Which Reloading Equipment Kit?

[7mm Remington Magnum]

Hello all! I am new to reloading and have never reloaded a single shell in my life, and i was about to buy a press kit. There are two I am looking at from MidwayUSA and I wanted your opinion on them.

Here is the first: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct..._campaign=9315

and the second: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=121744


Thanks for taking the time to read this. I was just wanted an oppinion on which one would last, what one is best for reloading my three calibers (7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, and .303 British). Also, the second one comes with many Shellholders, alot of which I won't need. Thanks for your input and your time. Greatly appreciate it. Just need some basic info about reloading and these presses. Thanks!!!

[The_Rifleman]

I bought the first one. The only thing I see different is the type of priming tools. Many like the hand held priming tool, I like the one that hooks up to my press.

[carver]

Why not this one?
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=880135
But you should start here: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=537267
Add what ever else you need in your order. The thing I don't like about kits is that you always wind up buying something that you don't need that is included in the kit.

[army mp]

I am not a big fan of Lee Products. But there are many that are. Loading rifle rounds I believe the single stage press to be your best bet. Personally, if looking for a cheap press. I would check out Graf & son. Or Mid-South shooters. There is a new company out called Smart reloader. They sell a press that looks Identical to the Lee. But less money. And I know many will disagree. I would go the extra money and Get a better Scale. And powder drop. Lee is the cheapest. But there is a reason. Where most use cast or steel. Lee uses plastic. Kits are nice in that they get you started. But I think you would be better off. Getting quality to start with. Don’t get caught up in one brand. I use a Hornady and Pacific presses. Pacific beam scale. And RCBS 1500 scale. Dies range from Redding to two sets of Lee. I thing you can build a better Kit your self if you take the time to research what you do and do not need. Get a good reloading manual. Lyman 49th or Lee. they will push their brand. But both will explain what you need.

[LDBennett]

I agree with army mp about getting better quality than LEE. They have good ideas for their reloading equipment but make poor materials choice to make them. Many here will disagree about LEE but I have a drawer full of their rejected equipment, all replaced with almost anyone else's.

Also I would suggest a Turret press for a first press. It allows single stage press reloading or Turret press reloading. The difference is speed of reloading which may not be needed for rifle rounds but most certainly is for pistol rounds. The Turret press allows you to complete one round with one placement of the case in the press whereas single stage reloading requires batch reloading where only one process is done at a time on all that you intend to reload (the case must be loaded onto the press three or four times instead of once). Turret press reloading can be used for rifle cartridges, too, and results in being about three times faster reloading. Once you get into reloading you will find better uses for your time than waste it on single stage reloading. The ammo works the same from either press. Some think otherwise but most experts agree. You would be able to use that extra time shooting!

As for manuals, I have them all. I like the Hornady manual not so much for the data (it is just as good as anyone else's) but for the explanation of how cartridges work and for how the reloading processes relate to how they work. It is a clear concise explanation of the details and it includes very good illustrations. A person new to reloading needs this understanding to make it all clearer and to stay safe.

LDBennett

[howlnmad]

Originally Posted by carver

Why not this one?
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=880135
But you should start here: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=537267
Add what ever else you need in your order. The thing I don't like about kits is that you always wind up buying something that you don't need that is included in the kit.

All he'll have is a press, which isn't even the newer cast iron base, and a manual with 100 bucks invested. Granted, the scale and powder drop aren't the best but its a start.

[rglbegl]

I use the challenger press with the hand primer and it works fine for me.
For the magnum rifle ammo it is perfect, and I dont mind taking the extra time because it allows me (as a noobie) to look more carefully at each and every aspect of bullet building

But recently we started reloading 9mm for my girls pistol and now I can see where a turret style press is better for mass reloading.

[7mm Remington Magnum]

thanks guys. I'll look around at different pieces and put together my own kit. Any suggestions on different brands mixed together to make the "perfect" kit, while still staying on a budget? Thanks

[209jones]

while since I thought about this subject. Here's what I use;
rockchucker press
Lyman or Bonanza dry lube 3 brush set
RCBS shellholders to suit caliber
RCBS allen wrenches for the dies ( you can buy these at a tool store also)
RCBS primer pocket brushes--lg & sm
RCBS reversible chamfer tool
Forstner trimmer
RCBS or Bonanza dies
Lee hand Autoprime tool, I have a lg and a small one--shellholders to suit
Lee powder dipper set--very handy for trickling, and weighing long stick powders
RCBS trickler--almost never use it
Hornady beam scale
Redding benchrest powder measure--works fine with ball powders--sucks with stick powders unless they are very short grain
Lyman electric scale--still use beam scale to double check it once in a while
Lyman check weight set (don't think to use it most of the time)
I like microadjust/benchrest bullet seaters, probably not neccessary, but, nice to use.
A good caliper, I prefer a dial, digital is nice, not sure if I trust them or not
A small micrometer-for when u want to get really picky
primer pocket uniformer
Acquire at least one good reloading manual, Sierra, Nosler, Hornady,Hodgdon,Accurate, RCBS, Lyman. Most of the info you need for actual load data is avail online
Bookmark their websites, read carefully. If you decide to substitute a component, do it at starting charges.

