Reloading Equipment

[Empe]

I am considering getting started in reloading .... .38 special & .45 ACP. mostly . I have been looking at the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit . It gets pretty good reviews & it's not a lot of money to get started. I have talked to people that have a couple of thousand $$ wrapped up in equipment . Way more than I'm looking at spending .
Any advice on getting started as far as equipment is concerned would be appreciated.

 

[hoytx10]

Lee equipment is a great value in my opinion. I like their dies the best and they are the easiest to set up too.

 

[alwslate]

I would suggest that you start out from the beginning with RCBS dies
and one of their single station presses. Spend the money to get carbide
dies. Start and end with RCBS and you'll never have to wish that you had
done so.

 

[lrrifleman]

Empe,

Let's start with some basic questions.
a) at this point in time, are considering loading anything other than 38s & 45s?
b) how much do you plan to shoot/load in any given month?

If you are planning on reloading just (those) pistol cartridges and shooting more than 300-400 rounds per month, I would suggest that you look at a Dillon Square Deal B, which can load only pistol cartridges. If I remember correctly, when I had my SDB, I could produce about 200 rounds per hour.

Honestly, I don't remember current prices, but you buy a high quality product with a life-time warranty. You would require:
a) a complete SDB,
b) a conversion die set,
c) a vibratory tumbler with dry media, and a
d) scale that measures in grains.

If you are reloading more than a few pistol cartridges, I would give serious consideration to a Dillon 550. As much as you may be tempted to reload rifle cartridges on a Dillon, do so only with ball powder, otherwise, use a single stage press for rifle cartridges.

A very strong suggestion, don't even considering the cost of your equipment into what you think you may be saving. Reloading equipment has increased dramatically since I started, so much so, that I probably wouldn't start reloading today. Think of the cost of your equipment as an investment, and then you will see how much you can save.

On my Dillon 550, I can produce about 250 rounds per hour, which is about as long as I can stand in one place without moving around. When I reload for a precision rifle match, I can load about 100 rounds in 3 hours (excluding tumbling).

Best of luck!

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I think you will be well served with the Lee Turret Press. It’s a great press for handgun calibers. How many rounds per year do you think you will reload?

 

[Twoboxer]

The Lee Classic Turret is the starting point for many. While it takes as many strokes as a single press to complete a round, the turret press allows you to complete the 3 or 4 die operations you need while handling the round only once onto the press, once off. If you can get the primer system to work it also saves a manual priming step vs a single stage press. Adding spare turrets is a cheap and quick way to do a caliber changeover without having to adjust anything except perhaps the primer system.

You will of course need dies and decide on a way to clean your brass which may involve (eg) a tumbler, some media, and a media separator.

The rest of the kit works but is "ergonomically challenging" to be kind. The scale is a nightmare to use, the powder measure is likely to leak ball or flake powder, the manual is slanted almost totally to reloading with Lee equipment (which may be initially useful to you), the load information in the manual is simply copied from other sources and is pretty old, and you don't need the "case conditioning equipment" for pistol at all.

IOW, you are likely to replace the scale - hopefully not with a cheap digital scale which can cause other problems in a "noisy" reloading room - and the case conditioning equipment may prove inadequate if/when you start on rifle rounds.

So its fair to say the turret saves time and overall some money vs a single stage with something like the Rock Chucker. But its also fair to say that the Rock Chucker will last longer and hold tolerances better which will likely become noticeable if you begin to do rifle rounds.

As for dies . . . Lee dies are fine for most folks for pistol (and they are cheap). The Lee FCD die is especially valuable since, among other things, it is a cheap way to separate crimping from bullet seating and it works well with cases of different lengths.

I started with a Lee Turret and quickly moved to a Hornady progressive and single stage press. I still use Lee dies for pistol, but go with a few RCBS, Redding, and even a Forster die for several rifle calibers.

Bottom line: Many people start and stay with the Lee Turret. Others start with the Lee Turret and move on to other pieces of gear fairly quickly. As long as you know what you are getting into, either the Lee Turret Kit, the Lee Turret plus other pieces bought separately, or a quality single stage like the Rock Chucker will serve you well.

