Reloader Question

87predatorcontrol

87predatorcontrol

New member
I am in the market for a new reloader. However, am having trouble between a progressive and single stage. I am new and don't know a whole lot, but I have heard from a few experienced reloaders, that the progressive presses aren't very good, because of the inconsistency of the powder measures. Both these guys weighed every powder charge out and made it exact. I will be using the reloader, to reload hunting cartridges both big and small game. Is there that much variation between powder loads, that I need to measure each one, or is this just hear say? Also, what would be your suggestions on a reloader to buy? To start we will be developinig loads for a .204, and two .243's one for coyotes and pd's and the other for deer. Money is not an issue, and once loads established will reload 500 .204, and prolly 500-700 243. Thanks for your help guys.
 
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The powder measures these days are very consistant if you are using a measure friendly powder. This would be ball or a short stick type. If you are new to reloading, I would caution you about getting a progressive press due to the set up time in changing calibers verses a single stage press. The newer electronic powder measures are fast and accurate. If you are only loading a small number of rounds each sitting, then weighing your powder is not that time consuming with a good scale. You will get many responses to your question but in my 40 years of reloading (and benchrest shooting), I have had all this stuff at least once and tried many methods in the attempt to reach ultimate accuracy. Just look at it as a fun part of the sport and not a chore.
 
I would start off with a turret press, which is something of a happy medium. There are a lot of things going on when you operate a progressive and if you do not have the background of loading individual shells you can make some big mistakes early.. Additionally, I think that progressives are limited caliber wise. I do not think that you can do such torque requiring maneuvers as full length resizing on a .338 with a progressive.

If every powder metered accurately through the powder dispenser you would put another plus in the progressive column. However, longer grain extruded powder will not. I have a couple of .204s that love H4895. There is no other way to deal with that powder than to weigh each charge.

I was thinking a progressive for my .204, but I would then be limited to loading H335, BLC-2 and maybe Benchmark if I wanted reasonably consistent powder weights. I could not use Varget or H4895 and these are decent .204 powders.
 
Im also pretty new at reloading and i really like the thing about sitting down take my time and measure up every round to the exact replica of another, also measuring cartridge lenght and all the other stuff.
It feels great on the range when they all behave the same (if the measures are consistance you can count out that factor if a shot is bad)
But be careful and make sure you got the time needed so dont stress or get interupted by anything also get a manual from start (it helps alot to get the basics).... be focused and you´ll find out that when you get a hang of measuring every cartridge that its really fun.
I have RCBS equipment and im really satisfied with that.

Good luck!!

///Fredrik /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Get a single stage to start off with. Start with the K.I.S.S. principle. And I measure every load I put in a piece of brass. Typically I'll "throw" a load to get close to the overall gr. I want but then trickle it in till its exact. If you are not going to be exact you might as well just use factory.

Mahamari
 
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Just my personal thoughts, but being a new reloader I would suggest you buy a good single-stage press. Like has already been said....things happen fast with a progressive and it's VERY easy for a newby to make a mistake that will cost you a body part. No offense meant, by the way.

You can load the quantities you mentioned in several evenings with no problems. And you don't need them all at once anyway, right?

As for the digital scales, I'd personally pass on that idea. I had a BAD experience with them, and will never use them again. Balance beam scales are accurate and dependable. Do a search on here and other hunting/reloading forums for "digital scales" and you'll see just how inaccurate and finicky they can be.
 
Been reloading for for 22yrs. I own three presses...2 Dillon 550B and 1 Rock Chucker. I don't reload rifle rounds on the progressives. Its to much of a hassle for me. I don't reload massive quanities of rifle rounds at a time. For starting out, I would suggest a single stage or turrent press. This will allow you to see and learn each individual step in the process.

As for measuring every charge, I don't do it. I use ball or small stick powder and it measures accurately enough for my varmint rounds once I get it set.

I would suggest that you get with someone in the beginning and let them walk you through the process a time or two to get you familiar with the process of reloading.

I don't like the Lee presses, I would look at the RCBS, Hornady or Lyman. Just my .02

Good luck and good hunting.
 
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I'll echo all the folks suggesting a single stage press for a beginner reloader. Get Lee's Anniversary kit for a hundred bucks along with both a Lyman and Lee manual. I've been using one of those little kits now for 15 years and load a bunch of different calibers from the 204 Ruger to the 8mm Rem mag and the 300 Ultra-mag.

With near 50 years of reloading behind me I've used most of the equipment on the market and the ammo I load today with the little Lee single stage press is as good as any I've loaded.

I do use a Lee turret press with the auto-advance taken off for my handgun loads simply because I can keep a complete set of dies set up for each different caliber I load.

As far as powder measures go most progressive loaders have much the same kind of powder measure that they provide in their single stage kits.

