Evaluate my reloading purchases, please

[chickenfried]

Well I wanted to wait a little bit more do some more research, but my friend went out and bought a bunch of reloading stuff. Help me evaluate his purchase list... what we forgot, what we don't need. Going to reload various pistol calibers and the m1 and m1a for highpower competition. Thanks in advance for the help.
1.Lyman pro magnum 2500 tumber-holds 315 .30-06 cases. My concern is that we don't need that much capacity. But being that big it's going to make a lot of noise?
2.Lyman Universal Trimmer Includes Expanded Pilot Multi Pack
3.Redding Pro Series Die Sets in Titanium Carbide for various pistol calibers
4.RCBS Rockchucker supreme master reloading kit includes Rock Chucker Supreme press, 5-0-5 scale, Uniflow powder measure, Speer reloading manual #13 , hand priming tool., hex key set, case loading block, case lube kit, powder funnel and deburring tool.
5.RCBS Competition Die Set for .30-06
6.RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator capacity 180 .30-06 cases shouldn't we have the same capactiy tumber and media seperator?
7.RCBS Case Master
8.RCBS Reloading Accessory Kit includes: Powder Measure/Piggyback stand, powder trickler, primer pocket brush combo, case loading block, stainless steel dial caliper, small and medium case neck brush

 

[Edward429451]

1. Yep, lots of noise. I like to wait until I'm leaving to turn it on.
2. No experiance with it.
3. Redding makes excellant dies.
4. good.
5. good.
6. good.
7. good.
8. good.

Maybe another load book, Lyman? Safety glasses.

 

[Waitone]

Safety glasses all around
Scales
Check weights

 

[Damon of Baltimore]

bullet puller for the inevitable mistake....

 

[oldfart]

The list looks pretty good, but you need more data. It's a good idea to have several loading manuals on hand. Aside from the possibility of a misprint in one manual, some don't list all the bullet or powder possibilities you might want to try.

 

[Black Snowman]

Wow, that's kinda over-kill. More manuals would be good. Lots of patience and of course reloading supplies for whatever your going to be loading, bullets, powder, primers, etc . . .

Oh, small tumblers are loud too.

 

[Cal4D4]

The Redding Pro dies ( pro as in progressive) do not include a belling die. They figure you will be using a Dillon progressive press which includes a belling die in the caliber conversion kit. Lyman makes an ok universal belling die which has spuds to flare most pistol calibers. If you use jacketed bullets you may get by without any belling after resizing.

 

[ocabj]

If you're going to be shooting competition rifle with handloads, you're going to need a few more case prep tools.

1. Primer pocket uniformer
2. Flashhole deburring tool
3. Neck turning tool

Check out the Sinclair Intl. website for the above items.

 

[bogie]

1.Lyman pro magnum 2500 tumber-holds 315 .30-06 cases. My concern is that we don't need that much capacity. But being that big it's going to make a lot of noise.

So just tumble 200 cases, and fill the rest with media. A lot quieter.

2.Lyman Universal Trimmer Includes Expanded Pilot Multi Pack

I prefer the Wilson. Square every time.

3.Redding Pro Series Die Sets in Titanium Carbide for various pistol calibers

Whatever dies work for you.

4.RCBS Rockchucker supreme master reloading kit includes Rock Chucker Supreme press, 5-0-5 scale, Uniflow powder measure, Speer reloading manual #13 , hand priming tool., hex key set, case loading block, case lube kit, powder funnel and deburring tool.

You'll use it all.

5.RCBS Competition Die Set for .30-06

No big deal.

6.RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator capacity 180 .30-06 cases shouldn't we have the same capactiy tumber and media seperator?

So just pour, crank, pour, crank.

7.RCBS Case Master

WHY? Interesting gadget, but sheesh... Cordless screwdrivers work _at_ the range.

8.RCBS Reloading Accessory Kit includes: Powder Measure/Piggyback stand, powder trickler, primer pocket brush combo, case loading block, stainless steel dial caliper, small and medium case neck brush

Call Sinclair's and get their "upgrade" stuff for the powder measure - bottle adapter, longer clear drop tube, etc...

Get a primer pocket uniformer while you're at it. Use it to clean the primer pockets.

Order a K&M or a Lee priming tool.

Odds are your chamber/neck are too loose to benefit much from neck turning, but if you want to clean 'em up a little, either Sinclair or K&M will work, and Jerry Stiller has started making a really nice adjustable one.

 

[Steve Smith]

My opinions are similar to some, different than others'

1.Lyman pro magnum 2500 tumber-holds 315 .30-06 cases. My concern is that we don't need that much capacity. But being that big it's going to make a lot of noise?

Like Bogie said, fill with media, tumble what you need.

