I want to get started in reloading. What to get?

[Scott Notaeh]

The Lyman Turret press has a lot of flex in the head., more then RCBS Turret Press, and it nowhere near the quality of the Redding T7. While perhaps not a big deal for reloading most handgun rounds, it can be down the road if you get into sizing larger cases. Or if you want to ger picky with using fancy seater dies.

Instead putting a kit together you might want to consider the RCBS RC Supreme Master Kit, Midway has them for $319, except dies and shell holder and a caliper you are set to go. Or try my favorite online gun shop Buds a bit less at 297, http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/64468. You get good quality that will serve you well over your reloading career. Now, here are some things to consider. RCBS has a $50 rebate for purchases over $300 http://www.rcbs.com/pdf/RC201_WebRebateCoupon.pdf so that knocks the price down a good chunk of change, or pays for RCBS Carbide Die Set. Better Quality then Lee, but Lee are serviceable. Next, if you google MIdway USA you usually find a discount coupon to use and get the price down to Bud's price.
-Snip-

Wait, that RC press is a single stage and not a turret. I like the idea of the turret press. Actually, the Redding T7 Looks very nice. How many turret spots would I need to be able to leave both the 9mm and .223 set in there? 7?

[DeanC]

How many turret spots would I need to be able to leave both the 9mm and .223 set in there? 7?

Seven would do it

9mm
Size & Decap die
Powder thru expander
Seater
Factory Crimp

223
Size & Decap
Powder thru expander
Seater

If you want to use the FCD on 223, you'd need another hole.

[rugersol]

The Lyman Turret press has a lot of flex in the head., more then RCBS Turret Press, and it nowhere near the quality of the Redding T7. While perhaps not a big deal for reloading most handgun rounds, it can be down the road if you get into sizing larger cases. Or if you want to ger picky with using fancy seater dies.

Instead putting a kit together you might want to consider the RCBS RC Supreme Master Kit, Midway has them for $319, except dies and shell holder and a caliper you are set to go. Or try my favorite online gun shop Buds a bit less at 297, http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/64468. You get good quality that will serve you well over your reloading career. Now, here are some things to consider. RCBS has a $50 rebate for purchases over $300 http://www.rcbs.com/pdf/RC201_WebRebateCoupon.pdf so that knocks the price down a good chunk of change, or pays for RCBS Carbide Die Set. Better Quality then Lee, but Lee are serviceable. Next, if you google MIdway USA you usually find a discount coupon to use and get the price down to Bud's price.
-Snip-

Wait, that RC press is a single stage and not a turret. I like the idea of the turret press. Actually, the Redding T7 Looks very nice. How many turret spots would I need to be able to leave both the 9mm and .223 set in there? 7?

I've got a T7 ... I recommend the Lyman turret to folks 'cause it's $100 less ... but if ya can swing it, the T7's the ****!

Depends on the powder-setup ... powder-thru dies, 4 with an FCD for 9mm ... leaves 3 for .223 ... keep in mind, 'less ya got two powder-measures, ya probly wanna move it when ya switch. With lock-rings on the dies, jest thread 'em in/out ... not a big deal. If ya do that, then ya don't gotta worry about trying to get powder-thru dies ... just use a Uniflow or Hornady measure in 'nother hole.

Also, even with a turret, ya may very well load .223 "single-stage" ... size/decap/expand ... remove ... trim ... charge (on or off the press, depending) ... seat! I use the Lee case-gauge/trimmer ... so I don't hafta measure everything, otherwise. Anyhow, point being, ya may only need 2 holes fer .223 (removing the size/decap after ya do a batch) ... again, not that it'd matter.

[justaguy]

I want to start reloading 9×19. I might also want to reload 5.56x45 and 7.62×51 in the future. I want to reload because I am cheap and want to make certain my ammo supply is not interrupted in the future. I am quite happy with commercial ammo and am not really looking for match ammo. I would guess that most of my reloading would be for practice ammo similar to Winchester White Box. It would also be good to be able to make some hollow point higher performance reloads for practice and storage. I would estimate that I would want to make a maximum of 200 rounds per week of 9mm, 100 rounds per week of 5.56, and 100 rounds per month of 7.62 maximum. I would guess normal production would be half that.

I need equipment that is easy to use so when I sit down to reload each month or so I don't need to relearn too much. The press needs to be easy to maintain and have a long life without repairs. I only want to purchase one press and I don't want to pay for more than what will fill my needs. I want a good value and would want to purchase something from someone on the board here or order a kit from the internet. I am not in a hurry but I need to know what to look for. I have eliminated Lee presses from consideration.

Given all of these factors and constraints, what system would you recommended to me? What other equipment will I need?

I dont want to actually read all of this, but has anyone told you you are going to blow your **** head off yet?

[gyrfalcon]

... I have eliminated Lee presses from consideration....

Since you eliminated one of the best options you don't need my advice.

[R.E.T.]

Start saving your brass if you haven't already. You can never have too much.

[Vlad]

Start saving your brass if you haven't already. You can never have too much.

I got his back there...

[JJ]

Start saving your brass if you haven't already. You can never have too much.

I got his back there...

+1, I am already sending plenty with Tutz for him.

[crbutler]

I have been kind of thinking on this a bit.

I know some others have already recommended against what I am going to say, but its probably worth thinking about.

What is your main shooting activity?

If you are into plinking and want to reduce your costs, and you are doing it for fun, the single stage is probably just fine.

