Buy a kit or piece it together

[1sailor]

I have finally concluded that I shoot way to much to keep buying ammo. I have looked at some kits but they mostly all seem to include things that will probably need to be upgraded either immediatly or soon. Would I be better off piecing my outfit together or buying a kit and upgrading?

[sarge1967]

I got the Hornady Lock n Load single stage kit and it is all quality equipment. It comes with a digital scale and a good powder measure. You will need to buy dies and shell holders for your specific calibers if you shoot rifle you will need a case trimmer as well. It has a rebate as well you get 500 free bullets with the kit and 100 free bullets with each set of dies.

[Smith357]

I like the idea of getting the kit to start then upgrade the pieces you really use over time. I still have and use tools from my very first Lee single stage kit I bought over 20 years ago.

[ryanjames170]

i would get a kit over all i think it would save u alot of money and hunting for most of the stuff..

[mlapaglia]

Right now Midwayusa has the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit for $99.00 and the Lee 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index Deluxe Kit for $214.00

I would buy a kit. in fact I did, I gotthe Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit for $117.00. A little more than the anniversary but I like the separate primer unit instead of the one that sits on the press.

[Titegroups]

You're better off piecing it together but until you start loading your own you don't know what you will want. Wouldn't know anything about that. Just dive in, you'll figure it out.

[Broker50]

I made my initial purchase in March 1973. Bought pieces, not a kit, got an RCBS Rock Chucker press, Ohauss scale & measure. Were I buying today I would buy separate pieces again. I believe Lee has the best value in single stage & turrett presses, & I like Hornady & RCBS powder measures. There are a lot of reasonable prices on eBay for measures & scales. I prefer old school balance beam scales too, over digital. I've come to trust a good powder measure over the last forty years too. I see no need to weigh each powder charge (precision bench rest shooters don't, most all drop charges). Kits are convenient, but hardly ever contain exactly what I want, for myself, I'd rather buy each piece. My opinion only!

[kentguy]

I started out with a LEE Classic Single Stage Kit, bought from MidwayUSA. The "kits" are a great way to go when you are first starting out. I do agree you don't always get the best of everything but as titegroups mentioned, "until you start loading your own, you don't know what you will want." I couldn't agree more.

As Broker50 mentioned the balance beam scale is a MUST (IMHO), and the LEE's scale... well take it and put in back in the box and go out and get yourself a better one. RCBS makes great scales (others do as well), I purchased an RCBS 10-10 scale, it is a bit more money but it is a fine, very accurate scale.

The rest, you'll figure out as you go along, good luck.

[BE Mike]

I would definitely start out with a kit. You will get the most bang for your buck. Get the best you can afford and you won't be sorry. I like electronic scales. Something like this will get you off on the right foot. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/564...g-kit-110-volt If you are going to load straight walled pistol cases, definitely pay the extra and get dies with a carbide sizing die. Most all presses accept dies from all the other manufacturers.

[Moonman]

GET a KIT, it saves you money for sure.

Get what YOU can AFFORD.

+1 for the Carbide Dies being recommended for straight walled pistol cases.

I have electronic and balance scales and a SET OF WEIGHT STANDARDS to check them with.

Be SAFE and PAY ATTENTION to reloading rules and procedures.

[mikld]

I personally don't like kits (seems I'm outnumbered here). Most kits I've seen have items included tha I'd never use (in 25+ years I've only once trimmed handgun brass so I don't need a trimmer, and I've never used a lube pad, etc.). I'd suggest reading The ABCs of Reloading, and Lyman's 49th Edition Reloading Handbook, then you'd have an idea what equipment will fit your reloading needs. A lot of the tools you may need can be found around the house or in your toolbox. I've used a teaspoon for a powder dribbler. I've used a pocket knife to champher case mouths and 1/4" drill bits to remove primer crimps. I've even used 30-06 cases to flare 38 Spec case mouths. I started with a Lee Loader, then went to a single stage and dies. Next purchase was a scale, and I bought tools as needed from there. Works for me (and my reloading bench is green, red, black, and gray).

[RobsTV]

Started with Lee Classic loader for 45-70 and .303 Brit., but a 38-40 addition required the move to press and dies.

Going as low cost as possible, yet still decent quality, I choose the Lee Classic Turret press and other components separately. Could quickly switch to manually moving dies instead of auto-rotating, then as skills improved, flip it to auto-rotate and knock out rounds pretty quick. The kit seemed to include the poorer quality Lee turret, not the classic, and the other parts in the kit did not seem very good, such as Lee powder scale, etc. Went with digital scale.

Gradually started to find that to get great results, I needed to upgrade the parts from what originally was bought. In the end, after 3 digital scales, I am at the point where I have an almost exact copy of a Lee Classic turret "Kit", (yes, they make a kit with the Classic), including finally "upgrading" from digital to the Lee Safety Powder beam scale. The Lee Pro Auto-Disc works great for handgun rounds (included in most Lee kits), and the Lee Perfect Powder measure is great for the rifle and BP higher capacity cartridges. Lee safety prime included in most Lee kits also gets the job done. Kit would have saved me a lot of time and money.

[arjay]

Bought an rcbs kit about 30 years ago.Good enough quality that I didn't need to replace anything,but I've added more tools over the years.If you are a plinker or hunter,single stage is fine.If you are a competitive shooter,look at the progressive presses.

[Steve in Vermont]

Originally Posted by Titegroups

You're better off piecing it together but until you start loading your own you don't know what you will want. Wouldn't know anything about that. Just dive in, you'll figure it out.

I returned to reloading and bought the Hornady L&L Classic. Works great, no complaints, especially with the bushings for quick change. I bought all the other components separately and researched each one using reviews (Cabelas, Midway, this Forum). From powder to bullets and primers, scales, dies, powder measure, etc, I bought the best rated and it worked just fine. Consider everyones recommendation and you'll see a pattern develop that will enable you to make a good decision. When in doubt, ask (the Forum) for recommendations.

[suckersrus]