Are there any 'good' reloading kits?
- Thread starter dcktp37
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pmec
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I use a Lee Classic Press. I got it for a C note that included scale, powder measure, etc. Since I'm using it for hunting loads, I don't make many and it does a fine job for me.
Now if I was making a zillion rounds, I'd seriously look at Dillions stuff.
Now if I was making a zillion rounds, I'd seriously look at Dillions stuff.
If I were to have the money to buy a progressive press right now. I would buy the RCBS 2000 progressive press kit. That is one nice press, and the priming system is really nice. Apparently the powder dispenser is top notch A+.
Yep.. That would be the progressive press I would get.
Yep.. That would be the progressive press I would get.
qajaq59
Member
Before you buy any kit it might be a good idea to price out the exact press, scale etc individually that you think is best. Then see if the difference in price is enough to convince you that a kit is the way to go. Also keep in mind that used presses are rarely worn out, and are a lot cheaper then new ones. What you save on the press might get you a better scale. I've yet to see a kit that had exactly what I would want if I was starting over again.
dcktp37
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Okay, so where would be a good place to find a good used press?. I checked ebay but everybody uses eBay and has the same idea so it's kind of hard to find a deal. And if I buy everything separately what are some favorites as far as the presses, power measures, trimmers, and other tools you love. Things you wish you had from the start and things that were a waste of money. As you can see I'm doing all I can to not waste money. I hate buying things and then looking at it and going "why'd I buy you??"..
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rfwobbly
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First Choice
Find/ meet/ make a reloading pal. If you are a member of a club or range, post a notice on the bulletin board. Sometimes you can meet reloaders here. Most reloaders that have been doing it awhile have older presses laying in the corner just gathering dust. What seems like gold to you, looks like rust to them!
That's the best way, because you can make a new friend/ gain a mentor, AND he's going to know all the quirks about his old press. Brand doesn't matter, what you want is the education. IMHO novices make entirely too much of the brand of press, when what they really want is to get started reloading.
Maybe if you filled out your profile we'd know what city you're in!
Second Choice
Craig's List because you always want to buy face to face. There's a lot of stuff on Ebay that's been drug off the bottom of lakes.
GW Staar
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I would agree that 99% of what he said is good info, but telling the OP to forget the kits is only good advice for one of the following valid reasons:
1. The OP wants a Lee Classic Press or Turret (great values) or other press with lousy or non-existent kits.
2. The OP has the money to to spend enough for the best of each tool. He may even want to look at a Forster press.
Otherwise one of kits he listed is a great way to enter the hobby for the least amount of money. Going the no-kit route, you may buy some of the same tools and spend more money doing it.
A comments on another point he made: He likes the Lee measure. Nothing against that. But know that it's plastic. I've used one, and I didn't see much if any improvement over the Hornady, RCBS design. Any tool you buy has to be "learned." I don't believe it will last as long as either of the other two. The reason I didn't mention it, is because the O.P. didn't list Lee Kits as a choice, and he specifically stated he was looking for stuff he wouldn't ever have to replace.
Also if the OP chooses to not buy a kit, remember to get a hand primer tool, Ranger 335v forgot to mention that. The RCBS universal, or for the price/value, the Lee tool would be my choice. The RCBS APS universal beats em all, but you then would want to add their strip loader. (That choice I mention for if the OP is serious about getting the safest, fast and best tool.)
BTW the only tool in either kit I have any reservations about is Hornady's digital scale...nobody has really commented on good experience with it, and I quoted a user with less than good results. If you will buy a Hornady kit, you will someday get a beam scale. Sooner is better.
The lee trimmers work, and may be a good way to start if you don't have funds for something better. I have problems with the shell holders holding onto the case well. When tightened enough not to slip, it takes a lot of force on that nurled nut to loosen. Uncomfortable, and annoying to me...but I may be a wimp. What can I say, I much prefer a Forster, RCBS, or whatever, rotary trimmer.
Some people like Wilsons or Possum Hollow tools, because they measure from the shoulder. I don't. I heard all the arguments on the method and I still prefer a case to be measured from the base. I may be older, and set in my ways, but my trimmer works perfectly...and I don't know how to improve perfect...except to make it faster...and I did.
ranger335v
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RF: - "remember "low price" is a feature. You get what you pay for."
