Oh boy I got a kit to reload.

[TH3180]

Well I went and did it. I bought the stuff to reload. I got the "RCBS ROCK CHUCKER SUPREME MASTER KIT". It came down to that is what I could afford and I want to start on a single stage press. I know there are a lot of people that will think I just wasted my money because everyone with a brain should start on a progressive press. I want to really get the ins and outs before I make that step. I want reloading to be second nature to me before I go progressive. I bought it from the Gunstop. Before I left John took my die set and we used them in his press that he has on display. We made two dummy rounds. he also told me that if I have problems to call him or come in anytime. If I want to bring in my die set, bullets and brass we can make more dummy rounds until I get the hang of it. A guy can't get that kind of service from the net. I have de-primed, sized and clean a bunch of brass. I hope this weekend to try loading some ammo.
I will be loading 9mm. Here is what I am using Montana Gold 115g FMJ bullets, Winchester Small Pistol Primers, Alliant Unique Powder and once fired Federal Brass that was fired once through my Glock. I have read the Speer manual three times and I have read all the instructions that came with my kit. I am very excited to take this new hobby on.
Just thought I would share with people that might appreciate all of this. I was all excited when when I got home with everything and my wife said oh goodie and that I should have spent the money on a new gun for her to shoot.

https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=2854&route=C04J148

[JJ]

Very nice. I'm a fan of the Rockchucker myself. Now you gotta stock up on supplies. I always seem to run out of something right when i plan on doing a couple hundred rounds. No better way to spend the winter hiding from the subzero temps!

[mnglocker]

Go grab yourself a Redding RGx sizing die for 9mm, a powder trickler and read that book and find a ball type powder for your 9mm loads since it will make using the powder dispenser much easier.

[user293]

be safe and have fun!

[selurcspi]

A single station press is the place to start. Later when you move to a progressive, you'll still come back to the SS to make short highly accurate runs of ammo for whatever purpose you find. 50 rounds of .45 to shoot a precision match 10 rounds of your pet load for your deer rifle.

Learn the basics before you move to a progressive press.

Sam will be along shortly and he'll admonish you to choose a reloading manual and read it cover to cover, which is always sagacious.

Good luck, pay attention to detail and stay safe.

[Seismic Sam]

His original post said he read the manual THREE times, so the giant reloading troll who lives under the bridge will give him a pass to go about his business.

[bensdad]

Have fun and be safe. Everybody around these parts recommends a factory crimp die. I've never used anything other than the crimp/seater die and have had no problems whatsoever. My 9mm dies are RCBS. Never used Unique, so I don't know how it meters. I've always used Bullseye for pretty much every pistol load. Well, until I found Trail Boss for 38spl.

[mnglocker]

Never used Unique, so I don't know how it meters.

Like caca in the Uniflow. Unique/flake powders don't meter well in rotating cam dispensers.

[45Badger]

Never used Unique, so I don't know how it meters.

Like caca in the Uniflow. Unique/flake powders don't meter well in rotating cam dispensers.

Exactly! I use win 231 and it flows like a charm.

Congrats on the kit. You'll be able to use it and all the components for a lifetime.

[R.E.T.]

Congratulations. Enjoy your new hobby. Plus as you found out, you cannot find anyone better than John for advice.

[rugersol]

I know there are a lot of people that will think I just wasted my money because everyone with a brain should start on a progressive press.

Probly.

I will be loading 9mm.

I obviously don't know nearly as much as John ... as I have a few questions regarding his recommendation of this particular kit for loading 9mm ...

1. not really a question ... but a $75 balance scale?!

2. I see it comes with a "case lube kit" ... $17.50 at Midway ... ya gonna lube them 9mm cases?

3. I see a "deburr tool" ... $17 at Midway ... gonna deburr your 9mm cases?

4. I see it also comes with a "hand priming tool" ... on-sale for almost $33 at Midway, right now ... I don't have a RockChucker, myself ... but is that, or is that not, a priming "arm" on the front of the press?

5. also comes with a "powder funnel" ... almost $6 at Midway ... also rated only 2 stars for some reason ... looks no bigger than the Uniflow ... or without the case-activated linkage, is there otherwise no "drop tube" suitably sized for 9mm?

6. is that a "hex wrench set" I see there, too? ... $11 at Midway ... nothin' from nothin', but every Hornady die set I ever bought (and I bought a lot of 'em) came with a hex-wrench for the lock-ring ... what exactly are all the other wrenches in the set for?

I will say, that Uniflow is nice! ... started with one, myself (despite my own ignorance, 'course) ... albeit, I also started with the case-activated linkage kit, and a Lee turret ... man, was that slick! Probly won't do ya no good on a single-stage though, eh?

Oh ya ... if ya actually got the Speer #13, watch out if ya ever load .40sw ... they got a bad load, in there, IIRC.

Anyhow, I know lots of guys've got RockChuckers, and like 'em plenty good ... never heard no one say a bad thing 'bout 'em ... so, I'm sure ya'll be happy.

[Seismic Sam]

I know there are a lot of people that will think I just wasted my money because everyone with a brain should start on a progressive press.

Probly.

I will be loading 9mm.

I obviously don't know nearly as much as John ... as I have a few questions regarding his recommendation of this particular kit for loading 9mm ...

