$700...get me started in reloading

Status
Not open for further replies.
X

X-JaVeN-X

Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2010
Messages
261
Location
North Carolina
Hey guys, sorry for the n00b thread, but I'm kind of overwhelmed with so many options in reloading. I've been doing some reading on the subject off and on for awhile and I think I want to get my feet wet in subject. So, with that said, I'm looking for some opinions on what I should get. I have roughly a $700 budget, but that is for EVERYTHING I need to get started (including dies, powder, primers, bullets, etc). I want to start out with two calibers (7mm rem. mag. and 9mm).

I don't know what accessories are "must haves" and which are just nice to have. I also don't like to buy things twice, so I don't really want to get a single stage press because I already know in the back of my mind that I'm not going to be happy until I get a progressive, so if possible, I'd like to start out with a progressive. I like what I'm seeing with the hornady lock n' load progressive for it's seemingly good bang for your buck, but please steer me in a different direction if you have experience that says otherwise. Anyway, thanks for any help you can provide in advance. Thanks!

Oh, also, I forgot to mention that I will not have access to a bench right now. I want to be able to do this in my home, so I'm guessing I will need some sort of makeshift bench or tripod to mount this to, so keep that in mind when looking at my budget. This will likely get set up in my office so that I can do this year round in the comfort of my a/c and heat lol.
 
Let me think what I've gotten so far....

Hornady Lock n Load kit (single stage press, scale, powder drop, trays)- ~$225
RCBS 308 and 223 dies: ~$80
Lee universal decapping die: ~$30
caliper: ~$30
500 308 projectiles with hornady kit purchase: Free
Hornady case trimmer: ~$75
Misc things ~$100
6 lbs of powder (various kinds to try out) and 3k primers (still on backorder from march): ~$250
600 223 projectiles, various kinds ~$90

~$880 so far and haven't stamped out a single round because of no primers yet from brownells. :(
 
Thought I would put in my 2 cents here. 7mm Rem Mag is much like 300 Win Mag I use to reload. You need a stout press for resizing brass that was NOT shot out of your rifle! Even with 308 I size with a single stage but I load on a Lee Loadmaster which could probably size 308 fine, but its an aluminum frame. RCBS, Lyman, and Redding all make cast iron progressives but I have not owned one. I do know a friend who also loads 300 Win mag on a Dillon 650, but now you are way over your budget.
If you are shooting the 7mm out of the same rifle I would suggest a single stage to neck size and then finish them with the single stage. How much rifle will you be shooting? Get a progressive that you like for various pistol rounds you will be loading. You will probably be close to your budget!
 
Take a look at the Dillon BL550. It's a stripped down version of their RL550b, without the powder drop or primer system, but they can be added later to make it a full blown 550. They run about $250 which will help your budget, and you can start out using it like a single stage or turret press.

That said, you should also consider starting with an RCBS Rock Chucker kit. You'll eventually find that having a progressive is good, but also having a singe stage press for secondary duties is even better. I started with a single, after about 1100 rounds decided I wanted a Dillon. I just recently added a single stage press to my bench as well. You'll find lots of people have similar set ups.

The RCBS kit has most of the things you'll need to get started, but you'll need to get some dies and calipers. A tumbler, bullet puller and case gauges are nice to have. I recommend a dial caliper. Once you learn how to use it, it's actually faster and more accurate than a digital one. I've got both and the digital is a PITA in comparison.

I'm sure the LEE Greek Chorus will be along shortly to tell you that's all you need.
 
I definitely have more pistol calibers that I'd be loading....apparently every time I buy a handgun, I like to torture myself and buy one in a different caliber. In rifle calibers, the only thing I need right now is 7mm rem mag, but I'm sure that will change in the future. As for handguns, I have 9mm, .45 acp, .38/.357, and .40 S&W.

Time, really isn't an issue for me, so I don't really care about the number or rounds per minute necessarily. I'm more interested in getting the most precisely reloaded rounds that I can repeatedly. If a single stage is better for that and will cover me for both handgun and rifle better, then so be it. Would I be better maybe to spend more on the accessories (powder measure, scale, calipers, etc) or is the press the most important thing for repeatable accuracy? I just don't know enough about this subject.
 
I don't know what accessories are "must haves" and which are just nice to have.
Click to expand...

If I had that budget and needed everything I would get the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit. It has everything you HAVE to have except for two things. For the 7-Mag you'll need calipers and a trimming method. You can get calipers at a pawn shop for $15-$20 that are like new (at least that's what we did). I would start off with the Lee cutter head and 7-Mag stud (both are about $7-$8 together).
The RCBS kit is about $339.
That leaves a good budget for dies, powder, primers and bullets. If you want boxes to keep your loaded rounds in, midsouth shooters supply sells them 10 for $15 or so.

