Hey, please help out a newbie here!

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crash32

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I have finally gotten my outdoor building done and am ready for my first ever reloading experience to begin.

Now..... PLEASE understand that even though this is my first purchase in the reloading department that I am NOT looking for entry level or anything that is borderline junk.

I want a very SOLID single stage press kit or will purchase separately if needed (no problem with that). I am not going to be loading handgun cartridges with an exception of my 500 S&W. This will be used to reload my .308, 50 Beowulf, 300 Remington Ultra Mag, and 338 Lapua Mag. So I need something well suited to large cartridges. That is why the Redding Big Boss press came to mind.

Keep in mind guys, that I have done a bit of research but no amount of research can replace the actual experience that you guys have had so I am asking you guys for help.

This is what I figured that I MUST have.
Single Stage Press
Set of Dies
Shellplate and shellholder
Powder Measurement
Scale (I prefer digital).... I notice that a lot of you guys use the balance????
Dial Caliper
Case Trimmer
Case Tumbler
Loading Block
Primer Flip Tray
Bullet Puller

Am I missing anything that I must have? Also, would you guys recommend that I purchase a kit? The only thing is 80% of the kits that I am interested in comes with a balance scale and I think I'd like the luxury of a digital.

So please help me out guys!

Thanks in advance!!!!
 
Single Stage Press - I am getting rid of my Hornady LNL Classic for the Redding Big Boss II. Nothing really wrong w/ the Hornady unit. The Redding has a larger opening to help with large cartridges and is made of cast iron rather than cast aluminum. Plus, I like the LNL bushing on the progressive and for my powder measure stand but not for single stage loading. Some bushings have more tolerance than others and I can see the die moving up and down as I resize especially.

Set of Dies - I prefer Redding here as well. I use RCBS too. All my pistol dies are LEE.

Shellplate and shellholder - Use the shellholders from the press manufacturer you choose. Shellplates are for progressives. Note: Hornady trimmer requires Hornady shell holders and were hard to find a while back, so I ditched it too.

Powder Measurement - Redding 3BR. Has micrometer stem. Record your charge weights in a log and you can get set-up faster.

Scale (I prefer digital) - I use a RCBS 10-10 balance. I have been testing out the little MTM scale w/ good results. I too really wanted a digital when I started but the balance isn't all that bad. You can find a rythm if you choose one.

Dial Caliper - I have a Mitutoyo dial and Frankford Arsenal digital. The latter is for ease of zero when using comparators.

Case Trimmer - Sinclair stainless Ultimate. Has the stand, tapping block, micrometer adjustment, and shark fin. Best money I've spent. I would recommend this over anything else I say here. I've never looked back.

Case Tumbler - Lyman Pro Magnum 1200. I shoot a lot and need a big tumbler. Also I use the Hornady Magnum ultrasonic cleaner first. I'm trying to minimize my lead exposure and I feel this keeps the lead from the primer contained in the water and not in my lungs via tumbler media dust.

Loading Block - Any universal works for me. Fits most cartridges. Check on that .338 Lapua though.

Primer Flip Tray - I use an RCBS flipper tray. I also bench prime with the Forster Co-ax primer seater. It gives great feel.

Bullet Puller - Hornady cam lock. Kinetic sucks!
 
I just started myself and you seem to have all the basic tools listed.

I started with the "Lee Single Stage Challenger Breech Lock Kit". Came with press, powder measure, hand priming tool, case de-burring tool, primer pocket cleaning tool and a beam type scale for roughly $135 (shipping included).

The press, priming tool and powder thrower are excellent but the scale is questionable in my personal opinion. I purchased an RCBS 502 beam scale and I'm very pleased with it, I've never used a digital scale but a fair number of people enjoy them greatly.

The hand priming tool has a built in primer flip tray so no extra purchase is needed.

My caliper was purchased at Harbor Freight and I cannot complain, though it is not digital.

I use an RCBS press mounted bullet puller with great success, also have a Frankford Arsenal kinetic bullet puller which does the job but not as fast as the RCBS press mounted bullet puller.

Lee Deluxe Rifle Dies are what I am currently using, they do an excellent job but they lack the fancy bells and whistles of higher end die sets.

Hope this was of some help.
 
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A good reloading manual should be added to the list as well as a powder trickler.

I've never used a digital scale as my beam scale works just fine and I don't have to plug it in or replace any batteries.
 
Wanted to add: If you're not looking for entry level stuff don't buy the kits. You'll just end up rebuying most of the things in the kit. Ask me how I know. But I am very picky and enjoy working with precise equipment. That is also not to say that what I have currently is the best stuff out there. It's just works for me and my budget.

Good luck and welcome to the hobby!
 
I have 2 reloading manuals. One from Hornady and other from Lyman.

I am not going to buy a kit since I am NOT going to "rebuy" or "replace" any items. I want to get it right the first time!!!!

Thanks a lot for your suggestions especially for the press, trimmer, and powder measurement. It has been very helpful and am looking up these items right now. $170 for the case trimmer is not cheap, but if I am going to be very happy with it then it is money well spent!!!
 
might as well buy the kit..

