Inexpensive reloading kits?

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esmith

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Can anyone out there point me to a relatively inexpensive reloading kit in the range of $100? I see this Lee Challenger kit for $99 in several places. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0053986216575a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_RESULTS_NYR&returnPage=search-results2.jsp&Ne=2510&noImage=0&Ntt=reloading+set&Ntk=Products&QueryText=reloading+set&Ntx=matchall&N=3731&trueNum=32&nyr=1

All i really want to do with this is reload some .45 ACP and maybe some 7.62 x 39 at some point. Later down the road ill be buying a 30-06 as well to reload for. Summer will start in a few days and im going to have a lot of time to do stuff so im hoping this will be one of them. Would this suit my needs?
 
Yes,that setup will get the job done when u add dies and a dial or digital caliper,maybe a tumbler for cleaning brass,and a reloading manual or 2.I like the LYman's manuals.
I"m sure others will add in things I've missed.
btw,the Lee brand dies will save you money and do a good job.
 
I bought the Lee anniversary kit and think that it was a great value. I also have a Dillon 550B but I think I use the Lee more. The .45 ACP will be SLOOOWWWW but how much is your time worth?? I use mostly Lee dies and think that they are better than most. The only thing is that with Lee stuff it always seems that you have to tweak it a bit. Nothing major, just cleaning up rough edges and the like. Great products for the money IMO.
 
I'll concur with buying LEE equipment--but if you are going to load for a pistol--.45ACP--I would NOT buy a single stage press, but a Lee Turret. With a SS press--like in the Kit--you will be able to do maybe 50 rounds an hour. I imagine you know how fast you will shoot your semiauto rounds....

IMO, consider a SS press only if you have doubts about enjoying reloading. If you don't enjoy it, I suspect the Lee Turret would be easier to sell--especially the Classic Cast version.

The cheaper Lee (standard) turret will load 7.62x39 just fine--but it may not handle .30-06. Get the 4-die configuration in whichever turret press you consider--the Classic Cast is a much better unit and not that much more.

See this thread, and follow the link in it.

Using these two threads will help you sort out a basic buy list. After you've read through those links and developed your list, post it here along with any questions you have, and someone can help you fine-tune it.

And, FWIW, probably the best place to buy Lee products on line is Kemp's Gun Shop, although I mostly buy from Graf & Sons.

Jim H.
 
So such thing, granted the hardware may be inexpensive, however we all pay the same price for primers, powder and or brass, since some folks cast their own bullets and their cost per round maybe lower. For us who do not cast their bullets, we all buy from suppliers. As far as hardware goes I started out with a Lee in 1964 for 9mm and have since used CH, Foster,Dillon 450,550b and my current reloading machine is a Dillon Xl-650. Guess what I'm happy with my machine it serves MY needs! So bottom line find a reloading machine that fits your needs and quit the color wars, what color that works for you may not work for me or many others. just be happy in knowing that YOU are making YOUR OWN AMMO which YOU and you GUN LIKE.

Life is good shooting your own ammo.................
Chief-7700
 
You want inexpensive buy the Lee Classic Loader. Entire kit for less than 20 bucks. In fact this is probably a great way for you to get started. You will really learn and understand all of the steps involved with the process.

I use two one for 30.06 and the other in .223 and I love both of them. They are not the fastest things but I bet I can do 40 rounds an hour (I haven't really timed myself). I enjoy using these kits in fact I have put aside my 550 for a little while so I can get ahead on some .223 for my stock pile.

Cheers,
Ed
 
I would not bother trying a Lee classic loader. They work, but are slow, primitive, and IMHO unpleasant to use.

I recently got the Lee Anniversary Kit with the breechlock Challenger press, for $85 at Cabelas. Midway has it for the same price this month. I am quite happy with it so far. You will want extra bushings and that will add a bit of cost, but still a good deal. The press itself feels quite solid and I think would be fine for rifle reloading up to 30-06, maybe slightly bigger even.
 
One man's choice is one man's choice, Mate. True, Lee Loaders are slow but for some, even a breechlock challenger press is primitive or even other unpleasant words ...