I use several different measures, but have found the RCBS electronic powder dispenser/scale gives me the most consistent loads, or at least that's what my chrono says about their standard deviation.

This is the way my bench is setup.

ReloadingbenchRemodel-40.jpg


Here is the most accurate measuring system I've found, but is slower than a standard powder measure.

RCBSdispandscale.jpg


Here's some of the powder measures I use. The little Lee is probably the most accurate of these three.

Shopanddog-34.jpg


If you get your scale up to eye level it's much easier to use than sitting on a bench.

LeeSafetyscaleoncustomholder.jpg
 
Would have to agree that it is probably not a good idea for a new reloader to start out with a progressive press. As has been stated, there is a lot going on and unless the operator is familiar with the process, mistakes can be made.


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I have a couple of .204s that love H4895. There is no other way to deal with that powder than to weigh each charge.



IMHO weighing powder charges is not necessary. I have successfully loaded thousands of rounds of target grade 30-06 and .308 ammo using 4895 powder and the Dillon 550 progressive press.

Have also loaded hundreds of sub moa. .223 ammo on the same press using H335 (a ball powder), but have not tried 4895 in the .223. Unless there is a bridging problem with 4895 in the smaller cases, I see no reason that the progressive could not be used by an experienced reloader.

Regards,
hm
 
I have been handloading over forty years, on the same Rock Chucker press. I have worn out two scales and a powder measure in that time, so I guess for round count I am somplace in the millions plus rounds area. I have been thinking of going to a turret in the last couple years, just because it may give me a bit more spare time with out loseing the accuracy I demand. I wiegh each charge even though my powder measure throws them pretty consistant, I still throw into the scale pan then wiegh trickle if needed and dump in the case. I like to inspect each case between each stage. As far as time is concerned I am loading two hundred two three hundred rounds in an evening, when I would other wise be watching the idiot box r sitting in front of this idiot box.
 
I have been reloading since the late 60's with a RCBS Rockchucker for A pistol and A rifle. As my inventory grew I still used the single stage press. I started out with a beam scale and weighed every 10th rounds. I have moved on to turret press's, and digital scale. I load for 6 pistols and use a Lee 4hole turret press. I load for 5 rifles and use a Redding T-7. The RCBS turret is a equal but I got a buy on this. I do weigh every load now, and measure every case and col at the finish. I still use the Rock Chucker for decap and special use's. Go for the RCBS line of products, you will not believe there customer service.
Jim
 
If your new, start with something simple and learn the basics. Like everyone says go with a single stage. I now use a dillon 650 to load with, but my rock chucker still gets some work to do now and then. I wouldn't think of using my 650 to pull bullets with a collet style puller, this is the main reason I keep the Rockchucker: to pull bullets. Sometimes while doing load development, I'll have a load/bullet combination that I can just tell isn't going to performa or it is already looking too hot, so I'll just quit with that combo. I'll go home, pull the bullets with a collet style puller and try a different combination. I use the rockchucker for other uses too, so it is still earning its weight in cast iron.

As far as weighing every charge, that depends on the gun, the powder thrower, and you; plus, a few other variables thrown in that I cannot think about right now. I have some loads that shoot good without being weighed and some that must be weighed. It all depends.

I started reloading to save money, and I do save a lot of money. Howver, today I reload for accuracy and this hobby gives me the opportunity to fine tune my loads for each and every one of my guns. Go price 5 boxes of Federal Gold Medal Match ($165 for 5 boxes at midsouth). Then price a box of 100 168gn sierra match king ($30 at midsouth), a bag of hornady match grade brass ($60 per 100), a pound of H4895 powder ($20 at the local gun store, and a 100 match grade primers ($3). The total cost of the componets listed above runs $113. However, you should only figure $12 for the cost of the brass since you will be reusing the brass at least five more times if not more. You will also have about 5 oz of powder left after loading a 100 bullets too. That brings the cost of reloaded ammo tuned for your barrel down to almost 1/3 the cost of equivalent ammo.

Today, I have a bunch of remington and winchester bulk bullets in inventory that I'll probably never shoot. I'm always working with quality bullets like Sierra, Nosler, Berger, etc. because they perform better. If you want accurate reloads, buy quality bullets. The quality of the bullets you use and the quality of reloading that you do will be the two most important things you will learn.

Welcome to the sport
 
I have 2 Dillons and a RCBS Rockchucker, and based on your experience level, and the calibers you want to load, I would start with a single stage press. You can single stage load on a progressive if you wanted. The 204 is a pain to load progressive with some non ball powders. Since money is not a big concern, go for the RCBS ChargeMaster to speed up the powder weighing. If you were reloading a lot of pistol ammo, then a Dillon progressive is the way to go.
 


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