Armory Sponsor
Posted: 6/7/2009 3:30:50 PM EDT
|
I have reloaded 357 magnum on a friends Lee Handloader before, he has a Dillon 550 too. This will be my first press and I want to start out loading 223. I think I will load around 250 rounds a month. I have a few other rifles I would like to load for eventually. I think a single stage will be sufficient for me, I haven't completely ruled out a progressive set up though. So what would you reloading pros suggest for a beginner like me?
I've been looking at the Lee 50th anniversary kit with the Breech Lock Challenger Press. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
[
I've been looking at the Lee 50th anniversary kit with the Breech Lock Challenger Press. Thats what I got to start with and it works great. So if I do buy this kit I will have to buy the dies and components. Anything else? A manual and a set of calipers at a minimum. A case gauge would be nice, though not necessary with the calipers. I've never used the Lee scale so I can't comment on it. I have a Breech Lock Challenger and a Safety Prime setup, both are very good and quite functional for loading .223. I've also had excellent luck with the "Perfect Powder Measure". It feels cheap and excessively flimsy, but it works just as well as my RCBS Uniflow powder measures. If I was starting out today and wanted a single stage, I'd buy that exact kit. The RCBS Rockchucker kit is a lot nicer, but also costs about $200 more than the Lee kit and doesn't result in any better ammunition. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
[
I've been looking at the Lee 50th anniversary kit with the Breech Lock Challenger Press. Thats what I got to start with and it works great. So if I do buy this kit I will have to buy the dies and components. Anything else? For Sure, keep reading and take notes. These guys have cost me a few bucks, but I have no regrets! |
|
Started with a RCBS Rockchucker 13 years ago and have just recently bought a Hornady LNL AP Progressive.
I'd suggest the Single stage first. you will always use it even after you step up to a Progressive. I still do work up loads on the Rockchucker. Once I find the load I'm looking for I'll move everything over to the Hornady and start pulling the handle and after the 5th pull I get to hear the pleasant thump of a finished round falling into the hopper. I will suggest that you buy the Hornady LNL conversion bushing and die bushings. It allows you to remove the die with a quick twist versus unthreading the Die from the press. it also holds your die adjustment so once you have it set you shouldn't ever have to touch it again. HTH, Jason |
|
Nothing "wrong" with your choice...........kits that will get you started at a cheaper price than if you paid, piece by piece. Though, you may not like the particular scale, trimmer or primer seating equipment that comes with the kit.
Then, kits will almost always have to be a brand new purchase. If you buy only a press, you will have some latitude in the pick and choose department. That seems to work out for folks who like to "customize" their bench. And, it doesn't have to be all one color. That being said.......the last gun show I attended had some used RCBS Rock Chuckers going for really good prices (was it $60?). BTW, most good quality presses don't wear out. But of course, YMWV. So, you need to check them out. For a single station, IMHO, the press that sets the standard is the: RCBS Rock Chucker. Don't get me wrong, a cheaper press is capable of loading fine quality ammo, just like the more expensive press. Here is an example of a cheap line of single stations from LEE. And, "cheap" isn't used in a bad way. www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1217810820.1709=/html/catalog/classic.html www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1217810820.1709=/html/catalog/rlpress1.html If you're in the market for a "kit." I like this one. Because, I like to prime my rifle brass off the press. www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1217810820.1709=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html#breech ________________________________________________ And, a good compromise between a single station and a progressive is a Turret Press........ www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1217810820.1709=/html/catalog/turretpress.html ________________________________________________ Folks have their brand loyalty and personal horror stories. So, beware. ________________________________________________ Just remember to get the equipment that suits the way YOU like to do things. Say, you're re-loading military 5.56mm brass cases for your AR with a single station press........consider your choice(s) for: A re-loading manual (or several manuals). A Press. F/L Sizer Two Die set (or 3 die set). Shell holder. A way to clean dirty cases (liquid cleaner or tumbler/vibratory machine w/ media or a wipe down w/rag). A way to de-prime military cases (regular die or universal de-capper or hammer and anvil method). A way to de-crimp military cases (swage or ream). A way to prime cases (on press or off press). A way to lube cases (what lube and applied w/fingers or pad & lube or spray lube). A