Please HELP me choose the right beginner press...

I think the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press is the perfect press for what you want to do. I have one and load for the 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 45 Auto, the 30-06 and a few others.

Kempf has a better kit than Cablea's does and at a lower price. You can add additional Die sets at a good price too. I suggest you upgrade to the Large/Small Safety Primer and the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure.

I'd go RCBS Master kit, myself, but sometimes we can't afford what we want. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=140616&t=11082005 This one is a bit cheaper, and lacks a powder measure, so you're measuring each by hand, or you buy a cheap one for now, like a Lee Perfect Powder Measure, for about $20.
I got my setup peice by peice.
Don't forget a tumbler, they can be found for $40 or so, and about $10 for media.

+1 on what ArchAngelCD said.

I've had mine for a year and load 9mm, 45 auto and .223. I never loaded before and had no problem learning how to on this press. What really helped me was having, "The ABC's of Reloading, the Speer manual, the Lee manual, the Hornady manual and the vast knowledge I gleaned from the folks on THR through several months of lurking and searching. I got all of my equipment from Cabela's and Midway but I think Kempf would have saved me money and I heard their support is great.

Edit: I just noticed you're from Indiana. Kempf is an Indiana company (michigan City, Indiana) so taxes will be added to your order. If they are local to you, though, it would be worth it.

Kempf Classic Turret kit

I started with the Lee Classic kit and it worked fine for me. The turret would have been faster but all my 308 gets measured and that slows me down any ways.

Without question the Lee classic turret. It will be much faster for loading pistol. It has great linkage and is a very strong press. The dies will stay setup in a turret and you won't have to unscrew a die and screw in a new one many times to complete a round. I have a classic turret and load 9mm, 38/357, 45 auto and 223. The classic will load the calibers you listed no problem. And I also believe Kempf has the better deal. If you go with them make sure you upgrade to the pro auto disk and the Lg & Sm safety prime. I think it's under $20 for both.
Rusty

don't forget extra turreets so that all your dies stay adjusted and ready to use.
Dial calipers are pretty necessary..I prefer them to battery operated ones...no dead batteries to fight with.

and a kinetic bullet puller for those 'ooops' loads....oh yes,they WILL happen,....or so I"ve heard.

That deal from Kempf's looks great for your purposes,btw.
..oh,don't forget case lube for your rifle rounds..a MUST.

LEE ANNIVERSARY KIT
today i went with a chap who was using some federal powershok 100 gr rounds through his winchester xcr varmint 243. at 100 yards my group was nearly 2 inches!! using some loads made with just an anniversary kit and dies my rounds produced a cloverleaf. i was chuffed to bits. i would like some new kit but really the anniversary kit is perfectly sufficient.

steve

Nothing worng with the Lee cast press.

Hell, I use the aluminum Challenger for most of my stuff, and I have no complaints. My ammo is much more accurate than factory and always goes bang.

Second on Lee

The Lee Classic 4 turret is the way to go. I like to prime separately using the Lee hand Primer. Someone suggested the Auto-Disk. This works well with the Lee Turret. If you're measuring large charges you may need the double disk kit.

Fourbits

Those kits are nice, but they leave out all the little things that you'll also end up needing such as:

- Calipers so you can measure the overall length of your load cases. You need this to check the setting of your bullet seating die. Seat a bullet in too far and you can have overpressure.
- Lee Double Disk kit for the Lee powder measure. You may need this to get enough powder into the .308 cases for many of the loads.
- Bullet puller so you can take apart your mistakes or disassemble loaded ammo that lost it's labels or is of an unknown load.
- Reloading trays for keeping your shells upright and organized. If you decide on a single stage press you'll want two of these.
- Case trimming tools because the brass cases can stretch out when fired. If they get too long you'll need to trim them back. This is more of a case with rifle brass than pistol. Also, if you buy new brass it usually always needs trimmed.
- Reloading guides and manuals.

