THR Reloading Gear Review Thread

Captain*kirk

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I spend a lot of time looking at reloading gear videos on YT, and when something catches my eye, I'm generally a sucker to buy it in hopes it will make my reloading chores easier, faster, more efficient, etc. Over the last few decades I've purchased quite a few 'necessity' accessories, some more necessary and useful than others. I'm hoping we can review our new/recent purchases and post comments (both positive and negative) as to how they panned out here. One thing you rarely see in comments sections of YT is post-upload comments by the reviewer...it's always the greatest thing since sliced bread when the guy posts it, but we usually don't get any follow-ups by the OP. So by all means, share your gear purchases, your comments as to function and value, and any other thoughts you might have.
 
Easily the best piece of kit I have, hands down, and I have accumulated a lot of “stuff” over the years:

 
My latest purchase has been the RCBS bench mounted Automatic Bench Priming Tool


Since I'm not a fan of hand-held priming tools, I've found this to be an outstanding tool as an alternative to hand priming or prime-on-press method. Primers seat very easily and fully, there is all the leverage you'll ever need and it works flawlessly. It does take a little getting used to the rhythm of down/up, down/up but once you've done a few it comes natural. If you're one of the few that detest the RCBS primer feed tubes, you might not like this too much because it uses the same tubes, but that's what I'm used to so it fits right in with my regime. The square lever handle has a piece of foam rubber on it and some have claimed it starts to bother them after a couple hundred primers, but those people did mention you can slide a bicycle handlebar grip over the foam and that fixes it. I've not had an issue with that yet. I find it well-built and has the RCBS lifetime warranty. It uses standard shell holders and has a ready to go primer cup setup for both small and large primers with a handy spot right on the tool to store them. Primers seat firmly with no high primers out of the fifty cases I primed. I'm giving this a thumbs-up so far; will report back after I've done 1000 or more.

53777655907_9ec0b51159_b.jpg
 
The Lee Ram Prime and also the three jaw Chuck permanently chucked in an old 14v Dewalt have been simple pleasures for rifle brass.
Led florescent bulb replacements are more handy than pockets on a shirt.
Going from a single press to a Lyman eight hole was wonderful. Right now it's got 06 , 308 and 30 30 plus Ram Prime and leaves an extra hole for a crimp die of the hour.
 
My latest purchase has been the RCBS bench mounted Automatic Bench Priming Tool


Since I'm not a fan of hand-held priming tools, I've found this to be an outstanding tool as an alternative to hand priming or prime-on-press method. Primers seat very easily and fully, there is all the leverage you'll ever need and it works flawlessly. It does take a little getting used to the rhythm of down/up, down/up but once you've done a few it comes natural. If you're one of the few that detest the RCBS primer feed tubes, you might not like this too much because it uses the same tubes, but that's what I'm used to so it fits right in with my regime. The square lever handle has a piece of foam rubber on it and some have claimed it starts to bother them after a couple hundred primers, but those people did mention you can slide a bicycle handlebar grip over the foam and that fixes it. I've not had an issue with that yet. I find it well-built and has the RCBS lifetime warranty. It uses standard shell holders and has a ready to go primer cup setup for both small and large primers with a handy spot right on the tool to store them. Primers seat firmly with no high primers out of the fifty cases I primed. I'm giving this a thumbs-up so far; will report back after I've done 1000 or more.

53777655907_9ec0b51159_b.jpg
I had Inline Fabrication put a roller handle on mine. Inline Fabrication sells them now I believe.


 
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Paralysis by analysis.
While it’s helpful to watch or read what someone else finds useful, I find that “YMMV” rule is very true. I do woodworking too and it applies there as well.
I can tell you I upgraded from a LNL to a RL1100 and am very happy, not sure how useful that is.
 
For priming I went forward first with a Lee APP Deluxe to prime with when it came out, because the App worked so well.

I would not recommend the APP Deluxe to anyone to prime with. I had to modify mine just to make it work at all. Some days it decides to work and some days it just doesn't. It always feeds a primer whether a case is there or not, and you have to dig it out every time with tweezers.
It has other uses but I quit using mine altogether. Not worth it to me. That's the only negative review I would have on my reloading equipment.

