NFOA MEMBERS FORUM
Ammunition & Hand Loading => Cartridge and Shotshell reloading => Topic started by: RobertH on March 18, 2012, 10:37:20 AM
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after some long, hard thoughts i think i will jump into the reloading lifestyle. i've read a few threads here, but im still don't know what to look for or where to start. below are a few kits and setups and i want your opinions on what would suit me and my needs. i don't see myself reloading every caliber i shoot, just the main ones. i have looked at a few dies and accessories, but i think ill start with a kit and add as i go and get the hang of it. a single stage is fine with me now.
i am looking to reload .223/5.56 and 300BLK mainly. i might venture into reloading 9mm Luger or even 7.62x54r in the future.
Opinions on kits:
1. Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading kit
2. Hornady Lock N Load Classic
3. RCBS Reloader Special 5 Reloading Kit
4. RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit
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I love my lee breech lock press. The breech lock bushing design is a great time saver except buying the locking ones for every set of dies gets expensive, still cheaper than hornady or rcbs. One of those kits, a reloading book, dies, caliper, and case prep tools are all you need to get started. I upgraded to an rcbs chargemaster 1500 dispenser scale combo and loved it until I tried dispensing around 3.5gr of titegroup. It is now on its way back to rcbs and should get a new one within a couple weeks. I also bought the lyman case prep kit for about 50 or 60 bucks, nice prep tools that get the job done. And when you start reloading I recommend Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester powder because www.hodgdon.com (http://www.hodgdon.com) has load data for those powder brands.
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I started with a Lee (35th?) Anniversary kit more than a decade ago- the (Challenger?) press in it was not the best, though I loaded thousand and thousands of rounds with it ... I replaced it with a Redding press that I found on sale at Cabela's for less than the Lee Classic Cast that I went to pick up there..... all the rest of the stuff that came with the kit still works just as well as it did the day I bought it.
My brother bought a Lee Breech Lock kit last fall (after loading 2-3K rounds of 9mm with a hand press kit) and I went out and helped him build a bench and set the kit up.... I liked it, and it worked well... we loaded a couple hundred rounds on it the first day......
He mangaged to break the primer feed dealy bobber for on-the-press priming (dropped it on the concrete floor) a couple months later .... now he is back to the Lee hand priming tool, which I like better, as it gives you a better "feel" when seating primers......
I'd buy it, if I needed to start from scratch- though I don't need the breech lock bushings- I set the dies up every time, by the instructions- just the way I've always done it...... YMMV.
I have or have used reloading tools/dies from every maker I've heard of except Forster...... IMHO, Lee usaully offers the best value, and some of their stuff (trim guage/cutter/lock stud chucked into a 3/8" drill, Collet neck sizing dies, Factory Crimp dies) are better than others stuff at any price, at least for my needs.
ETA: If you want help getting set-up, started reloading, I'm not terribly far from Lincoln.
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any final other opinions? im going to Cabela's Wednesday morning and ill get a final look before i buy something. i might be picking up some primers and powder.
what kind of primers are on .223/5.56, 300BLK and 9mm Luger? how can you tell what size you need?
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.223 and .300 blk use small rifle, 9mm uses small pistol. Your fire breathing Mosin will use large rifle.
I'm a fan of Lee stuff, especially their dies. For the most part it works well and isn't too expensive.
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Start with the kee kit, they go on sale at cabelas, but get a different scale. The beam scale is prone to errors.
Afteryou reload a lot, only then invest in high end stuff.