Beginner Reloading Equipment

[Riflecat]

Hello, I am sure this question has been asked many times before, but I did not see anything that was recent enough to be considered current.

I have decided to take up reloading for the first time, and want to get started as economically as possible. I plan on loading for one cartridge (6 BR) to start, and don‘t plan on reloading for an extensive assortment of calibers in the future, nor will I be a high volume shooter. This would be for fun and informal recreational shooting, but I will be seeking near-benchrest accuracy. I will not be needing to produce a large volume of cartridges, so reloading speed is not a significant factor.

it seems that I have chosen a poor time to get started from a component availability and expense standpoint, so I really need to economize where I can. Specifically, I am looking for recommemdations on the best gear to get from a value standpoint. I saw some kits mentioned in old threads that were very economical, but did not see anything in those price ranges today. Is it still better to start with a kit, or to buy pieces a la carte? I don’t want to get a bunch of stuff that I don’t need, or things that are just not good enough to be useful, nor do I want to miss anything that is widely considered essential or a best buy. On the other hand I certainly don’t need gear suitable for producing hundreds of rounds at a time or for competing at a national level.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

 

[JEFFPPC]

What you need. A single stage press. I have a 30 year old Rockchucker that has loaded 10 of thousands of shells. Still loads match winning ammo. A scale. A balance beam will work. A trickled. A set of dies. A small base Redding in 6br along with s couple bushings. A seating die with s micrometer top. A case trimmer, I recommend a standard Wilson. A chamber tool. A good analog caliper, NOT a digital. If you have a tight neck you will need a good neck trimmer. I have used several, the PMA with the click depth of cut adjustment is my favorite, by far. Even if you don't have a tight neck you mention benchrest accuracy. I recommend skim cutting your necks to get equal neck tension. Now for what would be a couple nice additions. A FX120 digital scale or a similar 2 decimal point electric scale and an annealer. A micrometer. I have had a Bench Source for about 10 years, it has been used hard, never a problem. Using basically this equipment I have won a lot of matches the last 25 years up to as high as second place in registered National competition. If you do the work you will produce good straight ammunition. Short cuts will be recommend by those NOT willing to spend the time and those who will accept less accuracy, they are legions.

 

[6bra1k]

what distance is this 6br to be shot at,\

 

[rwj]

A recent thread that you may find helpful…

Must have tools for reloading bench

There is no end to the tools that are offered to reloaders. Of the tools that you have for reloading, which would you consider essential for loading your version of top quality ammo? What would you like to add? What do you wish you never bought?

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Creedmoor02]

What you need. A single stage press. I have a 30 year old Rockchucker that has loaded 10 of thousands of shells. Still loads match winning ammo. A scale. A balance beam will work. A trickled. A set of dies. A small base Redding in 6br along with s couple bushings. A seating die with s micrometer top. A case trimmer, I recommend a standard Wilson. A chamber tool. A good analog caliper, NOT a digital. If you have a tight neck you will need a good neck trimmer. I have used several, the PMA with the click depth of cut adjustment is my favorite, by far. Even if you don't have a tight neck you mention benchrest accuracy. I recommend skim cutting your necks to get equal neck tension. Now for what would be a couple nice additions. A FX120 digital scale or a similar 2 decimal point electric scale and an annealer. A micrometer. I have had a Bench Source for about 10 years, it has been used hard, never a problem. Using basically this equipment I have won a lot of matches the last 25 years up to as high as second place in registered National competition. If you do the work you will produce good straight ammunition. Short cuts will be recommend by those NOT willing to spend the time and those who will accept less accuracy, they are legions.

^^^+1

 

[450BM]

It’s not cheap but a Forster Co-ax press is a great single stage press. It’s priming system is good too. A beam scale is all you need but a powder trickler is certainly handy. Imperial sizing wax is, in my opinion, the best lube you can get. Pick your poison for dies, I have RCBS, Dillon, Lee, Redding and they all load quality ammo. A case trimmer will be needed at some point and a few other small tools come in handy but this is basically all you need

Whatever press you get, mount it to a solid table.

I still have my Rock Chucker on my bench and use both presses together but I load a couple dozen different cartridges and the presses work well together. Also have a Dillon 550 for pistol and 556 but there was a time when everything was on the Rock chucker.

Reloading is a great past time / hobby, making your own ammo is hard to beat and it’s that much more enjoyable at the bench with stuff you built.

 

[Tesoro]

If you dont plan on doing bulk there is another option to be able to re-load at your convenience wherever you wish. ie: in your office instead of freezing your nuts off in an unheated garage where you have the work bench. I have all my loading stuff in a desk drawer and can load as precise as anyone. There really isnt any saving in cost as need an arbor press for seating and a hand press for decap and neck/body/fl size. But its nifty and once you get it down you can load as fast as any single stage. just throwing an option out as you starting from scratch. Budget about a grand and you have all buy new and used. Excluding brass/primer/powder/bullets which you can find.

 

[old codger]

I would suggest a good name brand turret press. I started out on a single stage but when I got my turret press I wished I had started on it. It simplifies die set up and makes movement from one caliber to another a breeze. I own a Dillon 550 progressive but when I need to load my most accurate loads I use my turret.

 

[GetReal]

I use a Rockchucker to deprime & size. I use a K&M Precision arbor press with Wilson chamber dies to seat bullets. The rockchucker is a do-it-all economical press ( deprime / size / seat bulelts... used under $100 and they last forever) but with the $$$ in both scope and rifle already, and accuracy being the main goal, there's "being economical" and then there's "hurting yourelf by penny pinching."

For dies, I'd recommend as @JEFFPPC above.... neck bushing dies for re-sizing. I've recently added a mandrel "die" as it gets me a very consistent ID for a 6mm Berger 105VLD bullet....right at 0.241 every single time. And consistent seating force / neck tension. If the outside of the neck isn't dead on consistent, a bushing die isn't gonna get ya consistent neck ID's. So then ya gotta get into neck turning. (Like everything else in the world, that's a controversial topic, but it works for me.)

I consider my choice "economical." Then there's annealing. God help us all.

Its a bad time all -around to get into reloading. But that's all relative. I saw the 6 Dasher Im shooting now in my local store at $4 / round. $80 / 20 rounds. And that's *IF* you can find it at all, and commercial rounds aren't tuned to your rifle at all.