way to test your re-sized cases (case gauge or actual rifle chamber). Caliper (though, not absolutely needed if you use a case gauge). A way to trim cases (hand powered or motorized). A case de-bur/chamfer tool, if your trimmer didn't do it all in one pass. A way to measure and dispense powder (dippers or disk measure or hopper/dispenser). A way to weigh the powder (electronic or balance beam scale) Powder. Primers. Bullets. And cartridge cases. I feel that these basic tools and components will do, for simple ammunition production. Note that: The list above can be shortened or lengthened. There is more than one way to skin a cat. There are many other tools that one can purchase to do other specific jobs. It's up to YOU to choose which tools you need and which tools you want. Some tools are there to make a job simpler and some are there to hopefully make you "better" ammunition..........though, was the purchase absolutely necessary? Choose wisely. Aloha, Mark |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
[
I've been looking at the Lee 50th anniversary kit with the Breech Lock Challenger Press. Thats what I got to start with and it works great. So if I do buy this kit I will have to buy the dies and components. Anything else? In addition to the dies and components you'll need: 1. a set of calipers 2. a case length gauge for .223 (the Lee kit comes with all the other case trimming items just not the case length gauges for whatever caliber(s) you'll be doing. 3. Headspace gauge (chamber check gauge). Dillon sells these. For pistol ammo you can use your pistol's barrel 4. case cleaning/polishing equipment (beat to death over the past 2 weeks on this forum) 5 A kinetic bullet puller for disassembling goofs (hint: use your shellplate holder vs. the included collets) |
|
Quoted:
Started with a RCBS Rockchucker 13 years ago and have just recently bought a Hornady LNL AP Progressive. I'd suggest the Single stage first. you will always use it even after you step up to a Progressive. I still do work up loads on the Rockchucker. Once I find the load I'm looking for I'll move everything over to the Hornady and start pulling the handle and after the 5th pull I get to hear the pleasant thump of a finished round falling into the hopper. I will suggest that you buy the Hornady LNL conversion bushing and die bushings. It allows you to remove the die with a quick twist versus unthreading the Die from the press. it also holds your die adjustment so once you have it set you shouldn't ever have to touch it again. HTH, Jason I looked at the Hornady LNL and really liked it but it costs more than the Lee Challenger and its my understanding that Lee's Breech Lock system is almost the same as Hornady's LNL system. |
|
To you guys who say Rockchucker, what makes it worth more than the other single stage press kits, don't get me wrong, I like RCBS from what I've seen of it. But the Rockchurcker doesn't offer a die changing system like the Lee Breech Lock or the Hornady LNL and to me that is appealing.
The Rockchucker does have an upgrade kit, the piggyback 4 I think, to make it a progressive loader. But I think if I get to the point where I want a progressive loader then I will probably just buy one. The turret presses haven't really appealed to me because of the LNL and Breech Lock systems, because of those I don't think I really need a turret press. Unless I misunderstood them, are they used to perform one step to every cartridge then move to the next step, or preform every step to one cartridge and then move on to the next cartridge? Thank you for your help so far guys, I really appreciate it. |
|
Quoted:
are they used to perform one step to every cartridge then move to the next step, or preform every step to one cartridge and then move on to the next cartridge? For me, I would say both. Sometimes when working with a new load and/or component I like to make one complete unit to make sure everything is going to work like the plan. Then I'll do however many I'm going load in that group step by step. The bushings do make changing the dies easy. Just remember to buy enough bushings for everything your going to stick in the press if that is the route you choose. |
|
If you're planning to reload from 5.56 brass you might want to look at a primer pocket swaging tool. Otherwise you'll have to ream out the pockets on a lot of brass depending on your source. The advantage of the swager is that if it wasn't crimped then no problem, if it was then it's fixed, so you can just run every case that MIGHT need it and know you're good to go.
I'm reloading on a 550 and have one complaint with it for rifle work, I like to resize/deprime my brass and then clean pockets, trim if needed and make a final check on it before reloading. Due to the position of stage 1, it's akward to insert a case, pull handle and remove case quickly and smoothly. If stage one was on the left, or the handle was, it'd be better. I think I'll probably pick up a single stage press for that set of tasks at some point. For that I have to agree with the rest, a Rockchucker is hard to beat, though a Lock-n-load setup has a lot going for it since I tend to load a number of calibers. |
Armory Sponsor