Reloading Equipment Recommendations?

[mitch_04]

Hi,
I want to start by saying I love that this forum doesn't respond with worthless comments, just good people with helpful replies.

Next, I was wondering what companies or specific products are well known for quality. I have an older turret press, but there is too much play to keep consistent for precision. I want something that is precise, if it is a turret thats ok, but if the single stage presses are always better then that's what I would go with.

I'm looking for press, electronic powder dispenser, case trimmer with micrometer, dies with micrometers, annealing, tumbler or ultrasonic case cleaners, and anything else necessary to get "perfect" brass. Also, any runout gauges, things like that for measuring cases. Precision before speed always, and good brands.

I hope I can get some great recommendations. Thanks all!

 

[minnesota]

go with Redding I believe all of your wants will be met with them.

 

[ChipEckardt]

For doing the most precise I like my single stage Forster Co-Ax
http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700682

Good review at http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=YZPa0mP0mkk


Chip

 

[LHSmith]

My first suggestion would be to keep your reloading tools simple....you don't necessarily need all the gadgets and gizmo's ....ala a micrometer on every tool. Matter of fact some of the most successful competition shooters use an inexpensive RCBS Pardner press (single stage) that has the ram machined down so that there IS slop in the press. They also use dies in conjunction with shims as a means to get repeatabilty in their set-up. Also shiny brass doesn't advance accuracy.
We should really know what type of rounds you intend to load for and type of shooting you practice.

 

[BoydAllen]

What rifle, caliber, and sort of shooting are you planning? There are some things that matter in some applications and do not so much in others. What you want is a balanced program. For instance, you can have perfect ammo, but if the rifle, what you shoot it off of, and what you use to "see" the wind are not at the same level, some of it will be wasted effort. For instance, I believe strongly in working up loads at the range, and if this is your plan, portability is an issue, and may cause you to have things like bench and home presses. For home use, a Forster press, or a Rockchucker, one of the Redding O style presses, or the Lee Cast Iron Classic are all good presses. I like Wilson trimmers, with or without the micrometer that Sinclair sells. Dies depend on the caliber and use. Ultimately an arbor press and a Wilson style seater are my preference for high precision. For measuring cases and loaded ammo, the Sinclair concentricity gauger is a good one. If you want to straighten, the H&H is a great value and works well. I have a Holland neck mic. that I like. Mitutoyo makes a good 1" mic. Get one that reads to .0001. I prefer dial calipers to digital, and don't feel that you need to spend a fortune. I don't know a Benchrest shooter that uses either an ultrasonic or tumbler type cleaner. If money were not an issue, I would probably get a RCBS tumbler, with a couple of drums and some stainless media. Truthfilly, the most important thing is to have a good match between your dies and your chambers, and this is often neglected by new reloaders that can't understand the difference, or the difference in price. You can do an excellent job with very cheap equipent if the dies are a good fit to your chamber, and all the fancy stuff in the world will not overcome poor dies, a bad barrel, or action bedding, or a unreliable scope.

 

[JLDavid]

You came to the right place for advice. Like other posters have said, keep it simple and shoot a lot. I use an older Rockchucker and mainly Redding and RCBS dies. I tried the digital scale but ended up with a Scott Parker tuned Lyman bean scale and love it. I use an old RCBS powder measure and prime with the arm in the press. You can load the most precise ammo you can but if you are shooting a SAMMI chambered factory barrel, your work might be in vain. Are you loading for wildcats or tight necked stuff or standard cartriges? Just curious. Last but not least, take your time and pay attention to details to get repeatable results. Just my .02 worth.

 

[jonbearman]

Boyd ,what do you think of redding dies as you are way advanced in your knowledge than I am.I was told that reddings are cut with the same chamber reamers we use? Is this true? Other wise do you think I should have all custom sizing dies.I have a 6BR on a remington action with a hart light varmint barrel and a hart 2oz trigger.It is throated for the 68 grain match bullets.

 

[BoydAllen]

If you already have dies, measure fired and sized cases at the shoulders and at their largest diameters above the extractor groove to see what your dies are giving you. Friends ran into an issue, with their Redding S type FL dies (same caliber as you). Shoulders were sized more than they needed to be, and bases not enough, with the proper MEASURED amount of shoulder bump. Once that they figured out their problem, and that it could not be adjusted away, they sent cases to Harrell's and got dies that have served them well since. This is not a complaint about Redding. They might have also solved their problem with Redding small base dies. The fit is the thing. Lynwood makes several versions of a 6BR FL die, with successively smaller bases. If you send him a case that was fired in your chamber (good hot load), he will match it to the right die. I shoot a lot of 6PPC, and to make sure that all of my barrels work with the same dies, I started the project by buying my own reamer that lives at Stiller's Precision, where I get my barrel work done. All of my brass interchanges.

 

[RonAKA]

My suggestions:

press - Lee Classic Cast

electronic powder dispenser - Lee Perfect Powder Measure & Redding Model 2 Balance beam scale. Don't like digital. Because it reads to two digits doesn't mean it is accurate to two digits.

case trimmer with micrometer - like the Lee Trimmer, fast, accurate fool proof

Dies with micrometer - Forster Bushing/Bump for sizing, Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater

annealing - use a Lee trimmer adapter for a drill

tumbler or ultrasonic case cleaners - don't believe in them

measuring cases - use my Forster Bushing die to measure shoulder bump, non digital micrometer, and vernier

measuring bullets - Hornady comparator

 

[mitch_04]

@Boyd, thanks for the info, it was what I was definitely looking for.

I have a few different rifles, but will be building a 6BR with a Savage target action, not sure which barrel I'm going to go with yet. Probably between Shilen and Kreiger. I will be using the heaver end of the bullets, as it will be a gun meant simply for long range accuracy, 600 plus.

I already have a reloading setup, but it's something that has been in the family for a few years. I will continue to use it for mass reloading of varmint rounds, but I want something more precise for the 6BR. If I can control every aspect of the brass, keeping everything as good as my abilities will allow, then I will. I'm sure than many top end shooters have all sorts of ways, and just like anything else, what works for them works for them. I would rather do it "right" than have to work through the process of elimination to find out what doesn't work.

Thanks again all!

 

[mitch_04]

One thing I forgot. It seems to me that after firing the brass, just neck sizing will keep the case in perfect harmony with the chamber, only full sizing after a few reloads. Do I have this correct, or am I off?

 

[RonAKA]

One thing I forgot. It seems to me that after firing the brass, just neck sizing will keep the case in perfect harmony with the chamber, only full sizing after a few reloads. Do I have this correct, or am I off?

I'm only using the Forster Bushing/Bump die to size 6BR brass. It has worked fine for 5 reloads, with no indication of the body needing sizing. I size about 2/3 of the neck and bump the shoulder about 0.001" on each loading. Time will tell how long I get away with it.