Then I went back in time instead and dug out my old Pro1000 from around 1990 and rebuilt it with what Lee still had for it. Mine was a .357mag press but I bought a new style 9mm shell plate on it, Only difference over all these years are the alignment holes for the pins. They screw right on to the second generation Pro 1000s and work as good as the originals.

I decided to do this so I didn't wear out my Hornady case feeder by running two passes through it. Won't hurt the press and it primes very well, but my case feeder is old now and I don't want to have to buy another one at today's prices. So it only get's used when doing second pass for 9mm now.

I use the old Pro1000 to do all my priming on .357 and 9mm and it's getting a workout. Just change the shell plate and it works for either caliber. Don't need to have different carrier for different calibers just stay with the same primer size.
As long as I keep powder away from it, it primes great.
It's the fastest game in town for priming and I prime at 700 to 1000 cases per hour with it when not filling the case feeder or swapping primer trays. And it won't feed a primer if a case isn't there.
And even with the S/A primers, they all go bang.

So that old thing is my new priming tool and I put some old equipment I had laying around back to work. I resize, neck size, and prime on it and I can leave my LNL-AP set up for second pass all the time for 9mm. So these two presses now work hand in hand with each other for 9mm.

Just like Lordpaxman said, This may or may not work for you, but it's moving forward by going back, and finding a new use for an old tool.
 
A few items I use and like a lot!

KMS^2 led press lights (on LCT & ABLP)
NOE PTX expanders (M-type)
LEE PTX expanders (cheaper, work just as well) (M-type)

Inline Fabrication
LCT auto eject kit
Ergo handle for LCT

Lyman Universal Press Stand
FW Arms hardened decapping pins
Gardner Bender conduit lock nut wrench (perfect for LEE dies with splines)
Ohaus balance powder scale (buy used)
Lyman VLD chamfer reamer
Lyman outside chamfer tool

Probably have more, but that’s what comes to mind.
 
My latest purchase has been the RCBS bench mounted Automatic Bench Priming Tool


Since I'm not a fan of hand-held priming tools, I've found this to be an outstanding tool as an alternative to hand priming or prime-on-press method. Primers seat very easily and fully, there is all the leverage you'll ever need and it works flawlessly. It does take a little getting used to the rhythm of down/up, down/up but once you've done a few it comes natural. If you're one of the few that detest the RCBS primer feed tubes, you might not like this too much because it uses the same tubes, but that's what I'm used to so it fits right in with my regime. The square lever handle has a piece of foam rubber on it and some have claimed it starts to bother them after a couple hundred primers, but those people did mention you can slide a bicycle handlebar grip over the foam and that fixes it. I've not had an issue with that yet. I find it well-built and has the RCBS lifetime warranty. It uses standard shell holders and has a ready to go primer cup setup for both small and large primers with a handy spot right on the tool to store them. Primers seat firmly with no high primers out of the fifty cases I primed. I'm giving this a thumbs-up so far; will report back after I've done 1000 or more.

53777655907_9ec0b51159_b.jpg
I've done a few thousand. It just works.
Only thing I had issue with? I stuck the tool into the end of a 223 case because I didn't didn't press the lever again to get a primer into it. Idiot move on my part.
 
For priming I went forward first with a Lee APP Deluxe to prime with when it came out, because the App worked so well.

I would not recommend the APP Deluxe to anyone to prime with. I had to modify mine just to make it work at all. Some days it decides to work and some days it just doesn't. It always feeds a primer whether a case is there or not, and you have to dig it out every time with tweezers.
It has other uses but I quit using mine altogether. Not worth it to me. That's the only negative review I would have on my reloading equipment.

Then I went back in time instead and dug out my old Pro1000 from around 1990 and rebuilt it with what Lee still had for it. Mine was a .357mag press but I bought a new style 9mm shell plate on it, Only difference over all these years are the alignment holes for the pins. They screw right on to the second generation Pro 1000s and work as good as the originals.

I decided to do this so I didn't wear out my Hornady case feeder by running two passes through it. Won't hurt the press and it primes very well, but my case feeder is old now and I don't want to have to buy another one at today's prices. So it only get's used when doing second pass for 9mm now.

