Armory Sponsor
Posted: 2/17/2015 9:42:29 PM EDT
| Hello everyone.. I've been interested for a bit now on starting to make my own reloads. I mostly shoot 9mm and 223/556. Basically starting to do my homework now on what press to get. Don't want to spend a fortune just want something that works well and bottom line gets what I need done. Any info would be very much appreciated |
| You probably won't find much love here for Lee products, but I've been using one of their Pro 1000 progressives to load pistol ammo since 1991, with no issues. They say it can be used to load .223 and 5.56, and I have used it for that, but bottle necked rifle ammo is more finicky to load than straightwalled pistol ammo, especially if you use once-fired military brass. I recommend a Lee or Hornady single-stage press. They and their dies are available at lower cost than say, RCBS, and do a good job. Currently I have my '70s vintage RCBS Jr. single-stage press in use for (re)loading .223, 5.56, and 300 Blackout. |
|
If you're not looking to spend a lot up front the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit is great buy to get you started!
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit However, if you're like me and like to work with high quality tools and you'd rather buy once cry once then you might want to look at a Redding Kit. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/898448/redding-big-boss-single-stage-press-pro-pak-kit?cm_vc=ProductFinding I started with the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit and have slowly switched over to Redding tools and a Dillon 550B. Redding is a superior product that IMHO is well worth the little bit extra. I still have the Rock Chucker Single Stage Press that I use for precision reloading and loading hunting rounds. I'll eventually upgrade, if I come across a GREAT deal on a better single stage press(i.e. Forster CoAxial). However, it's working perfectly well right now. |
|
Look for the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme Master Kit., RCBS has a 50 buck rebate so you can get some decent price overall. RCBS is SUPERIOR to LEE crap!
You will have a great press, a good mechanical scale, and an upgradeable powder measure, a decent hand priming tool. All you will need is a trimmer for rifle rounds. And, the World's Finest Trimmer for 70 bucks in 223 is a good choice. Lee progressive presses are a Tinkerer's Wet Dream! Their Classic Cast is not a bad press. But you can do better! All dies are universally threaded except dies for the Dillon Square Deal and Lyman 310 tong diesl You will always have a need for good mechanical scale. You will always have a need for a good single stage. Because you can not progressively reloading rifle ammo. Too much case prep work. |
|
Quoted: Hello everyone.. I've been interested for a bit now on starting to make my own reloads. I mostly shoot 9mm and 223/556. Basically starting to do my homework now on what press to get. Don't want to spend a fortune just want something that works well and bottom line gets what I need done. Any info would be very much appreciated Welcome to the Reloading Forum.  Here's a thread you might find interesting, |
How often/much are you going to be shooting? Will you be going through 1000's of rounds a week? Or just the occasional weekend shooter using a box or two of ammo? I ask because if you will be going through ammo quickly, Investigate what is upgradeable to a progressive type press. The single stage is a great press to learn on but, It is SLOW for pumping out quantities of ammo.
|
|
Quoted:
Hello everyone.. I've been interested for a bit now on starting to make my own reloads. I mostly shoot 9mm and 223/556. Basically starting to do my homework now on what press to get. Don't want to spend a fortune just want something that works well and bottom line gets what I need done. Any info would be very much appreciated I think the Lee Turret is a perfectly fine place to start in your calibers as long as you are talking about making ammo in batches 250 rounds and smaller. Once you get to the point where you are making 500 rounds or more at a time, a progressive press is a better answer. The longer setup and caliber changeover times become worthwhile. If you were talking about precision rifle loads in other calibers, the recommendation might be different . . . maybe a single stage press would be better. |
|
Quoted:
Spend a little more up front and you will not have to upgrade in the future. I highly recommend Dillon Precision products. Vince As do I. If your going progressive its pretty hard to beat Dillon or Hornady. The pros and cons for each brand you could write a book on, and I wont turn this into a "red vs blue" debate. I would say buy a quality turret press, but they are pricey. My vote is for a Hornady single stage. Being able to change dies in seconds and have them be right on is a godsend. |
|
I'm with Vince on this one.
