I know you guys get asked this all the time. My dad has a bunch of Cableas gift cards and he is ready to take the leap. Any recomendations. I know sometimes it's better not to buy a kit. We will most likely reload 45, 40, 9, and a few others.
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Which Cableas starter reload kit?
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firearmsunlimited
Member
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Deluxe or RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master. Either will give you the versatility to reload various rifle and hand gun calibers.
I have 3 RCBS single stage presses. Reloader special/Rock Chucker/partner press
By far the Rock Chucker is the best. But I will tell you the Reloader special and partner press are very good too.
The partner press is for small jobs and not a main press. The Reloader special can be used as a main press.
By far the Rock Chucker is the best. But I will tell you the Reloader special and partner press are very good too.
The partner press is for small jobs and not a main press. The Reloader special can be used as a main press.
It depends on how much you plan to shoot/reload.
A RCBS Rockchucker or Reloader press will do a great job on rifle or handgun cartridges, but slowly.
If you plan to load only handgun, but quantities of several 100 at a time, look at some of the Dillon progressive reloaders.
A RCBS Rockchucker or Reloader press will do a great job on rifle or handgun cartridges, but slowly.
If you plan to load only handgun, but quantities of several 100 at a time, look at some of the Dillon progressive reloaders.
Nothing wrong with the RCBS kits, but I like the Lyman T-mag kit. I especially am partial to electronic scales, which this has. See it here: Cabela's -- Lyman T-Mag II Expert Reloading Kit
What do you guys think about this Lee kit press.
Cabela's -- Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Kit
Cabela's -- Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Kit
Dragon88
Member
I went with the RCBS Partner Press kit a couple years ago. The Rock Chucker is a better press though so I would go with that one if money is not an issue. Either will serve you extremely well.
Keep in mind though, buying the kit is just the beginning. You will immediately find things you want to add to you kit such as a better scale and calipers. Once you are bitten by the bug that is handloading, there is no going back.
It is worth every penny though.
Keep in mind though, buying the kit is just the beginning. You will immediately find things you want to add to you kit such as a better scale and calipers. Once you are bitten by the bug that is handloading, there is no going back.
It is worth every penny though.
I got an RCBS kit 20+ years ago and it's still going strong.
You probably wouldn't go wrong with RCBS, Lyman, or Hornady's kits. They should all do a good job for you. All of them have manuals which are essential. You can get reloading data from the powder or bullet manufacturers sites, but the manuals have other usefull info.
Get Carbide dies, they will save you time and energy. And you can do away with the lube pad and case lube from the kits.
The lee kit, for the one who asked, seems like it should work ok. If you buy carbide dies you won't need the lube pads the other kits have.
I use their auto prime for all reloading I do. Use the money you save to buy a good reloading manual though.
You probably wouldn't go wrong with RCBS, Lyman, or Hornady's kits. They should all do a good job for you. All of them have manuals which are essential. You can get reloading data from the powder or bullet manufacturers sites, but the manuals have other usefull info.
Get Carbide dies, they will save you time and energy. And you can do away with the lube pad and case lube from the kits.
The lee kit, for the one who asked, seems like it should work ok. If you buy carbide dies you won't need the lube pads the other kits have.
I use their auto prime for all reloading I do. Use the money you save to buy a good reloading manual though.
kscardsfan
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Lee pistol dies are fine. And their auto prime tool is good too. But they're presses etc are pretty sloppy IMO. I would stick to redding, lyman, hornady, and RCBS. I went with a redding because they are built entirely here in America, on American made machinery, and with American forgings. Not sure what its worth to others, but it made me pretty proud.
If you are going to load multiple calibers and want to save time swapping out dies..please take a close look at either the Redding t7 Turret press or the Foster Coax. I have both and they quite a bit ahead of any single stage press mentioned above. After you have loaded a short while, you will be glad you did. You may want to consider a electronic powder scale too.
Titegroups
Member
Nothing at all wrong with the Lee turret presses, I've loaded 10k rds on a Lee turret in a years time with no problems, best value on the market. If you are loading low quantities of ammo a single stage will do the job, if you are shooting more than a 100rds a week I would go with a turret press, if you plan to shoot more than 250rds a week a progressive is the way to go. The Lee turrets auto index and the turrets that are needed to switch calibers are much cheaper ($12), than other brands. It really comes down to how much ammo you want load, if price is no object or you need 500+ rds a week a dillon progressive is the way to go. I target shoot handguns, my turret will turn out 125-150/hr. easily, it does what I need it to do.
tbury
Member
I have the Lee classic turret press and the kit has the basic items you need. For pistol calibers it does a fine job at a good price. I like the ease of switching calibers with dies mounted in their own turrets. Depending on you style of reloading you may want a electronic dispensor scale in the future but the powder measure and mechanical scale may suit your needs to start.
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
I got the Lee Classic turret kit. I've been VERY happy with it. The changeable turrets make changing calibers easy.
You can load all ya like. If you want a single stage, it's easy to set it up that way as well. Just take out the spiral rod & hey presto. A single stage.
It doesn't come with everything. Two must haves, IMO, are a bullet puller (about $25 for the inertial) and a digital caliper (about $20. No need for .000001" accuracy
)
You can load all ya like. If you want a single stage, it's easy to set it up that way as well. Just take out the spiral rod & hey presto. A single stage.
It doesn't come with everything. Two must haves, IMO, are a bullet puller (about $25 for the inertial) and a digital caliper (about $20. No need for .000001" accuracy
)The Lee classic turret is the best press Lee makes for those that load handgun.
In spite of the repeated advice on this thread to get a single-stage to load 9, 40, and 45, they are a poor choice for anyone that shoots more than a few boxes a year--too slooow.
For beginners, the post can be pulled on the Lee turret, and operated as a single stage. Once the fundamentals are grasped, then they can be used as a turret progressive for more speed.
My advice is to get the turret press and 3 sets of Lee carbide dies in 9, 40, 45 (or whatever dies you need for your calibers). Even if later you get a Dillon for quantity pistol loading, you can keep the turret for test loads or small batches; I did.
novalty
Member
Hornady's is still doing their "Get Reloaded" promotion. So if he get's the Lock n Load Classic kit, you can get 500 leads for just s&h. Only reason I could find to purchase the Hornady over the RCBS, very comparative kits. Although the Hornady kit has an electronic scale, most reviews aren't favorable of the scale.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Probably could have
....said it somewhat differently but certainly not any better. Even though I have 3 Dillon progressives, a Lee Classic Cast Iron Turret, an RCBS RS-3, a Spar T and an ancient Herters single stage press, I find myself going back to the Lee for short runs or batches of "work up" loads.
FWIW
The Lee classic turret is the best press Lee makes for those that load handgun.
In spite of the repeated advice on this thread to get a single-stage to load 9, 40, and 45, they are a poor choice for anyone that shoots more than a few boxes a year--too slooow.
For beginners, the post can be pulled on the Lee turret, and operated as a single stage. Once the fundamentals are grasped, then they can be used as a turret progressive for more speed.
My advice is to get the turret press and 3 sets of Lee carbide dies in 9, 40, 45 (or whatever dies you need for your calibers). Even if later you get a Dillon for quantity pistol loading, you can keep the turret for test loads or small batches; I did.
....said it somewhat differently but certainly not any better. Even though I have 3 Dillon progressives, a Lee Classic Cast Iron Turret, an RCBS RS-3, a Spar T and an ancient Herters single stage press, I find myself going back to the Lee for short runs or batches of "work up" loads.
FWIW
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