Go ask your bank for more money, cuz shooting cast boolits is even more fun, and you may well get into that too.

[Insulation Tim]

I started with the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit. It has everything that you'll need except the dies. Once I figured it all out, it worked flawlessly.

I recently bought a Dillon 550B which is a progressive and have spent a week trying to get it all tweaked and working properly. When I finally get there, it should speed production 3X.

Looking back, and the fact that I maybe shoot 200 to 300 rounds a week (45 ACP and 9mm) I should have saved the money and stayed with the Lee.

[RandyP]

My Lee hardware makes all the safe, reliable and accurate ammo I need.

I prime on the press, use the adjustable charge bar on the turret powder dispenser, and since I don't care for their balance beam scale, use a $30 MTM DS-1250 digital.

Works great, costs little, and fits MY budget and MY realistic ammo consumption needs. Others will have different needs and different budgets. Fortunately there is a way for us all to particpate in this hobby at our own level of investment.

[JLA]

I bought the LEE anniversary kit well over 4 years ago to start with and I still use it today. Im on my 3rd set of replacement toggles because reloading .30 carbine is hell on an aluminum press. If I had it to do over again Id triple my money and buy an RCBS kit. At the time though 80 bucks for a start out kit was sure more appealing than 250. But everything in an RCBS kit is steel whereas everything inthe LEE kit is aluminum or plastic. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about LEE dies. They are easier than the competition to set up and alot more economical to purchase, however I do suggest the use of different die lock rings. The LEE aluminum lockrings with that little rubber O ring suck. Get some Forster http://www.grafs.com/product/258969 or Hornady http://www.grafs.com/product/260046 lock rings with the cross bolt. Only other advice I can offer is for you to buy several reloading manuals. Id say at least 3 and the Hornady book and the Lyman book should be among them. I have the Hornady, Lyman, LEE, Sierra, Barnes, and accurate reloading manuals. As well as caliber specific manuals for almost everything I load for. IMHO, you just cant have too much info on reloading

[Airdale]

I've reloaded in the past and have decided to start again. I went with the Lee kit you posted. I was a little leary because of the price but I am thrilled with it. For a single stage press I don't think you can go wrong. My previous press was an RCBS and it was fine but expensive. Read the product reviews at Midway and Cabela's and you won't find many unsatisfied Lee customers. You're just starting out so start with something simple and inexspensive you can always add more and expand once you have some experience. Is it the best press? Probably not. Will it give you the most BANG for your buck (pun intended)? Almost certainly!!!

One manual I wouldn't be without is the Sierra but you'll want a couple more.

Go with the Lee to start out. It won't be the fastest but speed isn't what you want until you gain a lot of experience. You'll be amazed when you open that box from Midway at what you got for your $104. You won't have to wait long, Midway ships fast. Go ahead and bite the bullet (couldn't resist) and place the order.

Good luck with your new hobby!

[LDBennett]

Insulation Tim:

I don't want to insult you but you must be very mechanically challenged. The instructions are excellent, the press very easy to set up, and it is well worth the money.

The first stage is no different than any other press for the sizing die. The priming system if set up correctly works perfectly and only common sense is needed: The cup must not be hit by the shell plate and the primer tube must line up with the cup when the handle is all the way down.

The powder and belling stage is easy as well. You position the powder die to give the correct bell and full actuate the powder measure.

The seating and crimp die is just like any single stage press.

The direction cover it all. They even have a video for it (??).

It is not fair to newbies to ridicule the Dillon RL550B for you inability to be able to set it up in a reasonable time period. I bought mine over 20 years ago and had it setup and doing progressive reloading in the same day. In fact, it was working progressively in less than an afternoon.

Sorry to be so harsh but your assessment of the Dillon RL550B is wrong and may lead others to believe it is hard to set up so I had to respond. It is probably the most successful progressive reloading press on the market and has been for nearly a quarter of a century. Meanwhile Hornady, RCBS, and even Lee have had multiple designs, completely different each time and each of those manufacturers of progressives now have presses that look like the Dillon RL550B after many the didn't.

LDBennett

[BigJakeJ1s]

Insulation Tim,

Some around here get upset when anyone appears to have criticized their golden calf, and must attempt to put the blame elsewhere.