I started with a single stage press, largely because that's pretty much all they had in the mainstream of reloading for pistol and rifle calibers, and the few turret and progressive options that were out there were expensive and did not have the same level of support. There are a lot more options today including reasonably priced turret presses and progressive presses. I migrated to a Dillon press after about 25 years of reloading, and have been using it for over a decade. You will hear lots of people telling you to start with a single stage press, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that, but if you envision shooting a lot and getting into volume reloading, you'll quickly leave it in the dust for anything other than low volume or high precision loaded rounds. You'll also hear people tell you that a Dillon progressive press is a bad choice for a new reloader, but I don't see it that way. Whether you have a single stage press with one hole in the press or a progressive press like the Dillion 550B with 4 holes in a detachable tool head, you're still going to have to adjust (and learn to adjust) each die individually, as well as adjusting a powder measure. With a Dillon 550B, the process is exactly the same, except you use a shell plate rather than a shell holder. Once the shell plate and pins are installed, you will adjust the sizing die to de-prime and size the case - just like you would with a single stage press. You could then just run the press that way, using one position on the shell plate, and size your entire batch of cases without ever turning the shell plate. Similarly, for the belling/powder charging die, you'll have to adjust that along with the powder measure's charge weight, more or less like you would on a singe stage press, and once again you could operate it like a single stage press, charging all the cases in the batch and storing them in a loading block. Finally, you'll need to adjust the seating die (and a separate crimping die if you choose to crimp separately) the same way you would on a single stage press. And once again if you chose you could run it as a single stage press as the 550B is a non auto-indexing progressive press. However, once you've adjusted all the dies on the tool head, you can now use it as a turret press - placing one cartridge on the shell plate, then rotating the shell plate under each station to load a complete round in 3 or 4 pulls of the handle. Alternatively, once you are comfortable with this you can also use the press to it's full potential as a progressive press, adding a cartridge to the shell plate with each pull of the handle to load a complete round with each pull of the handle. When you look at it that way, the 550B has the capability to completely support the learning curve from single stage to turret to progressive press - without buying equipment you will outgrow. |
|
I have Two Lee presses, A single stage and a Classic Turret with auto indexing.
I have loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm and .223 on the Lee, and I have had no problems. That being said, If I was starting over, I would buy this: 
Dillon RL 550B I have been thinking about selling all of my Lee stuff and getting one. |
|
Quoted:
I have Two Lee presses, A single stage and a Classic Turret with auto indexing. I have loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm and .223 on the Lee, and I have had no problems. That being said, If I was starting over, I would buy this: http://www.dillonprecision.com/uimages//RL_550_cat_shot.jpg Dillon RL 550B I have been thinking about selling all of my Lee stuff and getting one. Why sell the Lee stuff? Keep it as it may still find some usage. I know my single stage and Lee turret still get a bunch of use after I bought my LNL AP. OP, keeping in mind that you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I would get a Lee turret. Just the turret press, not the kit. Then buy each other piece individually since all the crap in the Lee kit is not very good. Of course this is assuming that you dont need to be cranking out thousands of rounds a week. In that case, get a progressive. Have fun on your reloading adventure!!!! |
|
Quoted:
Why sell the Lee stuff? Keep it as it may still find some usage. I know my single stage and Lee turret still get a bunch of use after I bought my LNL AP. OP, keeping in mind that you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I would get a Lee turret. Just the turret press, not the kit. Then buy each other piece individually since all the crap in the Lee kit is not very good. Of course this is assuming that you dont need to be cranking out thousands of rounds a week. In that case, get a progressive. Have fun on your reloading adventure!!!! Quoted:
Quoted:
I have Two Lee presses, A single stage and a Classic Turret with auto indexing. I have loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm and .223 on the Lee, and I have had no problems. That being said, If I was starting over, I would buy this: http://www.dillonprecision.com/uimages//RL_550_cat_shot.jpg Dillon RL 550B I have been thinking about selling all of my Lee stuff and getting one. Why sell the Lee stuff? Keep it as it may still find some usage. I know my single stage and Lee turret still get a bunch of use after I bought my LNL AP. OP, keeping in mind that you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I would get a Lee turret. Just the turret press, not the kit. Then buy each other piece individually since all the crap in the Lee kit is not very good. Of course this is assuming that you dont need to be cranking out thousands of rounds a week. In that case, get a progressive. Have fun on your reloading adventure!!!! I would keep the single stage. |
|
