I found a RCBS starter kit for 200 dollars, should I get it?

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datruth

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I have been interested in reloading for a while, an rising ammo cost has influenced it a little and I have found a RCBS reloading starter kit , brand new at a small outdoor center here on post.. Now my question
is what all comes in it and what other things would I need other than a good reloading manual to get ready to start me up, I will be reloading for 308 and 45 maybe 10mm after I have became better educated with reloading.
 
It depends on how much you plan to shoot. I had the same problem as you and trying to find a press when I started. I got a lot of advice to go with the Lee classic turret press if I was going to be loading for pistol. That was the best advice I got. After loading for three weeks I realized if I had started with a single stage press then I would already be buying another one. A SS press is going to load around 50 to 75 round per hour. The Lee CT will load around 200 RPH. I load 223 on mine and it loads very easy. It's a very easy press to setup and operate. After I started loading I started shooting IDPA, GSSF and some fun matches at the club I joined. The SS press would never keep up with my needs and the CT press will keep up with no problem. You can get a Lee CT press kit at www.kempfgunshop.com for under $200. Both presses will do a great job for you it just depends on how much ammo you want to make per week or month.
Rusty
 
I purchased the RCBS Partner Press starter kit. When I got it, I wasn't budget constrained. I just wanted a foot in the door.

Immediately, I felt that the plastic balance was a POS, so I tossed it and bought a Rangemaster 750 scale. Otherwise, I still use everything that came with the kit. The Partner Press is a tough little press.

If you're shooting a hight volume of a specific pistol caliber, I'd suggest a Lee Classic Turret or a Dillon Square Deal B, which will have a steeper learning curve.
 
now thats the thing, if I can produce the ammo in bulk, that my goal

I love to shoot, not one of my firearms has 1k rounds through it yet, and I was wondering would jumping feet first into a progressive be a bad Idea, Im no idiot , I am very safe and responsible, I just love to shoot and If I can produce my own ammo, cheaper and more of it at my leisure that would be perfect. On a average night after work, how many rounds would I be able to produce?Iv heard that reloading you own allow you to make better ammo that factory as well , I that true?45acp and 308 and what would I need exactly, with let say a dillion 550 progessive, what else would I have to buy, to get started.
 
I've bought that same RCBS kit that you're talking about, for about the same price now that I think of it. Its a good kit IMO but as the other poster has said it is a single stage press and it will take more time to reload. I mostly reload while watching tv, listening to radio, etc so I don't mind taking my time with it. If you want something quick and economic, however, for reloading the Lee kit would probably be better, and cheaper. If that website link is to be believed, it looks like a great deal. Kinda wish I looked more at it as opposed to buying what my local gunstore had in stock.

Just to add, if we're talking about the same RCBS reloading starter kit, you'll still need the following to reload: dies, shell holder, calipers, and case trimmer. Oh yea, and the tumbler.
 
I don't keep up with prices to know but if that is not the rock chucker press I would pass if it were me. Right now you may not need a stronger press but someday you will. The partner press just does not impress me but I am sure it would do fine now for what you are needing.
You can't really go wrong with anything RCBS because their service is second to none.
 
I would start out slow and learn each step. There are some who can get by with going right to a progressive and it has worked out well for them. But they won't tell you about the number of rounds they scewed up before getting it. Besides I don't care who you are there is always room for a single stage press on any bench no matter what progressive you have.

RCBS is good equipment. I'd go for it.
 
I know that a lot of guys here think you should start with a single stage. I guess I look at it like mowing a 2 acre yard. A single stage is equivalent to a push mower and a progressive is like a lawn tractor. If you're smart enough to drive the tractor and have enough money to buy it, the tractor saves a lot of time and work.

I would suggest either a turret or progressive for pistol. Do one round at a time until you've got a couple hundred good rounds loaded.

I started with a Dillon 550. I haven't blown up any guns or lost any body parts.

I'd suggest staying away from the Lee progressives. IMO, they seem to be harder to keep in tune than Hornady or Dillon. The Lee single stages and turrets seem well made.

YMMV
 
and can someone explain the learning curve, that comes with a progressive?

and can someone explain the learning curve, that comes with a progressive?
 
Hope this makes sense if you haven't loaded yet.