Actually, if I read your post correctly, I think your point was simply that, at your reloading volume, any progressive press might not have been a good choice. 200-300 rounds a week is more time than I want to spend reloading on a single stage, but I have other demands on my time, too.

If you are having problems with your 550, by all means, call Dillon and let them help you out; they are very good at that (as are most reloading companies if approached with politeness and a touch of humility). But if you are still truly unhappy with it, especially if you've only had it a few weeks, politely ask them to refund your money, and get something else (or just keep your money and use what you already had).

Andy

[RustyFN]

7mm Remington Magnum the difference in your two links is the first one comes with the safety prime and you will be priming on the press. I use the same priming system on my classic turret and think it works great. The second comes with the hand primer. The box of shell holders are for the hand primer tool and do not fit the press. The safety prime might save you a little time because you can use it during the sizing process and just prime on the down stroke. With the hand prime you would have to handle every case a second time. If you are going to look at building your own kit then take a look at the Lee classic cast single stage. Every bit as good as the rock chunker if not better.

[JLA]

I agree with that rusty. The classic cast is a beast of a single stage

[Clipper]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Lee Pro 1000 Progressive Press Kit? I have a Rock Chucker that I have used for almost 30 years, and it is fine, but I want to speed things up a tad. Yeah, I know, a Turret would be acceptable and probably would handle all that I need, and I probably should wait and acquire a Dillon...

[gdmoody]

I bought a Lee 1000 and with most of the small parts being made out of plastic, there was a lot of breakage (especially with the primer slider). I sold the Lee after 6 or 7 months and bought a Dillon 550B. Don't get me wrong, I find nothing wrong with Lee products - just that progressive press. Most of my dies are Lee and the single stage press I use on rifle cartridges is a Lee Classic.

If you are looking for a progressive, I recommend you pass on the Lee Progressives.

[Clipper]

After doing a little research here and another site, I tend to agree with you, looks like I may soon be the operator of a Dillon 550B. Now I have to justify the time setting it up.

[LDBennett]

There are many of my posts here where I suggest the Dillon RL550B and/or have to defend it against the Hornady, the Lee's, of even the RCBS. View them and you'll get the flavor of my responses. But in a nut shell, full progressives with auto indexing are fast presses until something goes wrong. Then you can have a real mess straightening it out. Because the Dillon RL550B has manual table advance (no auto indexing) screw ups are easily handled and rectified. Add to that the ability to easily use the press as a single stage or a turret, as well as a progressive and you have one of the most versatile presses available today.

The Dillon is worth the money and worth the wait if you have to wait for the funds to build. Mine has seen over 20 years of hard use. I reload for over 20 different cartridges on it. Dillon has totally rebuilt it for free two times. The Dillon customer service is renown to be more than excellent.

LDBennett

[Tanker6]

7mm Rem. Mag:

I bought the first one in your post a couple of months ago. I shoot 40 S&W to the tune of 100-200 per week, so single stage presses were as much as I needed (and wanted to spend). According to my calculations, I've paid for the press at this point (breakeven was around 590 reloads).

It has been pointed out that the difference between the two Lee kits is the priming, which I agree with. I'm sure there's a bunch who would rather hand prime and others (like me) who would rather prime on the press. The Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit primes on the press. The major advantage I saw with this system is that the hand prime version (according to Mr. Lee's literature) should only be used with Winchester, CCI and a couple of other brand primers (which now escape me). With the prime on the press system, you can use any brand primers (or more importantly these days, with whatever you can find whenever you can find it). I've been using Federal Small Pistol primers since I started because that was the only small pistol primers I could find. If I was hand priming, I'd be out of luck.

As for Lee's products -- I have no experience with anyone else's equipment to provide any type of informed opinion, but I will say this: Read the instructions provided with the Lee equipment carefully. My first bullet I seated so deeply that I'll never get it out.....all because I turned the die two turns in the WRONG direction . When you follow each instruction carefully, even idiots (meaning ME ) can make quality ammo.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new press/kit.

Chuck

[BigJakeJ1s]

Contrary to LDBennet's opinion, the ease with which to use a progressive press as a single stage or a turret press is not necessarily related to manual vs auto-indexing.

If the dies are easily, individually removable, like those on the auto-indexing LNL AP, simply remove all the dies/tools but the one you want to use, and you have a single stage press. It will automatically take care of ejecting the case for you (unless you are using the PM, then that would not be a good idea!), by just letting the case continue through the other empty stations until it ejects on its own. You can even use your case feeder for this if you have one.

If the primer feed does not dispense a new primer for every pull of the handle (the 550 and LNL AP do not, the 650 does), then you can use the press as a turret press by only having one case in the press at a time. This works exactly like a manually indexing press, except you don't have to manually advance the shell plate. You cannot use a case feeder for this, since it will dispense a new case for every pull of the handle. You can use the auto-eject to avoid manually removing the finished round.