 

[Wise_A]

For a minimal investment, I don't think you can go wrong. I'll leave it to you to determine what's most economical, but here's what I would change from the Lee kit:

*The scale sucks--a digital scale like the Hornady GS-1500 will work fine for pistol reloading.

*My Auto-Drum, at least, doesn't leak powder.

*For .38Spl and .45, the Lee manual is fine, just so long as you just need the data. Alternatively, you can get the Hornady manual for cheap/free through Amazon Kindle.

*You don't need the case lube, or the "case conditioning kit".

You'll also need some Harbor Freight digital calipers. If you're planning on loading for multiple .45s, a chamber checker in that caliber would not hurt--Lyman and LE Wilson both make good ones I've used.

Beyond that--have a decent workspace, with a solid mount. That's more important than anything else.

the manual is slanted almost totally to reloading with Lee equipment

There was tons of RCBS gear in the Lyman manual!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

If you're just learning to reload keep it simple to start with.

Don't be lured into trying to load hundreds of rounds an hour to start with.

You need to start slow, learn how adjustments/settings interact, & above all load safely!

There's a lot to it that just takes time, practice, & reading to learn.

.

 

[RobertJ.]

Here's something definitely worth looking at, quite possibly the single best post I've ever read on the subject:
So you're thinking about getting into reloading...

 

[slickracer]

That kit will serve you well. Been using one for 7 years now and have been very pleased with it.

 

[AlHunt]

Others have given good advice. For me, I've been a single stage RCBS reloader for decades. I don't tumble cases, I just decap, size and then hose them down with brake parts cleaner in a coffee can. Tumbling is just for aesthetics.

A beam balance scale, RCBS Little Dandy powder measure and an old Uniflow cover all my powder dispensing and checking needs. The electronic ones sound like they're finicky and they're certainly expensive. Just look for a powder that "meters well".

For everyday shooting any name brand die will do. My preference is RCBS mostly because I like the locking rings with a set screw. The LEEs have a funky rubber o-ring I don't care for. I would definitely do carbide dies for those 2 calibers. It will be a LOT less messy and faster.

My view is learning with a single stage or turret is preferable just because, as stated above, you learn how all the processes and settings interact and it focuses your attention on one thing at a time. Many people go straight to a progressive and do just fine. Some people reload strictly as a financial savings so the progressive gets them out of the reloading room faster.

Lastly, I'd recommend you get a reloading manual or two (used ones can be had cheap online) and read the how to sections a couple of times. Plenty of powder makers have current data available online so it doesn't really matter if your data is outdated. You're going to check multiple sources anyway.

Have fun with it.

 

[fordson]

Lee makes a good product. I’ve been using lots of Lee dies for years with great success. Haven’t used their presses, so can’t comment on those. I can recommend RCBS, however. I bought a RCBS Rock Chucker in 1976. Still going strong after 43 years. Going to load some .308WIN this afternoon using it and the RCBS Dies I got in 1998. Their products last.
I would not recommend a progressive press now, as your first press. Learn the process and steps to reloading on a single stage press first. Get comfortable and knowledgeable about what it is you are doing. There will be time to upgrade to a progressive press later, once you’ve learned the process and determined that you really want and like to reload. Your investment in a single stage, or even a turret, press will not be wasted. It will last you for a long time.

 

[Daver7]

This topic comes up quit often on firearms forums and one suggestionI haven't seen is to buy used.
I started Reloading in the late 70's.On my bench are presses I bought new and presses I bought used, they all work.
I'm not sure where you live but in this part of the country if you can stop by yard sales you might find something for reloading at a cheap price.
I've also found some good buys at gun shows.
I have an old rock chucker I bought at a gun show. it was completely taken apart and was missing a few small parts. I've got about $30 in it. Heck if you wait long enough I'll bit the dust and you might get a good deal on my stuff! Grandson will want a couple of presses and some of the dies but there will still be some presses and dies left. Reloading equipment is made to last and will out live most of it's owners.Ya just got to wait for us old farts to die.

 

[BB57]

I like Lee well enough, but to be honest the Dillon 550C is the best deal out there. I'm, basing this on 43 years of handloading experience with a number of presses and nearly 20 years of that with a Dillon 550B.

