Questions about shell holders and various calibers...

[duck911]

Ok, really showing my newbie colors here.

I am putting together my reloading gear to start in the hobby and have a few questions.

I'm looking for a hand primer that can load down to a .204. I was considering a RCBS hand primer but I don't see a .204 shell holder for their hand primer.

Is it safe to assume the shellholder I REALLY need for the .204 is the .222 shell holder, as the .204 is based on the .222?

My press is a Lee Classic cast. Should I be looking at a Lee priming tool instead so that I can use the same shell holders (and for that matter, can a shell holder for a Lee press be used with the Lee primer tools?)

Color me confused

thanks,

--Duck911

 

[bigcim]

will this work
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0037484216103a&navCount=1&podId=0037484&parentId=cat20849&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat602007-cat20849&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20849&hasJS=true

 

[duck911]

Yes, I have considered that hand primer but I still have the same questions above about shell holder size, compatability, etc.

thanks,

-Duck911

 

[75Bronco]

The #10 shell holder works with the .204. Which IS the same one as the .222. So far I'm loading for 30-06, .243 and 45ACP and only have to use the #3 for all of them. I actually bought 2 shell holders, one for the hand primer and one for the press.

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0012726210536a.shtml

 

[duck911]

Thanks for the reply, Bronco... Looks like the RCBS hand primer would work then for what I need...

Are shell holders (like Dies) typically interchangable between presses?

In other words, can I use a RCBS shell holder in my Lee Cast press?

I'd like to now own 2 of every shell holder if I can help it, but they're cheap so if I have to, I will...

thanks!

 

[75Bronco]

I don't think that the shell holder will work in a lee press. I may be wrong but I'm not sure as I have all rcbs stuff.

However, Lee does have a full kit for super cheap, 15 bucks at Cabela's:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=netcon&id=0004242210547a&navCount=5&podId=0004242&parentId=cat20847&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20847&hasJS=true

The RCBS holders run around 5 bucks each at the local Sportsmans. I'd link sportsmans stuff but they don't have an online site. Yet


EDIT:

You know what, they say in the LEE description that they will work in all brands of presses so they must be universal.

 

[Matt-man]

Shell holders and dies are almost universally interchangeable between different brands. The big exceptions are the Lee Auto Prime (has its own shell holders), Dillon's Square Deal progressive press (special dies), and 50BMG stuff (bigger dies). With dies there are some obscure things like Lyman hand tools but almost everything else is going to use standard 7/8x14 dies that you get from RCBS/Lee/Redding/Hornady/Forster etc etc.

I use RCBS shell holders in my Lee Classic Cast all the time, and I think I have dies from all of the above manufacturers. They all fit & work fine.

 

[duck911]

Awesome! You guys on this forum kick ass, thanks for the great info!