Another problem with the Lee kits is that you'll probably find yourself wanting a much better scale very soon afterward. I found the Lee Safety Scale to be very difficult to read, something I would rather not deal with when measuring powders to the tenth of a grain. I bought a RCBS 502 scale instead and have been quite pleased with it. The Kempf kit may be better in this regard since they include a digital scale, but my experience with cheap digital scales was not very positive. I ordered a cheap Frankford Arsenal digital when I got started, and returned it for the RCBS 502 soon after because the readings would drift.

With that, I think you'll need to extend your budget and/or consider a single stage press instead of a turret. Since you want to reload for three different calibers you're looking at three sets of dies, so you're looking at roughly $80-90 right there.

FWIW, I took the liberty of putting together a kit that would cover everything above and keep you as close to your $300 budget as I could. The prices are all off of Midway USA's web site, simply because I'm most familiar with their site and I knew they would have a listing for everything:


Lee Reloader single stage press 24.49
Lee Pro Auto Disk powder measure 33.99
Lee Double Disk kit 10.99
Lee Ram Prime 8.99
RCBS 502 scale 58.99
Hornady 50rd universal reloading trays 4.99/ea
RCBS primer turning tray 5.49
Lyman dial caliper 27.99
Lee case trimmer w/ball grip 4.99
Lee case length gauge w/shellholder 3.99/ea
Lee chamfer tool 2.79
Lee primer pocket cleaner 2.09
Lee Zip Trim 15.99
Hornady Cam-Lock bullet puller 20.49
Collets for Hornady bullet puller 7.99/ea

All of the above with two reloading trays, three case gauges, and three bullet puller collets comes to $263.20 before S&H and without die sets. If you're not comfortable with using the Lee Reloader press for .308 you can upgrade to the Lee Challenger Breech Lock press for about $20 more excluding extra breech lock bushings (three are included).

For setting up a similar kit with a turret press:

Kempf Lee Classic Turret kit 149.95
Upgrade to Pro Auto Disk 11.95
Lee Double Disk kit 10.99
RCBS 502 scale 58.99
Hornady 50rd universal reloading tray 4.99
RCBS primer turning tray 5.49
Lyman dial caliper 27.99
Lee case trimmer w/ball grip 4.99
Lee case length gauge w/shellholder 3.99
Lee chamfer tool 2.79
Lee primer pocket cleaner 2.09
Lee Zip Trim 15.99
Hornady Cam-Lock bullet puller 20.49
Collets for Hornady bullet puller 7.99/ea

You're looking at $352.64 before S&H for the above, and since the Kempf kit includes a set of dies you're only looking at another $50-60 or so for dies and turrets to cover your other two calibers.

I hope this was helpful.

GB good list, this is just my opinion on how I reload.

Kempf Lee Classic Turret kit 149.95 Great kit
Upgrade to Pro Auto Disk 11.95and also Lg and Sm safety prime
Lee Double Disk kit 10.99Yes
RCBS 502 scale 58.99The Lee scale is very accurate but not user friendly.
Hornady 50rd universal reloading tray 4.99I don't use these because after my case prep is done I load them with the auto indexing feature.
RCBS primer turning tray 5.49Won't need this because you have the safety prime.
Lyman dial caliper 27.99Caliper is a must.
Lee case trimmer w/ball grip 4.99Yes
Lee case length gauge w/shellholder 3.99Yes
Lee chamfer tool 2.79Yes
Lee primer pocket cleaner 2.09Yes
Lee Zip Trim 15.99If you have a battery drill it works better.
Hornady Cam-Lock bullet puller 20.49I like the RCBS hammer type puller. Use the shell holder instead of collets.
Collets for Hornady bullet puller 7.99/eaWouldn't be needed.

