texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,414
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,764
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,989
Posts9,719,177
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Good basic reloading gear #6128872 01/10/16 08:22 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
6
603Country Offline OP
THF Celebrity
OP Offline
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
a young guy that I know wants to get into reloading and has asked my advice on what to buy. I could always suggest a Lee or Lyman or RCBS starter kit, but I think suggesting this and that from various manufacturers might be the way to go. I've had my stuff for decades, but the gear is out of his present price range, so no point in telling him to get the stuff i have. So...trying my best to keep it all close as possible to $300 and still have decent gear...

The single stage press - Lee for low price, or RCBS. I'm thinking the Lee will do (not the cheapest one)
Powder thrower? What's cheap and good enough?
Powder scale - RCBS 505? Or inexpensive electronic?
Primer seater - Lee?
Best cheap calipers?
As for dies, trickler, and such as that, I'm sure the basic stuff will do. The caliber is 308.
Powder and primers, I'll donate.
Brass - he has some and I'll suggest Win or Rem for the rest.

Or, should he just go with a starter kit? Like I said, I have all the reloading stuff that I need, and am out of touch on the quality of today's entry level equipment.

Your thoughts please?


Last edited by 603Country; 01/10/16 08:23 PM.

Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6128943 01/10/16 09:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,389
BassCat'99 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,389
Some of the vendors offer starter kits that do not seem full of junk. Maybe look into them and then see what would really be necessary to add. Should keep it in an affordable package. Nice thing about them I see stuff that you never out grow or can always use. Hornady has some nice packages also, so don't overlook them. I went years with a single stage Hornady setup till I felt a better setup was justified.


22 Creedmoor
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6129300 01/11/16 12:10 AM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 23,613
Payne Online Shocked
Cat Herder
Online Shocked
Cat Herder
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 23,613
With that budget I'd look at the Hornady LnL Classic kit. They usually have an offer for free bullets with the kit.


[Linked Image]
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6129416 01/11/16 01:18 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11 Offline
junior
Offline
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
With the budget there are some kits that would work, buy with a little time and an experienced friend such as the OP used might be the most cost effective way to go.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6129521 01/11/16 02:04 AM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,918
B
bigjoe8565 Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
B
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,918
I started with a Lee kit and it worked great. I purchased Lee dies and a used RCBS uniflow powder dispenser. I also purchase a RCBS hand primer. Shop used on the forum or ebay and you can pick up some good deals. As far as brass is concerned, I use Winchester brass.

Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6129569 01/11/16 02:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
6
603Country Offline OP
THF Celebrity
OP Offline
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
I sniffed around on prices for this and that, and finally just told him to get the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit and add in the missing stuff that doesn't come in the kit. With powder and primers from me, he'll be loading for slightly over $400. The Lee approach would be cheaper, but I think the RCBS kit is a better option.

I told him to come over next week and I'll set up my gear and show him how to reload, measure chamber, etc.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6129857 01/11/16 10:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,409
J
jdk1985 Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
J
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,409
I think you made a good choice. Rockchucker is a beast and everybody needs one. That's generous of you to donate powder/primers and help him out.


Instagram @justinkingwoodworking
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6130052 01/11/16 02:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
R
redchevy Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
That's the kit I started with. Might sound weird, but I started loading without a caliper. Pretty much all I had was what was in the kit plus lee hand trimmer. I was able to make some pretty decent ammo with it.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6136625 01/15/16 05:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,168
T
Tactical Cowboy Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,168
Lee kit. You're welcome.


The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6136627 01/15/16 05:45 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,705
T
toolman Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,705
The Lee Classic Cast series are great tools. I've been running a Classic turret for close to ten yrs. and can flat out crank some ammo on it if I'm reloading for my AR or I can produce match grade loads for hunting or target usage.


Old age ain't for sissies!

Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6136928 01/15/16 03:15 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
6
603Country Offline OP
THF Celebrity
OP Offline
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
Don't need to buy the kit now. One of the kindhearted good guys on this forum has shipped a Lee press and a Redding scale. Since that's the meat of a kit, my young friend won't have to spend as much as he was expecting, and he's very excited. The gear will be shipped here, and this weekend I'll make the kid a bench to hold the press, and I'll show him how to reload for his 308.

The young man is a Texas Aggie, so I'll have to be sure he knows that the pointy end of the bullet faces outward. :-)


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6136936 01/15/16 03:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
R
redchevy Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
That was a very kind offer.

