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Posted: 3/20/2014 3:27:35 AM EDT
I like to think I've got an excellent collection of tools, but I'm always amazed to find a new tool that makes life so much simpler.
So, what is the single piece of equipment you could not live without. For me: Hornady Case Feeder, it's a Godsent! I felt so stupid when I hooked this thing up for all the time I wasted before hand loading each case! 
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Posted: 3/20/2014 3:36:44 AM EDT
[#1]
^^^^^^ That's the next item on my wishlist.
For me the ultimate why didn't I buy this sooner is this. 
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Posted: 3/20/2014 3:50:35 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
^^^^^^ That's the next item on my wishlist. For me the ultimate why didn't I buy this sooner is this. http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg THIS Definitely! Cut gas dump time in half. |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 4:07:39 AM EDT
[#3]
I can't think of anything.
Funny though, the items mentioned so far I have no use for. I can load cases by hand just as fast as the feeder and my measures throw powder faster and more accurately than a despenser(due to the powder I use). Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 4:14:34 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can't think of anything. Funny though, the items mentioned so far I have no use for. I can load cases by hand just as fast as the feeder and my measures throw powder faster and more accurately than a despenser(due to the powder I use). Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile If you think you can load cases by hand just as fast as the feeder you need to give the feeder a chance. I think you are severely misguided 
Instead of hand loading a case, then bullet between every crank of the shaft you only load bullet, pull, load bullet, pull, etc. One hand performs each operation. I would argue it is at least 20-30% faster! I was in your boat about 2 months ago, but bought the case feeder off the EE for a steal and now I can't live without it! You don't have 1 single item you would consider irreplaceable? |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 4:18:04 AM EDT
[#5]
A good heavy table is the most important reloading item there is.
Sadly I don't currently have one. Resizing with a wobbly table sucks ball |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 4:26:30 AM EDT
[#6]
Dillon's Automatic Primer Filler. Great time saver. Loading them little suckers one at a time with a pickup tube almost drove me up a wall!
 Second would be the case feeder. 
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Posted: 3/20/2014 4:41:44 AM EDT
[#7]
I agree. Upgrading my bench now. 7' long and 29 inches deep. I put two layers of 3/4 inch MDF and the 20 gauge stainless top will be ready tomorrow. I put the first husky cabinet together last night and the second will go on the right. I will have husky track in the middle to hold containers and what not...
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Posted: 3/20/2014 4:43:39 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you think you can load cases by hand just as fast as the feeder you need to give the feeder a chance. I think you are severely misguided
Instead of hand loading a case, then bullet between every crank of the shaft you only load bullet, pull, load bullet, pull, etc. One hand performs each operation. I would argue it is at least 20-30% faster! I was in your boat about 2 months ago, but bought the case feeder off the EE for a steal and now I can't live without it! You don't have 1 single item you would consider irreplaceable? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I can't think of anything. Funny though, the items mentioned so far I have no use for. I can load cases by hand just as fast as the feeder and my measures throw powder faster and more accurately than a despenser(due to the powder I use). Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile If you think you can load cases by hand just as fast as the feeder you need to give the feeder a chance. I think you are severely misguided
Instead of hand loading a case, then bullet between every crank of the shaft you only load bullet, pull, load bullet, pull, etc. One hand performs each operation. I would argue it is at least 20-30% faster! I was in your boat about 2 months ago, but bought the case feeder off the EE for a steal and now I can't live without it! You don't have 1 single item you would consider irreplaceable? I bought the conversion plate for a feeder just in case but I cannot justify the money and I just spent $680 on a case trimmer(that will cut about 10 seconds/case). My hand is waiting, case ready and oriented, for the ram to come down. There is a video in the "1050 counter thread" of me decapping and belling .40 cases, I doubt the feeder is 5% faster than I am loading cases in that video. I have a bullet feeder as the bullet is small and harder to place. It about halves the time to load 100 rounds(50% faster, I did a video comparing ) but 4 minutes vs. 8 minutes per 100 is not really a life or death situation. I could do without. I guess there are items I WONT do without but they are generalized for efficiency. I wont be without 3 powder measures, I wont be without 3 presses all LNL bushed and shimmed to the same height, I wont be without a auto-progressive press.... . . . Ok I thought of a specific, I will never give up my RCBS Universal Hand Primer, I will accept no other, I may buy another so I don't have to switch small to large even though it only takes a minute to switch. Even I wore one out every year I would continue to buy more. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 5:18:23 AM EDT
[#9]
This:
Followed closely by this: 
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Posted: 3/20/2014 5:33:51 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg Followed closely by this: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/KUJeeper82/photo_zpsfcec14c6.jpg Would that second one be the Miller High Life your talking about? Hopefully not. Call me crazy, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "My comfy reloading bench chair". I could do everything with the bare minimum, but if i'm not comfortable when I'm doing it, I lose interest real quick. Long reloading sessions absolutely require a comfortable chair. If it must be a reloading "tool", then I'm gonna have to go with the RCBS trimmer as well, with the champfer, debur cutter head. |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 5:35:04 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Followed closely by this: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/KUJeeper82/photo_zpsfcec14c6.jpg The beer? Drinking and reloading do not mix. 