Rusty

you can save a little on the above, by buying the cabelas case prep kit, buy a cheaper rcbs 130 scales(less then $40) forget the lee zip trimmer, use the saving to buy the frankfort arsenel tumbler set(includes rotory sifter, media and polish) from midway($60)

Hey DML,

I am going to go against the grain a little bit on this. Like many others have noted, there is no end to the "extra" things you will need and want to acquire as you go along, and none of the kits will have it all. With that in mind, I would go against the idea of buying a new press in loading kit. I would suggest you buy a very good used single stage machine from E-Bay, the news paper, your gun club whatever. You can buy a used RCBS Rock Chucker on E-Bay for $100 or less, and I don't care how old it is, it will last forever and still be under warranty with the manufacturer. You can really learn the basics of reloading on a single stage press and make the finest ammunition. If somewhere down the road you think you may want to get a progressive reloader, that is just fine, but it does not mean that you would have to sell your single stage press. As a matter of fact, I would suggest that most people who started with a single stage press and the bought a progressive press found they still have a use and a need for their single stage press even though they have a progressive. Many of those who start with a progressive press never have an understanding nor an appreciation for the utility of a really good single stage press.

Also, I am not saying that RCBS is the only single stage press to have. I only mention the RCBS Rock Chucker because it has been around since the mid 1960s, there are so many of them around they are constantly for sale, and they are a very strong press which will last forever - or at least as long as RCBS is open for business. This is also true of other single stage press makers.

You could also buy an RCBS Jr. or a Lyman Orange Crusher for something less than $50, and then you would have even more extra dollars for other reloading needs. As a matter of fact, you could buy all used equipment on E-Bay for a fair amount less than you would pay for new stuff.

Just something to consider - not necessarily the best thing for everyone.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

Lots of good ideas here.

Rusty, you're right about not needing the loading tray with a turret press. I was thinking along the lines of a single stage workflow. I think you're also right about a basic inertial puller being fine in place of the Cam-Lock. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the crimp he'll be putting on .45 ACP, .223, and .308 will be too tight for an inertial puller. I went with the Cam-Lock because an inertial puller doesn't do squat for pulling bullets out of .357 Mag rounds. The tighter crimp needed to keep the bullets from pulling themselves inside the cylinder under recoil kind of defeats that. You're idea of a electric drill or screwdriver in place of the Zip Trim is good too. On the Safety Prime, I left that off the list to save the extra $21.

Kennedy, a good suggestion on the RCBS 130 scale. Just to mention the point I suggested the 502 because the extra weighing capacity would be handy if he wants to weigh assembled rounds.

Like I said, lots of good points being made.

I began on the RCBS rockchucker.... I recommend it because you learn step by step how to make your own ammo..... progressive presses are too complex for the beginner...other brands will be just fine also...but start with a simple one step at a time press.....

I began on the RCBS rockchucker.... I recommend it because you learn step by step how to make your own ammo..... progressive presses are too complex for the beginner...other brands will be just fine also...but start with a simple one step at a time press.....

Click to expand...

Flash!,
I'm sorry but I can't agree with you. DML2007 will be reloading .40 S&W pistol rounds and it will take forever on a single stage press. The Lee Classic Turret press had a removable auto-index rod so he can start out using the press as a single stage and move up to the faster process by using the auto-index feature later on. He could even load his rifle rounds without the auto-index feature all the time if he wishes. I just find it painfully slow to reload handgun rounds or high volume rifle rounds like the .223 on a single stage press.

Hey folks,

Regarding ArchAngel's response to flash, his response is reflective of what I meant about many folks who start with a progressive press never have an understanding nor an appreciation for the utility of a really good single stage press. I may be wrong about ArchAngel, but I suspect he is one of those folk who jumped right in with a progressive model and are only concerned with how many bullets he can make in an hour.

ArchAngel states, "I just find it painfully slow to reload handgun rounds or high volume rifle rounds like the .223 on a single stage press." I would submit that reloading is not about pain; it is an interesting and relaxing pastime that should be enjoyed, not looked at as drudgery to go through just so you can blast thousands of rounds away on a Saturday.

The person who started the thread, Dave, says he is a beginner and would like to start with a .40 pistol round and the .223 and .308 rifle rounds. He did not say he was blasting thousands of rounds on the weekend, and he also indicated he was concerned about his budget. Most folks I know in the reloading practice started the same way; they were concerned about saving pennies and started with a single stage press. This gave them valuable experience over the years before they had some additional funds available to buy a progressive press. Like most others in my generation, I kept my single stage press when I bought my progressive press (Hornady L&L) many years ago.

