I want to start reloading

llred · May 28th, 2009, 01:30 PM

I am sure this has been asked a million times before, but I want to start reloading. I have been looking at some lee and hornady kits in the 125-200 dollar range. I have two pistols in .357 mag and .45 acp and some rifles. My questions are: will these kits reload both rifle and pistol cartridges? (the description of seems to make me believe they will), and are these good begginer kits to start out with?

sgtD · May 28th, 2009, 02:21 PM

Yep. Read this thread and the links therein.

Never Reloaded...

llred · May 28th, 2009, 02:45 PM

Thanks sgtD, very helpful.

edr9x23super · May 28th, 2009, 02:56 PM

Call Dillon precision...

You can't go wrong with them....

automatic slim · May 28th, 2009, 02:56 PM

Pretty much any press will reload any caliber as long as you have the proper dies. I reload everything from .32ACP to .500S&W on my RCBS Rockchucker. I won't recommend any specific kit, but you get what you pay for. Just make sure it includes a good manual. To save time and effort, I would strongly recommend carbide dies.

heylin · May 28th, 2009, 09:08 PM

+1 on the carbide dies, lubing cases is a hassle, carbide is nice n smooth and well worth the small extra $$.

As for getting what you pay for, my experience so far with Lee gear which is by far the cheapest has be nothing short of amazing.

The Lee 50th Anniversary Kit (Breech lock Challenger kit) has got to be the best value for money. I cant fault it, I cant see anything that would wear out on it, it just simply works and doesnt cost a bomb.

Landric · May 29th, 2009, 05:40 AM

The Lee 50th Anniversary Breech Lock Challenger kit as mentioned above is an excellent value. Hard to beat $90 for what it includes:

MidwayUSA - Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit

It will do rifle and handgun, and a single stage is an excellent press to learn on and always useful even if you eventually get a turret or progressive setup. I loaded on a single stage for about seven years before I got any sort of faster system, and I still do about half of all my handloading on a couple of different single stages (a RCBS Rockchucker II and a Lee Breech Lock Challenger).

With the kit listed above you can get started with the addition of a manual or three (the Lee manual is perfectly good and inexpensive), a set of calipers, dies, a bullet puller (for mistakes), and components. You will eventually want to add additional items, but the above will get you going.

A kit like this:

MidwayUSA - RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Press Master Kit

Will get you some much more refined equipment, but it costs $200 more than the Lee kit and in my experience doesn't make better ammunition.

As I said, I own both the Rockchucker and the Breech Lock Challenger. The Rockchucker is clearly a more robust press, I do my rifle resizing on it (not the the Lee couldn't handle it, but the RC is built for that sort of task). However, the Challenger has a much better priming system (the Safety Prime) than the RC, and the Challenger's primer catcher is a lot more reliable. Primers tend to bounce out of the RC's catcher and go everywhere. The huge majority of the spent primers actually go where they are supposed to with the Lee. So, I always decap and prime on the Challenger when I'm loading on single stages.

llred · May 29th, 2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landric

The Lee 50th Anniversary Breech Lock Challenger kit as mentioned above is an excellent value. Hard to beat $90 for what it includes:

MidwayUSA - Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit

It will do rifle and handgun, and a single stage is an excellent press to learn on and always useful even if you eventually get a turret or progressive setup. I loaded on a single stage for about seven years before I got any sort of faster system, and I still do about half of all my handloading on a couple of different single stages (a RCBS Rockchucker II and a Lee Breech Lock Challenger).

With the kit listed above you can get started with the addition of a manual or three (the Lee manual is perfectly good and inexpensive), a set of calipers, dies, a bullet puller (for mistakes), and components. You will eventually want to add additional items, but the above will get you going.

A kit like this:

MidwayUSA - RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Press Master Kit

Will get you some much more refined equipment, but it costs $200 more than the Lee kit and in my experience doesn't make better ammunition.

As I said, I own both the Rockchucker and the Breech Lock Challenger. The Rockchucker is clearly a more robust press, I do my rifle resizing on it (not the the Lee couldn't handle it, but the RC is built for that sort of task). However, the Challenger has a much better priming system (the Safety Prime) than the RC, and the Challenger's primer catcher is a lot more reliable. Primers tend to bounce out of the RC's catcher and go everywhere. The huge majority of the spent primers actually go where they are supposed to with the Lee. So, I always decap and prime on the Challenger when I'm loading on single stages.

Thanks for that info. I am going to build a bench this weekend and order the Lee on monday from midway. A local shop in my town carries powder, primers and bullets. I think I will just order my first round of brass from midway too.

