Rcbs rebel

J

jrhafd

Member
Looking at getting into reloading more after my dissatisfaction with factory ammo quality lately. Lookin at the RCBS rebel kit, seems like a solid setup and price. Is it a good kit to go with or should I look at something else? Will be loading 22-250, 243, 308, and 30-06.
 
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This is one heck of a plunge. Get ready to spend a lot of money, and give all of your spare moments learning for the next several years.

It is a wonderful hobby IMO. It can be somewhat of a rough start though.

How successful you are in your career will determine what you "could" buy to start out.

If you are strapped for cash bad, you may have to slowly build.

The most important thing if you have young kids, is to have a secure area where they can't get into.

The thought of a 15 month old sucking on a primer makes my heart sink.

A really, really stout loading bench secured to the studs in the wall is another good start. Some like the low table top and then get a riser for the press.

I have mine built high like a bar table top.

I believe some way to measure velocity is important. Others may argue that.

Once you have a safe secure place to have a loading room, a suitable bench for a reloading press or two or three.....

It does not matter much what tools you start with. Any kit will be somewhat for the minimalist and will need to be built upon. Any kit will be adequate to start.

RCBS is a great company.

I imagine most kits sit in a closet for decades and never get used.

One must be very good at reading instructions and following directions.
 
I think the Rebel looks like a really solid press and would last a lifetime most likely. My Rock Chucker is 30 or so years old and you can't really tell if from new. I almost upgraded to the Rebel last year when there were some awesome deals but couldn't come up with a good enough reason to.

Like Arlaunch said, there's tons of other stuff you'll need. But a kit isn't a bad place to start if you don't have preferences already. I'm not sure what scale that kit has, but one thing I'd be cautious of is a cheap electronic scale, unless I already had something to check it against.
 
Tools are important.

Knowing what you're doing is priceless.

Assuming a new reloader, the start is education. Books, videos, study up on the subject.

I'm not familiar with the Rebel but generally speaking RCBS makes good tools, so most likely any of their presses will serve you well.
 
Considering myself and others have reloaded safe performing ammo with a Lee wack-a-mole set(no press,a mallet is used to size brass) and a powder scoop. Any good quality O style type press and a scale with quality data and the ability to follow instructions should also produce safe reliable ammo. Components availability will probably be your greatest hindrance.
 
Great press to start with. I'm fairly sure Johnny's reloading bench did a video on it. He would also be a great guy to watch and learn from starting out, I think he's a great guy for everyone who reloads to watch and I'm sure most will agree
 
Personally, I have three Lee presses and two Lymans mounted on the bench.
RCBS, C&H, Pacific(Hornady) and Herters have gone down the road quite a while ago.

Just looking at kits the Rockchucker kit will save you $150. and you get a balance beam scale instead of electronic, much easier to see if something is wrong.

Just reloading doesn't take a massive press like the Rebel, even the Rockchucker with do 99% of all reloading projects.

Things like micrometer adjustable powder measures a great addition. The sliding sleave measures are a pain.

Like mentioned even the old Lee Loader(hammer actuated)loaded some fine ammo.

Personally the brand of press makes little difference in the quality of the ammo, it is the ease of use of the powder measure, scale, primer seater and trimmer, that make it a pleasurable experience.
 
I currently have the Rebel press. Not sure what the "kit" comes with, but the Rebel is a great press and probably more than I'll ever need.

I think the Rockchucker is plenty of press and was actually my first choice, but I found a deal on the Rebel for not much more money, so I went with the "tank". Unless you plan on getting into some really large rounds like 50BMG, I'd pry opt for the Rockchucker and save some money. But if you find a smoke'n deal like I did, why not! You'll be very happy either way.
 
The biggest reason to go with the rebel instead of the rc would be the better spent primer system. That's the worst part of the rc series in general imo.
 


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