Which dies? Tumblr? Help please

[retired]

if you shoot the ar, i suggest a dillon 550.
it will allow volume when you want it and slow accurate work for the bolt gun.
ignore people that say you must learn on a single stage press, it was true 50 years ago
when the was night and day difference between a single and a progressive. today, a dillon is simply
four single stage presses with a single handle.

 

[retired]

the rotary tumbler can be used wet or dry.
so i consider it a good buy. dry will be slower than a vib tumbler.
i have 3 vib tumblers and a sidewinder rotary.

 

[DngBat7]

the rotary tumbler can be used wet or dry.
so i consider it a good buy. dry will be slower than a vib tumbler.
i have 3 vib tumblers and a sidewinder rotary.

Thank you. Your advise has been very helpful

 

[DngBat7]

Don't make my mistake . I bought a $400 press kit a year ago and I've replaced about 75% if the extras . If money's no object .
1. Forster coax press
2. Widden , Redding or Forster dies ( bushing dies if you can )
3. Wilson hand trimmer or Giraud electric trimmer
4. A&D fx120i scale
5. 21st century neck turning tool ( electric or manual )
6. Any tumbler or vibratory will work the same . Some are just more heavy duty .
7. Sheridan slot case gauge
8. A good hand primer ex. frankfort arsenal platinum, rcbs ,21st century
9. Imperial case lube
10. AMP annealer ( Aztec ,of course)
11. Lapua brass

How do those Sheridan slot case gauge work? It’s obviously simulating the inside of the barrel, But aren’t all barrel makers reamers slightly different? Even if it’s the same caliber?

 

[hikfromstik]

I use mine for my 6.5 Grendel ar15 . It's a saami minimum spec , so it gives a good functioning base line to go-to . I've often wondered if Sheridan would make custom ones based in reamer/chamber deminsions . I do like mine

 

[DngBat7]

I read on their website that it is not for fire formed brass? Only new or full length die brass? They do look nice tho

 

[cdhbrad]

Thank you. Kind of what I was looking for. I always buy the under par item to save money, then have to end up replacing it when I realize why it was cheaper.

A couple of comments on the list above. I don't see any mention of a powder measure/powder drop, but you can get that as an addition to the scale mentioned and, going that route, you will have close to $1K into just that piece alone.

You are loading for two different platforms: a 6.5 Creedmoor Bolt gun and a .223 Semi-Auto. The Co-Ax is fine for bolt guns, I have one and use for ammo for all my bolt guns. You can use it for your .223 but you are going to spend a lot of time at the press to get enough fodder for your .223 to have a decent day at the range unless you aren't going to shoot too many .223 rounds. You may want to consider a Turret press of some sort to avoid having to drop powder off the press and constantly change dies, etc. Redding and RCBS make presses that would work for you with stations for a powder drop and all your dies. I started with a Lee Turret Press, which I still have and use, added the Co-AX when I developed an interest in bolt guns and, only recently, added a Dillon 550 to the mix for pistol calibers and .223 AR Ammo. You could do everything on the Dillon, but it may not give you the type of bolt gun ammo you are looking for. That said, John Whidden (Whidden Gunworks), a national champion in long range rifle, uses a Dillon 650 for his match ammo but he measures ever powder charge by hand so it can't be that bad.

Lots to think about and, YES, I have that box in the corner with stuff I used for reloading and don't any more. Several in fact.

 

[Deleted old_dood]

New to reloading, was hoping for some pro advise. I am a Buy once, cry once king of guy. But I also know somethings are important to get the best and some things can wait till later. Saying that, I need suggestions on the following

1. Tumblr, (I was thinking Frankfort Arsenal rotery tumblr)?

2. Dies. Someone close Recommended Redding competition dies, But in my investagations I came across whidden dies, and I know the Warner tool dies are the best, but do not have 600 at the moment to spend just on dies. Suggestions?

3. Neck turning lathe? I prefer this is automated? Seems more accurate than turning by hand, but what do I know.

I may have more follow up questions, but I’ll start with this


Pre thank you for all the answers

Btw. Reloading 6.5 creedmoor and 223

can't believe no one has asked. what's the maximum range you'll be shooting?

 

[DngBat7]

can't believe no one has asked. what's the maximum range you'll be shooting?

Well at the moment in Connecticut I have 200 yrd. But not to far away in NY they just opened a 1000 yrd. So it will be long range
pretty soon

 

[Deleted old_dood]

Well at the moment in Connecticut I have 200 yrd. But not to far away in NY they just opened a 1000 yrd. So it will be long range
pretty soon

Save your money on fancy cleaning equipment and use it on powder dispensing/measuring like the FX120 system. If you search threads about cleaning cases you’ll find many here, me included, who limit their case cleaning to cleaning carbon off the necks. I don’t know how necessary neck turning is at longer ranges but at 200 I don’t think you need to. Get Whidden sizers and Wilson Seaters (with the cheapest arbor press you can find)

 

[DngBat7]

Save your money on fancy cleaning equipment and use it on powder dispensing/measuring like the FX120 system. If you search threads about cleaning cases you’ll find many here, me included, who limit their case cleaning to cleaning carbon off the necks. I don’t know how necessary neck turning is at longer ranges but at 200 I don’t think you need to. Get Whidden sizers and Wilson Seaters (with the cheapest arbor press you can find)

Thank you for your response. Very helpful. What is this fx120 everyone keeps talking about? Can you send me a link? Thank you

 

[Deleted old_dood]

Thank you for your response. Very helpful. What is this fx120 everyone keeps talking about? Can you send me a link? Thank you

https://cambridgeenviro.com/products/balances-scales-fx-120i note that 635 Canadian is currently less than 500 US. Aside from what I've already recommended, if you decide to go with this scale, pick up a used Rockchucker or similar cast iron press, a cheap new or used powder dispenser and a trickler to bring your powder load up to your desired level. There's an automatic trickler that works with the FX120 here https://www.autotrickler.com/auto-trickler.html. there may be a combo deal at Cambridge for both.

 

[Paddyd]

I'd suggest a good turret press for rifle rounds and the Hornady AP for high volume loading like 9mm or 223 plinking ammo. Actually, you can load lots of 9mm fairly fast using a turret press too.

 

[searcher]

For the .223, I'd not get S/B dies unless your gun requires it or you are first-time sizing previously fired military brass or that fired in another chamber. Needlessly overworking the brass otherwise. I'd get a Redding Type "S" full-length bushing die and a .241" bushing to start. This arrangement makes for very accurate ammo and does not overwork the necks (unless you like to anneal often) and allows the needed (and no more) amount of neck tension to hold your bullets without having to crimp. For your seating die, the RCBS Competition seating die guides the bullet as the Redding does, though it has a window you drop the bullet into, making for easier bullet loading and eliminating the "crunched finger" when you get going a bit too fast with a regular die and have your finger in the wrong place.... I have worn out a number of tumblers and my favorites are a RCBS Sidewinder drum unit (but it was expensive) and the best vibratory units came from Cabela's. I run it next to my Hornady vibrator and it is twice as lively. I have and like a neck turner sold under the Sinclair International name. I don't use the hand-turner - I put the case in a slow speed drill chuck in my battery-powered drill. Works very well.

 

[Cecil S.]

21 Centuary Shooting and Forster make good equipment.