In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Reloading Question about presses
coltpax
Member Posts: 8,114
I'm wanting to get into reloading, and just get a simple press and kit. What do yall think about Lee? It's only going to reload maybe 1000 .357 loads a year, and maybe a little bit of this and that. I've found two kits, that both look good, and I think for both the only thing I would need to purchase to get started is dies, powder, and lead. Opinions?
http://tinyurl.com/3a3ucw3
http://tinyurl.com/2b66a2o
http://tinyurl.com/3a3ucw3
http://tinyurl.com/2b66a2o
Comments
W.D.
I would recommend the 4 die set of Lee dies with the final crimp die on the .357.
Best of luck, welcome to a great hobby, same cost just shoot more.
I would get the 90030 due to the auto prime parts. While I have never considered Lee to be "top shelf" (except for recent dies), I have acquired several single stage presses over the years (came with mass purchase)and found them to be adequate for the loading you are trying to do.
I would recommend the 4 die set of Lee dies with the final crimp die on the .357.
Best of luck, welcome to a great hobby, same cost just shoot more.
The "same cost shoot more" sounds about right. This will be a christmas gift, probably buy it for myself and christmas will be my excuse. I got to looking, and with a 45-70 it still doesn't come up much cheaper is I use ammo barne's bullets, but I'd end up with a better hunting round. I'm thinking about getting a bullet mold for the 45-70 bullets, and just casting them out of scrap lead. I already cast my own .50 mini balls for my muzzle loeader. Anybody got any recommendations for finding lead (I know wheel weights, but some are made out of some sort of alloy) and a mold of the correct size. I have never went to the store and bought a mold, last one I got was at the flea market. But the loadings hogden had for the 45-70 really impressed me, I think I'm sold on it now.
You'll find that you can reload for a bout a third the cost of factory ammo - and you'll immediately start shooting five times as much. You'll actually spend more, but shoot a whole lot more.
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/10551
Or this one
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/14706
Or this one
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12960
Buy QUALITY, cry once. Forget the Lee reloading stuff, except for dies.
THAT IS MY TWO-CENTS AND I'M STICKING TO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some of their other stuff is - well, less than impressive. That Zip-Trim, for example. Their powder measures have some notable drawbacks, although their beam scales are actually pretty good.
Their dies are as you describe, very good indeed. Their Factory Crimp Dies and Collet Neck Sizers are brilliant.
I'm don't know if you've ever examined a Classic Cast press, bpost; you might have a change of opinion. They truly took every really good feature of the other presses and rolled them into one. They compare impressively. (pun intended)
Some of their other stuff is - well, less than impressive. That Zip-Trim, for example. Their powder measures have some notable drawbacks, although their beam scales are actually pretty good.
Their dies are as you describe, very good indeed. Their Factory Crimp Dies and Collet Neck Sizers are brilliant.
A friend of mine has a Classic Cast press, it is a nice press indeed; your observations about the other Lee products is why I recommend a kit from Hornaday, RCBS or Lyman for beginners. Buy quality, cry once is a lesson I've learned. The folks at Lyman had some really great sales on their kit recently.
Lee dies are fine and dandy, I have several sets and am happy with them. They don't have the finish of my Redding Competition dies but since the job is done on the inside of the die Lee external finishes are not important.
Coltpax, save your money for a while; keep an eye out at garage sales and the GB auction site for a good used press and the other equipment needed. You can save a substantial amount of money in the long run by buying wisely in your younger years.
Reloading equipment and wives should be chosen with great care, keeping the future in mind. The first I have done well in [:D], the latter, not so much [B)]. [;)]
There are times when good enough - is. There will come a time when good enough for now can be replaced with good enough for anything.
Welcome to the brotherhood of handle pullers, coltpax. It is simultaneously an addicting, frustrating, perplexing and satisfying pastime.
i am also looking into buying my first reloading press and kit. i was thinking of going with the lee deluxe reloading kit with the 4 hole turret press because i plan on reloading many different calibers and i want the speed of a turret press. what do you you guys think about that press?
More gooder...............
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/10552
Reloading speed is NOT increased with a turret pres in my experience. It just helps reduce die swapping time.
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit, RCBS has taken the new benchmark of single stage presses and surrounded it with the equipment you need (except dies and shell holders) to start loading like a pro. A simple solution for the beginner and pro alike, it is easily upgraded to progressive operation with the optional Piggyback-4. The Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit includes: Rock Chucker Supreme press, 5-0-5 scale, Uniflow powder measure, Speer reloading manual #13, hand priming tool, hex key set, case loading block, case lube kit, powder funnel and deburring tool., Mfg No: 09357, Manufacturer: RCBS, Warranty: If any of your RCBS equipment breaks or doesn't work, they will fix it or replace it. No time limit. No questions asked.
stage presses.
I've had a rock chucker since the
day I started reloading and try
as I might I can't stop popped out
primers from going everywhere.
The Lee has a tube that fills up
with them and it's great.
I also like being able to vary
the length of the pull handle.
Then the Lee Anniversary kit is the perfect starter kit for everyone wanting to get into reloading.
Here is a good one here with the new breech lock.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=203170889
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
I have seen top reloaders in my years use basic reload equipment to achieve outstanding results.
Personally, The press is second IMHOP. Its techniques and load prep that makes it. Not trying to blow the horn here. But I have seen guys spend thousands of $ on the promise of accuracy. (Dillion Blue press) is one of them.
I have seen top reloaders in my years use basic reload equipment to achieve outstanding results.
I started on lee equipment and its ok if you stay under a thousand rounds a year and just a couple calibers. For metallic ctgs I have mounted to the bench 1 old "Texan" turret, 1 "Hollywood" cast single stage. I Dillon 550. For handgun ctgs the Dillon is awesome. My lee 1000 was passed along a while ago. If your looking for the best 3 rounds for benchrest or even hunting rifles I stay on the single stage. Handgun ammo... My dillon kicks out accuracy that is much better than I am. They cost a little more but not that much more and well worth it. I'm just saying...
And yes it is more technique than press. A good press makes good technique even better IMHO