I use the old Pro1000 to do all my priming on .357 and 9mm and it's getting a workout. Just change the shell plate and it works for either caliber. Don't need to have different carrier for different calibers just stay with the same primer size.
As long as I keep powder away from it, it primes great.
It's the fastest game in town for priming and I prime at 700 to 1000 cases per hour with it when not filling the case feeder or swapping primer trays. And it won't feed a primer if a case isn't there.
And even with the S/A primers, they all go bang.

So that old thing is my new priming tool and I put some old equipment I had laying around back to work. I resize, neck size, and prime on it and I can leave my LNL-AP set up for second pass all the time for 9mm. So these two presses now work hand in hand with each other for 9mm.

Just like Lordpaxman said, This may or may not work for you, but it's moving forward by going back, and finding a new use for an old tool.
I thought about getting the parts to prime for mine, then decided not to. The APP works absolutely fantastic for me as a decapper now that I've put my case feeder on it. I use a Mighty Armory die, which has been fantastic as well.
 
My Redding powder measures have been a joy to use all these decades, I'm glad I don't need one at today's prices. They've been worth it.

My best recent purchases have been the Deraco priming tool and the Henderson trimmer. Both prompted by arthritic hands. Both are
superb in their own way. Excellent quality, smooth, easy to use, nice on the hands. Almost a must these days for long runs/big batches.
Derraco PCPS on Partner Press Pic 5.JPG
IMG_7414.JPG
 
The problem for some reviewers is cost. As an example the Giraud may be the best trimmer out, but the expence matches that status. Is it better than the Lyman express power trimmer, maybe but I'm likely to never know as I can't afford one. That leads to a best in class, which I feel is the best presentation of the tools, but the expense to generate that pool of data is high. Gavin from ultimate reloader has done several including presses, and backfire does some including powder dispencers. The best were likely able to generate at our level here is a satisfaction score. As such the rcbs bench prime is the best priming tool I've used, and the Lyman express trimmer meets my needs. I am also very pleased with the rcbs match Master window dies. Do the rcbs dies produce superior ammunition to my L E Wilson chamber seaters no, but I use them in different roles.
 
Yep the RCBS table priming tool is probably the most cost-effective reloading item that I have bought. Biggest regret is the RCBS sonic cleaner, just do not use it at all. It works but is not worth all the set up.
 
We should start a 'Not all it's cracked up to be' thread... of stuff that you bought and hasn't lived up to the hype.

I'll have to think a bit about any sort of kit that really blew my socks off...

One that comes to mind is the Lyman M-die, for loading cast bullets. I also have the same thing in Lee die/NOE insert version that is just as good. The days of shaving lead and crushing case mouths are over, and I believe it aids accuracy by not swaging the bullet base down.

The other thing that comes immediately to mind is the powered Lyman Case Prep Center. @Walkalong mentioned arthritic hands... I'm not quite there, yet... but my hands have issues. The Lyman CPM has saved me hours of hand agony by motorizing steps like case neck brushing, chamfering case mouths, cleaning primer pockets, and cutting primer crimps out.
 
My latest purchase has been the RCBS bench mounted Automatic Bench Priming Tool
Since I'm not a fan of hand-held priming tools, I've found this to be an outstanding tool as an alternative to hand priming or prime-on-press method. Primers seat very easily and fully, there is all the leverage you'll ever need and it works flawlessly.


I've had one for several years and when loading large batches it is much easier on me than my RCBS hand held. In small batches of 50 or less I stick with the hand primer because of the time and effort it takes to load the primer tubes. I use the hand primer tray to load the tubes and it works well. One thing I learned quickly, is to be careful when priming .380 brass, as the amount of leverage can bend the rim if you're not careful. Never had an issue with any other caliber.
 
My Redding powder measures have been a joy to use all these decades, I'm glad I don't need one at today's prices.
That's the bad part of it. As a for instance, Hornady now wants almost as much for just a case feeder as I paid for the press and case feeder together when I bought them. I guess that's what's paying for the free parts we get when we call them.
 
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