One more question. Can you use the carbide dies on the lee system?

boscobeans · May 29th, 2009, 12:33 PM

Carbide on Lee--- YES !

Here today. Gone tomorrow ! Get your powder, bullets and primers as soon as you can. They are (esp.PRIMERS) hard to find.

Also invest in a decent caliper. For around $25 you will be able to check to make sure your rounds stay within the proper dimensions.

Check finished OAL for each load with your reloading manual.. the following gives the other dimensions.

http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm

bosco

llred · May 29th, 2009, 12:53 PM

Will do. I called the guy I know at the gun shop he is holding me enough supplies to crank out 250 rounds of ammo.

May 28th, 2009, 01:30 PM	#1
llred Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 278	I want to start reloading I am sure this has been asked a million times before, but I want to start reloading. I have been looking at some lee and hornady kits in the 125-200 dollar range. I have two pistols in .357 mag and .45 acp and some rifles. My questions are: will these kits reload both rifle and pistol cartridges? (the description of seems to make me believe they will), and are these good begginer kits to start out with?

May 28th, 2009, 02:21 PM	#2
sgtD VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,212	Yep. Read this thread and the links therein. Never Reloaded... __________________ When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts & minds will follow. Semper Fi.

May 28th, 2009, 02:56 PM	#4
edr9x23super Distinguished Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,733	Call Dillon precision... You can't go wrong with them.... __________________ "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined". - Patrick Henry

May 28th, 2009, 02:56 PM	#5
automatic slim Distinguished Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The western edge of The Confederacy Posts: 1,222	Pretty much any press will reload any caliber as long as you have the proper dies. I reload everything from .32ACP to .500S&W on my RCBS Rockchucker. I won't recommend any specific kit, but you get what you pay for. Just make sure it includes a good manual. To save time and effort, I would strongly recommend carbide dies. __________________ "First gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand." Edge of Darkness

May 28th, 2009, 09:08 PM	#6
heylin Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 371	+1 on the carbide dies, lubing cases is a hassle, carbide is nice n smooth and well worth the small extra $$. As for getting what you pay for, my experience so far with Lee gear which is by far the cheapest has be nothing short of amazing. The Lee 50th Anniversary Kit (Breech lock Challenger kit) has got to be the best value for money. I cant fault it, I cant see anything that would wear out on it, it just simply works and doesnt cost a bomb. __________________ ------------------------------------------------ War is not about dying for your country, but making your enemy die for his. ------------------------------------------------

May 28th, 2009, 02:45 PM	#3
llred Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 278	Thanks sgtD, very helpful.

May 29th, 2009, 05:40 AM	#7
Landric Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 430	The Lee 50th Anniversary Breech Lock Challenger kit as mentioned above is an excellent value. Hard to beat $90 for what it includes: MidwayUSA - Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit It will do rifle and handgun, and a single stage is an excellent press to learn on and always useful even if you eventually get a turret or progressive setup. I loaded on a single stage for about seven years before I got any sort of faster system, and I still do about half of all my handloading on a couple of different single stages (a RCBS Rockchucker II and a Lee Breech Lock Challenger). With the kit listed above you can get started with the addition of a manual or three (the Lee manual is perfectly good and inexpensive), a set of calipers, dies, a bullet puller (for mistakes), and components. You will eventually want to add additional items, but the above will get you going. A kit like this: MidwayUSA - RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Press Master Kit Will get you some much more refined equipment, but it costs $200 more than the Lee kit and in my experience doesn't make better ammunition. As I said, I own both the Rockchucker and the Breech Lock Challenger. The Rockchucker is clearly a more robust press, I do my rifle resizing on it (not the the Lee couldn't handle it, but the RC is built for that sort of task). However, the Challenger has a much better priming system (the Safety Prime) than the RC, and the Challenger's primer catcher is a lot more reliable. Primers tend to bounce out of the RC's catcher and go everywhere. The huge majority of the spent primers actually go where they are supposed to with the Lee. So, I always decap and prime on the Challenger when I'm loading on single stages. __________________ -Landric "The Engine could still smile...it seemed to scare them" -Felix

May 29th, 2009, 12:33 PM	#9
boscobeans Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: upstate new york Posts: 714	Carbide on Lee--- YES ! Here today. Gone tomorrow ! Get your powder, bullets and primers as soon as you can. They are (esp.PRIMERS) hard to find. Also invest in a decent caliper. For around $25 you will be able to check to make sure your rounds stay within the proper dimensions. Check finished OAL for each load with your reloading manual.. the following gives the other dimensions. http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm bosco

May 29th, 2009, 12:53 PM	#10
llred Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 278	Will do. I called the guy I know at the gun shop he is holding me enough supplies to crank out 250 rounds of ammo.

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