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Purchase decision

My top four best purchases:

No. 1 - Sinclair Priming Tool - very high quality, indestructible, perfect for precision seating of primers.

No. 2 - Whidden Gun Works bump gauge - caliber group specific, no inserts, no interfaces with holders, and with their new thumb screw option, simple to install on caliper.

No. 3 - Skip Shims - simple to use, inexpensive, works for every cartridge, provides quick adjustment as needed to change bump.

No. 4 - Sinclair chamber length gauge - cut down my need to trim by well over 50%

Regrets:

No. 1 - Satern Caliper Specific Metal Powder funnel - leaked powder and wasn't cheap.

No. 2 - Neck Sizing Dies - believed the myth that neck sizing creates longer case life and better accuracy - reality: none of that is true - plus they create reliability issues, i.e., chambering problems, increased wear on the bolt lugs.
 
PC,
Funny, I feel just the opposite about the SDB and 550. I have a 550 and I find myself going years between changing over (loading 223 and 308 on it) but dreading farting about getting it set up for pistol. I wish I had bought a SDB or two back when they were affordable. Buy it and set it up, never fart about changing it. I am at that place where time isn't plentiful, patience is ebbing and I'd just as soon get it set up and have it ready (forever) when the urge or need strikes to load the flavor of the day. I went so far as to get a 9mm Lee 1000 rather than change over the Dillon.
Snert,
I bought conversion kits for each handgun caliber I reload for (9mm, 38 spc, 357 mag 40 sw and 45). I have my 38 spc kit set up to load full wadcutters. It's easy to switch calibers with the SDB, maybe 10 minutes, including the primer set up. So I don't mind.

PopCharlie
 
Forgotten two goodies I just could not be without:

Imperial Sizing Wax - one 2 oz tin lasts me several thousand case sizing's - never had a stuck case with this great stuff. I apply to with fingers, an effective method Mr. Frank Shuster (RIP) taught me - much more effective and cleaner than using a lube pad.

Wilson Case Trimmer (with Sinclair upgrades) - although I don't trim anywhere near the amount that I use to thanks to Sinclair Chamber length gauge measurements - this trimmer with the Sinclair upgrades trims precising, easily, quickly and does not scar the inside of the necks like a lot of trimmers with pilots. The carbide cutter is very wise investment.

Forget one I wish I have never started using:

Case Tumbler - just added another laborious step to the reloading process - got the media all over the place - left residue on the cases which gummed up my FL dies, and shell holders. Make it more difficult to manage my cases that are dedicated to a specific rifle. Added no value to results on target. Now I just wipe them, and 0000 steel wool clean the necks, something I did anyway with using a tumbler. Wished I had abandoned the tumbler years ago.
 
Wilson case trimmer, it just works and is consistent all the time. Also, just about everything from Short Action Customs is just fantastic.

Regrets, the dozens, at least it seems so, of barrel cleaning products. I think that I have everyone. I have finally stuck with Bore Tech and Isso, as what I will use
 
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Best -- Oehler Mod 33 chronograph. Revealed so much info about the loads.
Dillon 550.
RCBS Chargemaster 1500.
Harrell press (gift from a friend)
Co-Ax press (gift from a friend)

Worst -- Can't think of anything.
 
Snert,
I bought conversion kits for each handgun caliber I reload for (9mm, 38 spc, 357 mag 40 sw and 45). I have my 38 spc kit set up to load full wadcutters. It's easy to switch calibers with the SDB, maybe 10 minutes, including the primer set up. So I don't mind.

PopCharlie
I must be lazy or mechanically challenged. I have those conversion kits too. I like it for 223 and 308. I just can't get motivated to change it over. Hence the Lee. One and done.
 
I must be lazy or mechanically challenged. I have those conversion kits too. I like it for 223 and 308. I just can't get motivated to change it over. Hence the Lee. One and done.
I like the "set it and forget it" set up too. I set up dies for my co-ax once. Then just snap them in and out.

PopCharlie
 
I couldn't do without my Giraud trimmer. It has made brass processing sooooooo much better for the tens of thousands of .223 when I was competing. That is closely followed by my new AutoTrickler V4. How did I ever load without that thing? The Giraud was a Christmas gift from my wife. Thanks again, Dear.

I could have lived happily ever after without a Sinclair concentricity gauge. And I kind of wish I had never bought a Chargemaster 1500.
 
Just bought a used ChargeMaster Supreme here on AS and this is a game changer for my reloading for sure. I knew deep down this would save a lot of time of the long haul. Been using a Gempro and an RCBS trickler.

The Hornady LNL bushings are a time saver on my single presses.

Just did 50 rounds.

PS - Thanks Voluble!:cool:
chargemaster-at-work.jpg
 
I am surprised concentricity gage makes the regret list so much.

happy:
Redding & Hornady dies
MEC press
TRX-925 scale + Little Dandy
21st century concentricity gage

regret:
LNL Bushing conversión for single stage
RCBS dies
RCBS 5-10 scale
 
Pluses:
Giraud trimmer: Such a timesaver and worth it.
AMP Mark II Annealer: Consistent brass makes for enjoyable results on target.
Forster Co-Ax: Good press

Minuses:
CED M2 Chrono: An exercise in frustration to get it working
Wet tumbler: Not needed unless picking up grungy range brass
Lyman Brass Smith case trim express: It's cheap and insonsistent
 
regret:
LNL Bushing conversión for single stage
Just curious, what don't you like about the LNL bushing conversion? I have one for my RCBS Summit, and can't imagine NOT having it. I will say I like Lee's Breech Lock system better, but no major complaints about the Hornady.
 
I have Wilson and C&H trimmers they are clones of each other, I just don't which came first but the C&H is far less expensive. I have Lyman and Redding trimmers set up for some odd metric cases and yes they aren't very consistent but close enough. Surprisingly I really like the Lee Quick Trim system and have four dies set up in an old turret press it is much like a vertical Wilson and you don't have to adjust.

OSN2DK.jpg
 

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