Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading
RCBS Supreme Master Kit
SemperFiGuy:
Neeco.......
Poke unfy until he gives you his assessment of the Hornady LNL kit.
My thoughts on RCBS Supreme:
>Press is way too Big and Hunky unless you wish to swage bullets or reform cases into other calibers.
>Hand primer device is the Oddest Hand Primer around. [Hornady much better. Don't get any Lee.]
>5-0-5 scale is poor piece of equipment. MTM Digital for $25-30 much better.
Final Thoughts on RCBS Supreme:
>Kit has been discontinued by RCBS. Still some on shelves.
>Components are poorly matched; kit as reloading center not well designed.
>But....Better to buy some kind of kit than all parts 1-by-1.
>It will work for you, but better stuff [ask unfy about LNL] is around.
Not griping Too Loud; Heck, I've got one. But some of the pieces aren't the Pick of the Litter.
Suggestion: Google the web reloading forums. Plenty of comment out there.
sfg
Neeco:
--- Quote from: unfy on January 24, 2013, 01:31:35 PM ---Hornady, Speer, and Lee's books are all great, and I do suggest picking up at least two of them. One is fine, but it helps to have mores. Can be an expense later if you like.
I've got a Hornady LNL AP ... you'll have to buy a shell plate (typically $30-$40, although 223 shell plates are selling for over $100 on ebay right now lol), and a set of dies. I'd also suggest a $5 primer flip tray to save your sanity.
You'll still need calipers, a scale (the little $35 MTM digital is great imho), and a way to clean brass.
--- End quote ---
So. Let me see if I can get a list of necessities down. Also, I will need a reference to start researching primers, bullets, and powder. I will edit as I add them in.
RCBS Supreme Kit - $319 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit#ReviewHeader
Case trimmer - $108 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/817007/rcbs-trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer-kit
Digital Calipers - $30 http://www.lowes.com/pd_293883-16878-53247_0__?productId=1242475&Ntt=calipers&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Dcalipers&facetInfo=
9mm Die set - $40 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/885350/lee-deluxe-carbide-4-die-set-9mm-luger
.223 die set - $30 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/776391/lee-deluxe-3-die-set-223-remington
9mm shell holder (universal holder ok?) - $4 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/283141/lee-universal-shellholder-19-9mm-luger-40-s-and-w-10mm-auto
.223 shell holder -$8 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/797095/rcbs-shellholder-10-17-remington-204-ruger-223-remington
case cleaner - $50-100 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/811447/frankford-arsenal-ez-ultrasonic-case-cleaner-110-volt
digital scale - $40 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/713049/mtm-mini-digital-reloading-scale-750-grain-capacity
Primers - I have no idea need to get a ballpark to compare too.
Bullets - I have no idea need to get a ballpark to compare too.
Powder - I have no idea need to get a ballpark to compare too.
miscellaneous goodies - ?
These are not the exact items, just a general list of easily found items. I can search for and change out anything.
R35P3CT:
I started with that kit about a year ago. It was great to learn on. That's about it IMO. The list you put together will get you going. The spent primer catcher was worthless. Most of my primers ended on tE floor. The best upgrade I did to the press was changing out to the lnl bushings. I haven't looked around at any other kits, but if you are looking to buy all those other accessories, I would almost recommend buying a progressive. You would spend a little bit more, but you might enjoy it better.
I don't load any rifle, but when I sat down on my rock chucker, I would spend 4+hours to load my 9/45acp. I just shot too much to keep up with a single stage. So this last month I decided to sell my rcbs and bought the lnl ap from hornady. Let me tell you, after getting everything setup, I wish I would have gone progressive right away.
I've always tried to order my powder and primers in bulk to help dissipate the hazmat fee most places charge. I used Powder Valley Inc a lot for my pistol stuff. I used 1911 forum a lot for powder recommendations and used their popular loads. Right now I just have the hogdon manual, but will be buying the hornady and possible the Lyman here soon.
Neeco:
--- Quote from: SemperFiGuy on January 24, 2013, 02:08:18 PM ---Neeco.......
Poke unfy until he gives you his assessment of the Hornady LNL kit.
My thoughts on RCBS Supreme:
>Press is way too Big and Hunky unless you wish to swage bullets or reform cases into other calibers.
>Hand primer device is the Oddest Hand Primer around. [Hornady much better. Don't get any Lee.]
>5-0-5 scale is poor piece of equipment. MTM Digital for $25-30 much better.
Final Thoughts on RCBS Supreme:
>Kit has been discontinued by RCBS. Still some on shelves.
>Components are poorly matched; kit as reloading center not well designed.
>But....Better to buy some kind of kit than all parts 1-by-1.
>It will work for you, but better stuff [ask unfy about LNL] is around.
Not griping Too Loud; Heck, I've got one. But some of the pieces aren't the Pick of the Litter.
Suggestion: Google the web reloading forums. Plenty of comment out there.
sfg
--- End quote ---
I actually had the Hornady LNL kit bookmarked as the first kit I looked at.
This one, right? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/679228/hornady-lock-n-load-ap-progressive-press
unfy:
--- Quote from: SemperFiGuy on January 24, 2013, 02:08:18 PM ---Poke unfy until he gives you his assessment of the Hornady LNL kit.
--- End quote ---
I've always adored the Hornady LNL AP. Have loaded close to 6000 rounds of pistol ammo in it. On average, including the time it takes to load primer tubes, it takes me about 20minutes to load 100 rounds. Nice and slow and safe while doing it :).
I've noted three things about it.
1) the primer shuttle cam had to be adjusted out a bit, it wasn't moving far enough to grab a primer
2) i had to adjust the indexing paws at the bottom of the press so that it would achieve a positive progression consistently.
3) the primer seating plug possibly doesn't like me. when seating a primer in the LNL ... after you pull the handle towards you (causing the ram to lift), and return it to it's at 'rest position' (thus lowering the ram) ... you then push / lean into the handle a little bit which further lowers the ram. the primer seating plug is a little thing that then pushes a new primer into place. i've had to put a washer between the press body and ram head so that the primer seating plug 'pushes a little deeper into the case'... otherwise it wasn't seeming to set seat primers all the hway.
(1) and (2) are just standard adjustments with standard tools that's nothing fancy.
(3) is irksome. I should really contact Hornady about it.... although the thing is working just fine with the washer in place.
With that said, I've also been loading ammo on the little Lee $30 C press that was also at the clinic. It does just fine.
Case trimmer: for pistol brass it's not really a necessity unless you buy factory new brass from starline or something. Factory new brass tends to be long and needs to be trimmed.
For rifle ammo, a case trimmer is probably a good idea just to keep necks from getting too long.
If you want the $108 or similarly priced trimmers (I've got a Foster's myself, love it)... or just an $10 trimmer with pilot and stuff is up to you.
The 9mm shell holder is listed as the same shell holder for 40s&w everywhere I've looked. Looking at case specs, you're at 9.96mm for the 9mm at case head / face, vs 10.77mm for the 40s&w. The groove is 0.02mm difference in diameter. Thus, in a shell holder which will center based on the groove, they'll center over the primer hole etc :)
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