To buy or not to buy

Maran14

Well-Known Member
I’m hoping to start re-loading this year and I’ve spoken to a few RFDs, who all suggest buying a kit.
However, all of the kits seem to vary in what they include and what they deem not to be necessary.

Is anybody able to offer a list of items, preferably makes/models that I could purchase separately, as opposed to buying a kit?

Reloading .223
 
Unfortunately you are unlikely to find a single kit that provides everything you need without anything you won't.
Have a look at the Lee Precision kits.
They have everything except the dies, which are cartridge specific.
It is enough to get you going, but go into this expecting to spend more on extras such as Expander does (which are brilliant), case trimmer dies, digital scales, case tumbler / ultrasonic tank (depending on which route you take), case dryer, Imperial sizing wax (instead of the carp you get in the kit, which works but is not as good as Imperial), etc etc....
It will be a while before you have everything, and there will always be some new shiny gizmo you want.
Biggest tip.......either go on a reloading course, or get someone VERY competent to show you how it is done. Mistakes can cost your fingers, eyes, rifle, or your life...!!!!
Don't guess the powder loads.....check the propellant manufacture recommendations or buy a decent loading manual.
 
And that still doesn't come with everything required to use 🫣
@chriswjx

I have, I don't know why - (actually I do)...


Unknown.jpeg:-|

...these kits in several flavours.


IMG_3238.jpeg

They are noisy.

They are slow.

But (and here's the thing), they do actually work.

So when the day comes, (and it is coming), and we all lose electricity, and society implodes, you can still hunker down and make a few rounds...

images.jpeg😇
 
@Stalker1962 yes when I did my club's reloading course someone there had been using one :)

My remark was more in that one still needs to find a soft mallet which isn't something I have in my toolbox 😅
 
Once upon a time I bought an RCBS kit, all that remains is the lube pad, the hand priming tool and the press. The rest has been sold or given away. The good thing about reloading kit is that it can be bought and sold fairly easily. The bad thing is that it can turn into an expensive hobby in its own right.
Regards
JCS
 
Once upon a time I bought an RCBS kit, all that remains is the lube pad, the hand priming tool and the press. The rest has been sold or given away. The good thing about reloading kit is that it can be bought and sold fairly easily. The bad thing is that it can turn into an expensive hobby in its own right.
Regards
JCS
Nothing wrong with an expensive hobby, no pockets In shrouds!
As with all hobbies, enjoy it, looking for value for money is a true theft of joy.
 
get a list of what you want then go on the wanted classified section on here dont buy a kit or anything with lee on it. bs

Why not lee? have used all make over many years, loading many thousands of rounds in the days of pistols ownership and never found lee to be a disadvantage, given like I now, most will load relatively few rifle rounds, lee will do the job just as well as the other makes, RCBS, lyman, etc.
 
Why not lee? have used all make over many years, loading many thousands of rounds in the days of pistols ownership and never found lee to be a disadvantage, given like I now, most will load relatively few rifle rounds, lee will do the job just as well as the other makes, RCBS, lyman, etc.
Well, for starters, the scales have a mind of their own and the priming tools have handles made of chocolate...
 
@Maran14 - buying a kit seems to save some money, when you consider what you get, but you may soon find that there are certain bits that you either never use or quickly replace with a better 2nd hand piece of equipment.
I bought a Lee Challenger kit and soon found I did not need several bits and replaced some bits with better options.

There's nothing wrong with Lee kit, it's well designed and functions well, though there are some better bits you could buy (one example is the scales - they're ok, but once you use a RCBS 5-0-5, there is no going back to Lee beams).

Bear in mind you will also need to supplement a kit with the following;
Reloading manual - I would suggest the Lee reloading manual and another book, called 'The ABC's of Reloading' are best, as they are frank, easy to read, deal with the process and are not limited by the projectiles they provide, as can be the case with the Hornady manual.
Dies - check what a die set contains and only buy what you need, as an example, the Lee Ultimate will contain 4 dies, inclusing both full length and neck sizing. If you know you're only going to full length size, then buy their Pacesetter, which has three dies (F/L, seating and factory crimp), or even the RGB ('Really Good Buy') set which contains the F/L and seating dies
Case trimmer - Either a hand held, press or bench mounted one, this needs the appropriate calibre insert AND the cutter (the cutter can be used with multiple different calibre inserts).
Loading tray - to hold your cases individually and upright through the process.
Calipers - To measure the case and cartridge. Analogue or digital works, choose which you prefer.
Chamfer tool - Sometimes supplied, the Lee one works, but the RCBS chamfer tool is better.
Check weights - I think these are essential to ensuring your scales are set up accurately.