My point is this, I think as long as you are happy with what you have and you are having fun doing what you're doing, you made a good choice, no matter how much or how little you spend.

Drinks all around

Cheers...
 
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esmith, that would be a fine choice for a beginner. And your money will never be wasted.

After 40 years I now own several progressive presses and use them to crank out high volumes, but I still use my single regularly. It makes more accurate loads than a progressive. What you give up in speed, you gain in consistency and repeatability. A single is a great place to learn your craft.
 
I have used progressives for a lot of years but its my single stage units that get the work out. I load 300 R.U.M. and 300 Weatherby on my Lee Challenger 2000 press bought new in 1985. I like the single stage because I can hold in my hands each cartridge in each step of the procedure. I load a lot of my own handgun rounds on ss presses because of the intimate nature of the machinery.
 
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...leeloader.html Lee Loader, waste of time and money. Not a good choice.
Click to expand...

Um, that's like saying a lumberjack shouldn't waste money on an axe. Not every person who's going to chop down a tree needs a huge logging machine or a truck full of chainsaws. I'd be willing to bet a lot of professional loggers keep an axe in their truck.

Lee Loaders are EXCELLENT tools for when you are fiddling with a load, and maybe need to flare a few cases, decap a few cases without sizing, or perform some sort of experiment under controlled conditions on a few cases. They're also perfectly fine for loading small to moderate amounts of rifle ammo. For large volume pistol ammo, not so much, but it can be done.

I try and get a Lee Loader for every caliber that I shoot, even if I have dies for it. They're great for fixing mistakes. Shaving lead off of your bullets as they enter a 9mm case? Want to load a .357 lead bullet instead of .356? Then use the flaring tool that comes with the .38 special Lee Loader, then crimp in the 9mm Lee Loader tool. (Had Pat @ Lee Precision tell me this technique last night, and it saved me from having to buy a sizing die...and let me load un-jacketed rounds to fit a slightly over-sized 9mm barrel). They are also small enough to take with you to the range, and inexpensive enough to leave in a hunting shack or bug-out destination if you are of such a mind (I'm not).

There are all kinds of good uses for them, but the best reason is that it lets people get into reloading for LESS THAN $100 TOTAL. You still have $ left over for a cheap scale, a couple trays of primers, a box of bullets, and a pound of powder. If you buy one of those kits, the kit is $100, a set of dies is about $30, plus at least $70 worth of components. Big difference between $100 & $200 when someone is deciding to get into the hobby.

A lot of people whine and complain about single stage presses or the Lee & Lyman hand tools, saying they aren't fast enough, or ask "how much is your time worth?". These are legitimate concerns, but there ARE folks out there who have lots more time than money. I know of several retired and/or disabled shooters on a fixed income who can't afford to drop the cash for factory ammo or an expensive reloading setup. I also know of several folks (I'm one of them), who LIKE to reload slowly.

If you have lots of $ and very little time, then the Lee Loader is probably not for you, at least as your primary reloading tool (though I would never consider it a waste of money).

It's just a matter of choosing the right tool for the right job. As a beginning reloader, the Lee Loader is a good choice, as would a single stage or turret press. Your budget, reloading purpose, and shooting volume will determine which is best for you.
 
Get the Lee Classic Turret Press and the Lee Reloader Press. That is about the cheapest way to go and will serve you quite qell for a long time to come. Another benefit to the reloader press is you can bolt it to a 2x6 for range workups. Also get the decapper and base for your depriming, it is a great way to relax. I can sit outside and let the kids play and deprime brass for hours.
 
My recommendation is always go for the Lee Anniversary Kit (now with the breech lock press). For under $100 you get what you need to start (minus the dies), and then you can decide if a) reloading is for you and b) if you eventually want to move up to a turret press.
 