If you harbor thoughts of getting in to competitive shooting, regardless of whether its USPSA/IDPA, cowboy, 3 gun, bullseye, steel, pins or what not, you might be better off getting a Dillon 550.

This can work like a single stage if you just put one case in at a time. Its big enough to handle .416 Rigby/.338 Lapua (although suboptimal) and as it is a manually operated progressive press you will be able to make ammo much faster than with a turret or single stage.

I understand you mentioned that you have someone who is willing to serve as a mentor. Because of that, I have a lot fewer reservations about starting out on a somewhat more difficult machine to master. (The single stage is really easy, the turret is only slightly more so, but any progressive will be a little more.) This one is manually indexed, so you are in complete control of each round the whole time, and really is more like a turret than most of the other progressives. (instead of rotating the die, you rotate the shell plate in effect)

None of us can afford to just throw money around and if you are thinking of doing something that will require a progressive down the road, you would be a couple hundred bucks ahead to just start with it than to go to a intermediate step that you will not use much later. The initial cost is higher, but long term it will save you money.

Understand that it will be more difficult to learn at first, and there are some spots which will require more caution, but then again its not rocket science either.

[Scott Notaeh]

I dont want to actually read all of this, but has anyone told you you are going to blow your ******* head off yet?

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

Now go back and read the first post and give me some recommendations.

[Seismic Sam]

To reply specifically to the comment about the "flex" on the head of Lyman turret presses, it just ain't so with the Lyman T-Mag six station press. At the back of the turrent there is an adjustable support post that you raise until it is just barely scraping the bottom of the turret head, so when you raise the ram to the top position, the post supports the head on the backside and you get may half a mil of flex on the head. Bet you didn't know that.

[IKMTU]

The Lee Carbide Factory Crimp does not resize to SAAMI Spec. There is not such information to support such a claim on the Lee Web Site. And, we all know if it is not written or recorded by the source then it is probably just conjecture. It is can ruin reloads, as a poster has related with respect his BBI bullets.

Look at what most people seem to use the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die, for dealing with "Glocked" Brass! Now, Lee has the Bulge Buster to use to mimic the that sizing die from Redding. Lee has produced the "U" Die to help with long before the Bulge Buster, which is basically a trimmed down sizer die. MGW sells them, I think in all the auto loading calibers. To me these are better tools for dealing with brass then the Carbide Factory Crimp Die.

I have agree that the Redding T-7 is the best of the true turret presses. I say this after having a trial with a Lyman and there is flex whether some will agree or not, if you want wobble check out the RCBS Turret Press! Now, perhaps if Lyman has done some improvements since 2000, well there may be less flex. But at the time, it ranked #2. As with anyting
reloading a person has to see if it works for them. While some advice is universal, many reloading tools can be pure voodoo unless a person has gained a lot trigger time to appreciate what can be gained.

A guy or gal has to spend some to learn to refine their reloading. While seasoned reloaders can point a person in the "right" direction does not mean that the recipient will be able to appreciate the sentiment "Buy Once and Cry Once".

One thing I must throw to the OP, Check Craigs List I have seen RCBS Master Kits on there for cheap! You might be able to score some equipment that way. A buddy just got nice Flat Screen because the seller was moving....

[gyrfalcon]

The Lee Carbide Factory Crimp does not resize to SAAMI Spec. There is not such information to support such a claim on the Lee Web Site. And, we all know if it is not written or recorded by the source then it is probably just conjecture. It is can ruin reloads, as a poster has related with respect his BBI bullets....A guy or gal has to spend some to learn to refine their reloading. While seasoned reloaders can point a person in the "right" direction does not mean that the recipient will be able to appreciate the sentiment "Buy Once and Cry Once"...

Where are your facts to backup your claims... do you actually own a Lee carbide die and a bulge buster? I can post a review of the bulge buster this coming week. I think it would probably refute your claims.

[justaguy]

I dont want to actually read all of this, but has anyone told you you are going to blow your ******* head off yet?

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

Now go back and read the first post and give me some recommendations.

Thats not my style.

[Scott Notaeh]

Updated preliminary list of stuff:

LEE90023 LEE SHELL HOLDER #19 AP $1.99 Shell Holder for Lee Hand AutoPrime 9mm
RC09415 POWR' PULL BULLET PULLER $13.99
RB07600 IMPERIAL SIZEING DIE WAX CAN 2OZ $6.99 For rifle
LEE90963 LEE 4 DIE SET 9MM CARBIDE $34.99
LY7040781 T-MAG II TURRET RELOADING PRESS $154.95
LEE90502 LEE 3 DIE SET 223 $22.49 FCD, Full Length Sizer Die and Bullet Seater Die
LY7752222 PRO 505 RELOADER SCALE $53.84
LEE90230 LEE AUTO PRIME $15.99
LEE90058 LEE PERFECT POWDER MEASURE $19.49
LEE90203 LEE SHELL HOLDER AP #3 $1.99 Shell Holder for Lee Hand AutoPrime .223
RC09495 RC PRIMER PKT SWAGGER COMBO $29.53
LEE90114 LEE GAGE/HOLDER .223 REM. $3.49 Need gage for trimmer
LEE90110 LEE CASE TIMMER CUTTER&LOCK STUD $4.49 Use trimmer in drill press
LY7999050 POWER DEBURRING ACCESSORY KIT $34.06

Other Stuff:
Tumbler
Walnut & Corn cob blasting 14/20 grit media
Losso case bolish
Montana Gold FMJ 9mm
.223 Bullets - 70 gr?
Small pistol and rifle primers
powder