Need equipment advice for reloading

[Cimarron2011]

I am a reloading virgin. I am getting the process down with friends, but now it's time to buy my own tools. I have compiled a list of what I think I need, but (except for dies and bushings) I don't know brands or have preferences.

Even though I am new to reloading, I want to get a progressive. When I sit down to load, I will go for a few hours and load up a big batch of a single caliber.

My question is: Which brand has a kit that gets me the most bang for the buck? Bang for the buck includes number of tools in the kits, functionality of the tools in the kit (e.g. beam scale versus electronic scale and charging tool) precision of tools, flexibility and ease of use versus initial cost.

All opinions are welcome.

Thanks

 

[ronsroom1]

What kind of shooting are you going to do with your reloads?

 

[Cimarron2011]

Rifle. 308 Win 100 - 300 yard. Qualifying for 600 - 1000.

 

[TheSnake]

I think if you are looking for equipment that will load accurate rounds out to 1000yds and you are set on a progressive, you are looking at spending some big bucks. I haven't done this so I am also interested in seeing the replies. Anything I expect to shoot accurately past 200 yards gets loaded carefully one step at a time.

 

[bozo699]

I think Robert is spot on, I have heard of guys using a Dillon for 600 yard matches but I have never personally known one and know one shooting 1000 yards in our club loads there ammo on a progressive press, most top shooters I know load with inline seating dies with a arbor press. My personal thought on a progressive press is for pistols and maybe .223's for them little black guns everybody likes.
Wayne.

 

[fl3gun]

Take a look at John Whidden's tool heads for the Dillon presses. John claims to load all his Camp Perry winning ammo this way

http://www.whiddengunworks.net/toolhead.html.

I load all my 600 to 1000 yard ammo with the same type of set up using a very old RCBS Ammo Master progressive.

 

[Taildrag15X]

You can do it, just that you will not be breaking any speed records making the ammo.....you'll still have the need for Match preped brass and single weighing each charge.....

I use my Dillon for hunting & plinking and ammo, tend to stick to the single stage press for Match ammo.

 

[jr600yd]

I load a lot of match ammo on a Dillon 550B. If you want to load rifle ammo for a 600 yd match you'll be using it more like a single stage believe me! Say you want to load some 308. Station 1 you size/deprime the case. Now remove the case and do your primer pocket prep and trim the case if needed. Back in the press to prime. Stage 2 charge the case. Remove the case and weigh the charge, make adjustments if necessary. Back in the press and on to station 3. Seat bullets. You may do 100 cases at each step along the way but you willnot place an empty case in station 1 pull the handle a few times and have a match grade loaded round come out the other side.

Don't get me wrong, some very accurate ammo is made using a progressive press. You'll just be using it more like a semi-progressive

 

[bozo699]

I load a lot of match ammo on a Dillon 550B. If you want to load rifle ammo for a 600 yd match you'll be using it more like a single stage believe me! Say you want to load some 308. Station 1 you size/deprime the case. Now remove the case and do your primer pocket prep and trim the case if needed. Back in the press to prime. Stage 2 charge the case. Remove the case and weigh the charge, make adjustments if necessary. Back in the press and on to station 3. Seat bullets. You may do 100 cases at each step along the way but you willnot place an empty case in station 1 pull the handle a few times and have a match grade loaded round come out the other side.

Don't get me wrong, some very accurate ammo is made using a progressive press. You'll just be using it more like a semi-progressive

jr600yd,
Your statement sounds spot on to me, I believe the press is capable of making match ammo but not in full blown auto mode, thanks for making that very clear for all to read, very well written.
Wayne.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

If you intend to load a big batch and go out to shoot without testing a few beforehand put a bullet puller at the top of the tool list.LT

 

[jr600yd]

Thanks Wayne

 

[Cimarron2011]

Outstanding feedback guys. Thanks a million. I think for now, I will go with a single stage arbor press. When I start loading handgun (after about a year of solid learning curve), then I might make a move to a progressive.

So...What brand of arbor press do you like and why?

 

[artbosco]

So...What brand of arbor press do you like and why?

I currently own a K&M arbor, but it I had to do it again, I'd go with the Harrell's because of the ease in adjusting the working head of the press up and down.

The K&M gets locked into place with screw tightening: http://www.kmshooting.com/catalog/arbor-press/arbor-press.html

The Harrell's with a handle: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=205&rn=382&action=show_detail

Take a hard look at the Harrell's Combo press too. It might be the better option: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=205&rn=386&action=show_detail