The Lee 4-Hole Turret kit goes for about $85 bucks, includes the scale, chamfer tool, deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner, pretty good deal. I've loaded about 12,000 rounds on mine and its still going strong.:D
 
I've got a lot of presses and of course have my favorites. If you're reloading .45's, 9mm, or other pistol rounds in quantity you likely want to move towards a progressive press. That said I would not recommend people begin their reloading experience using a progressive press. There is much to learn when beginning the hobby. It is important to learn and understand the value of each step along the way. Using a single stage press allows one to become familiar with the procedure instead of focusing on the particulars of a progressive press. Most take a little tweaking to become familiar with their use. You'll likely make less mistakes over the long haul if you begin with a single stage press and become completely familiar with the process. Once you are completely comfortable then by all means step up the progressive press of your choice. You'll still end up using your single stage press for dedicated jobs or rifle loads. It isn't necessarily a bad idea to begin with a manual indexing multi stage press with the mind set that until your comfortable you use only one station on the press. Bang for the buck LEE kits are tough to beat. For a little more than the price you threw out you can pick up a Classic Cast press as has been suggested. It has many features similar to a RockChucker for considerably less money. There is a difference between the LEE Classic kit and the LEE Classic Cast kit It will stand up to about anything and will be around for years. Just my 2 cents.
 
All my stuff is Lee.
- Lee dies in 9mm, .45ACP, and .38/.357
- Lee turret press
- Lee hand press
- Lee Classic Loader in .38/.357
I like it all.

My Classic Loader doesn't get used much anymore. I like using it for .357s. I don't roll that many maggie loads, so I use the Classic. I'll prime my cases using the Lee Safety Prime (faster than the tap...tap...tap...method of the LCL), but do the bullet seating and crimping with the LCL. It's slow, but it's easier than adjusting my regular dies, esp if I'm only doing a couple dozen or so at a time.

There's a place for it - but IMHO, unless it's a smokin' deal you'll be better off applying those $20 or so toward a single stage or turret rig.

Q
 
Single stage will do about 50rds an hour. Much easier to learn on single stage.

A progressive will go about 200 rounds an hour. Dillon advertizes 1000 rounds/hr with their 1050. I don't see myself pulling a lever 1000pulls/hr. :)

I like my Lee breech lock kit, except my RCBS dies with huge lock ring interfere with the breech lock. No biggie, as the dies are all the same and can use a smaller lock ring. For $80-100, it's enough to get started. I brass tumbler, caliper and reloading manual will get you started.

RCBS has a kit I've seen for ~$250 that is single stage. Their 5-0-5 scale goes to 500grains, so you can weigh most bullets. The Lee safety scale goes to 100grains.

Later you will need to trim that .30-06 brass to size.
 
I agree with lgbloader. As long as a person is happy with what they bought and use and are reloading, that's all that matters. I have never used a Lee loader but my only concern would be that it doesn't give a fair comparison to reloading with a bench mounted press and might turn off somebody new to reloading. I would suggest to start with at least a single stage press. The Lee press would be a fine choice to start with. If you ever wanted to upgrade to something faster you will always find a use for the single stage. Welcome,
Rusty
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220243325195

I started out with a used one of these and I highly recommend them. They are about as fast as a turret press (maybe faster) for doing pistol cartridges, and will do a fine job of loading for a rifle too. The priming system has a really nice feel to it for priming on the press. And you can still get parts from www.ch4d.com. I once loaded 100 9mm cartridges in a half hour with mine, just to see if I could do it, but I don't like going that fast.

The new ones have 4 stations instead of 3 but they are kind of pricy. (there's a 4-station model for sale on eBay that's already set up for loading .45ACP, but it's currently at $150)
 
A progressive will go about 200 rounds an hour. Dillon advertizes 1000 rounds/hr with their 1050. I don't see myself pulling a lever 1000pulls/hr.
Click to expand...

I've counted the number of reloads I can get out of a LEE LoadMaster and a Dillon 550 B with all the bells and whistles attached. 450 rounds an hour with either 9 mm or .45 ACP was no problem even with the Dillon being a manual index. I'm sure if I was in a hurry (which probably isn't worth the risk) I could up that number by close to a hundred. Having said this that doesn't take into consideration all of the time required to set a press up and make sure it drops a quality round with each pull.
 
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