This Aggie figured it out alright, he will be fine up


It's hell eatin em live
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6137786 01/15/16 11:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
P
poisonivie Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
P
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
Hey, I've tried a few with the flat end out and they did OK. But I understand about the Aggie. smile


Pee on Photobucket
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6138063 01/16/16 02:37 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
6
603Country Offline OP
THF Celebrity
OP Offline
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
He's coming over on Sunday. I don't think he has the new rifle yet, so we'll work up a new load for the 65 gr GK in my 223. That'll give him the basics of reloading and how to find the best load.

I'll set up "old school', with the Lyman 55, the balance scale, and a trickler. Then I'll show him the auto powder thrower. Give him something to look forward to.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6138455 01/16/16 02:49 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 919
G
Gemlin Online Content
Tracker
Online Content
Tracker
G
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 919
My thoughts,

Don't go cheap at first, just buy the best press you can get.

I'd highly recommend a Progressive Press. Buy the Hornady LnL or the Dillon 650. Do not buy anything cheaper. You'll eventually buy one anyway, might as well start on one of these at the beginning.

Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: Gemlin] #6138542 01/16/16 04:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,165
S
scottfromdallas Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,165


On on my 8th year using a Lee Challenger press. I still don't have the itch for a more expensive press. Much of this depends on how much you reload or if you are someone that sees a press as a status symbol. Many people never move from a single stage press to a progressive.



Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6138562 01/16/16 05:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11 Offline
junior
Offline
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
603Country, good thing you are doing for the young man. Thanks to the generous member that donated the press and scale also.

As far as presses go after almost 40 years I am still like single stage loaders and will be cranking out more rounds this afternoon. The only time I use a progressive press is when I have a lot of plinking handgun ammo to crank out and at that time I go visit friends that have those.

As far as the Challenger press I had one that I loaded over 10,000 rounds on and it now resides at a friends house that uses it after I set them up with it and all needed equipment and showed them how to use it. Through some horse trading and one press that I bought from the THF I had more equipment than I needed. Some of the most accurate ammo I have ever loaded was loaded on that Challenger.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: Gemlin] #6139306 01/17/16 02:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,168
T
Tactical Cowboy Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,168
Originally Posted By: Gemlin
My thoughts,

Don't go cheap at first, just buy the best press you can get.

I'd highly recommend a Progressive Press. Buy the Hornady LnL or the Dillon 650. Do not buy anything cheaper. You'll eventually buy one anyway, might as well start on one of these at the beginning.


I would not recommend a progressive at first.

1.Expense. Not only for the press, but conversions to load different calibers.
2. Too much going on. Lets face it, if you know NOTHING about reloading, there is way too much going on with a progressive.
3. Many people will never benefit from anything more than a turret press, or a single stage.


The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: Tactical Cowboy] #6139576 01/17/16 07:55 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 367
B
BIGDOG1956 Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
B
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 367
I recommend a single stage I have been using a rcbs jr for 30 years.
I would buy a used cast iron press to learn on.
A single stage is a must to develope the loads for a progressive.
Originally Posted By: Tactical Cowboy



I would not recommend a progressive at first.

1.Expense. Not only for the press, but conversions to load different calibers.
2. Too much going on. Lets face it, if you know NOTHING about reloading, there is way too much going on with a progressive.
3. Many people will never benefit from anything more than a turret press, or a single stage.

Re: Good basic reloading gear [Re: 603Country] #6140185 01/17/16 09:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
6
603Country Offline OP
THF Celebrity
OP Offline
THF Celebrity
6
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
The reloading session went very well. I walked him throughout, explained a few things, loaded a couple of rounds, starting from fired cases to reloaded ammo. Then he loaded a few and shot a nice group from the bench. I sent him off with the donated gear from me and others and a list of the remaining things he needs (and why).

Things I didn't know were that he was well versed in loading shotgun ammo and that his Mom was a chemistry and physics teacher and has electronic scales more sensitive than my gear.

And you Aggies will be pleased to know that he understood the 'pointy end forward' concept.

Now the oldest granddaughter and her best cheerleader buddy are here and they want to shoot - rifle and pistol. The granddaughter is a pretty good pistol shot and she looooves my old Python.

Life is good, and the ribs are almost done.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3