Reloading for the Long Term, only answer if your .....REPLY was Posted

A

allgrainbeer

New member
I want to start reloading seriously. Seriously....not because it "can" be cheaper but because of true accuracy and bullet sellection.

I love accuracy......love it, and also want to be able to load bullets for the right job.

I will be hunting Moose, Elk, and black bear and whitetail every year.

can you please provide me with the top two makers with the most high tech precision presses/dies and accesories available. I do not mind mixing and matching manufacturers.

I would like to stick to turret presses, as volume reloading is not needed, and I want to stay away from single stage, as I think that will be too slow and just be a pain in the butt.

Redding?
RCBS?
Dillon, etc.
or even one off the beaten trail.

I am looking for quality and precision, and room to grow.
NOT cost effectiveness and quickness.

any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
------------------------------------------------------------

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gifI want to thank all of you for your replies, The true die hards gave some really great constructive criticism and advice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. While some of you just wanted to toot your own horn /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. I should have stated 20 years minimum.

I am a hunter, and I should have stated that. oh, now wait -- i did.

And although I do not plan to be a "bench rest" shooter, (although I was darn good on the rifle team in high school) I like working with things that are going to give me flixibility to grow, if I want to. And precsion, if I want it, too.

I have several rifle calibers that I plan on reloading. Hence the turret press. I have a child and a very demanding job, I do not want to sit there and change dies when I could be reloading 20 rounds. I am not a high volume shooter either. But one day, I probably will. I am at the range once a week or evey other week now.

However, if you told me turret presses were less capable than single presses, then I would go with a single press. however, most of you said you bought a single press years ago and never changed. I ask you, why? Why did you buy a single over a turret? was it cheaper than a turret press? Were you not sure if you would like doing it? you were simply happy with the results? (and those results are just opinions)or .........did you buy the single press because it had advantages over the turret press?

The fact that some of you "ol timers" gave websites, places to purchase, and basics along with very high tech stuff, that was AWESOME!!! And you could careless about tooting your own horn. Thank you.

What I consider accurate and what any one may consider accurate is always up for debate. I see some of the guys at the range pat them self on the back, and yet, I would not want their target if it was made of gold. Others, I could only wish.

Thanks again for everyones thoughts.

Brief Breakdown

Everyone here is passionate!
Everyone is happy with their purchases no matter the brand.
Everyone here is here for a reason, to help each other.

Thanks to everyone, even the testical busters busting on me for not makeing my questions clear.

Thanks again.
(and yes, I do not spell well either)





 
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I started as did most with a single stage RCBS Rockchucker back in the late 60's. I bought in to the turret press with a Lee 4 hole for pistols which has worked great. I just ordered a Redding T-7 with a extra turret head, for rifles. I think that this is a great press, and while I prefer the RCBS products over Redding, I think this press is the cats XXX. I will use my RC for depriming with a uni die.
Jim
 
Just for what it's worth, I use the Dillon 550b. Down through the years I've used just about every press out there and have had the Dillon for about the last 10 years and wouldn't consider anything else. I load all my pistol cartriges along with 243, 7mm-08, 270, 338 mag.,30-30, 7mm mag., and 30-06. It's fast and produces a very consistant load and accurate load.
 
I use a RCBS rockchucker for shouldered rifle cases with mostly Redding dies. For straight walled cases, and ones that take a number of dies, I use the Lee Classic cast iron turret press with 4-hole turrets. Quite often I deprime cases first with a universal decapping die..........Both of these presses can be had for about the same price as the Redding Turret press, which is a fine machine, but for the money, I prefer the 2 different presses.......2MG
 
Boy you plan on stirring it up. One of the most recommended presses is the Forester. If you want absolutly the best press on the market get the one made by Corbon for reloading.

I've been loading now for 45 years plus and find the single stage just fine. Crafting good ammo is a hobby into itself and as simple as loading ammo is:

Deprime and resize
Prime
Add powder and seat bullet

A single stage press will do an excellent job. I've got both a single stage and a turret press on my bench. I like the turret simply because I can just switch turrets and don't have to screw dies in and out. I use it as a single stage press.

