Posted: 12/12/2010 8:19:09 PM EDT
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So I know a few of the GHTF guys reload and I've gotten a lot of advice from other people about getting into it but I have some questions/concerns.
I'm considering getting a Lee 50th Anniversary Kit to start reloading, my biggest concern is this; should I buy this kit, excluding the dies, primers, cases, powder, and bullets, I'm GTG as far as equipment goes? Link I'm just afraid it's going to be one of those things where you COULD do it all with the kit, but you could do it way better with all these additional pieces of equipment which end up costing a lot of money. I hope that make sense. I know turret presses are supposed to be more efficient, but TBH I like a single stage because it will force me to pay more attention to each load. Thanks |
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That's the one I started off with but of course there are other things that you are going to have to buy. The single stage is nice but can be a head ache. On a side note when you start popping out the old primers find a different kind of lube for the casings. If not it will get stuck and if you are like me kill a few small animals and have to send it back and wait two-three weeks to get the resizing die back from lee. Do not know where you will get the kit from but I picked mine up from Ga Arms. Prices were round about online prices so no shipping charge. |
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If you need to get into reloading soon, go Redding.
Redding Boss Single Stage Press all by its lonesome. 
You may go for an arbor style, Forster... even Corbin... later. But, you will never be sorry that you bought the standard Redding Boss, ever. Next on your list should be Imperial Case Sizing Wax. FYI, get a name brand electronic scale. I've had this one for 14 years and has never made me crindge, cuss or cry. 
FYI2, Satern funnels, no plastic POS. 
FYI3, as for powder funnels, same goes for pans, no plastic POS. I went with RCBS over Redding. I like brass. 
If you want to learn why you will appreciate Redding over Lee in presses and dies, hate plastic pans & funnels and absolutely love electronic scales... I live in Dallas. |
| Lot's of reloader's will dog Lee equipment, its the best way to start reloading without breaking the bank, if you find out it's just not for you...no huge loss of $$$. You can go with any other brand....and you will drop a minimum of 500 bucks getting the same set up. Lee makes good stuff (especially for 1/4 of the other brands). If you are planning on reloading pistol cases the anniversary kit will get you going, if you are going to do bottle neck rifle cases the challenger kit will fit the bill better for only 20 more. There is a good reloading forum here at AR15 in the armory with tons of information. Oh and welcome to your new addiction....its a lot like BRD. |
| I personally would get a RCBS rockchucker or Redding Big boss kit, or just piece things together rather than the Lee kit. Yes the Lee will probably be fine but the others are far better equipment and you will end up upgrading later. I personally don't like the electronic scales and find my RCBS 10-10 to be far more accurate. I do use the electronic scale for weighing brass though. You don't really need a powder drop either, I never use mine and its a $300 Harrels. If you need to drop quick just get a progressive press. |
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Quoted:
Lot's of reloader's will dog Lee equipment, its the best way to start reloading without breaking the bank, if you find out it's just not for you...no huge loss of $$$. You can go with any other brand....and you will drop a minimum of 500 bucks getting the same set up. Lee makes good stuff (especially for 1/4 of the other brands). If you are planning on reloading pistol cases the anniversary kit will get you going, if you are going to do bottle neck rifle cases the challenger kit will fit the bill better for only 20 more. There is a good reloading forum here at AR15 in the armory with tons of information. Oh and welcome to your new addiction....its a lot like BRD. See, that's my thought process exactly. I did hear about using electric scales, but unless I really start to enjoy it and reload on a regular basis I'll stick with a normal scale, if I get the kit. |
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what loads are you going to be loading? there is a lot of info in this thread just thrown out there without even knowing. if you want to load pistol, get a progressive press. they will seem intimidating at first, but are fairly easy to setup and use. i use the dillon 550b and its fantastic. i also load rifle rounds on there after i prep the brass. i do use a single stage press too, but mainly now for swaging the primer pockets on military brass. a single stage is always good to have, i bought the lee kit as my first one to load .308. it takes longer, the parts that come with it are as basic as they get. do not use a manual scale, they take forever and are not as accurate as a digital scale. i would not buy a kit because you can probably get most of the stuff from midway usa online with a coupon for a good price.
i guess basically, if you want match grade rifle rounds, get a single stage. you can still load match grade on a dillon, or any progressive press, but you will be doing all the work up until the bullet seating(and crimping if you crimp). the progressive press is super fast at depriming too because you dont have to remove each round too. |
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I started with that exact kit. I loaded probably 5K precision 308 and 223 rnds with it. I broke the handle connecting plate 3 times, but each time Midway sent a new one free of charge.