Some thoughts in general;
Lube - Lee lube works well and as you apply it by hand/finger, you get a really good appreciation for the condition of your brass. I tried a pad and some other sticky lubes, but I returned to the Lee lube as it 'just works' and doesn't involve spraying and gives a consistent coverage (as you're in control of each round's lubrication).
Beam scales - RCBS scales are genuinely better than the Lee ones, especially in the terms of being simpler to ensure you have the right weights set up on the counter balance.
Digital scales - small electronic scales can work well, but I would definitely supplement these with the check weights and be continually checking that they haven't shifted.
Bullet pullers - some may say essential kit, as there is undoubtedly the chance that you will seat a bullet too deep, realise too late you've seated a bullet in an empty case etc. I would highly recommend the Hornady Cam-Lock puller over a kinetic hammer. Far less mess and more controllable.
Electric or battery powered drill - especially if you don't invest in a case prep station for trimming, chamfering etc, it gets very uncomfortable trimming and chamfering by hand if doing more than say 20 rounds at a time.
Tumblers, sonic cleaners etc - Not really needed, as it has been proven that 'dirty brass' (including not even cleaning the primer pockets out) makes little to no difference unless you're shooting in a ridiculously high precision arena such as F Class or bench rest. It's still nice to have shiny brass though, so it might be something to consider if you have the time and money to invest, as it comes with the added dilemmas of media (steel pins or corn cob?), potential additional cleaning (removing media dust/checking for stuck pins, drying out sonic cleaned brass etc). I will typically use some 0000 gauge wire wool to polish up the exterior of the brass while trimming and chamfering.
Gadgets - Micrometer seating dies, primer pocket reamers, bullet pointing dies, neck trimming and concentricity gauges, adjustable primer seating presses etc. - all have their place, but don't get hyped into thinking you NEED these to make very accurate and precise loads.
Anti-static wipes - very useful to swipe around the powder charge holder and pan prior to use, to prevent the powder 'sticking' to the sides.
Nitrile gloves - useful to stop getting fingerprints over everyting and keep the shiny brass shiny, and more importantly, stops your hands getting covered in lube, brass chips and turning black.
Safety glasses - always use when priming.

There's a raft of other things, but as most will say, it's very useful if you can get an experienced mentor to show you the ropes and be able to ask questions when you start your journey.
 
Until you start reloading you won't know which items you like. I recently changed to ultrasonic cleaning, selling my tumbler.

I changed from Redding to an RCBS case trimmer. I have used Lyman, RCBS, Lee and Hornady dies, if buying again it would be Hornady.

SD and evil bay offer a ready market to buy/sell. What I like might not suit you.
 
1. Press (I prefer O frame)
2. Beam scales (Not keen on lee, other makes work with target master trickler)
3. Trimmer (lee case length gauge or trim dies work fine)
4. Powder trickler
5. Dies
5a. Depending on dies a lube pad may be required
6. Digital calipers
7. Reloading manual, either from your bullet or powder manufacturer, or both

The above will allow you to reload ammunition fit for purpose

8. Dry/Wet tumbler
9. Targetmaster trickler or electronic scale/dispenser
10. Bullet comparator
11. Head space comparator
12. Electronic scales that will make the local dealer weep
13. Spare room or shed ,as you will be spending all your free time in there, make it comfortable, nice office chair makes a difference
 
You need very little. A lee loader kit is more than good enough to make good ammo.

Or - a set of 223 dies
A basic press
A priming tool
A set of plastic lee dippers to measure powder with along with a powder funnel.
For a 223 a 1.6 or 1.9cc will be good fir most loads.

And a piece of wood with a series of 8mm holes to hold cases in.
That will get you going
Then you can add a set of scales

After 3 or 4 reloads you can add a hand case trimmer.

But as others have said - a basic Lee Loader Kit will allow you to reload plenty of ammo with out much initial cost.

Presses etc just make it easier, but doubt in the real world they make better ammo - certainly not for hunting or plinking use.
 
Lee loaders are a cool starting point - and I've not seen one manufacturers kit that I would buy since they all contain stuff I don't want/need, and not one of them contains everything I personally would want. To quote @alberta boy YMMV!

One item that nobody has mentioned so far (I think) but that to me is essential is a bullet puller. Cam-lock ones are allegedly great, but inertial "hammer" types work just fine and don't damage your bullet - you will inevitably need to pull a bullet at some point - either because you got something out of order and seated a bullet in an uncharged case, or you seated a bullet too deep, or you want to dismantle a round that misfired, or you start getting odd results with a batch of ammunition you put together and decide it might be best to break it down and start again - or you have a sudden and overwhelming need to create a sort of "dirty-legal" hunting ammunition by pulling the FMJ from some milsurp and replacing it with the cheapest near-to-weight-and-diameter SP bullets you can find...
 
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