Not quite. We never get more than what we pay for but we can easily get much less! A LOT less in some of the "big name" kits, IMHO. But taking price as a guide for quality or value or usefulness for anything is vastly misleading.
PCZ: "The scale is a piece of ****. I had to re zero it several times after an hour of fooling with it with both AC & DC power sources I gave up. It was drifting .8 gr on the same powder tray just by taking it off the scale and then replacing it. I though it may be my phone or a magnet"
Ahhh...and what "the scale" might that be? (Digitals can be flaky, can't they?)
Lots of people love their Lyman presses, I'm one and your "junk" appraisal is puzzling. I don't understand what you mean about how the "shell holder had a lot of play at the top of case +-5/8"; that's a lot of something at the top of a case but I can't imagine what. That much movement of a shell holder (on the bottom of a case) would let it fall out! In fact, other than normal up and down movement of the ram, I can't figger out what might have that much "play" anywhere. ??
If you're gonna return new stuff because of a burr, etc, don't buy a new car. Can't imagine how removing a burr on a primer tube would cause a primer arm to "fly apart" either. Can see a primer punch and its spring loaded cup popping out if the allen set screw that holds it in is left loose but that's true of most any brand's primer system. Perhaps you failed to tighten the retaining screw after correcting the burr??
I certainly agree that digital scales and dumpsters are over priced and, on average, undependable. Those who get good ones love them of course, but none of them will last even nearly as long as any beam scale.
Not quite. We never get more than what we pay for but we can easily get much less! A LOT less in some of the "big name" kits, IMHO. But taking price as a guide for quality or value or usefulness for anything is vastly misleading.
PCZ: "The scale is a piece of ****. I had to re zero it several times after an hour of fooling with it with both AC & DC power sources I gave up. It was drifting .8 gr on the same powder tray just by taking it off the scale and then replacing it. I though it may be my phone or a magnet"
Ahhh...and what "the scale" might that be? (Digitals can be flaky, can't they?)
Lots of people love their Lyman presses, I'm one and your "junk" appraisal is puzzling. I don't understand what you mean about how the "shell holder had a lot of play at the top of case +-5/8"; that's a lot of something at the top of a case but I can't imagine what. That much movement of a shell holder (on the bottom of a case) would let it fall out! In fact, other than normal up and down movement of the ram, I can't figger out what might have that much "play" anywhere. ??
If you're gonna return new stuff because of a burr, etc, don't buy a new car. Can't imagine how removing a burr on a primer tube would cause a primer arm to "fly apart" either. Can see a primer punch and its spring loaded cup popping out if the allen set screw that holds it in is left loose but that's true of most any brand's primer system. Perhaps you failed to tighten the retaining screw after correcting the burr??
I certainly agree that digital scales and dumpsters are over priced and, on average, undependable. Those who get good ones love them of course, but none of them will last even nearly as long as any beam scale.
ranger335v
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GW: "I would agree that 99% of what he said is good info, but telling the OP to forget the kits is only good advice for one of the following valid reasons: .....
2. The OP has the money to to spend enough for the best of each tool. He may even want to look at a Forster press."
Ahhh, not quite correct, may I ask that you read the first paragraph in my first post again. Note that I NEVER said to "forget the kits", for any reason. The ONLY serious advantage I see in kits is the purchaser doesn't have to make decisions, he gets what the kit includes. Instead, I carefully listed what I think are better tool choices for a complete set-up regardless of brand. NO kit accomplishes all that and saving a few dollars for an incomplete kit that provides less than good performance across the board is not much of a savings, IMHO.
Note I didn't mention getting the "best" of anything because that's variable by the actual needs of the user. I suggested what I believe provides the best bang for the buck in both quality and durability to a new guy but only a few of those choices are my own I have some special needs that don't apply across the board to everyone. (Some of us tend to promote what we like or use more than understanding and suggesting what the OP actually needs.) For instance, there's no point in suggesting anyone buy a Forster press if that's not what he actually needs. And, point of fact, I'm not convienced the Forster Coax is best anyway, I find it's ergonomics unweldy and it's no stronger or more precise than others that sell for much less.
