If you were to start again...

[Cawdor118]

I haven't ventured in to the world of reloading before, its never really "floated my boat". But, with the prospect of copper coming its making more sense to me and possibly because I'm quite keen on precision.

So the simple question is, if you were starting again, what would you buy or avoid?

Press - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Dies - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Case trimmer - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Scales - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?

Or would you buy a specific kit and be done with it?

 

[paul o']

Lee
Lee
Lee
Lee
best I could afford If it was Lee , i'd save as buying twice is't enjoyable .

 

[Cawdor118]

Lee
Lee
Lee
Lee
best I could afford If it was Lee , i'd save as buying twice is't enjoyable .

I have heard this loads. It seems to be the cheapest too which is ideal. Unfortunately, i have spent £££ buying then buying again.

 

[bogtrotter]

I have a mixture lee press,RCBS dies Hornady scales and various bits and pieces by different manufacturers it all works
Got it all as a job lot been using it for thirty years but I only load the one load it works and I see no need to change.
I just need a reliable stalking round no need for great precision.

 

[Malxwal]

I use a Lee Breech Lock press, and whilst I'd like something that exudes a but more class, it does the job. Provided I keep the Breech Lock quick fit collars mated to individual dies (sometimes fancy Redding, sometimes basic Lee) it produces ammo in different calibers that does pinky nail groups and single figure ES & SD on the chrono.

 

[Cawdor118]

I have a mixture lee press,RCBS dies Hornady scales and various bits and pieces by different manufacturers it all works
Got it all as a job lot been using it for thirty years but I only load the one load it works and I see no need to change.
I just need a reliable stalking round no need for great precision.

I must admit, I'm looking for precision... I'm 100% not committed enough for bench rest types though.

 

[Cawdor118]

I use a Lee Breech Lock press, and whilst I'd like something that exudes a but more class, it does the job. Provided I keep the Breech Lock quick fit collars mated to individual dies (sometimes fancy Redding, sometimes basic Lee) it produces ammo in different calibers that does pinky nail groups and single figure ES & SD on the chrono.

Sounds good enough for me! Would you recommend any specific kit?

 

[Malxwal]

Sounds good enough for me! Would you recommend any specific kit?

I would call the likes of 1967Spud and explain you dont want to buy stuff you wont use (like you get in the Lee kits). I'd certainly buy an electronic powder dispenser, makes life easier, but remember to at the very least have it switched on for a half hour before using it.

 

[VIGILAIRE]

RCBS
RCBS Lee
RCBS Lee
RCBS

 

[Mossypaw]

Started out with the lee loader, then on to a lee c-frame press with lee dies. Then went to rcbs press and dies because I thought they would produce better rounds. Still use rcbs for the .308, but found it a bit of an overkill for the .222 so went back to the lee c-frame for that, it produces rounds just as good as the rcbs (at half the cost)

 

[deeangeo]

If I started again, I’d very likely buy the same set up except the trimmer...a Forster would probably be what I’d buy starting again.
Press RCBS RC & Harrell arbour
Dies RCBS, Redding & LEWilson
Trimmer RCBS
Scales RCBS 505
Lee Universal decapping & FC dies

 

[wildfowler.250]

Chargemaster lite. Life’s too bl**dy short to manually measure out powder

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I wouldn't reload. I'd just run a 308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor. Regards JCS

 

[suburban bushwacker]

I wouldn't reload. I'd just run a 308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor. Regards JCS

Which factory Creedmoor are you shooting and what are you paying for them?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Which factory Creedmoor are you shooting and what are you paying for them?

Talk to Edinburgh Rifles & Sporting Goods re prices. Ed's has some good deals.
Regards
JCS

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I use all lee gear, press, dies, scales everything. Never had a problem with it and shoot groups on the range that upset most having spent thousands... Its all about consistency, do it the same way every time and you will be fine

 

[Odders]

I haven't ventured in to the world of reloading before, its never really "floated my boat". But, with the prospect of copper coming its making more sense to me and possibly because I'm quite keen on precision.

So the simple question is, if you were starting again, what would you buy or avoid?

Press - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Dies - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Case trimmer - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Scales - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?

Or would you buy a specific kit and be done with it?

Press: Forster co-ax if you're OCD, then Redding, RCBS Rockchucker (what I have), Hornady, Lyman, Lee
Dies: Forster/Redding, RCBS, Lee (apart from the crimp die - Lee FCD is ace). I use RCBS X dies.
Case trimmer: Lee for small volume, Wilson or other powered trimmer for every other application.
Scales: Anything made by Ohaus, including second hand before the Lee & the Lee before any cheap (sub £150) digital.

 

[8x57]

I haven't ventured in to the world of reloading before, its never really "floated my boat". But, with the prospect of copper coming its making more sense to me and possibly because I'm quite keen on precision.

So the simple question is, if you were starting again, what would you buy or avoid?

Press - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Dies - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Case trimmer - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?
Scales - RCBS, Forster, Lee, Lyman, Redding or what?

Or would you buy a specific kit and be done with it?

Having owned various brands of reloading equipment over the years if I had to start all over again I would buy.
Press - RCBS
Dies - RCBS
Case trimmer - Lee
Scales - Ohaus/RCBS.

If I were to also buy a progressive re-loading press it would most certainly be another Dillon.

 

[GregorG]

If I start again I definitely start with: Buy once, cry once. And then: Knowledge is power.
I learned hard way

Press: Forster co-ax, Präzipress, Redding
Dies: Redding, Whidden, Triebel: inline seaters, not classic ones (for hunting also Forster Benchrest dies - cheaper but better than RCBS, Lee and Hornady combined)
Case prep: Manual - wilson, motorized - girauld (also good option RCBS brass boss and lyman brass smith case trimm express combo)
Scales: A&D FX120i optional: autotrickler
Measurement tools: wilson, sinclair, redding, also hornady have some good options. Calipers and Clocks: Mitutoyo

For pistol, Dillon progressive press.

I started with Lee, but I have a lot of problems and I couldn't find a cause for. Then my friend took some my ammo and measured them properly. Disaster I tell you. Runout, length problems, headspace variations etc...
Lee is cheap but that's not I am looking for. RCBS is little better, but not so much better. Presses and power tools are very good, but dies are so so - nothing special. Hornady cheap measurements tools, good enough for everyday use. Wilson have very good trimmers and dies, redding have best seater dies (also very robust presses and tools), whidden sizing dies etc.
Every manufacturer have something very good (lee for example have very good neck sizing dies - best consistency but it's hard to regulate) and something very bad. What is best and what isn't is up to you to figure it out.
Price isn't everything. If you wan't the best, then you have to read, listen, learn and buy right tools, not the most expensive or cheapest ones.

 

[malmick]

Press - Lee Classic (steel cast) with Hornady LNL die bushings, Lyman T Mag 2
Dies - RCBS, Forster, Lee,
Case trimmer - Lee Deluxe Power Quick Trim
Scales - initially Lee balance and cheap jewellers scales, now have RCBS Chargemaster Lite