FYI, you will likely never have all you want. There will always be a tool that you don't really have to have but want. For me it is a RCBS case prep center and the Chargemaster scale/dispensor. Don't have to have either, but it would be nice. :)
 
Check out some of the single stage kits. They come with stuff you'd need, even if loading on a progressive. As you start to get the reloading thing ironed out, you can start shopping for a progressive. IMHO, no reloading setup is complete w/o a solid single stage press.
 
Yeah, I didn't want to come out and say it but going from a belted magnum to 9mm with one press being able to do it all and it being a progressive is asking alot for under $700. Even friends that have invested thousands with Dillon 650 and even the Dillon 1050 have a Rockchucker on the bench too!
I think eventually you will have two presses.
Look around on Craigslist too! I've picked up big batches of stuff and sold what I did not want/need and equiped myself that way.
 
Dillon 650 and even the Dillon 1050 have a Rockchucker on the bench too!
Click to expand...
When I need a lot of 9mm, .223 or similar I'll load them on a blue press. I have 30 test loads of .223 and 50 6.5 creedmoor loads sitting in my back floorboard right now and they were all loaded on a green press. :)
 
Another vote here for the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit. Right now, the kit runs $320 shipped on Amazon, and it's on sale at Midway USA for $288. And as a bonus, if you buy at least $300 worth of RCBS products right now, you get $50 back in the form of a mail in rebate.

Scoop up a dial caliper from Harbor Freight. Trust me, it works perfectly fine.

And when you're ready for a digital scale, depending on your budget, this is the cheap one that I would recommend and this is the more expensive one that I would recommend. Get the best one you can afford.
 
I would buy a lee classic cast turret mainly for 9mm, you can always buy a o frame rcbs press for $73 for rifle if the turret starts wearing out. I reload rifle on my turret tho.

Lee turret $110 +-
Extra turret $9+-
Large and small primer $30 +-
Riser $7+-
Pro autodisc $35 +-
Double disc kit $10
Scale $75 +-
Trimmer $75+-
Puller $20 +-
Frankford arsenal tumbler $40+-
Media $20 +-
Books $20+-
Led light to check powder in case $20+-
Lee neck sizing rifle die set $27 +- assuming you have a bolt
Lee 4 die pistol $35+-
Lee uni decapper $12

Working off memory but should get you in ball park and not everything is need or need right away.
 
Javen,
At the top of this forum there is a thread named The Library of Wisdom.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=649184
It contains threads for new reloaders which I highly recommend you read before you post threads like this. In threads like this one you will usually get recommendations on what others "like' instead of what a new reloader "needs". Read first then ask about what isn't clear to you is the best advice I can give you right now.
 
I have the Honady SS classic kit and love it. Load 7mm RM and .308 and it's plenty stout enough. The kit had everything I needed except a trimmer, dies, and components. You can get a cheap chamfer/deburring tool, and you should be all set.

And the kit has everything you need to get started. You can add nicities later.
 
X-JaVeN-X said:
I want to start out with two calibers (7mm rem. mag. and 9mm).

so I don't really want to get a single stage press because I already know in the back of my mind that I'm not going to be happy until I get a progressive, so if possible, I'd like to start out with a progressive.
Click to expand...

Get the press whose color best matches the decor in your reloading room. It will serve you well.

For 7mm Rem Mag, you would probably want a single stage press. You would not be doing the kind of volume of 7 mag as you would a handgun cartridge and the stronger frame of an O-frame single stage press would be an advantage over the long run.

You can start on the single stage with handgun and progress to a progressive at a later time when funds allow. At the time you buy the progressive, you will have all the other accessories so it is not like you are buying everything new. Even your reloading dies can will work on a progressive. (the Dillon SDB is the sole exception of presses currently on the market)

Besides, as mentioned, a single stage press is always handy to have around even if you do use a progressive. There are some specialized tasks that do not lend themselves to progressives.

While you are doing research get some reading material. "ABCs of Reloading", Lyman #49 and most of the manuals from the bullet manufacturers have primers on reloading in them. Except for "ABCs...", they all have reloading data as well which you will need to have on hand.

"ABCs of Reloading" may be available at your local library.

I have all my presses mounted on free standing floor stands. It works fine. I store them away against the wall when not in use and move the one needed up to the reloading table when needed. I built my own stands from 1" square steel tubing but there are several on the market from various vendors.

You could build one from wood, but the joints need to be absolutely rigid. Screwed or bolted AND glued. If there is any flex in the joints, it will get worse over time making the stand unusable. I know from first hand experience as my first stand was made from wood.

About any table works for a reloading table when using a free standing press stand. I have used folding card tables, typewriter stands, and the kitchen table over the years.

Hope this helps.
 