Its a great way to get into reloading and you can produce some very high quality precision ammo. I still have the press with a cracked arm plate, I use it at the range when I am working up loads. I now have a dillon and hornady, but will always keep the Lee. Learn on the Lee and make upgrades as you learn what you want/need. IMO, get the Lee Kit, then an elec power throw should be your next purchase. I will never dog the lee stuff, but some it better than others. Their hand priming tool is hands down my favorite on the market. |
| I have the same kit, and the one piece that I absolutely could not live with is the powder measure. The scale is doable. I say get it then replace the powder measure when you get a chance. Also I have Lee dies that have reloaded many many rounds and I have broken several RCBS dies. I like the lee die sets with the factory crimp die. ( I think they come in the yellow die holder) Also the lee dies come with load data with them that's handy. |
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I have used Lee press and tools for years. I have a LoadMaster for hand guns and the Breech Lock Challenger press rifle.If you get Lee equipment then get the book Modern Reloading 2nd edition. This wil show in detail how to reload with Lee equipment. Midway USA has it for the best prices. That's IMHO.
Mike |
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Reloading pistol on a single-stage press (if you plan to do much of it) is slow. Same for trying to crank out 300 rounds of .223.
But reloading precision rifle ammo, whether it's .223 or .308 or whatever, is much better on a single stage. If you really plan to do both, you will most likely end up with both types of presses. So I would start with a single-stage and the rifle ammo. Once you're comfortable with the process you can add to your set up. If, however, you're just wanting to load decent .223 for plinking and whatnot, you probably want to start with a decent progressive like the Dillon 550B, Lee LoadMaster, etc. Progressives = faster loading / less precision and consistency / higher price Single-Stage = slower loading / more precision and consistency / lower price |
| That kit has served me well through the years. You will probably upgrade some of the equipment as you see fit over time but it will get you into loading. The only upgrades I made was a Wilson case trimmer and a Ohaus 1010 scale. Bought the scale cause I like having backups and I got a sweet deal on it. I upgraded the case trimmer cause the Lee trimmer was killin my fingers but it worked till I scraped up the coin for the Wilson. The only extras I have added was a Redding trickler, Wilson case gauge, Hornady primer reamer and Hornady load blocks. It makes some very nice, very sub moa .308 loads. I would stay with a single stage untill you get more comfortable loading then move to a progressive. I perfer a single stage tho. It gives me 100% control of the whole process. I load for accuracy not speed and quanity tho. |
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the reloading debate is like ford vs chevy strong opinions on all sides. i started with Lee Turret, and after 100K rounds 9/40/45/223 still with it. has its aggravating limitations no doubt, but price is not one of them,. get a digital scale, forget the Lee beam. great little priming tool, though.
Lee will also rehab any piece of gear or die for 1/2 retail price, which is low to begin with. find a mentor to get you started. I didnt have one, and i was shaking like a leaf the first reload i touched off. you'll save hours of BS&T wit a good mentor, of which there are many on this best of luck , you 'll either save $$ or shoot alot more, but not both! |
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Ultimately, you'll have to sift through all these opinions and just decide. There isn't a wrong answer. One thing I will say in favor of RCBS: Their customer service is the best I've experienced with any product of ANY type. I once called them and told them I flat out lost the spent primer tube, and was willing to pay for a replacement. They sent me a new one, free. Amazing. Maybe that's why they cost more...  |
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Quoted:
Reloading pistol on a single-stage press (if you plan to do much of it) is slow. Same for trying to crank out 300 rounds of .223. But reloading precision rifle ammo, whether it's .223 or .308 or whatever, is much better on a single stage. If you really plan to do both, you will most likely end up with both types of presses. So I would start with a single-stage and the rifle ammo. Once you're comfortable with the process you can add to your set up. If, however, you're just wanting to load decent .223 for plinking and whatnot, you probably want to start with a decent progressive like the Dillon 550B, Lee LoadMaster, etc. Progressives = faster loading / less precision and consistency / higher price Single-Stage = slower loading / more precision and consistency / lower price While I understand this, it's the reason why I want a single stage. No, I don't really plan on loading match grade ammo, but since I've never reloaded a single round in my life I'd rather be forced to take my time, and really learn the right way and not screw anything up. So if I do plan on getting a turret style press I could then possibly crank out 300 rounds confidently. |