Best reloading tools?

[Sniper338]

I've been out of the loop totally reloading and shooting wise for just about the last 7 years. Life happened, moving, kids, family, etc. Finally at a point where we are settling, don't plan to move towns or states again. We are home with family...

I was pretty up to date at the time with the amp annealer, a&d v2 auto trickler, geriard trimmer, and top of the line stuff at that time. Edit 21st century most everything he did at that time.

Whats the newer innovations and go to stuff now days? I'm sure I'm still in the ball park, but I know I'm behind on the latest and greatest of stuff.

I know f class john has youtube videos and stays up to date on alot... thats prolly going to be a source for videos of stuff that's come out, haven't got that far yet though...

What can yall tell me?

 

[LCazador]

Sounds like you have the upper hand already. Yes I'd recommend the you tube videos by "Ultimate Reloader" and F-Class John. Erik Cortina has great information as well and of course this website. Everything is pretty much up to your individual taste and dictated by the discipline you'll be shooting. Let me not leave out "what you can afford".

 

[TTE]

Oh boy !
I can see this thread going all over the place.
Be that as it may ..........
As with many threads -

What is your intended goal, are you going to attend matches, or do you only want smaller groups than your buddies

 

[K22]

Depends on how complicated and expensive you want to make this hobby.

I have seen some really far out processes being promoted in the net that promises nirvana. It's a potential deep rabbit hole one can go into it but some like it that way and that's fine. Because in the final analysis it's a hobby and you can make your own rules and spend your money the way you want, a wifey notwithstanding.

However, one can produce really high performance and serviceable reloads with the basic tools and processes. The most important improvement I have seen and adopted since when I began over 50 years ago is the use of bump gauges and a caliper to precisely create optimum sizing. Other than that, I am somewhat doing what I have always done for over 50+years, and it has service me well both economically and performance wise relative to reloading.

PS: Another innovation that has made F/L sizing die adjustments significantly easier is the development of Skip Shims.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I've been out of the loop totally reloading and shooting wise for just about the last 7 years. Life happened, moving, kids, family, etc. Finally at a point where we are settling, don't plan to move towns or states again. We are home with family...

I was pretty up to date at the time with the amp annealer, a&d v2 auto trickler, geriard trimmer, and top of the line stuff at that time.

Whats the newer innovations and go to stuff now days? I'm sure I'm still in the ball park, but I know I'm behind on the latest and greatest of stuff.

I know f class john has youtube videos and stays up to date on alot... thats prolly going to be a source for videos of stuff that's come out, haven't got that far yet though...

What can yall tell me?

The only really big "advancement" I can think of since then is the AMP Press.

 

[Sniper338]

The only really big "advancement" I can think of since then is the AMP Press.

Hmm ill have to look at that. Haven't heard of it.

 

[Big Mc]

I've been out of the loop totally reloading and shooting wise for just about the last 7 years. Life happened, moving, kids, family, etc. Finally at a point where we are settling, don't plan to move towns or states again. We are home with family...

I was pretty up to date at the time with the amp annealer, a&d v2 auto trickler, geriard trimmer, and top of the line stuff at that time.

Whats the newer innovations and go to stuff now days? I'm sure I'm still in the ball park, but I know I'm behind on the latest and greatest of stuff.

I know f class john has youtube videos and stays up to date on alot... thats prolly going to be a source for videos of stuff that's come out, haven't got that far yet though...

What can yall tell me?

THIS RABBIT HOLE can get V E R Y D E E P .... Tommy mc

 

[Sniper338]

THIS RABBIT HOLE can get V E R Y D E E P .... Tommy mc

Already been down it before.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I started with the Auto Trickler v2. I did the v3 and v4 upgrades, very glad I did. You might want to look into jumping straight to the v4. Overall best part of the v4 for me are two things, fewer wires to break after normal wear and tear and just one hopper serves the fast and slow powder throwers.

 

[searcher]

The AMP annealer seems to still be the "king" of the annealers - at least until someone decides to make one which will do the same thing for 1/3 the price. There have been a few new trimmers out that are worth looking at - the Henderson and one similar to it just put out by Hornady, both of which measure off the base of the brass rather than the shoulder. If you have a big budget - look at the IDOD or Autodod which turns brass inside and outside the neck at the same time. For weighing powder, there haven't been any dramatic improvements over dumping and weighing charges with a good scale, at least getting you to a higher level of accuracy. There are some new chronographs out like the Garmin which are great. No real innovations in dies or presses, though there are some nice "force-measurement" presses that some might find appealing. The Eric Cortina videos showcase a lot of these products. Seems all these new products that are truly "revolutionary" do cost a few bucks.