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Posted: 3/20/2014 5:53:36 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The beer? Drinking and reloading do not mix.
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Followed closely by this: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/KUJeeper82/photo_zpsfcec14c6.jpg The beer? Drinking and reloading do not mix.
What makes you think he is drinking and reloading. Setting a beer near the reloading work area does not equal drinking while reloading, he should have put a pack of smokes in the pic too to really get panties in a wad. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 6:00:34 AM EDT
[#13]
The one single most important piece of equipment for me would be.... a reloading press. lol. without one there wouldnt be any reloading going on.
Seriously, however, I also think having a solid bench is very important. I'll go one step further and say a solid reloading area/room/environment is a much needed part. Sure, you can load on your mother's folding TV dinner tray in the living room, but you're probably not going to like it or be effective lol. |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 6:18:45 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What makes you think he is drinking and reloading. Setting a beer near the reloading work area does not equal drinking while reloading, he should have put a pack of smokes in the pic too to really get panties in a wad. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Followed closely by this: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/KUJeeper82/photo_zpsfcec14c6.jpg The beer? Drinking and reloading do not mix.
What makes you think he is drinking and reloading. Setting a beer near the reloading work area does not equal drinking while reloading, he should have put a pack of smokes in the pic too to really get panties in a wad. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Really? you don't see the little smiley there? geeeez I was really commenting on the beer being a piece of reloading equipment he can not live without...... I thought it was funny. ETA: If I was really seriously thinking he was doing that, I would have used  or 
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Posted: 3/20/2014 6:21:20 AM EDT
[#15]
My RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale. After bad luck and frustrations with digital scales it is nice to know that the 5-0-5 will always be reliable and accurate.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 6:43:47 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Really? you don't see the little smiley there? geeeez I was really commenting on the beer being a piece of reloading equipment he can not live without...... I thought it was funny. ETA: If I was really seriously thinking he was doing that, I would have used or Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Followed closely by this: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/KUJeeper82/photo_zpsfcec14c6.jpg The beer? Drinking and reloading do not mix.
What makes you think he is drinking and reloading. Setting a beer near the reloading work area does not equal drinking while reloading, he should have put a pack of smokes in the pic too to really get panties in a wad. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Really? you don't see the little smiley there? geeeez I was really commenting on the beer being a piece of reloading equipment he can not live without...... I thought it was funny. ETA: If I was really seriously thinking he was doing that, I would have used or Ha! No actually I didn't see the smiley, it doesn't show up on my phone but now I see the code in the quote, sorry. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 6:53:41 AM EDT
[#17]
Meh, nothing wrong with enjoying a cold beer while reloading. I also listen to music in the background too.
I need a good reloading chair. Right now I just stand on my hard concrete floor in bare feet. |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 7:43:54 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Meh, nothing wrong with enjoying a cold beer while reloading. I also listen to music in the background too.
I need a good reloading chair. Right now I just stand on my hard concrete floor in bare feet. Well my latest have to have is my tiny new TV!