Redding T-7 Turret. Dont even worry about getting a single stage. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/588482/redding-t-7-turret-press

Get yourself an extra turret or two. Case trimmer, I'd go with an RCBS http://www.midwayusa.com/product/817007/rcbs-trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer-kit and get their 3-way Cutter that deburrs and chamfers case mouths while you trim. A good scale, just about any from RCBS. A powder measure, RCBS, Hornady, or Redding. Caliper or micrometer, my el cheapo from Cabelas's works just fine.

You could get by without the powder measure but then you'll be using dippers which can slow you down quite a bit. You could get a cheaper case trimmer but you need some way to trim rifle brass. You could get by without a spare(s) turret head. And you could get by without the 3-way Cutter but then you need a chamfer and deburring tool.

If time really is no issue and you don't think you'll get "burnt out" loading on a single stage, you could just get a good RCBS or Hornady kit, a caliper, case trimmer. Personally if I were going with a single stage kit I'd go with the RCBS Supreme (not special) as it comes with a better scale. Going with a SS kit will save you a little money for components, but a turret or progressive will save you time, but I wouldn't load that 7mm on a progressive.
 
I agree with the previous posts. I really doubt that you will be loading 7mm mag in any great quantities to warrent a progressive press for that calliber. In the mean time a good single stage set up will suit your needs. I have been useing a single stage press for over 20 years for mostly pistol reloading and I never run out of ammo.
 
I'm gonna go a different direction than everybody else, cuz that's how I roll ;)

The majors: C&H model 444 press, C&H micrometer powder measure with both rifle and pistol micrometers, any balance beam powder measure, Lee dies and extra Lee shellholders. I would say get the "Pistol Champ" setup, but you want a fully-adjustable powder measure. You might can find some of this used, but it's a seller's market right now.

Extra goodies you'll need: Harbor Freight digital micrometer, a tin of Kiwi Mink Oil (to lube the rifle brass), hammer-type bullet puller, Lee case trimmer for the rifle brass.

Nice to have: a vibratory brass polisher, big bag of fine (14/20 or 20/40) ground corncob tumbling media (drillspot.com)
 
Progressive?
Hornady LNL

Single Stage kit?
Here's where I differ with a lot of folks. Most all single stage cast iron "O" frame presses are equal. LEE, Hornady, RCBS .... the list goes on and on. Spending more doesn't necessarily get you a better press. You might get a few more features, but basically they are all good. I do prefer cast iron over most anything else. My first single stage was a RockChucker, I still have it and use it frequently.

Bench?
You will need something sturdy, as sturdy as possible.

FYI
There will always be a space for a single stage press on your bench. You will find jobs for it constantly. You might not want a single stage now, but you can pretty much bet you will want one at some time or another.
 
Bullseye is a great powder for 9mm and it's easy to measure. I can't help you with magnum rifle powders, I only load .223 and a little .30-06

You can mount a press on a wooden stool. It is plenty strong enough, and they are cheap and portable. But it doesn't give you much work surface, and they can be "tippy" (so you might have to hold it with one hand to keep it from tipping forward when you bear-down on the press handle)
 
A good powder for loading the 9mm especially for range ammo is W231/HP-38. That powder will also work very well in the .38 Special and 45 Auto in the future.

As for the 7mm Mag there are many good powders. You will want something on the slower side. I don't load for the 7mm Rem Mag so I won't be able to recommend a specific powder.
 
Two powders I've found great success with 7mm RM. IMR4350 for anything lighter than 150 grains. IMR7828 for bullets 150gr and heavier. IMR7828 is a great powder in 7mm RM.
 
I started reloading on a Lee breach lock challenger press single stage. I now have two LBLCP, one Lee Pro 1000, and a Lee 4 hole auto index turret press. Different tools, have different jobs. I can't swage out military crimped primer pockets on the Lee 1000, but I can use the SS press or the turret press. I can't crank out hundreds of rounds of pistol ammo on a single stage in an hour. The Lee Pro 1000 doesn't have enough turret stations to to accomplish what I need for my rifle reloads but I get a better quality control using the turret press for rifle reloads.
My first press the Lee single stage I bought with the aniversary kit. The other three presses I bought used and all came with extra equipment. I pieced out the extra equipment that I didn't need and sold it. By doing that I paid off all 4 press, plus paid for most of my casting setup, dies, and other goodies. The more ammo comes available after this whole ammo and gun scare crap are done, you'll be able to get some great prices on presses. Two days ago on a different forum there was a complete Lee Pro 1000 setup minus the dies for sale for $115 shipped! That was the second one in 2 weeks at that price. Where there is a will there is a way. Keep your eyes open and talk to people about what you are doing and what you want to do. You'd be very surpriesed what you may come out of it with.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top