Critique my first reloading setup

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Skip on the Harbor freight calipers. They work good for a few hundred measurements and thats about it. I have three that are accurate to different lengths. I was at harbor freight the past sunday and picked up my fourth HF caliper, but it was the dial type. I glanced at it in store and the instructions showed it measured to .001. I got it home and wouldnt you know it but it only measures to .01.

 

[johnjohn]

Plus 1 on the beam over digital. I started with a Lyman beam then went "hi tech" with a digital,JUNK wouldn't hold zero, back to factory,worked a day or two and then same story. Expensive paper weight. The T-Mag press is O.K.

 

[MrWesson]

Why not just go with a lee classic turret?

 

[thorn-]

I can't really see reloading for 9 mm or 32 ACP since factory ammo is so cheap.

Well, i reload for 9mm for half the price of factory.

thorn

 

[KDS]

Why not just go with a lee classic turret?

I don't know, is the lee classic turret better than the lyman?

 

[KDS]

Well, i reload for 9mm for half the price of factory.

thorn

I currently save my brass for both 9 mm and 32 acp, but I have limited time to spend reloading and thought that I would go for the highest savings per box first, and then get dies and reload calibers that provide less savings if I have time.

One of the reasons I have never gotten into reloading is the time it takes. I work a full time job during the day, I own a business with my wife that I work on at night, and in January I am going back to school. What little time I have I'd rather spend shooting than reloading (I think). Hence the idea of reloading the most expensive rounds first and slowly adding calibers to the list that I reload.

I currently shoot 30-06, 303 British, 30 carbine, 30-30, 7.5 Swiss, 7.63x54r, 223, 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 357 Mag, 38 Special, 9 MM, 7.62 Nagant, and 32 ACP. I will also soon be adding 7mm-08, 7.5 French, 38 S&W, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 8 mm Mauser, 6.5 Swede and 30-40 Krag. I really like milsurps so I plan to reload for most of them eventually (the exceptions being 7.5 Swiss and 7.62x54r and any other caliber that I can get surplus ammo).

 

[MrWesson]

I don't know, is the lee classic turret better than the lyman?

I personally feel like it is.

4 holes vs 2 and the price.

You will be more productive with the lee.

 

[popper]

Beam scales are more accurate, until the knife edge pivot gets dirty or corroded. My FA digital may not be as accurate, but none of my guns can tell any difference. You shoot a lot of calibers, but IMHO a single stage O press would serve best at this time, you will be changing out dies anyway. It would also be strong enough to reform some of the unusual brass you use. The AR doesn't have to have a small base or X or AR die, depending on the gun. Just make sure the one you get is F/L and doesn't use a ROLL crimp. For rifle, case prep and inspection are the most time consuming task.

 

[Nutbustd]

Bought a electronic caliper from Harbor Freight for $10. Quality was surprisingly excellent. Compared it to my machinists calipers from Snap-on both are dead on. I think some of reloading suppliers have the same electronic calipers but at 3X the cost. Mine even came with a spare batterey!

 

[RandyP]

For your intended use a Lee CLASSIC 4-hole turret would be a good fit. Very affordable, durable and it auto-indexes. NOTHING wrong with the pricier Lyman or any other brand of course, they are great machines. But there is IMHO nothing wrong with Lee either.

 

[AABEN]

I have 2 Pact electric that has never gave me any trouble in 8 years both are 110V I check them with my old bal beam. I also have the 2 of the elt powder dispensers witch i like very well. You did not say any thing about a flash hole deburring tool I like the reg SS calipers the best. I also like the LEE case trimmers the best. Good luck

 

[Rotting]

I personally feel like it is.

4 holes vs 2 and the price.

You will be more productive with the lee.

The T-Mag is a 6 hole turret. I've used both and I actually like it quite a bit better than the Lee.

 

[rfwobbly]

The Lyman is a great press. Check out the Lyman T-mag "starter kit" that comes with a better scale, better trimmer, lube pad, caliper, and BEST OF ALL... the Lyman #49 manual. You can still use the Lee dies with all of that.

Skip the case gauges. When you have a caliper you won't need those to start.