As for concrete floors, cold feet, and a good chair.....I got those covered a few years ago. The colored foam pads from Sam's Club are perfect for my bare feet and raise the temperature in my garage 10 degrees in the winter all buy itself. Getting tired of the colors already tho....but the option on the flipside is gray. For my use, the perfect reloading chair is a good comfy drafting stool under a 36" high bench. Not much effort to sit or get up and stand....perfect. 
My all-time favorite tool though is my Avalanche.  It takes me to shoot, buy more tools and components, and even to hunt. It even transported the full sheet of plywood and lumber to build my bench safely in a rain storm.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:04:45 AM EDT
[#19]
Besides my 650, casefeeder, and Dillon trimmer dies on my case prep toolheads, the single most important piece of equipment is my digital scale. It's faster and more accurate than a beam scale and for setting up the powder feeder, it's absolutely a necessity.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:14:27 AM EDT
[#20]
My brain - everything else is worthless without it.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:20:09 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My brain - everything else is worthless without it. IDK, I see a lot of people reloading without that
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:30:57 AM EDT
[#22]
Casting pot
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:32:48 AM EDT
[#23]
I would be able to get along without any of the luxuries EXCEPT my Gracey Power Trimmer. No way I will ever go back to manually trimming rifle cases again.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:36:54 AM EDT
[#24]
For reloading 9mm my XL650
Besides that my Lyman #55 powder measure. |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:37:48 AM EDT
[#25]
3 Way cutter for TrimPro2. Good God, before that case prep was stupid long and destroyed my fingers. Now all I need is a faster way to de primer crimp, the countersink in drill bit is pretty niffty.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 8:43:25 AM EDT
[#26]
For me, it is my 550B. I can't imagine reloading without it.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 9:11:45 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
^^^^^^ That's the next item on my wishlist. For me the ultimate why didn't I buy this sooner is this. http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg My vote |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 12:34:18 PM EDT
[#28]
For me,, the freedom and ability to reload legally
ETA forgot to add the tool, sorry,, a gun, to keep those abilities |
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Posted: 3/20/2014 1:27:21 PM EDT
[#29]
RCBS Hand priming tool, or just a hand priming tool in general.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 1:30:53 PM EDT
[#30]
A chronograph.
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Posted: 3/20/2014 10:22:50 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I agree. Upgrading my bench now. 7' long and 29 inches deep. I put two layers of 3/4 inch MDF and the 20 gauge stainless top will be ready tomorrow. I put the first husky cabinet together last night and the second will go on the right. I will have husky track in the middle to hold containers and what not... http://rs286.pbsrc.com/albums/ll89/bud2928/20140319_171538_zps38e83ae1.jpg~320x480?t=1395318490 HOLY SHYT!!! my friend is building me the same table top u described, but i told him 60x24. Same 3/4 MDF stacked and wrapped in 20ga stainless(costing me a 20 pack). Great minds think alike i guess
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Posted: 3/20/2014 10:46:45 PM EDT
[#32]
Any type of powered trimmer, in my case the Giraud.
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Posted: 3/21/2014 5:10:10 AM EDT
[#33]
The first thing that I found was deswaging sucked. I bought a Dillon 600 Super Swage and can't believe how easy it is. It really took the suck factor down on my reloading sessions.
Now, trimming is driving me nuts. I would like to have a powered trimmer that chamfers and deburs on the cut. I have looked at the World's Finest Trimmer for ease of use and cost, but I am not sure if it chamfer's and deburs. I also have been dreaming of a Giraud trimmer, if only it was a little cheaper.... The trimmer will be my next "can't live without" item. |
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Posted: 3/21/2014 6:21:36 AM EDT
[#34]
My tumbler, I couldn't imagine trying to clean brass by hand.
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Posted: 3/21/2014 6:45:53 AM EDT
[#35]
Well...the one tool I can't live without....the press and dies technically, otherwise...would be rather hard to reload.
