Best beginner brand/reloading kit for big rifle cartridges?

tedthorn · Mar 1, 2020

I own 5 presses
Lee Loadmaster
Lee Classic Cast single stage
Hornady LNL single stage
2 Hornady LNL AP progressives

They all make fantastic ammunition and are backed by great companies

Timbo · Mar 1, 2020

Also, get yourself a good dial micrometer (such as a Mitutoyo - accurate to 1/1000") is very handy for ensuring lengths, depths and widths for a variety of reloading applications as well.

May be be a good idea to set up on AH a list of the essential/handy equipment for new reloaders to get, and for the rest
to refer to in looking for a new toy, or needed tool.

Aussie_Hunter · Mar 1, 2020

Thanks everyone for all the info. I think to start off with and to make life easy I might go with the Hornady LNL classic deluxe kit, it seems to have more than enough in it to start off with except for dies and a case trimmer. Also the Hornady kits and other bits and pieces seem to be one of the most readily available in Australia. I'll see what I can get my hands on when I go to my dealer tomorrow.

Edster · Mar 1, 2020

Looks like you have made up
your mind. You’ll be happy with the choice. Pretty much everything that has been said so far is right in point. As far as dies, personally I like RCBS, but have been leaning towards Forster, lately for seating dies. If you are going to use several different bullets their micrometer seating die is where it is at. Ease of adjustment and it will give you extremely consistent seating depths. I have also recently started using a comparator on my calipers. It uses the ogive for measuring rather than bullet tip. Again this is all in the pursuit of more consistent ammo. One thing missing off your list is a tumbler for cleaning brass. You can either go with a dry tumbler that uses walnut shells or corn cob, or wet, using stainless pins and cleaner.

Tintin · Mar 1, 2020

http://simplexreloading.com.au/presses/

Dr Ray · Mar 1, 2020

I RCBS and have do so for many, many years.
Reloading your own cartridges is not just about economy. You have fun tinkering and testing and the overall result is that if self-satisfaction.

Edster · Mar 1, 2020

Dr Ray said:
I RCBS and have do so for many, many years.
Reloading your own cartridges is not just about economy. You have fun tinkering and testing and the overall result is that if self-satisfaction.

Dr Ray let’s face it, if you ever did the numbers economy is not a word you would use. It starts out as I can save $$$ by reloading. Then ya sit down and shoot 5 times more than you would if you didn’t reload. LOL

Then there is all the equipment costs - do yourself a favor don’t keep track of it!!! Before ya know it you have 2 progressive presses, 2 single stage presses, who knows how many powder throwers, enough brass to make a statue of an elephant.
But it is enjoyable!!!! I currently can reload for 30 calibers, I have a few that I am lacking the guns to go with them. Just another reason to buy a new gun. There is a lot to be said about working up a load that can give you the results you want every time you pull the trigger.

Dirtdart · Mar 1, 2020

Tanks said:
I recommend Forster Co-Ax Single Stage Press, it is pricier than most but more stable due to design and you do NOT need shell holders for each caliber.

If I only had one press this would be it. It makes resizing cases a breeze.

sgt_zim · Mar 1, 2020

Aussie_Hunter said:
So it sounds like the cheaper Lee kits are not as bad as I thought they would be? I had sort of counted them out just based on the more budget price point, I thought they would be cheap and nasty.

Never owned a Lee press, by my best friend does (also owns a Rock Chucker and a Dillon turret). Lee is cast aluminum, as opposed to cast iron like RCBS. A couple times with not enough lube on 300 WSM, and the pivot joint (not sure what it's called) at the bottom of the lever broke. Twice. I like a lot of Lee products. They're low end, but not so low end that it's a problem. That said, I would urge you to look at RCBS or Hornady for a press. Yes, they're a bit more expensive, but you only have to buy it once. Worth the extra money, IMO. And when I started reloading, I was on a TIGHT budget. I saved another couple months so I could buy a Rock Chucker.

You need a very good scale. Lee's balance beam scale has a very good reputation, and won't break the bank. Again, never owned one, but I know lots of guys who do, and I trust their judgment. If you end up doing a lot of reloading, you'll probably want to ultimately buy a digital powder thrower. I have the Hornady, works great. My buddy has an RCBS. His also works great.

jeanes · Mar 1, 2020

I also started with a Lee Loader for 7x57 then .308, .375 H&H and .45/70 used with Speer loading manual, No. 9, if I remember correctly. Probably as good and inexpensive a way to get started as any. They are a bit hard to find nowadays.

BB416 · Mar 1, 2020

I second (or third) the Forster co-ax. The biggest round I reload is 416 Rigby. No problem. I do all my primers with the press as well.