1. not really a question ... but a $75 balance scale?!
That's why this kit costs more than the Lee kit.

2. I see it comes with a "case lube kit" ... $17.50 at Midway ... ya gonna lube them 9mm cases?
Yup, total waste of money. That's why some kits are better buys than other.

3. I see a "deburr tool" ... $17 at Midway ... gonna deburr your 9mm cases?
Another total waste of money.

4. I see it also comes with a "hand priming tool" ... on-sale for almost $33 at Midway, right now ... I don't have a RockChucker, myself ... but is that, or is that not, a priming "arm" on the front of the press?
NOT a waste of money!! Hand priming tools do not require you to fill @#%#%$#&^^%$*&^%&^!!! primer tubes, and as such are faster. Only drawback to this is it's not as simple as the Lee, which came first, and they had to jury rig the design to get around Lee's patent!
5. also comes with a "powder funnel" ... almost $6 at Midway ... also rated only 2 stars for some reason ... looks no bigger than the Uniflow ... or without the case-activated linkage, is there otherwise no "drop tube" suitably sized for 9mm?

6. is that a "hex wrench set" I see there, too? ... $11 at Midway ... nothin' from nothin', but every Hornady die set I ever bought (and I bought a lot of 'em) came with a hex-wrench for the lock-ring ... what exactly are all the other wrenches in the set for?

I will say, that Uniflow is nice! ... started with one, myself (despite my own ignorance, 'course) ... albeit, I also started with the case-activated linkage kit, and a Lee turret ... man, was that slick! Probly won't do ya no good on a single-stage though, eh?

Oh ya ... if ya actually got the Speer #13, watch out if ya ever load .40sw ... they got a bad load, in there, IIRC.

Anyhow, I know lots of guys've got RockChuckers, and like 'em plenty good ... never heard no one say a bad thing 'bout 'em ... so, I'm sure ya'll be happy.

This is why some kits are NOT a bargain.

[TH3180]

I know there are a lot of people that will think I just wasted my money because everyone with a brain should start on a progressive press.

Probly.

I will be loading 9mm.

I obviously don't know nearly as much as John ... as I have a few questions regarding his recommendation of this particular kit for loading 9mm ...

1. not really a question ... but a $75 balance scale?!
That's why this kit costs more than the Lee kit.

2. I see it comes with a "case lube kit" ... $17.50 at Midway ... ya gonna lube them 9mm cases?
Yup, total waste of money. That's why some kits are better buys than other.

3. I see a "deburr tool" ... $17 at Midway ... gonna deburr your 9mm cases?
Another total waste of money.

4. I see it also comes with a "hand priming tool" ... on-sale for almost $33 at Midway, right now ... I don't have a RockChucker, myself ... but is that, or is that not, a priming "arm" on the front of the press?
NOT a waste of money!! Hand priming tools do not require you to fill @#%#%$#&^^%$*&^%&^!!! primer tubes, and as such are faster. Only drawback to this is it's not as simple as the Lee, which came first, and they had to jury rig the design to get around Lee's patent!
5. also comes with a "powder funnel" ... almost $6 at Midway ... also rated only 2 stars for some reason ... looks no bigger than the Uniflow ... or without the case-activated linkage, is there otherwise no "drop tube" suitably sized for 9mm?

6. is that a "hex wrench set" I see there, too? ... $11 at Midway ... nothin' from nothin', but every Hornady die set I ever bought (and I bought a lot of 'em) came with a hex-wrench for the lock-ring ... what exactly are all the other wrenches in the set for?

I will say, that Uniflow is nice! ... started with one, myself (despite my own ignorance, 'course) ... albeit, I also started with the case-activated linkage kit, and a Lee turret ... man, was that slick! Probly won't do ya no good on a single-stage though, eh?

Oh ya ... if ya actually got the Speer #13, watch out if ya ever load .40sw ... they got a bad load, in there, IIRC.

Anyhow, I know lots of guys've got RockChuckers, and like 'em plenty good ... never heard no one say a bad thing 'bout 'em ... so, I'm sure ya'll be happy.

This is why some kits are NOT a bargain.

I see what you guys are saying but I did the math before I bought my kit. Here is the short and sweet of it. I added up all the stuff from the kit that I need, if I bought it separate from Midway and the bullets from Montana Gold. My total from Midway and Montana Gold would have come out to $434.32 before shipping and Hazmat(for the powder and primers). Buying everything from John I paid a grand total of $442.79. So for all the extra stuff I don't need I paid $8.47. Keep in mind I may use that stuff some day. Also If a guy throws in shipping and Hazmat I actually paid less buying the kit from John. He also gave me a 100 once fired brass free of charge. Oh and he showed my how to use my stuff and told me if I ever have problems to stop in and he will help me out. I can't get that from Midway where in the long run I would have paid more out the door. Sorry guys I think I got a great deal. We will have to agree to disagree on if this kit was a good deal through John.

[bensdad]

You'll need some of that stuff later when you start reloading for rifles. The priming "arm" on the Rockchucker is not cool. You can squish a primer to oblivion, or barely get it in, and not feel the difference.

[bensdad]

Oh ya ... if ya actually got the Speer #13, watch out if ya ever load .40sw ... they got a bad load, in there, IIRC. Image

Which load is bad? That's my manual - and one of my calibers.