seems to work for me. I might buy a Forster coax. I really like a press with the primer feed so you seat primers while the case is on the ram during sizing.

Powder: I have an old Lyman digital dispenser but I have gone back to the manual Hornady powder dispenser and a beam scale. Upgrades?

Case Prep: I would really like suggestion on case prep. Like a power trimmer, and prep center. I just have a hand crank trimmer and slow little power debur/chamfer unit, and this is my least favorite part of reloading. I would REALLY like to speed up case prep.

Any suggestions appreciated!
 
mshootnit said:
We moved and all my reloading stuff is in boxes, my son and I just built a bench today.
So I am at an ideal point to change it up if there is something better. I am just a hobby single stage press guy. I measure my throats, look up a recipe and make about 150- 200 hunting rounds a year for hunting rifles. I shoot for sub moa performance from my hunting rifles. I don't volume reload, nor do I reload for competition.
Now that you know what kind of reloader I am, here is what I have. I use Redding Big Boss with their primer auto feed system which is OK. Good enough press you think? Seems to work for me. I might buy a Forster coax. I really like a press with the primer feed so you seat primers while the case is on the ram during sizing.

Powder: I have an old Lyman digital dispenser but I have gone back to the manual Hornady powder dispenser and a beam scale. Upgrades?

Case Prep: I would really like suggestion on case prep. Like a power trimmer, and prep center. I just have a hand crank trimmer and slow little power debur/chamfer unit, and this is my least favorite part of reloading. I would REALLY like to speed up case prep.

Any suggestions appreciated!
Click to expand...
I have the Lyman powered case trimmer and it's the right place to be if you want speed but don't want to go all in for the Giraud.
A different option if you only load one case for hunting is a dedicated trimmer that uses mill bits. You can run them in a drill or drill press.
 
I have a Lyman hand crank trimmer that I am not all that happy with. I am looking for a better trimmer myself. I have no experience with a Hornady dispenser but own a Redding 30 BR, a Lyman, and (2) Harrel's powder dispenser. The Lyman dispenser is the worst of the bunch, the Redding considerably better, and the Harrell's are the best. Also using a RCBS 10-10 beam. I am where I want to be on powder measuring. My shooting habits mirror yours.
 
mshootnit said:
We moved and all my reloading stuff is in boxes, my son and I just built a bench today.
So I am at an ideal point to change it up if there is something better. I am just a hobby single stage press guy. I measure my throats, look up a recipe and make about 150- 200 hunting rounds a year for hunting rifles. I shoot for sub moa performance from my hunting rifles. I don't volume reload, nor do I reload for competition.
Now that you know what kind of reloader I am, here is what I have. I use Redding Big Boss with their primer auto feed system which is OK. Good enough press you think? Seems to work for me. I might buy a Forster coax. I really like a press with the primer feed so you seat primers while the case is on the ram during sizing.

Powder: I have an old Lyman digital dispenser but I have gone back to the manual Hornady powder dispenser and a beam scale. Upgrades?

Case Prep: I would really like suggestion on case prep. Like a power trimmer, and prep center. I just have a hand crank trimmer and slow little power debur/chamfer unit, and this is my least favorite part of reloading. I would REALLY like to speed up case prep.

Any suggestions appreciated!
Click to expand...
An RCBS Chargemaster is a great investment in my humble opinion! It's pretty darn accurate and way better than our Lyman scale we used to have... Just punch in the weight of powder you want and fill the hopper with the powder and your good for a while. I think it will technically hold more than a pound of powder but I'm not loading 50BMG so I don't fill it more than 1/3 of the capacity usually.
 
270OKIE said:
An RCBS Chargemaster is a great investment in my humble opinion! It's pretty darn accurate and way better than our Lyman scale we used to have... Just punch in the weight of powder you want and fill the hopper with the powder and your good for a while. I think it will technically hold more than a pound of powder but I'm not loading 50BMG so I don't fill it more than 1/3 of the capacity usually.
Click to expand...
For pistol I don't even install the plastic column
 
AJC1 said:
For pistol I don't even install the plastic column
Click to expand...
Yeah I like keeping it on myself but that is a good point, you really don't need much in the hopper for most of your handgun calibers... Especially if you are just doing a 50rd box for testing.
 
