beginner reloading equipment

[jkats]

I'm looking to start reloading and i don't have any of the equipment needed. I don't shoot a ton so i wont be doing high volumes of ammo at a time. Right now i have a 223 and a 280 that i would like to reload for and maybe my 45acp too. I'm 23 and married so money is kind of tight but would like decent equipment, i don't shoot competition so it doesn't need to be top of the line. I have looked around and don't know if one of the "kits" would be best or if buying them individually so i can pick and choose from different companies would be better. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Jason

 

[DennisH]

RCBS has one heck of a package and I believe there is a $50 rebate now as well!

I started there, and upgraded from there, things like an electronic scale, etc.

Sinclair has this kit on sale now.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=45505/avs%7CManufacturer_1=RCBS/Product/ROCK-CHUCKER-SUPREME-MASTER-RELOADING-KIT

Or you can search, even try Ebay, and piece the items together to your spec's!

Let us know if you need any advice or help. RCBS has several reloading video's and if you go to YouTube you will find dozens of videos. Most I watched were very helpfull.

Most suppliers, Midway, Sinclair etc., have videos as well. Pictures are worth a thousand words sometimes!

 

[MNFinn]

I have the RCBs Rockchucker Supreme Master reloading kit. That plus the dies and shell holder were like $350 from Cabela's. I just got into reloading myself, and the kit seems pretty good for a beginner. Be wary though, it gets addictive

 

[jkats]

In the rcbs kit, is that everything i will need except dies and the different size shell holders? I've seen in other kits case trimmers, oal gauge and callipers, are those things that i will need or can do without for now?

 

[MNFinn]

you'll need a calipers. but an OAL gauge and trimmer arent necessarily necessary right away. I got a trimmer recently, but for my first few reloads, my shells were still under SAAMI max length. an OAL gauge is nice, but I don't have one yet, and it hasn't seemed to be a problem. will get one later, but it isn't at the top of the priority list right now

 

[jkats]

It was suggested to be that i would be better going off with redding, and that the newer rcbs isn't what they used to be. Any other opinions on this?

 

[MNFinn]

It was suggested to be that i would be better going off with redding, and that the newer rcbs isn't what they used to be. Any other opinions on this?

I wouldn't know about this. I know my Rockchucker works really well for me. Redding are good too though.

 

[stretch308]

I know very well the tight budget issue(wife and 4 kids) so I have found that Lee products not failed me for near 20 years. Nobody is cheaper . I have 2 press,a challenger and a classic turret, both I love. About a half dozen dies and trimmers. All of which cost about the same as 1 Redding press or 3 sets of dies . So far my equipment is more accurate than most of my rifles. I would never dispute redding quality or accuracy,its well deserved but if money is going to be THE factor keeping you from joining the ranks of hair pullin teeth grindin bench kickin mouth grinnin ear to ear very satisfied groups of people to ever know than please take a look at Lee products. BUT FIRST get a reloading manual and read it ..... twice . Then by all means come over to the dark side.

 

[D2x shooter]

Jkats,

Take a look at Dillon 500 or 550. Also Dillon will send you a nice catalog. I would agree that RCBS is also good stuff as is Redding. Get a good scale and at least two manuals for loading data. Look at the Hodgdon site as their manual is on-line and searchable with their menus.
Good luck and take your time when loading.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

If I knew what I know now about what is out there and how it can be used I would have started with a single stage press with quick change dies of any style it doesn't matter how the change as long as I don't have to reset them every time. I would get 1 good balance beam scale and a powder trickler and then get a lee reloading kit for everything else. Get reloading books whenever you can both old and new. I find that some of the really really old books happen to have the most easily readable information that directly pertains to reloading. I now have a few presses but the only one I use even for bulk reloading is my forster co-ax press and I have a block with all my dies set up. Oh and if you reload sporadically then get a depriming die from lee and when you come back from the range you can deprime all your brass with the same die and just toss it in the tumbler to wait till you have enough to run it. Just learn what you can and then think long and hard about what you actually need to do to meet your requirements based off of what you find. Till I frequented this site I did several things that are for precision reloading, without doing other steps to support those initial steps. I have since changed how I reload and it will most likely change as I read about things that can improve the speed without sacrificing accuracy. It is one giant science experiment and the more you learn about it before starting the faster it is to get results.
I apologize for the rant as its late and the day was long.

 

[DennisH]

I don't shoot a ton so i wont be doing high volumes of ammo at a time

With stating the above, LEE is not a bad choice to start with!

I do like a good competition seater, Forester or RCBS Gold Medal. You could use one of these two and probably could get away without check concentricity of each bullet! LEE sizer dies are used by many people. I perfer a electronic scale, but a beam scale is "great". I have a lot of equipment, but sometimes I load 200+ rounds per month!

You will hear people talk about ultra-sonic cleaning, stainless steel cleaners, but the vibrator will do the job and is the cheapest!

OP, any other questions, let us know.

 

[jkats]

Right now i still don't know which direction to go, I like to price of the Lee set up but am afraid i would end up kicking myself in the long run but like i said i don't shoot competitively or a lot so it might serve me just fine. On the other hand I could go rcbs or redding and not look back but that costs a couple hundred bucks. Right now I'm thinking ill try find a used rcbs press and piece together everything else.

 

[clatarar]

I'd be looking for a used Rock-chucker or a used redding and then piecing it together with essentials. You say that you don't shoot much now but it is just a matter of time before the bug gets you and you find yourself shooting just so you can do some more handloading. You might also want to look at getting a good scale right off the bat, say a MACK20 or a Gempro250. I've yet to try either but I've read good reviews on both.

 

[GSRswapandslow]

I picked up my RCBS kit from the local walmart...and also picked up dies, brass, powder, primer, and bullets while I was in there. The only thing i immediately added was a Wilson OAL gauge. That was for .45acp. Now that I'm loading .223rem....i've purchased lee deluxe dies, rcbs dies, forster micrometer seater, wilson gauge, LNL OAL measuring tool with a modified case, possum hollow quick trim, and some other random things..... It adds up, quickly...but i get AS MUCH enjoyment from reloading as I do actually shooting...and in the long run i WILL save money.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I picked up my RCBS kit from the local walmart...and also picked up dies, brass, powder, primer, and bullets while I was in there. The only thing i immediately added was a Wilson OAL gauge. That was for .45acp. Now that I'm loading .223rem....i've purchased lee deluxe dies, rcbs dies, forster micrometer seater, wilson gauge, LNL OAL measuring tool with a modified case, possum hollow quick trim, and some other random things..... It adds up, quickly...but i get AS MUCH enjoyment from reloading as I do actually shooting...and in the long run i WILL save money.

In what amazing state do you live in were they sell reloading supplies at a walmart. If I found that I might have to make a trip to see it myself!

 

[GSRswapandslow]

In what amazing state do you live in were they sell reloading supplies at a walmart. If I found that I might have to make a trip to see it myself!

NC, specifically Taylorsville NC.
RCBS Dies, Shell holders, deprime pins, 2 seperate reloading kits, RC IV press, Trimmer, powder trickler, 5-0-5 scales
Speer reloading manual and bullets
Hornady bullets and reloading manual
MTM bullet boxes
MEC shotshell reloading press and supplies
carry most normal powders: Unique, Varget, Clays, Reddot, 4895 and a few other "number" powders that I forget offhand