I'm not wanting to offend the Lee bashers, but thats mostly whats on my bench now and has been for the last ten years. It makes excellent ammo for me. I sold my Rockchucker at a yard sale a few years ago.

There's lots of good equipment out there. Most of the companies selling reloading equipment have been in business for a while and wouldn't be if their equipment weren't good.

My shooting buddy brought down his RCBS case prep station a couple of months ago. This is a good tool and one I didn't think I ever needed til I used it.

Last year I started using an electronic powder dispenser and scale, the RCBS model made by PACT and it also is a good tool.

I like the Lee collet neck size dies, no lubing and excellent accuracy for me. I also like the Lee trimmers, there just plain fool proof. I've been priming cases with one of the little lee hand primers since they came out. Good feel and quick.

A couple of years ago I broke the handle on one. I was just pushing to hard. I called Lee to purchase another one and even though this is a three dollar item they sent me a new one with no charge. This tool probably had 50,000 primers thru it.

You'll get lots of recommendations for equipment here, most all of the folks will tell you their favorites. Bottom line is all of it works and most all of it works well.

This is my bench. It's out in my workshop where I can look several miles up the canyon where I live. I can sit and watch the deer eat the grass next door.
Reloadingbench1.jpg


This is the powder dispenser/scale I'm using now. It's an RCBS unit. You'll notice the RCBS case prep center beside it.
RCBSdispandscale.jpg
 
I also have the RCBS case prep center and the newer model scale/dispenser combo. Don't know how I ever lived without them...........
 
I've loaded about 45,000 rounds for 11 different rifles in 7 different chamberings on 3 different presses using a wide variety of components and dies, tooling, measuring devices, and a truckload of software.

Unfortunately, I can't offer much advice. I lack your requisite 5 years of experience.

Mike
 
Another vote for the Dillon 550. I started reloading in 1952 using the Lyman 310 hand tools. Then a Herter's single stage press. Due to the number of rounds I was loading for high power rifle competition, bought a Dillon 450 which has since been upgraded to the 550. Worked so well I got another and have one set up for reloading cases which use small primers and the other for large primers.

Can't beat the Dillon no BS guarantee and the new Dillon measures will throw charges accurate enough for HP competition using 4895 powder. Can't ask for much more than that.

I still use the old Herter's for the big cartridges such as 375 h&h and 470 NE, but all pistol and other rounds are loaded on the Dillons.

Regards,
hm
 
If you aren't after volume a single stage will work great, it takes only a few seconds to change dies on the single stage and you get a much stronger frame than the open front turret presses. If you must have a turret press both the Redding and RCBS are excellent choices, I use a Dillon RL550 for almost all my loading, but there is always a place for a single stage or turret press in any reloading set up, my old RCBS Rock Chucker still gets used for my low volume loading.


hm1996, if you're still using that old Herters press, I bet you bought that in the last century! You don't see Herters mentioned much anymore!
 
I would like to stick to turret presses, as volume reloading is not needed, and I want to stay away from single stage, as I think that will be too slow and just be a pain in the butt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif


I think I missed something...single stage is too slow, but you are not looking for quickness????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif


You want accuracy and precision and a turret????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seems like you are contradicting your self!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Benchrest, precision sniping organizations (insert gov.) etc. use single stage. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif High volume use turrets. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif

How many years experience do you have to judge which is the right info??? There are plenty of long time reloaders who do not get great accuracy and others with only a few years who get outstanding results.

????????????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

By the way I use a forster with a combination of Lee Collet dies, Forster ultramicrometer FL sets, Reddings for the 300 Ultra and a set of neil jones for the 260AI
 
Started reloading about 37 years ago with a lee loader and a mallet. It worked just fine. When I got a 6mm Remington and a Lee target model loader. At present I only have one rifle that I don't have a lee loader for. They aren't as slow as some people think. Set up to do one step on all cases you have and don't stop until you are done with that step just like a single stage or a turret press.