270OKIE said:
An RCBS Chargemaster is a great investment in my humble opinion! It's pretty darn accurate and way better than our Lyman scale we used to have... Just punch in the weight of powder you want and fill the hopper with the powder and your good for a while. I think it will technically hold more than a pound of powder but I'm not loading 50BMG so I don't fill it more than 1/3 of the capacity usually.
Click to expand...
Is the chargemaster the best in the price range?
 
For case prep I would look at the Franklin Arsenal case prep center.

It’s under $200. It has everything; trimmer, reamer, chamfer, primer pocket reamer.

Definately not the best but arguably the best value. It’ll do anything from .20 caliber to .50 caliber.
 
I agree with frogfurr, I think you are using the most accurate method right now, with a manual measure and a beam scale. If you go electronic you will still have to verify with the beam scale every once in a while.

I'm in somewhat the same position as you, as I load similar amounts for seven different rifle calibers. I do it all on a single stage, except for the pistol cartridges. I would stay with the press that you have.

For case prep, I use a RCBS electronic case prep center. I'm not saying that it is the best, but it works real well for me. If I were you this is where I would upgrade.
 
mshootnit said:
Is the chargemaster the best in the price range?
Click to expand...
It's 400 bucks so Idk if that's in your budget but it does make it way easier to weigh your powder... Now as far as price to performance, I honestly couldn't tell you... We just decided to spend the money on it and we haven't had much trouble with it. Now it is a computer so sometimes it gets tripped out and you will have to occasionally re run your powder a couple times to double check the weight is right but it's usually at the beginning when we have to do that.
 
rocirish said:
I agree with frogfurr, I think you are using the most accurate method right now, with a manual measure and a beam scale. If you go electronic you will still have to verify with the beam scale
Click to expand...
Respectfully disagree. All measurements are verified and certified with standards. Reloading standards for weight are about 35 dollars and I encourage people get some. A ground gage pin is 5 ish dollars are cheap and I encourage those a as well. A smart cookie will get a pin that could also used to measure a revolver cylinder if those are had.
 
You are at the mercy of the electronic measuring device. Depending on it's mood. IE, if you have fluorescent lights , low battery, or if there is a sunburst. I do have check weights. It's not what could happen when I first check the electronic scale with check weights or when I last check the electronic scale it's what is in between that concerns me. No drama with a beam scale.
 
Gravity and no batteies or power to fail. A beam scale has worked since weighing anything became important LOL. I am good with going a bit slower, using a volumetric dispenser, trickler, and weighing it on a beam. So far in 40 + years of reloading no squibs or kabooms. I like those odds. I know the progressive guys will probably flame me to heck but I am what I am and probably will not change after all these years. Old dog and all that, LOL.
 
Your Redding press is perfectly adequate. Buy a Co-Ax if you want but I personally don't see it as an improvement. I do like my RCBS ChargeMaster and highly recommend them. I use a cordless drill for my case prep and mostly tools from K&M or Sinclair. A friend has an RCBS case prep center that works well. For case trimming I use a Giraud bench model for high volume stuff and a Wilson lathe type trimmer for the lower volume stuff. It has all of the upgrades and bells&whistles that Sinclair offers for it.
 
Most brands of trimming lathe have adapters available so you can use a variable speed drill with it. Or going whole hog and getting a prep center may be an option for you. Several have sung the praises of the Frankfort Arsenal prep center for its modest cost. Note I don't have a prep center just a RCBS lathe trimmer and various Lee trimmer sets that I use in my drill press.
 
I have but seldom use the Lyman case trimmer. I have and most often use a small Sheridan jeweler lathe for case modifications and recutting caliber changes. For just trimming hunting brass I almost always use the Lee case length trimmers with either the ball fitting hand cutter or the holder and trimmer mounted in the drill press. If it’s my brass (typically is) and I keep up with the task as I shoot (typically do) then I’m only trimming four or five cases per season. I can do that many in the drive through waiting for my burger after missing the beautiful buck I saw. :oops:
 
I use a Forster power trimmer. The device uses a drill press and the case is held in place like a collet bullet puller. I like it best for trimming a sizeable quantity of resized 30-06 brass for my Arisaka or pistol brass.
 
Your current gear sounds very capable. For case trimming I use a Dillon power trimmer. I don't think it is the right trimmer for you though.

I am a big fan of my RCBS case prep center. It makes case prep very fast with repeatable results. From your description I would suggest you check one out... Or something similar.
 
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