Greywindcoming
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- Feb 8, 2011
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Thanks for the links Lost Sheep
What press should I start reloading with?
- Thread starter Greywindcoming
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I load all my handgun ammo on a Lee Classic 4 Hole turret press and all my rifle ammo on a RCBS Rock Chucker. since you are going to load 40 S&W ammo I suggest the Lee Turret Press.
One thing, I HIGHLY suggest buying a Pro Auto-Disk powder measure over the standard Auto-Disk. It's that much better! Kempf has the Classic Turret in a kit, buy both upgrades and you get a set of dies with the kit. That kit with both upgrades is just under $200, that's a good price...
One thing, I HIGHLY suggest buying a Pro Auto-Disk powder measure over the standard Auto-Disk. It's that much better! Kempf has the Classic Turret in a kit, buy both upgrades and you get a set of dies with the kit. That kit with both upgrades is just under $200, that's a good price...
REL1203
Member
About a year ago, i started out reloading, and had similar thoughts. I wanted to do handgun rounds, and precision rifle rounds so i was torn. I was looking at the Rock Chucker, the Lee Classic Turret or either the Hornady Lock'n'load progressive or Dillion 550b. I ultimately decided i didnt need a progressive yet so ruled them out, and the thought of doing 1,000 round loading sessions on a single stage just scared me, so i went with the Lee Classic Turret and I LOVE it. I think its GREAT for handgun, and works very well for precision rifle. My vote goes to Lee Classic Turret with Pro Auto Disks for each caliber you will be using it with.
Lee Hand Press for $25!
I started reloading about a year ago. Loaded about 1000 rounds of 38 and 357 so far. I have the Lee Hand Press. I have a big house but no basement. We use the garage for cars (go figure). So I do most of my reloading in the living room. After tumbling, I decap and resize about 100. Then switch to the expanding die and do 100. I use the Lee hand primer. Real easy to use. Then I clamp my Lee "Perfect" Powder Measure to a table and charge 50 rounds. Seat the 50 bullets then crimp 50.
I go shooting about once a month.
You can start with the Hand Press and up gun later on to a Lee Turret. The Hand Press is always handy to have any way.
I started reloading about a year ago. Loaded about 1000 rounds of 38 and 357 so far. I have the Lee Hand Press. I have a big house but no basement. We use the garage for cars (go figure). So I do most of my reloading in the living room. After tumbling, I decap and resize about 100. Then switch to the expanding die and do 100. I use the Lee hand primer. Real easy to use. Then I clamp my Lee "Perfect" Powder Measure to a table and charge 50 rounds. Seat the 50 bullets then crimp 50.
I go shooting about once a month.
You can start with the Hand Press and up gun later on to a Lee Turret. The Hand Press is always handy to have any way.
bluesteel63
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- Jan 27, 2011
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this place here has the best prices for any Lee items. I think there just up the road from the Lee factory so they do not have a big shipping bill I'm assuming.
https://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/index.html
https://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/index.html
mbruce
Member
IMHO the best "kit" to start out on is the Mark X - Pistol Ammunition Loader
you can read about it here.... http://www.ammoload.com/mark_x_pistol.htm
And for a tumbler I think you're better off with this tumber....http://www.ammoload.com/tumblers_and_washers.htm
you can read about it here.... http://www.ammoload.com/mark_x_pistol.htm
And for a tumbler I think you're better off with this tumber....http://www.ammoload.com/tumblers_and_washers.htm
bluesteel63
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haha thats funny stuff mbruce
Greywindcoming
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- Feb 8, 2011
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LMAO Nice I think they will look good next to the tv in the apartment.
Lee Turret
I have been using mine since Christmas. I don't use the crappy Lee scale, but bought a digital jewelry scale on Ebay for $20.00. Lots of Youtube help on how to set up and adjust the Lee product and for the price you can't beat it.
I have been using mine since Christmas. I don't use the crappy Lee scale, but bought a digital jewelry scale on Ebay for $20.00. Lots of Youtube help on how to set up and adjust the Lee product and for the price you can't beat it.
BigN
Member
I agree with Matt. I also have the Lee Hand Press and I can sit in the recliner watching TV and load shells until the cows come home. I also do it in phases as he said. Clean a bunch, deprime and size a bunch, charge a bunch and seat a bunch. Works great and once you get used to it, it's not as slow as you'd think. I shoot a lot and load a lot. It's well worth the money. If I ever get rid of all camping, fishing, shooting equipment here I'll have room to set up a bench but for now, it's a great way to go. No set up, no benches. Check it out, price is right...
Lee Classic Turret.
I started my reloading journey with this press about 4 years ago. A friend gave me an RCBS Rockchucker with scale, powder measure, bench mounted primer system and other assorted accessories. I liked my Lee so much I never used the RCBS but instead passed it on to a friend of mine so he can start reloading.
The Lee goes fast enough to me in auto index mode when loading handgun ammunition and .223 or I can disconnect the auto index and use it like a single stage for my .270 and 30-06.