Do to a lack of space I am currently useing a lee hand press. Neck sizing only haven't tried to full length resize with it.

At this point it sounds like you need to worry more about learning how to reload (you might decide that you just don't care to do it). As for equipment, once you know what you are looking for (and at) there are at time some very good buys available especially if you are willing to consider used equipment.
 
Quote:
I would like to stick to turret presses, as volume reloading is not needed, and I want to stay away from single stage, as I think that will be too slow and just be a pain in the butt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif


I think I missed something...single stage is too slow, but you are not looking for quickness????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif


You want accuracy and precision and a turret????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seems like you are contradicting your self!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif


It is rather hard to give advise to someone who does not know what they want.

Jack
 
Well I have 17 years of reloading under my belt...as long as I have been married...And I am still learning both skills.

As to reloading, I have loaded pistol, black powder cartrage, rifle, and shot shells...well I have tried lots of brands of presses, and dies, and these are my favorites for ease of use and accuracy.

RCBS Rock Chucker (Plenty fast for accuracy seeking loaders)
RCBS dies, and for my .308 I use RCBS brech rest dies with micrometer adjustment, a top quality RCBS 10-10 scale, and I get great accuracy. Good luck
 
I have to agree wtih the people that have voted RCBS Rock Chucker. I started reloading with grampa when I was 12. We would reload at least a thousand rounds of just 223 during the week to shoot during the weekend. Now add another 700+ of 45acp and 700+ of 9mm. This was all accomplished on the single stage rock chucker press. I have since been given his old press and will continue to use it for many many years to come. I have since bought a Lymann powder dispenser scale combo. With these I can reload a few boxes of shells in no time. BTW I usually keep several boxes to put the shells in as they progress through the stages i.e. dirty, cleaned/deprimed, primed/sized, and loaded. That makes it so that I can do alot of what ever stage that needs done without switching dies.
 
I have been reloading for 45 years. I started out with a Lyman hand loader, looked like a nut cracker. I still have and use my one and only powder measure, a Lyman Ideal 55, given to me by a gunsmith friend when I was 12 years old. Plus an RCBS powder scale. For the last thirty years or so, I've had two single stage presses an RCBS, for sizing and seating bottle neck cartrigdes and a Lee press for priming. A Lee turret press for pistol cartrigdes. I like Lee collet dies, but not their lock rings, I replace those with normal lock rings; but I have dies from just about every manufacture. Foster case trimmer and caliper. It all works well.
 
I have reloaded for 4 years 11 months and 28 days and this is where I am stuck at... Sorry no tech help... not qualified to above 5 year limit.

7mm Rem Mag. 5 shot group

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.220 Swift 3 shot groups

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How can you help the people WHO CAN'T help themselves /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I can give you some information regarding different bullet runout with different brand dies and some fine "technical" type info.


But you're gonna need to lower the 5 year bar, sorry...
 
I started to reload with a Lymon Tru Line Jr press in 1952 that used 7/8 inch Dia.dies, Lymon powder measure and scale.Over the years Iv added a Hornady and RCBC press ,powder measure , 2 ea scales and case trimmer. Most of the reloading dies are RCBS along with some Redding, Hornady, Weatherby and Lee dies, some 21 sets .I have a number of other tools but take a look at www.sinclairintl.com to see some of the equipment the bench rest shooter use.
 
had a rcbs first, wore enough that it become loose,then bought a 550b and puts many more rounds thru it with no signs of wear.
 
Been having great results with my el-cheepo Rockchucker. Mostly RCBS Precision die's. If your new to re-loading a single stage may serve you better. If not, I'd think you would already know what you need. Dillon and Forster seem to be the choice of long time serious reloaders around here. Then again what would I know, I just started about a year ago. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif When I got started I asked a similar question and the overwhelming majority of replies sent me in search of RCBS and a Rockchucker. Im glad I made this choice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Dave
 


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