Quoted: Why sell the Lee stuff? Keep it as it may still find some usage. I know my single stage and Lee turret still get a bunch of use after I bought my LNL AP. OP, keeping in mind that you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I would get a Lee turret. Just the turret press, not the kit. Then buy each other piece individually since all the crap in the Lee kit is not very good. Of course this is assuming that you dont need to be cranking out thousands of rounds a week. In that case, get a progressive. Have fun on your reloading adventure!!!! Quoted: Quoted: I have Two Lee presses, A single stage and a Classic Turret with auto indexing. I have loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm and .223 on the Lee, and I have had no problems. That being said, If I was starting over, I would buy this: http://www.dillonprecision.com/uimages//RL_550_cat_shot.jpg Dillon RL 550B I have been thinking about selling all of my Lee stuff and getting one. Why sell the Lee stuff? Keep it as it may still find some usage. I know my single stage and Lee turret still get a bunch of use after I bought my LNL AP. OP, keeping in mind that you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I would get a Lee turret. Just the turret press, not the kit. Then buy each other piece individually since all the crap in the Lee kit is not very good. Of course this is assuming that you dont need to be cranking out thousands of rounds a week. In that case, get a progressive. Have fun on your reloading adventure!!!! I concur on the turret. A single stage is great for load work up, but if you ever want to just crank out a hundred rounds for the range it's painfully slow. At least with a turret you have the capability of learning each step and then being able to increase production when you are ready. It won't ever match a progressive, but for most reloaders out there it is more than enough to learn the fundamentals and find out if they are going to keep it up or put it in the yard sale bin. A Lee Classic Cast Turret and a set of dies can be had for around $150 - $200. Add a scale, set of calipers, manual, and components and you're reloading. To me a single stage is too slow and can turn new reloaders away, while a progressive is too expensive to just see if you like it. |
|
OP, you are not the first one to start a thread like this. There have been many other like it, but it can be good to start a new thread every once in a while. You will get new information, and new products are coming out. That being said you can look through the many many other threads (probably archived by now) and see what everyone recommends. There are going to be a lot of people suggesting an RCBS, Lee, Hornady, or I even saw someone recommend a Redding kit. There are a lot of people suggesting each, and for good reason. It is all good equipment. Now, generally I go by Redding > RCBS > Lee, Hornady being right there with RCBS. The best thing you can do is take Dryflash's advice about reading the ABCs of reloading. Watch a bunch of Youtube videos so you can see all of the steps involved. If you can watch someone locally (maybe try the Hometown Forum). Then, make your decision as to what you want. Look at all of the kits and see what best fits your needs. You will always have a use for a single stage, and that is why I recommend starting out with one. If you really want a progressive I would start with a Lee kit to start out with, learn how everything works on that, then go to a progressive. There can be quite a learning curve with a progressive. If you are like me and want to continue loading rifle rounds on a single stage the RCBS or Redding kits are very good single stage presses with good equipment. Personally I have a Forster press, but the press alone costs almost as much as the RCBS kit. |
|
Quoted: OP, you are not the first one to start a thread like this. There have been many other like it, but it can be good to start a new thread every once in a while. You will get new information, and new products are coming out. That being said you can look through the many many other threads (probably archived by now) and see what everyone recommends. There are going to be a lot of people suggesting an RCBS, Lee, Hornady, or I even saw someone recommend a Redding kit. There are a lot of people suggesting each, and for good reason. It is all good equipment. Now, generally I go by Redding > RCBS > Lee, Hornady being right there with RCBS. The best thing you can do is take Dryflash's advice about reading the ABCs of reloading. Watch a bunch of Youtube videos so you can see all of the steps involved. If you can watch someone locally (maybe try the Hometown Forum). Then, make your decision as to what you want. Look at all of the kits and see what best fits your needs. You will always have a use for a single stage, and that is why I recommend starting out with one. If you really want a progressive I would start with a Lee kit to start out with, learn how everything works on that, then go to a progressive. There can be quite a learning curve with a progressive. If you are like me and want to continue loading rifle rounds on a single stage the RCBS or Redding kits are very good single stage presses with good equipment. Personally I have a Forster press, but the press alone costs almost as much as the RCBS kit. This is great advice, read and watch as much as you can to help make a good choice for you. In addition to the ABCs of Reloading, pick up a manual and start at the intro and soak up as much information as you can. |
| I loaded thousands upon thousands of rounds (pistol and rifle) on a rockchucker, it is all I had for years. I upgraded to a dillon 550b and kick myself for not doing it years ago. That said, I still use the old rockchucker for case prep and for loading larger centerfire rounds |
As was stated above you probably won' find much love for Lee here, but honestly if you're just starting out I'd recommend a Lee kit. It's what I started with and yes I'll agree that a lot of the components inside are cheap and sometimes inconvenient, but all of them work if you're determined enough. Best of all the entire kit won't set you back very much, (100-150 depending on purchase place and exact kit). I started with a basic kit and then slowly upgraded as I went, based on what processes/tools I disliked most over time. This allowed me to learn the basics slowly and upgrade only when it was financially feasible (not very often in college ). And overall there's good amount of the Lee equipment that can be saved as a small set up for working up loads or odd calibers, if and when you decide to upgrade to a progressive press.