2.Lyman Universal Trimmer Includes Expanded Pilot Multi Pack

Hand cranked trimmers are for the birds, unless you have the time. I am youngish and it still tires my wrists out. At least consider the power trimmer upgrade, which I assume you can get for that trimmer.

3.Redding Pro Series Die Sets in Titanium Carbide for various pistol calibers

Coo. My favorite pistol dies.

4.RCBS Rockchucker supreme master reloading kit includes Rock Chucker Supreme press, 5-0-5 scale, Uniflow powder measure, Speer reloading manual #13 , hand priming tool., hex key set, case loading block, case lube kit, powder funnel and deburring tool.

Pretty good stuff, see if you can find the ejector thinga-ma-bob for launching cases out of your shell holder.

5.RCBS Competition Die Set for .30-06

Cool, assuming you are competing with a .30-06. Also, is your rifle semi-auto? If so, they should be full-length dies, not standard neck-only dies.

6.RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator capacity 180 .30-06 cases shouldn't we have the same capactiy tumber and media seperator?

You'll survive. If you ever tumble 300+ .30-06 at a time, just pour half into the seperator at a time.

7.RCBS Case Master

*** is this? Ahh...looked it up. Basically a concentricity gauge. Nice gadget, you may get to the point you want to use it, but for now put it away...you have bigger things to focus on. Bogie thinks this is a RCBS Prep Center.

8.RCBS Reloading Accessory Kit includes: Powder Measure/Piggyback stand, powder trickler, primer pocket brush combo, case loading block, stainless steel dial caliper, small and medium case neck brush

You need the powder measure stand, the loading blco, and the calipers.


Agree with Bogie on the Sinclairs advice. Also, make a baffle for the powder measure with a big flat washer with a large hole in it. Makes a big difference.

 

[Thirties]

"3.Redding Pro Series Die Sets in Titanium Carbide for various pistol calibers"

since you will be loading on a Rockchucker, then you will not want the "Pro" series but you will want the Redding Carbide pistol dies. In certain calibers you may also want to get the Redding Profile Crimp die or the Redding Taper crimp die. This is a separate die for crimping only. It allows you to seat the bullet in the third die, then precisely crimp in the fouth die. I find it easier to make al;terations in the seating and the crimp this way.

In any case, the "Pro" series is their set for progressive press loades. Says so in their litterature. I found that calling Redding on the phone to discuss before you buy is a good idea. You may even end up with a dandy Redding T-7 turret press instead of the Rockchucker! You never know . . .

Another usefull loading accessory is a chronograph ($100-$200) (PACT, Chrony, etc.)

 

[bogie]

Whoops. You don't need it anyway, unless you've got a custom "tight" chamber.

What kind of rifle?

 

[chickenfried]

Thanks for the input guys. Too late to cancel the pistol caliber dies for progressive presses, order shipped this mornig. That's why I wanted to do more research and wait, oh well. Shell holders also had to be ordered seperately. Also bought a flash hole deburrer and primer pocket uniformer.

 

[Steve Smith]

REREAD what I said about Full Length dies! Fir an M1A you need Full Length dies.

 

[Frohickey]

I use one of those power switch boxes on a timer for tumbling. Attach it to the tumbler, and set it to go on and off when you are not at home.
Get a mask too. Rifles are not as bad with spent primer dust than pistols are, and that is pretty much lead compounds that is definitely not good to breathe in.
Latex gloves for handling the brass too.

 

[chickenfried]

Just double checked the RCBS competition dies are full length dies.

 

[HankB]

1. Nice tumbler.
2. OK
3. OK
4. Rockchucker is a good press - I have two. Scale - well, it's functional. After many years of using mechanical scale, I bought a PACT electronic scale. Love it. Uniflow powder measure is good - I got the micrometer upgade, which helps a lot. Speer manual is fine. Hand priming tool - not necessary, but OK. Loading blocks - I make my own, it just takes some scrap lumber and a drill press.
5. OK.
6. Commercial separators are a waste of $$, IMHO. I dump the stuff from my tumbler into a modified Rubbermaid container - modified by drilling a LOT of 1/4" holes in the bottom. I put the top on, and shake over a paper grocery bag (to catch the media.) Total cost - about $2 and 15 minutes of my time to make, and it separates cases and media just fine.
7. OK, but not needed.
8. OK, you'll eventually use all of them.

I'd also suggest another loading manual, or you can go to the websites of any of the powder manufactureres and print out their recommended loads. (Always check two sources to guard against misprints.) If you're loading for rifle, I recommend the Stoney Point tool for adjusting seating depth, and recommend against the RCBS "Precision Mic" for doing the same. (the "Precision Mic" is NOT to be confused with a vernier caliper.)

A bullet puller would probably be a nice accessory. And safety glasses are a must. Otherwise, it looks like you've got just about everything you'll need to get started, other than the loading bench itself. Once you have some experience, you'll figure out what accessories YOU want.