Hogpatrol · Mar 1, 2020

I've tried just about every case lube known to mankind, including the home made ones and have settled on this and no stuck cases. It's available through many vendors, just googled up this one. YMMV

https://sharpshootr.com/royal-case-die-lube/

sgt_zim · Mar 1, 2020

Hogpatrol said:
I've tried just about every case lube known to mankind, including the home made ones and have settled on this and no stuck cases. It's available through many vendors, just googled up this one. YMMV

https://sharpshootr.com/royal-case-die-lube/

I use Sierra lube. Only issue I've ever had with it was using too much lube for 45-70 brass - not sure why, but too much lube causes that brass to wrinkle.

In any case, for the OP, a little bit of lube goes a long way. You only need just enough so the brass will slide in/out of the sizing die. What is "just enough"? You'll have to experiment, because that's the one thing I do on the reloading bench that is "by touch." Everything else is exact, but lubing...not so much. Or save your money and buy Redding dies (no lube needed, so I'm told; don't own any).

Newboomer · Mar 1, 2020

Edster said:
Dr Ray let’s face it, if you ever did the numbers economy is not a word you would use. It starts out as I can save $$$ by reloading. Then ya sit down and shoot 5 times more than you would if you didn’t reload. LOL Then there is all the equipment costs - do yourself a favor don’t keep track of it!!! Before ya know it you have 2 progressive presses, 2 single stage presses, who knows how many powder throwers, enough brass to make a statue of an elephant.
But it is enjoyable!!!! I currently can reload for 30 calibers, I have a few that I am lacking the guns to go with them. Just another reason to buy a new gun. There is a lot to be said about working up a load that can give you the results you want every time you pull the trigger.

View attachment 333196
View attachment 333195

Edster,
Now that is a nice looking setup.

PARA45 · Mar 1, 2020

WOW, now that is what I call a neat and well organized reloading room, flat out beautiful!!!!! Wish my room looked that good. Wait, it did at one time that my wife cleaned it and "organized" it, than I couldn't find anything for years.

Edster · Mar 1, 2020

Newboomer said:
Edster,
Now that is a nice looking setup.

Thanks-that’s what happens when the kids move out. I have one upstairs bedroom for the man cave, and the wife has the other for office/craft room/spare bedroom

Edster · Mar 1, 2020

PARA45 said:
WOW, now that is what I call a neat and well organized reloading room, flat out beautiful!!!!! Wish my room looked that good. Wait, it did at one time that my wife cleaned it and "organized" it, than I couldn't find anything for years.

First rule—Wife is not allowed in my room without supervision!!! that pic was grain a while back. It’s a friggin mess right now. With replacing the stock on the Ruger that’s going with me to Africa, finishing up loading ammo for the trip and loading practice ammo as well. The wife got me an annealing machine for my birthday and that’s in the mess as well.

Forrest Halley · Mar 1, 2020

Ray B said:
My history may illustrate the process. My first outfit was a Lee Loader for 308, which was the only centerfire rifle that I owned/used for several years. With it a loading manual, an Ohaus 505 scale and a mallet I was able to reload all the cases that had been fired in my rifle. As the cases stretched I shortened them with a deburring tool. Wanting to load for different rifles meant full length resizing so I got an RCBS Rockchucker, dies and an actual case trimmer. That was the tooling that produced satisfactory results for years. Of late I've been changing back to hand tools where available- LE Wilson tools accomplish the reloading tasks with much less disruption to the case and much more uniform results- although not without significantly more labor. I still use that Ohaus scale but I do reference a Powley Computer (cardboard, not electric) to get a starting point on loads.

I have a Lee Loader for .243 that has seen 50 years of use and it has all kinds of cut outs for the various accessories in the Styrofoam made carefully by hand. It is absolutely a shame that they do not offer these for .375 and up any more. It would be nice to have in the field with your rifle.

CBH Australia · Mar 1, 2020

I have a Hornady press. I generally screw dies I need and out saves buying more Colette’s that don’t fit in the die box. I do see that the collect system has o rings at the top and there is minimal movement. I can load suitably for my needs I haven’t been tried to get sub half inch an
S there are other variables that I don’t test measure or check
Lee probably will suffice
I like Hornady dies, I also have Redding but you are not trying to reload for benchrest match.
The Forster Coax press has a reputation for being capable of excellent accuracy as the die is floating and aids concentricity.
Nathan Foster of Terminal Ballistics Research site NZ promotes the Forster. He promotes his views too but seems to have. Following.
The ADI reloading manual is inexpensive and lists a lot of Data for ADI powders made in Australia.
Woodleigh Bullets have a reloading manual with a lot of big bore data and compiled using their Aussie projectiles.
I also have the Nick Harvey book. All will get you started .
If you settled on the Hornady it will be fine. You will add what you require as you work out your needs.

bruce moulds · Mar 1, 2020

my redding press has a tube to catch spent primers.
much better than going on the floor!
bruce.

Best beginner brand/reloading kit for big rifle cartridges?

tedthorn

Timbo

Aussie_Hunter

Edster

Tintin

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