I'd also like to say that the quality of Lee equipment, at least in my experience, as well as their customer service is excellent. The fault lies more in design. For example with most kits they provide a little chamfer and deburring tool. Unlike most tools instead of being 2" Long it's about a half inch of hollow metal with a cone shaped blade. Using it for anything over 20 rounds is like torture, but it does the job and does it well. Like I said they sacrifice comfort and design to achieve those low prices, not necessarily quality. I have no doubt that that little tool could do a lot of rounds as long as you were willing to sacrifice dexterity in one hand forever. If you do choose to go with Lee I do have one word of caution: make sure that you do your research. They have a variety of kits that are very similar with only a few differences so make sure you understand EXACTLY what your getting and EXACTLY what you need to buy to complete your reloading set up. Good luck and remember that no matter what you start with, you will want to tweak it over time as you develop your own style, likes and dislikes so keep that in mind. |
|
Quoted:
Snip There are a lot of people suggesting each, and for good reason. It is all good equipment. Now, generally I go by Redding > RCBS > Lee, Hornady being right there with RCBS. Snip What makes some brands better than others? I honestly have 95% Lee stuff, and I got it to save money. I assume the other brands are more user friendly/faster? As a newbie I can load some pretty good ammo with what many here call "shitty" Lee dies. By pretty good, I mean better/more consistent than factory ammo (except factory match, I don't shoot well enough to be able to tell the difference). So I feel like there isn't much room for improved performance from the "better" brands and its to the point of diminishing returns unless you are loading your own competition ammo (maybe one day). The other possibility is that the "better" stuff is more durable. Compare a Lee single stage side by side to a rock chucker and you feel like the RCBS would be more durable. But there are plenty of guys who say that they have reloaded hundreds of thousands of rounds for 20+ years with no issues on the "flimsy" Lee presses. |
|
Quoted:
As was stated above you probably won' find much love for Lee here, but honestly if you're just starting out I'd recommend a Lee kit. It's what I started with and yes I'll agree that a lot of the components inside are cheap and sometimes inconvenient, but all of them work if you're determined enough. Best of all the entire kit won't set you back very much, (100-150 depending on purchase place and exact kit). I started with a basic kit and then slowly upgraded as I went, based on what processes/tools I disliked most over time. This allowed me to learn the basics slowly and upgrade only when it was financially feasible (not very often in college ). And overall there's good amount of the Lee equipment that can be saved as a small set up for working up loads or odd calibers, if and when you decide to upgrade to a progressive press.
I'd also like to say that the quality of Lee equipment, at least in my experience, as well as their customer service is excellent. The fault lies more in design. For example with most kits they provide a little chamfer and deburring tool. Unlike most tools instead of being 2" Long it's about a half inch of hollow metal with a cone shaped blade. Using it for anything over 20 rounds is like torture, but it does the job and does it well. Like I said they sacrifice comfort and design to achieve those low prices, not necessarily quality. I have no doubt that that little tool could do a lot of rounds as long as you were willing to sacrifice dexterity in one hand forever. If you do choose to go with Lee I do have one word of caution: make sure that you do your research. They have a variety of kits that are very similar with only a few differences so make sure you understand EXACTLY what your getting and EXACTLY what you need to buy to complete your reloading set up. Good luck and remember that no matter what you start with, you will want to tweak it over time as you develop your own style, likes and dislikes so keep that in mind. I'm still using the Lee hand held brass trimmer, which starts to cause arthritis after about 20 rounds. Next on my reloading gadget list is a good brass trimmer. |
Armory Sponsor