 

[209jones]

In the last 7 yrs? Nexus press and Zero press, Forster built a big press. Treible, Area 419, SAC, Bullet Central, Erik Cortina, all have some very pricy new dies out. May be 3-4 powders you haven't seen, VV, Alliant and WW. Lots of folk currently waiting for Ingenuity Precision powder dispensers to ship. At least 3 new chronographs, Garmin blitzkrieged the market on them, Labradar has a new one, Caldwell has a new one, one or two others did an "upgrade" after Garmin came out. Hornady added some PRC, CM and ARC cartridges. Some new cartridges added to the Lapua, ADG and Peterson brass lines.
All depends if the newfangled gizmo turns your crank enough to invest in it, none of it is "cheap" anymore.

 

[hoz53]

I've been out of the loop totally reloading and shooting wise for just about the last 7 years. Life happened, moving, kids, family, etc. Finally at a point where we are settling, don't plan to move towns or states again. We are home with family...

I was pretty up to date at the time with the amp annealer, a&d v2 auto trickler, geriard trimmer, and top of the line stuff at that time. Edit 21st century most everything he did at that time.

Whats the newer innovations and go to stuff now days? I'm sure I'm still in the ball park, but I know I'm behind on the latest and greatest of stuff.

I know f class john has youtube videos and stays up to date on alot... thats prolly going to be a source for videos of stuff that's come out, haven't got that far yet though...

What can yall tell me?

garmin chronograph- powder measures— neck turners- if you look around there have been new models of about all of it.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

if you want an update give me a call (dm me first), im up to date on everything and would be happy to help bring you up to speed

 

[R.Morehouse]

Area 419 Zero Press.......F-Class John does a good review on it. I picked one up from a friend with an extra Hybrid turret and found it to be, for my needs, worth the extra cost........Welcome Back

Regards
Rick

 

[RustyInBend]

I've been out of the loop totally reloading and shooting wise for just about the last 7 years. Life happened, moving, kids, family, etc. Finally at a point where we are settling, don't plan to move towns or states again. We are home with family...

I was pretty up to date at the time with the amp annealer, a&d v2 auto trickler, geriard trimmer, and top of the line stuff at that time. Edit 21st century most everything he did at that time.

Whats the newer innovations and go to stuff now days? I'm sure I'm still in the ball park, but I know I'm behind on the latest and greatest of stuff.

I know f class john has youtube videos and stays up to date on alot... thats prolly going to be a source for videos of stuff that's come out, haven't got that far yet though...

What can yall tell me?

My favorite innovations that have done the most for my process and results, are the AMP Press, using LE Wilson Inline Micrometer Seating Dies. I'd give my Henderson Trimmer honorable mention.

 

[Sniper338]

My favorite innovations that have done the most for my process and results, are the AMP Press, using LE Wilson Inline Micrometer Seating Dies. I'd give my Henderson Trimmer honorable mention.

I watched a video on the amp press last night. They were still in the works with it years ago. Came a long way though. It's interesting.. I use in line dies already... I have a 21st hydropress... same theory, but way way more accurate. Interesting for sure.. I can say yes, it does matter and does help to be able to group loads by seating force/neck tensions. I figured that out with the hydro years ago. Then you find yourself back trying to figure out neck tensions to try to get them closer. Led me to sizing neck with a mandrel. Got me closer still.

Yeah I'm sure the amp press is legit when your in that far.. im looking at it... looking at the area 419 press too for brass prep as I still got an old rock chucker.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I watched a video on the amp press last night. They were still in the works with it years ago. Came a long way though. It's interesting.. I use in line dies already... I have a 21st hydropress... same theory, but way way more accurate. Interesting for sure.. I can say yes, it does matter and does help to be able to group loads by seating force/neck tensions. I figured that out with the hydro years ago. Then you find yourself back trying to figure out neck tensions to try to get them closer. Led me to sizing neck with a mandrel. Got me closer still.

Yeah I'm sure the amp press is legit when your in that far.. im looking at it... looking at the area 419 press too for brass prep as I still got an old rock chucker.

If you like the Area 419 Zero press for having a turret press, it's a great one to have. If a single stage press would work for you, you might consider a Nexus???

 

[Fast14riot]

F Class Products has a new bullet pointer out.

Truthfully, all these new expensive gadgets seem to do the same thing as old tools, just faster for more money. So, if you have the time and adequate measurement tools, is it worth it to you? Not nocking anyone who has the money to save time, but it's a factor for some.