Fixing a problem case on an auto-indexing press is a simple matter of removing the offending/ed case(s), just like it is with a manually indexed press. The LNL AP it can easily be manually backed up if necessary (not usually needed, since it is best to remove the case altogether), and is actually easier when you consider that you don't have those little brass buttons to remove and replace just to get a case out of the press.

So, in reality, an auto-indexing progressive press is only less versatile than the 550 if it happens to be a 650. The 650's dies are not easily, individually removable, and it dispenses a new primer for every pull of the handle, so it is ill-suited to single stage and turret-style reloading.

In that case, I actually agree with LD; the 550 is the most versatile press Dillon sells.

Andy

[LDBennett]

BigJakeJ1s said:

"If the dies are easily, individually removable, like those on the auto-indexing LNL AP, simply remove all the dies/tools but the one you want to use, and you have a single stage press. It will automatically take care of ejecting the case for you (unless you are using the PM, then that would not be a good idea!), by just letting the case continue through the other empty stations until it ejects on its own. You can even use your case feeder for this if you have one."

On the Dillon RL550B you don't have to remove any of the dies. Just advance the stage manually and remove the case or remove it from the station it is in or turn the table backwards and remove it from there... Versatile!


"If the primer feed does not dispense a new primer for every pull of the handle (the 550 and LNL AP do not, the 650 does), then you can use the press as a turret press by only having one case in the press at a time. This works exactly like a manually indexing press, except you don't have to manually advance the shell plate. You cannot use a case feeder for this, since it will dispense a new case for every pull of the handle. You can use the auto-eject to avoid manually removing the finished round."

On a Dillon Rl550B once you have done the steps you want you manual move the table to the last positon and the case falls out. There is no operation of the handle to get the case off the table. You can skip stages or postion the table manual where ever you want, both backward and forward. There are no tricks you have to do to use the stage you need.... just manually position the table.

"Fixing a problem case on an auto-indexing press is a simple matter of removing the offending/ed case(s), just like it is with a manually indexed press. The LNL AP it can easily be manually backed up if necessary (not usually needed, since it is best to remove the case altogether), and is actually easier when you consider that you don't have those little brass buttons to remove and replace just to get a case out of the press."

Point well taken about the buttons but once removed you don't have to pull the case retainer back to remove a case. The case just slides in or out as do the rest of the cases processed after removing the buttons.

So, in reality, an auto-indexing progressive press is only less versatile than the 550 if it happens to be a 650. The 650's dies are not easily, individually removable, and it dispenses a new primer for every pull of the handle, so it is ill-suited to single stage and turret-style reloading.

The press in consideration was the RL550B not the auto indexing 650, which I would never own (that goes for the Square deal as well). Both of them are good for some people but not for me.

Considerations for buying a progressive press, in my opinion, should not hinge on the presence of auto indexing. It offers very little to no advantages to my way of thinking. Things like reliability, track record, service, and durability should be paramount in the decision. The Dillon RL550B (the design is at least 25 years old and well proven and supported by Dillon) is the leader in all those areas. It has only been recently that Hornady and RCBS have settled into designs that compete after many false starts from both. Amazing how close they appear to the Dillon unlike earlier version from both of them.

Manual indexing is easy. I have a manual routine for my RL550B. I rotate the table with one hand and pick up a case with the other. I then hold the table stationary while I insert the case in the first station. I then add a bullet to the seating station and pull the handle. It is a sequence of motions, easily learned and repeated. I can do it in my sleep.

But Hornady and RCBS progressive presses make ammo as good as the Dillon RL550B and if you care not what I say about the Dillon RL550B, then buy and use whatever you want. We all get to choose but hopefully not based on auto indexing alone!

LDBennett

[BigJakeJ1s]

LD, I never said the 550 is not versatile!

I am trying to say that, at least on the LNL AP, auto indexing does NOT make a press less versatile. I don't know why you think that "tricks" are necessary on the LNL AP to use it as a single stage or especially as a turret press. It sure seems like common sense to me.

One should not buy a press just because it is manually indexed, any more than they should not buy a press because it is auto indexed, if versatility is their goal. If they prefer to manually advance the shell plate themselves (as you do), then more power to them. But they should not fool themselves into thinking they are automatically getting more versatility that way.

When it comes to progressive presses, they all look very similar only from a distance, except for their color. The meaningful differences are in the design details, like how dies are changed, how shell plates are changed, number of effective stations, spent primer handling, primer feed system, powder measure, shell plate advancement system, case retention system, etc.

Dillon's competitors have learned from the shortcomings not only of their own prior products, but also of Dillon's. One should consider these details, and how they match up against their own preferences, before purchasing a press.

Andy