If I had the time to shoot more I would probably look for a Dillon 550 for handgun but right now, I don't so the Lee meets all my needs.
I started my reloading journey with this press about 4 years ago. A friend gave me an RCBS Rockchucker with scale, powder measure, bench mounted primer system and other assorted accessories. I liked my Lee so much I never used the RCBS but instead passed it on to a friend of mine so he can start reloading.
The Lee goes fast enough to me in auto index mode when loading handgun ammunition and .223 or I can disconnect the auto index and use it like a single stage for my .270 and 30-06.
If I had the time to shoot more I would probably look for a Dillon 550 for handgun but right now, I don't so the Lee meets all my needs.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Go With "The Green Machine"
R.C.B.S.
R.C.B.S.
I reloaded for 29 years on a single stage press before getting a progressive. I still load rifle on the single stage and have no plans to move them to the progressive.
I look periodically at turret presses and can't for the life of me figure out the benefit of them although the Lee auto index turrets may have an advantage--maybe not. I reload shot shells on a Mec 600 Jr, which functions much like a turret press except the shell moves not the dies and it aggravates me. Unfortunately, shot shells don't lend themselves to batch processing like what is the most efficient process on a single stage.
I started with an RCBS press and now use a Redding. I still have and use the RCBS. Any of the larger single stage presses will perform well for a first press. Besides, it is handy to have a single stage press around for doing specialized jobs.
I look periodically at turret presses and can't for the life of me figure out the benefit of them although the Lee auto index turrets may have an advantage--maybe not. I reload shot shells on a Mec 600 Jr, which functions much like a turret press except the shell moves not the dies and it aggravates me. Unfortunately, shot shells don't lend themselves to batch processing like what is the most efficient process on a single stage.
I started with an RCBS press and now use a Redding. I still have and use the RCBS. Any of the larger single stage presses will perform well for a first press. Besides, it is handy to have a single stage press around for doing specialized jobs.
Another vote for the lee classic turret. Been using it about a year for low quantity of loads and it is user friendly. The individual turret for each DIE is AWESOME as you don't have to reset each time. Now if I could only find a good economical scale. 
Xfire68
Member
Lee Classic! It's a fantastic press!
I have a Classic Turret, Lee 45th single stage Kit and a Hornady LNL AP with the case feeder and the Turret press is always on standby ready for action!
I have a Classic Turret, Lee 45th single stage Kit and a Hornady LNL AP with the case feeder and the Turret press is always on standby ready for action!
Bmac1949
Member
I think these guys that are telling you to just get a solid press, like a Lee, are right and being on a tight budget you can spend your money on good scales and a powder despensor. I also recommend a good trim lathe. When you add up all the small things you'll need and want to make things go easier and faster it's going to cost a lot more than the press and you'll have the added benefit of being able to buy more consumables. I'm fairly new at this too and still picking up dies and shell prep accessories and trying different consumables but sometime in the future I'll probably pick up a Redding turret press. The main thing is be safe and enjoy it.
Cop Bob
Member
My 2 Cents
My 1st press was an RCBS Rockchucker, it is still bolted to my bench and in use, it is approaching 50 years old.
The world has spun around a few times since that was purchased, the lee turret might be the way to go.. I have lots of dies sets, most RCBS, however I am a huge fan of Dillon Dies, that are not that much more than other brands and they have many design features in their pistol dies that just make them a pleasure to use. Just make sure it is heavy enough, cast iron preferably.
Don't go gadget crazy, just get that basics, your bench will fill up soon enough.
Good measuring tools, good scales, good powder measure.. Study, study study.
Eventually you will wind up with a Dillon. Higher production, does not eat up any more room on the bench.
MBruce, funny stuff, that IS the rig that I learned on, and old C&H Autoload, (it is the bottom press on that page) was a hoot when it would shear a primer and chain fire up through the primer tube... the ceiling in the load room above that machine looked like someone was patterning shotguns... and the tumbler, we made one that looked similar. Back when we were actually loading our own qualification ammo..
My 1st press was an RCBS Rockchucker, it is still bolted to my bench and in use, it is approaching 50 years old.
The world has spun around a few times since that was purchased, the lee turret might be the way to go.. I have lots of dies sets, most RCBS, however I am a huge fan of Dillon Dies, that are not that much more than other brands and they have many design features in their pistol dies that just make them a pleasure to use. Just make sure it is heavy enough, cast iron preferably.
Don't go gadget crazy, just get that basics, your bench will fill up soon enough.
Good measuring tools, good scales, good powder measure.. Study, study study.
Eventually you will wind up with a Dillon. Higher production, does not eat up any more room on the bench.
MBruce, funny stuff, that IS the rig that I learned on, and old C&H Autoload, (it is the bottom press on that page) was a hoot when it would shear a primer and chain fire up through the primer tube... the ceiling in the load room above that machine looked like someone was patterning shotguns... and the tumbler, we made one that looked similar. Back when we were actually loading our own qualification ammo..
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