I bought a Lyman T-Mag kit some 35 years ago, and I've never had to replace anything.. All I've added was various die sets, shellholders, and I finally broke down and bought a tumbler this past spring as I finally ran through all that ammo I started loading when the Brady bill passed..
 
Most of the kits out there bundle a good press with pretty cheap accessories. I skipped the idea of a kit when I started reloading again, and just bought the stuff I wanted, not what some company wanted to sell me. No company makes the "best" of everything, or at least not the best for my needs and wants. My reloading room looks like a used car lot, I have so many different makes of equipment, but it gets the job done to my satisfaction.
Welcome to the world of reloading. Some of us find reloading to be an enjoyable hobby in and of itself. The better shooting ammo part is just a plus.
Good luck and stay safe.
 
I've been very satisfied with my old cast iron RCBS Rock Chucker. It's deffinitely built to handle big bottle neck cartridges with no problem. I also have a smaller RCBS RS2 that is made of cast alluminum and it is every bit as capable as the RC, just a bit smaller and seems to have better leverage I think?

GS
 
I have used the RCBS Rockchucker for more than 35 years. It provides good leverage to take care of the bigger calibers when sizing. While I have the RCBS Chargemaster which has an excellent digital scale, I still prefer my beam scale. When pulling rifle bullets, I prefer a collet puller but prefer a kinetic puller for pistol. A set of check weights is also good to have to verify scale accuracy. You seem to have a very complete list of loading accessories. Good luck.
 
Just keep in mind that because you pay more doesn't mean you get more. I like my Lee tools with the exception of one which is a hand press. It works but it flexes to much for me.
 
YOU ARE MISSING CASE LUBE

Sorry for shouting, but you don't want to try sizing/depriming without case lube.
If you do, you'll need this...
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/504741/rcbs-stuck-case-remover

The old established reloaders are very loyal to what ever they've picked as their case lube.
Some like Imperial sizing wax, some like a mix of Isopropyl Alcohol & Lanolin.
Others use motor oil, (but I wouldn't recommend it, it may ruin your primers)

Lotsa guys & gals here rue the day Hornady One Shot was invented.
I personally haven't had a stuck case with it, but I don't use it anymore because of the warnings here.

My favorite is an alcohol/lanolin concoction created & generously distributed by another member here.
(sorry, he didn't give me permission to use his name, so I won't)
otherwise he'll have 1,239 pm's for a free bottle by morning ;)

Welcome to the addict .. Oh, I mean hobby, ya that's it, hobby :eek:
 
My reloading kit has evolved into this:

(BTW, I've owned pretty much every brand)

Redding Big Boss II press
Redding, Lee and RCBS dies
Hornady priming tool
RCBS Chargemaster Combo powder dispenser
Redding 10x pistol measure
RCBS Little Dandy powder measure
Forster, Lee, and Wilson case trimmers
Startett dial caliper and micrometer
Sinclair Power Station

This are the best quality, most comfortable tools.
 
Hmmm, just wondering, was your first car a Cadallic?

If you want to start at the top of the line look at a Foster Co-Ax single stage press http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700682 or a Sinclair Benchrest press . http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...inclair-7-8-14-benchrest-press-prod33635.aspx
Or if you want a compact press http://www.benchrestsupply.com/Hood-Classic-Compact-Reloading-Press_p_49.html

I'd suggest a copy of The ABCs of Reloading or Lyman's 49th Edition Reloading Handbook. Read them and then you will be able to determine what equipment suits your reloading needs.
 
I like the Lee equipment for the price point. It is strong enough without being overkill. That being said Their aluminum breech lock clallenger press is a little light for 50 cal also dies probably wouldn't fit. Their cast iron press though is as strong as anyones except forster maybe.
 
I have A Lee Challenger press which I started on. It does very well with no complaints however if I were starting out today and wanted to purchase a good single stage press I would purchase the Forster Co-Ax.
I would also purchase the RCBS Chargemaster Combo Trickle Charger which I recently purchased.

I went with the Sinclair/L.E. Wilson trimmer which is top notch.

EDIT: The one thing I noticed is that you said it's an out building. If the building isn't climate controlled, temp stable with no drafts you can pretty much forget an electronic scale and electronic trickler.
 
918v said:
Buying crap only increases the cost of reloading.
Click to expand...
Only if you buy SmartReloader junk...

Any U.S. manufactured press will last years, yes, even Lee products. I started with Lee, went to C-H, found an older Pacific I liked, tried a "Boss", now have a Lee turret, C-H "O" single stage, and an older C-H (?) "C" press. All make good, accurate ammo ane will for several years to come...
 
Most of Lee stuff is crap and you'll end up replacing it down the road. Much of RCBS stuff is crap and will likely be replaced, if only to have something nicer. Same goes for Hornady. Redding is top notch. Forster is top notch. But there are things all these manufacturers do well. Lee, for example, makes great trimmers and collet dies, but most of their presses aren't all that great. I like their hand press but wish they made it better.

My point is don't buy kits. You are far better off hand picking good tools from each manufacturer's inventory.
 
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