With a single stage, you worry about one thing at a time.

You put the first die in (pistol), and you set it to almost bottom out at the end of the stroke. This sizes the case and pops out the used primer. You do this for every empty, maybe 100.

Then you reseat new primers. Let's say 100.

Then you dispense powder. If you're hand weighing charges for pistol, this is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Think 30-45 seconds or more 100 times over.

Then you seat the bullets, and then maybe crimp in an extra step.

Now....if I were showing you how to use a 550, I'd have you adjust the first (sizing and decapping die) and make SURE it's correct.

Next, I'd adjust the 2nd station belling die and powder dispenser (check flair and adjust the powder dispenser).

3rd station is the bullet seating (check AOL and crimp)

Now, put one empty in and run it thru all the stations, rechecking each step. With the 550 I can have a completed round in maybe 10-15 seconds even doing one round at a time

Once you're comfortable with what you're doing, you'll have one round with every pull of the handle and the powder is dispensed automatically.
 
The big deal with progressives is:

1. Making sure that all die stations are properly adjusted so everything is perfect when you pull the handle (primarily your sizer and seater dies).

2. Powder filling is crucial as you don't wan't to seat bullets in an empty chamber nor give a double charge. Most prog presses have a powder cop die or lockout die that you set if the powder charge is significantly different.

If you get a progressive, then I suggest you start out loading a cartridge one shell at a time like a turret press. This will help you avoid a few of the mistakes that come early in reloading.
 
datruth,

Your best bet would be to start out with a good turret or single stage press. It get you started and give you a chance to work our your own reloading methods. Even if you decide to go progressive later you'll still have a need for the old press. I use my single stage press to load the calibers that I don't shoot often or in large quantities, also I resizes all my rifle brass on it because I don't the case lube on my progressive.

The brand of the press is irreverent they all work well and do what they were designed to do, they also all have their own quirks. All the manufactures now do an excellent job supporting their products. I have dealt with Dillon, Hornady, Lee and RCBS and never had a problem with any of them the times I have contacted them with either issues or because I broke something they have always been very helpful and sent parts our at no charge even when it was my fault.The biggest negative I seen with any of the presses has been the owners.

My best recommendation is spend only what you feel comfortable with.
 
I see the suggestions of others as far as turret and progressive presses. I have two presses, a Dillon SDB and a RCBS RockChucker. The Dillon is a great press for loading in volume with proven loads. If you are new to loading you are going to take a while and experiment to find the right loads. My recommendation is to get the RCBS kit. It will teach you how to load, pistol is easy, rifle takes some learning. I load all my rifle with the same RCBS Master Kit that my father bought in the mid 70's, some of the same dies even. Loading is just as much of a hobby as shooting is so I don't care to rush. I load in batches and it is nothing for me to load 500 pistol or 250 rifle (brass prep takes time) in about 6-8 hours. Over the winter a few nights a week I can load all the ammo I can shoot for the year. The only suggestion I can make about the RCBS is to get one that primes from the press, the models have changes so I do not know the designation. Hand priming is OK but I like to do it on the press on the upstroke. Bill
 
I suggest the Midway number 133068 for $270. It starts you with the "Rock Chucker" press, loading manual, scale, trays and a bunch of other things. - - At least compare the two sets and see what you like best, this one is a good starting point.

I agree that a single stage is best for getting started and for load development. I bought mine over thirty years ago, have more than one progressive and would not get rid of the single stage, no matter what. :D
 
I started with a rock chucker, 10-10 scale, and a uniflow measure. I am glad I did. If you decide to go progressive, you can get pretty good money out of your old stuff or you can hang onto it for low volume loading needs.

On a average night after work, how many rounds would I be able to produce?
Click to expand...

I can load 100 pistol rounds on a 550B in 12-15 min. pretty comfortably. That includes loading the primers into tubes. So that's 400-500 rounds/hr. I typically load up 200-300 in an evening. I'll load up 800-1000 before I switch to a different caliber.
 
I saw a RCBS kit at Midsouth Shooter's supply for like 229$. That was a heck of a deal. Yea, double the Lee, but RCBS quality is hard to beat.
 
Also, keep checking the reloading For Sale forum here. I've given away two single stages and a Lyman turret. If you look around you may find some used ones for cheap.
 
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