Want to buy reloading press and dies- Advice needed

[deewayne2003]

The Lee classic cast press may be less expensive and is great for large cartridges. I’m not necessarily a Lee fan, but the classic cast and the factory crimp dies work well.

The Hornady die bushings are great too.

I will second the Lee Classic Cast press, large enough for any caliber.

 

[Rare Breed]

Hi all, I am in Zimbabwe and ammo for my 458 lott is insanely expensive. I have 100 brass + 120 or so bullet heads. So at $20 per factory round and $10 if I get my components loaded by someone, it is a no brained. I have calculated that 100 rounds will pay for a press and kit, never mind my 30-06.

So school me on reloading presses for my Lott. I can get a Rockchucker Supreme master kit from South Africa. Also 458 rcbs dies and redding deluxe dies for the 30-06. I have to take what I can get or wait for other makes to become available. I am reloading for hunting, not benchrest. And also aiming to cut my shooting costs on the big boomer so not needing super acurate bench rest acuracy.The 30-06 probably doesn't save much at all but if I have the kit, at least I can build a consistent load. Currently I buy a box or 2 and then next time I look it is a different brand/ bullet weight. Re zeroing each time probably uses more bullets than actual shooting.

I have your exact set up in the US and love it with zero problems for me. I recommend picking up a trickler to go with it given I just do not trust digital powder loaders...I still trust and love the old dependable RCBS manual beam scales and then use my trickler to finish.

 

[Daggaboy375]

All good advice.

It's just like making biscuits.

Except if you mess up the recipe you might blow your face off.

Been making biscuits and ammo since 1970 and still have my ugly face.

DB

 

[JimP]

I have your exact set up in the US and love it with zero problems for me. I recommend picking up a trickler to go with it given I just do not trust digital powder loaders...I still trust and love the old dependable RCBS manual beam scales and then use my trickler to finish.

You mean that you didn't get a old teaspoon and bend it and use it for years before you picked up a trickler? Even once I got my trickler I actually preferred my teaspoon over it until I picked up my RCBS Chargmaster. But I still check every 5 or so loads on a different scale to see just where I am at.

As for the powder dispensers, most will not dump accurate loads of long spherical powders and you usually start cutting grains of the powder as you turn the crank and it sticks. When charging cases with the larger spherical powders I made powder dippers out of old 44 magnum or 45 Lc cases for the amount of powder that I want to load. Lee makes a nice set of plastic dippers that look like they would work quite well.

But then I am old and stuck in my ways and know just what powders and charges I am going to load and don't experiment anymore for most of the cartridges that I load for.

 

[jruby]

I would recommend looking at used equipment to save money. I have found several nice presses for quite reasonable prices. My C&H H press was inherited and I have no idea how many second hand dies I have obtained. I like RCBS - if you break or lose anything they replace it for free - just call them. That has been my experience.

 

[Nhoro]

Buy the RCBS Supreme, get the rcbs dies and you are good to go. Been using the big RCBS press for many years. You'll need a way to trim cases and prep them, and measure powder (inexpensive digital scale) and you'll be good to go. If you need a list of what I would buy to get started I'd be happy to help

Thanks, the kit has a scale, rcbs primer loader, funnels etc. At this stage I am using new brass so trimming will be needed after 50 or 100 reloads on the Lott and 30-06 is once fired brass in my rifle. I can also go out to the range and trim cases there.

 

[Nhoro]

Nhoro, I too reload to save money and understand completely your desire to do so. The Rockchucker Supreme Master Kit would be a good start towards getting the equipment needed to start reloading. Have you had the opportunity to sit with an experienced reloader to see all of the steps required? If not, please do so. A couple of required pieces of "kit" not included are a case trimmer of some sort and a set of calipers. What is the availability of appropriate powders and primers?

I have been reloading with someone already but even that has been costly. Powders are available- Vihtavuori and Somchem Bluetop. Primers- CCI.

I also have an option to join some guys at the range for reloading. Then I probably just need dies, primers and powder. Legality is tricky here, I need extra licenses for keeping powder, so it may be a help to just buy the powder and primers and load it all right away at the range and sidestep the extra licensing.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I have used my RCBS RockChucker Supreme press for years to load everything from 22-250 to 404 Jeffery. Excellent press for any loader.

Go for it, and invest in several loading manuals. Nosler's is one of the best, but buy manuals from several manufacturers.

 

[Josh P]

All good advice.

It's just like making biscuits.

Except if you mess up the recipe you might blow your face off.

Been making biscuits and ammo since 1970 and still have my ugly face.

DB

 

[Bandera]

i use a Lee Classic press with breach lock. I load 243, 45-70, 375 Ruger and 450-400 NE on it with no problems. The breach lock makes it easy to switch dies.

I have a station at my loading bench that has a half inch thick aluminum plate. It has the holes drilled and taped into it to accommodate a Dillon 550, Dillon super swage, a Mec 9000 and the Lee classic press.
I know people who load on the Lee hand press which seems to be a great option for loading at the shooting range.

 

[hohlspitz<523>]

Not to be persnickety...

4) A micrometer for measuring brass after sizing and the length of the loaded cartridge.

Micrometers are most often used for diameters.

Calipers are usually reserved for lengths.

Top is a caliper, bottom is a micrometer.