I shoot hand gun calibers as well as semi auto rifle calibers, and I do use my progressive press when I have a large batch to do, but I do not blast thousands of rounds on any weekend (very few people do, actually). I also find I have many small batches of rounds to load for testing purposes, and this work I do on one or more of my single stage presses. If all I had was a progressive press, this would not be as convenient as it is with having a single stage press. ArchAngel recommends using the Lee Classic Turret press in a single stage mode by stopping the auto index, and I would submit that this is not anywhere near the same as having a single stage press. I know others say they can reload single stage on their Dillons or Hornadys, and I would again submit this is not the same as the convenience of having a good solid single stage press to use instead of the progressives.

I like having my progressive press and find it to be extremely useful. But I also like and need my single stage press which is also extremely useful. Those who suggest starting with a progressive press are missing out on a very valuable tool as well as a very valuable learning experience. If all you care about is how many rounds you can load in an hour, why by a cheap Lee, Dillon, or Hornady progressive? Why not just go to a commercial machine that doesn't even have a handle to pull?

As far as pistol rounds and "high volume" rounds as mentioned by ArchAngel, I know a lot of folks who loaded these rounds for many years on single stage presses and did quite well. I also know some folks who still use old Lyman 310 Nutcracker hand tools and are quite satisfied and content. I like them all and reject none. They all have advantages.

The single stage press, however, has the advantage of being a fairly inexpensive way to get started making precision ammunition at home, and that is what the original thread starter was asking about. Progressive presses are not inexpensive in any way. In fact, the Lyman 310 tool is more expensive if you are going to load for a half dozen calibers - but it does have its own unique character.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

I agree with David, which is why I made the first list be for a single stage kit.

I think you can get a better understanding of the whole process when starting on a single stage press because you're completely involved in each step. Also, when you move up to a turret or progressive you'll have the single stage around for odd jobs or for rounds that might just be easier to reload on the single stage. Jobs like depriming and resizing a bunch of brass or loading a small batch of something other than what the bigger press is set up for.

For easier set up on a budget you can use die locking rings on whatever brand of bullet seating and crimp dies you choose. Then you can set these dies where you need them and not have to reset them each time you install them on the press. The dies for decapping, resizing, and expanding tend not have a very critical set up, so you can forgo locking rings for these.

I can load pistol ammo at what I consider a reasonable pace on a single stage press. Of course, one man's reasonable is another's 'stop' mode.

I did 60 rounds in an hour and 20 minutes last night, and that was for sizing, trimming, deburring, seating the primers, expanding, charging, and bullet seating. I'm not a speed demon by any means, so to me, that's pretty good.

When I decided to get into reloading, I bought the RCBS Rockchucker Master Kit and couldn't be happier with it. I wanted a kit that had all the basic equipment and a good manual, and several people I talked to said they'd been using the Rockchucker for decades. That thing is built like a tank, very rugged.

I think a good single stage kit like the Rockchucker would give you a good solid introduction to the techniques and concepts in reloading.

+1 on what my friend armoredman said~!

The RCBS Master Reloading Kit with the "Rockchucker Press" is awfully
hard too beat. I started out, back in the early '70's with an RCBS "Jr,"-
then graduated up to the "Rockchucker" and have NEVER looked back.
This single stage tool allows me too inspect each cartridge, from all
stages of handloading. "I would rather fight than switch" ~!

I agree with ArchAngelCD. I don't see any reason to buy a single stage press and then need to buy another press in a few weeks so you can load pistol faster, and no I'm not one of those that loads for speed. With the Lee classic turret you have a single stage press and a semi-progressive all in one. So why can't you start loading single stage on the classic turret? I started with the classic turret and started that way. If I had started with a single stage press I would have been buying another press three week later because the single stage wouldn't keep up with my competition needs.
Rusty