I didn't "forget" to mention a hand primer tool. It's simply not needed by a new guy with a press that primes quite well.
I prefer my 35 year old Lyman case trimmer for many things but, after finally getting a Lee case trimmer for one cartridge a couple of years ago I've bought more and will get others. They are quick, easy to use, do a good job and I have no serious problem with the case holders, especially for the price. ANY other trimmer is vastly more costly and actually works no better! The low price and consistant precision of the Lee trimmers makes them plenty good for a low volume reloading noob, does it not?
I didn't mention the Lee's (semi) Perfect Measure being all plastic because it's irrelivant; it works and works well. It isn't "better" overall than others, at 3-4 times the price, but it's plenty good and that was my point. It may not/will not last 45 years as my Redding Master measure has - so far - but it's inexpensive and will certainly last several years even for a heavy user and maybe a life time for others. IF the OP wants a more costly cast iron measure later he'll have the personal experience to know what he wants without asking any of us what to get! ??
When I make a reccomendation it really is what the OP needs that counts to me, and that's not what I like, or need, or want, and want to see others duplicate. Seems far too many of us eagerly try to guide noobs into following our "best" choices, not his! Bottom line, I have a lot of experience reloading using many brands and models of tools, I use that experience and try to suggest what others actually need.
2. The OP has the money to to spend enough for the best of each tool. He may even want to look at a Forster press."
Ahhh, not quite correct, may I ask that you read the first paragraph in my first post again. Note that I NEVER said to "forget the kits", for any reason. The ONLY serious advantage I see in kits is the purchaser doesn't have to make decisions, he gets what the kit includes. Instead, I carefully listed what I think are better tool choices for a complete set-up regardless of brand. NO kit accomplishes all that and saving a few dollars for an incomplete kit that provides less than good performance across the board is not much of a savings, IMHO.
Note I didn't mention getting the "best" of anything because that's variable by the actual needs of the user. I suggested what I believe provides the best bang for the buck in both quality and durability to a new guy but only a few of those choices are my own I have some special needs that don't apply across the board to everyone. (Some of us tend to promote what we like or use more than understanding and suggesting what the OP actually needs.) For instance, there's no point in suggesting anyone buy a Forster press if that's not what he actually needs. And, point of fact, I'm not convienced the Forster Coax is best anyway, I find it's ergonomics unweldy and it's no stronger or more precise than others that sell for much less.
I didn't "forget" to mention a hand primer tool. It's simply not needed by a new guy with a press that primes quite well.
I prefer my 35 year old Lyman case trimmer for many things but, after finally getting a Lee case trimmer for one cartridge a couple of years ago I've bought more and will get others. They are quick, easy to use, do a good job and I have no serious problem with the case holders, especially for the price. ANY other trimmer is vastly more costly and actually works no better! The low price and consistant precision of the Lee trimmers makes them plenty good for a low volume reloading noob, does it not?
I didn't mention the Lee's (semi) Perfect Measure being all plastic because it's irrelivant; it works and works well. It isn't "better" overall than others, at 3-4 times the price, but it's plenty good and that was my point. It may not/will not last 45 years as my Redding Master measure has - so far - but it's inexpensive and will certainly last several years even for a heavy user and maybe a life time for others. IF the OP wants a more costly cast iron measure later he'll have the personal experience to know what he wants without asking any of us what to get! ??
When I make a reccomendation it really is what the OP needs that counts to me, and that's not what I like, or need, or want, and want to see others duplicate. Seems far too many of us eagerly try to guide noobs into following our "best" choices, not his! Bottom line, I have a lot of experience reloading using many brands and models of tools, I use that experience and try to suggest what others actually need.
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ranger335v
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duplicate
I was on a tight budget and I got the Lee Anniversary 4-hole Turret Kit. I was glad that I did. I reload 45acp, .308, and .223, and haven't had any issues with it. I tend to prefer Lee products, though I understand that most people consider them lower-end by comparison to RCBS, Dillon, Lyman, etc... I got into reloading to churn out a lot of plinking ammo on a budget and Lee stuff works for me. That kit comes with a lot, but I've since also added a lot, too. Priming tools, auto-powder measures, etc. It's never as cheap as you think going into it, but it sure is a cathartic hobby when you can't make it to the range.
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