Purchases I'm glad I made? -Hornady Case feeder -Giraud Trimmer - The Franklin Arsenal primer vibratory filler. Not expensive like other options and quick to load 100 primers in tubes. - Giraud Annealer |
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Posted: 3/21/2014 7:30:11 AM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
For me, it is my 550B. I can't imagine reloading without it. Me too. Followed closely by a power trimmer of some kind (currently Giraud but Dillon would work too and possibly even the RCBS w/ 3-way cutter). |
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Posted: 3/21/2014 5:53:41 PM EDT
[#37]
Charge master here also, saves a lot of time, also while not needed I have a rapid case kicker that speeds up the process, no need to put case in, take it out, put it in etc.. Just put in the brass then when I lower and raise the press handle it kicks it put on the down stroke, great for tons of brass
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Posted: 3/22/2014 5:04:28 AM EDT
[#38]
I agree, makes life so much easier!
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I would be able to get along without any of the luxuries EXCEPT my Gracey Power Trimmer. No way I will ever go back to manually trimming rifle cases again. |
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Posted: 3/22/2014 5:41:56 AM EDT
[#39]
My Redding Model #1 oil buffered scale.
(stock picture, but the same as my scale)  First scale I bought and it has not wavered in its precision yet. It's also outlasted the 4 digital powder scales I tried (not a single one worked for more than a day), and is significantly faster than my Ohaus analytical balance. |
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Posted: 3/22/2014 6:03:11 AM EDT
[#40]
Lee decapping die. I wet tumble, so it's a must have.
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Posted: 3/22/2014 10:04:58 AM EDT
[#41]
My RCBS case prep thing.
Deburr, chamfer and remove primer pocket crimps on one gadget. |
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Posted: 3/25/2014 2:08:36 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Would that second one be the Miller High Life your talking about? Hopefully not. Call me crazy, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "My comfy reloading bench chair". I could do everything with the bare minimum, but if i'm not comfortable when I'm doing it, I lose interest real quick. Long reloading sessions absolutely require a comfortable chair. If it must be a reloading "tool", then I'm gonna have to go with the RCBS trimmer as well, with the champfer, debur cutter head. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
This: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg Followed closely by this: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/KUJeeper82/photo_zpsfcec14c6.jpg Would that second one be the Miller High Life your talking about? Hopefully not. Call me crazy, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "My comfy reloading bench chair". I could do everything with the bare minimum, but if i'm not comfortable when I'm doing it, I lose interest real quick. Long reloading sessions absolutely require a comfortable chair. If it must be a reloading "tool", then I'm gonna have to go with the RCBS trimmer as well, with the champfer, debur cutter head. Definitely agree with the chair comment! For the "tool I gotta go with the Giraud trimmer! |
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Posted: 3/25/2014 4:52:07 PM EDT
[#43]
i can live w/o it but the best i wish i got sooner tool would be the hornady comparator tool. It has allowed me to be more precise in my reloading and actually see what the numbers tell me.
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Posted: 3/25/2014 5:11:07 PM EDT
[#44]
Mini lathe. Can't tell you how many different ways I've used it. At the very least, I use it for reaming primer pockets, chamfering, deburring and trimming, among other things.
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Posted: 4/18/2014 3:06:45 PM EDT
[#45]
I'm new to reloading, so this thread is going to help me out a lot I think.
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Posted: 4/18/2014 4:35:18 PM EDT
[#46]
Would be a Dillon XL650 case feeder but that is mandatory and I would not of bought the press without it.
So my vote goes to a case gauge for rifle. |
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Posted: 4/18/2014 5:10:20 PM EDT
[#47]
The 3-way and my Tmag, not so fast and not too slow.
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Posted: 4/19/2014 4:39:24 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: ^^^^^^ That's the next item on my wishlist. For me the ultimate why didn't I buy this sooner is this. http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg |
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Posted: 4/19/2014 4:47:11 AM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
^^^^^^ That's the next item on my wishlist. For me the ultimate why didn't I buy this sooner is this. http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg I agree |
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Posted: 4/19/2014 6:38:15 AM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
^^^^^^ That's the next item on my wishlist. For me the ultimate why didn't I buy this sooner is this. http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii294/Clayne_b/RCBSChargemaster_zpsd5d19127.jpg This. Makes loading ladder tests a breeze. |
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