I have done some general reloading with my dad but would like to take it to the next step and buy my own components. I am thinking about buying a reloading kit but there are several on the market. I would appreciate your help in determining which manufacturer makes the best products, RCBS, Lyman, or Redding? Thanks for your help...
Best Reloading Kit??
- Thread starter troy788
- Start date
To answer your question directly, of the manufacturers listed, Redding has the best equipment. To volunteer advice, RCBS offers the best value in a kit, except that of late we're hearing enough stories about the poor quality of their press that the kit is best avoided. Redding's and Forster's presses are excellent, as are their dies.
Your first determination should be regarding powder equipment. Mechanical measures are not very consistent with coarse-grained rifle powder. Many reloaders are moving to electronic dispensers, and the RCBS ChargeMaster Combo is acquiring a favorable reputation. In lieu of that, I weigh each of my loads using a good scale, Lee dippers, and a Redding trickler. People using powder measures are simply replacing the dippers in my process. Everything still gets weighed. RCBS has good mechanical scales,502, 505, and 10-10), all made by Ohaus, as is Dillon's. If you have to have one, Redding's better powder measures are the better powder measures, unless you go to a Culver-type device,some available from Sinclair). They generally don't do any better job on coarse powder.
You'll need a priming tool. RCBS and Lee make the more popular hand-priming devices. Wilson makes the best trimmer around, and it's reasonably priced. Get the case holders for fired brass; there's generally no need to trim brass until it's been fired once. A VLD chamfering tool promotes accuracy. If you need a trickler, Redding's is heavier,a virtue).
Kits also come with a handful of accessories. Take a look at the Sinclair catalog; there's better stuff available. Sinclair has a nice base for the Wilson trimmer and sells it as an assembly.
So much for kits.
A little extra info:
www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1094289&gonew=1#UNREAD
Your first determination should be regarding powder equipment. Mechanical measures are not very consistent with coarse-grained rifle powder. Many reloaders are moving to electronic dispensers, and the RCBS ChargeMaster Combo is acquiring a favorable reputation. In lieu of that, I weigh each of my loads using a good scale, Lee dippers, and a Redding trickler. People using powder measures are simply replacing the dippers in my process. Everything still gets weighed. RCBS has good mechanical scales,502, 505, and 10-10), all made by Ohaus, as is Dillon's. If you have to have one, Redding's better powder measures are the better powder measures, unless you go to a Culver-type device,some available from Sinclair). They generally don't do any better job on coarse powder.
You'll need a priming tool. RCBS and Lee make the more popular hand-priming devices. Wilson makes the best trimmer around, and it's reasonably priced. Get the case holders for fired brass; there's generally no need to trim brass until it's been fired once. A VLD chamfering tool promotes accuracy. If you need a trickler, Redding's is heavier,a virtue).
Kits also come with a handful of accessories. Take a look at the Sinclair catalog; there's better stuff available. Sinclair has a nice base for the Wilson trimmer and sells it as an assembly.
So much for kits.
A little extra info:
www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1094289&gonew=1#UNREAD
You're welcome.
Learn, and make your own decisions.
.
Learn, and make your own decisions.
.
troy788: I'll second what Winchester69 posted: the 'kits' are not really a good deal, for you, only the manufacturer who gets to sell all or a lot of his product line. Some items in the kit may be the best available, others borderline or worse. Some items you will use a lot, others will never be used and will be relagated to the 'box of things'. I can relate a personal experience with a beam scale made by a very highly regarded company, I have & use many of their products), that has a built-in design problem, while a competitors beam scale is flawless. On top of that, the very good beam scale costs less, so, in the end, who wins? I'll not 'name names' on an open forum and P.O. others, so feel free to send a PM.
Troy788,
I bought a kit a couple of years ago and almost immediately I was buying stuff to suit my needs. I ended up with so much stuff I would not use.,waste of money)
I would buy equipment by the piece if I had to do it again.
I do like Redding over RCBS though RCBS customer service in my opinion is second to none.
Hammerhead
I bought a kit a couple of years ago and almost immediately I was buying stuff to suit my needs. I ended up with so much stuff I would not use.,waste of money)
I would buy equipment by the piece if I had to do it again.
I do like Redding over RCBS though RCBS customer service in my opinion is second to none.
Hammerhead
Troy788,
I am in the middle; I think a kit is great idea just to get things rolling. But soon thereafter, I think you will want to start buying equipment one piece at a time.
I think the first decision you want to make is whether you want a single stage press or progresses stage press. In either case get the biggest and strongest press offered in a kit you can. As far as I can tell over my 30 some years of reloading, kits are about selling presses. And if the press gets sold it dose the manufactures no good if when you pull the press out of the box, you can’t reload. So the kit is offered. Some kits come with dies as well. Again, don’t be surprised if just after you get a kit you find a hankering for more and “better†equipment.
So if you do get a kit go for the best press offered. The press,all things considered) is biggest and among the most expensive pieces of equipment you will invest in. Also a good and well maintained single stage press will last a lifetime for the average reloaded. It is likely you will, over a life time, replace or upgrade every other piece of equipment you have ever own.
This is my list for a kit.
Single stage: Hornady
RCBS
Progressive: Dillon
Redding
I am in the middle; I think a kit is great idea just to get things rolling. But soon thereafter, I think you will want to start buying equipment one piece at a time.
I think the first decision you want to make is whether you want a single stage press or progresses stage press. In either case get the biggest and strongest press offered in a kit you can. As far as I can tell over my 30 some years of reloading, kits are about selling presses. And if the press gets sold it dose the manufactures no good if when you pull the press out of the box, you can’t reload. So the kit is offered. Some kits come with dies as well. Again, don’t be surprised if just after you get a kit you find a hankering for more and “better†equipment.
So if you do get a kit go for the best press offered. The press,all things considered) is biggest and among the most expensive pieces of equipment you will invest in. Also a good and well maintained single stage press will last a lifetime for the average reloaded. It is likely you will, over a life time, replace or upgrade every other piece of equipment you have ever own.
This is my list for a kit.
Single stage: Hornady
RCBS
Progressive: Dillon
Redding
Hello,Why are all you guys NOT telling this Gentleman about the fact that there are NO primers available to buy,NO powder anywhere to buy,Brass is out of this world in price.I am not trying to be negative, I also reload )but if I did not already have my own equipment right now,I sure as heck would not buy a Reloading kit or anything else today.You dont need a kit, if you cannot get any reloading supplies PERIOD!!!! Do yourself a favor Sir, and keep using your Dads,Until we see what is going to happen with the Gun,Ammo,Reloading,Supply problems today.
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