What am I missing??

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scythefwd

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Ok , here are my plans to be completed before the end of the year... If I am missing anything you see as vital, speak up. Recommendations for similarly priced substitutions are welcome. Recommendations for more expensive subs aren't welcome without justifications.... I don't like x brand is not justification, quantify your reasons.

1. CH single stage press (old, but in perfect condition) - already have
2. Vibratory cleaner (Chicago Power from Harbor and Freight) - already have - 5lb capacity
3. Dies, preferably Lee Carbide dies - Have .30-06, need .308 win, .30-30, .38sp, 9mm
4. Calipers - need suggestions, thinking around 20-30 dollars for a set
5. Lee perfect powder measure - 25ish Does this throw consistently?
6. Lee safety scale - others will be considered, needs to be .1 grain accurate and consistent... non digital will be cheaper
7. lee zip trim / case gauges - other will be considered
8. lee auto prime - already have
9. universal shell holders, looking at lee for price, other will be considered
10. reloading manual - already own Modern Reloading (has load data in the back)

Yes, I know it's very heavy in Lee equipment, but I am trying to keep this as inexpensive as possible. What pushed the wife over to "we should be able to do that this year" was that I said it should only run 170ish and the boxes of ammo for the .308 were 45 EACH! She is seeing the economy (yes, they are nosler BT bullets, but I can still load them cheaper than federal sells them for). I don't shoot a whole lot, maybe 2-300 round a year when I can get away. Batches will probably only be 50-100 rounds per... maybe more as I get into it. I don't need bench rest accuracy, but the ability to tailor rounds to the rifle is a plus, cost is the biggest issue. At 2$ a round to buy, I can beat that easily. I have a garand, so it will be cheaper to reload for that as well... not so much for the .30-30 where I pay 50-75 cents a round already.

I am not looking for suggestions on a different press.... This one is 50+ years old and is smoother than any other single stage press I have placed my hands on. I will be priming by hand, as well as putting charges in separately instead of with the press.


OH, and how fine is the corncob media for the tumblers??? Is it much more fine than say the ground corncob cat litter??? If not, I might have to see which one is cheaper to buy :)
 
There's NOTHING wrong with the lee equipment on your list save for 5 and 6

Ive used both of those items and TRUST ME reloading will be a much less frustrating, enjoyable and rewarding experience if you drop a little more coin on a Uniflow or equivalent powder measureI <literally gave my lee PPM away to someone who paid the shipping> and a QUALITY beam scale. A upgrade on these two Items will transform the rest of your list. Prowl Ebay for both these items used. I think I paid $20 for my ancient but excellent 0ahus-lyman scale.


10. reloading manual - already own Modern Reloading (has load data in the back
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Don't forget about he many excellent and FREE online data centers the powder manufacturers provide

the cheapest digital calipers you can find will be fine for the degree of precision reloading calipers demand. When you get real precise you'll need a mic

I am not looking for suggestions on a different press.... This one is 50+ years old and is smoother than any other single stage press I have placed my hands on. I will be priming by hand, as well as putting charges in separately instead of with the press.
Click to expand...

Before you bank too much on this press you should check to see if it uses STD shell holders! It's also really smooth because it probably lacks compound leverage. Not a critical deal just a heads up on something that may have you looking to upgrade later.
 
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Will look into the uniflow, what do they run about? Got any suggestions on the beam scale? RCBS, around here at least, clears 100 by itself.

Actually, I believe it does have compound leverage. It just has a great feel to it and it has already been broken in... by several thousand rounds or so from my grandpa before he died.
 
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Lee safety scale - others will be considered, needs to be .1 grain accurate and consistent... non digital will be cheaper
Click to expand...

Not so, same price $20 (on sale) at MidwayUSA and you can weigh bullets/loaded round on the digital (manual goes to 100gr only):
(Also recommend a multi-powder funnel like lyman model $6)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=175512
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=712103
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=118739

712103.jpg
175512.jpg
118739.jpg
 
bds - I have been doing a bit of reading here and the FA scale appears to be hit or miss. I did just find a rcbs 130 scale for 40 locally, so no shipping. They also have uniflows for 70. Ill have to up the estimate to about 220, but that is still cheaper than 5 boxes of ammo ;) We'll ignore corelokts right now.
 
bds said:
Not so, same price $20 (on sale) at MidwayUSA and you can weigh bullets/loaded round on the digital (manual goes to 100gr only):
(Also recommend a multi-powder funnel like lyman model $6)

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=175512
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=712103
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=118739

712103.jpg
175512.jpg
118739.jpg
Click to expand...
I do not recommend the cheap battery digitals digitals for the beginner or as a primary scale. I have one and while it's handy for quick spot checks or weighing items of an unknown weight it WILL NOT hold a zero for much longer than 60 seconds and thus must be "reTARE'd" between each and every measurement.

Although I'd still use one (cheap digital) long before another lee safety scale graced my desktop
 
At least I'm not expecting a scale like the one I had in chemistry class. You could wave your hand at it and it would measure the air pressure change. You had to calibrate it every time you moved it form table to table because the air currents were different. I think it had 4 digits after the . I am not sure though, it has been 15 years or so.
 
What purpose does that loading tray serve that a loading block doesn't? I'm genuinely curious about it.

I didn't think C&H was still making single stage presses.
 
I do not recommend the cheap battery digitals digitals for the beginner or as a primary scale. I have one and while it's handy for quick spot checks or weighing items of an unknown weight it WILL NOT hold a zero for much longer than 60 seconds and thus must be "reTARE'd" between each and every measurement.
Click to expand...

Digital scales not holding zero sometimes is due to air movement in the room and may require air baffles. I have my scale away from the HVAC vent and it maintains the zero. Often breathing over the scale will change the reading.

If you want to test the zero on your digital scale, keep it under a clear bowl or cover and see if it changes.
 
bds - I can't load their page from some reason.

I contacted them about my press, a C&H 204 in order to get a manual.. was told that press was over 50 years old and should probably be in a reloading museum. They lost all the old manuals when they moved sites.
 
bds said:
Digital scales not holding zero sometimes is due to air movement in the room and may require air baffles. I have my scale away from the HVAC vent and it maintains the zero. Often breathing over the scale will change the reading.

If you want to test the zero on your digital scale, keep it under a clear bowl or cover and see if it changes.
Click to expand...
it does so even with the transparent cover installed, that's just the nature of these made in china cheap o battery powered digital scales.

What kind are you using?
 
What kind are you using?
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MidwayUSA Frankford Arsenal Micro Reloading Electronic Powder Scale 750 Grain Capacity Product #: 713372

It's no longer available. My unit does not have to be reTARED between each and every measurement - just once.

It does come with temperature range rating of 59F - 95F ... perhaps some other users exceeded this range and having issues.

I can't speak for their new digital scale whether it's got issues with maintaining zero.
 
Wonder what is different between the two.
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Maybe less rust? :D

Mine came with round black ball on the black pull lever with more square body where the primer feeder mounts. Also the pivot mount where the bottom of ram is connected is more beefier than the picture shown on the THR thread.
 
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