$490 gets you everything you need for one caliber. Conversion kits for other calibers are $50. A quick change kit with powder measure, tool stand, tool head and powder die is $117 and will let you change calibers without having to adjust anything, including the powder measure in under a minute.

The 550 is a non auto indexed progressive press, which means you can:

1) Use it as a single stage press.

You can do one operation at a time for an entire loading block before moving to the next station for the next operation. (Alternatively, you can get a third party single stage adapter for it that replaces the shell plate with a single shell holder and comes with a single die tool head for $95.)

This mode is a great way for a new handloader to learn each step in the process.


2) Use it as a turret press.

You can put a single case on the shell plate and move it through each position to complete the round, before putting the next case on the shell pate.

This is a great way for a fairly new handloader to put all the steps together in a smooth process.


3) Use it as a progressive press.

You can load four cases on the shell plate and load progressively. I can do about 400 rounds per hour of pistol or revolver rounds without any undue effort.


4) Use it as a precision rifle cartridge press.

I load precision rounds on the press using Whidden floating tool heads and a clamp kit. I use a Redding 3 BR powder die on the 3/4" powder measure adapter. On some loads I'll drop the charge .1 gr light and then trickle up to the final weight using an electronic scale. Even hand weighing the charges, I can load 110 rounds per hour. Runout on the rounds is .001. I get the occasional round that runs out at .0015" and I throw them in the practice bag, or if I have the time and inclination, correct the run out.

----

The initial investment will be a little higher, but you'll never outgrow it, you'll never wear it out, and Dillon will cover any broken parts for life, and in the long term you'll save money because you'll only buy once.

 

[68Dave]

Another vote here for the Lee classic Turret. I started with the single stage but now it is only used for rifle case prep. The turret works great. I was able to prime cases on the press , though some folks didn’t like that system. I don’t load in very large batches usually only 50. It’s very easy to change calibers. I liked the turret better just because I handled the brass less. It sped up the process. I’ve since gotten a used Dillon 550. I don’t need the speed that some guys claim to get, but it’s still just easier.
Four lever pull for each round or just one? That’s a decision you have to make. I’ll just add don’t make it about speed. It should be about safe , consistent, and accurate ammunition. Good luck in whatever you chose.

David

 

[Bobby B.]

Lee classic cast turret is a great press for your needs. It can be progressive or single stage and turns out very nice pistol ammo. Dies are a personal choice. Not sure there are any bad ones but you want carbide for straight walled pistol rounds as no lube is necessary. I do most of my 38 and .45 acp on a Dillon 650 but I use the lee turret for .44sp./mag and 45 colt. Redding big boss single stage for rifle.

 

[Maddog 521]

Another vote for the Lee Turret Press. Mine is still cranking out quality ammo after 30+ years.

 

[roundgun]

Whatever you do, get carbide dies.

 

[Babysitr]

Guess I went the "cheap" way, not knowing if I'd like it, and having ample time.....RCBS partner press on sale....used carbide dies off flea bay....had the caliper and lee scale.....38 specials are great....May upgrade, but at this time, happy!

 

[nedlate]

Guess I went the "cheap" way, not knowing if I'd like it, and having ample time.....RCBS partner press on sale....used carbide dies off flea bay....had the caliper and lee scale.....38 specials are great....May upgrade, but at this time, happy!

I also have a partner press! Got it in a kit as a 5 year service award. It does a great job on 38 spl and 44 spl. My main press is a Rock Chucker. I have reloaded on that for years and highly recommend it. I also use the carbide dies for pistol calibers. 5-0-5 scale from when they were made in USA now they are Chinese. And I mainly use a Lil'Dandy powder dispenser for volume pistol cartridges.

Any of the brands people are recommending above will work great but a single stage press is so satisfying to sit down to and reload! I do a hundred or two hundred at a time. You can really watch what you are doing on the single stage especially since you are metering the powder and checking them in a block.

Later (years) you can by a progressive press and then you will have 2 presses!

I did get the RCBS Pro2000 but haven't used it much yet, I think I still like the simplicity of the single stage.

Ed