Beginner reloading equipment

[Harrison S]

Gday fellas... wanting to start reloading... but want to get equipment that i dont need ti upgrade from... only really want single stage...

Need a press large enough for 300rum/338 lapua... seems that eliminates pretty much all kits.... what are your recommendations for for all the pieces i need... (minus consumables)... keep in mind, I dont want to exceed $1000 if at all possible...

[No1Mk3]

Lee Classic Cast Press $449, Hornady Lock n Load Beam Scales $230, Lee Perfect Powder Measure $65,

[straightshooter]

Lee Classic Cast Press $449, Yes
Hornady Lock n Load Beam Scales $230, Not these days, better a digital reloading scale with battery and mains plug pack
Lee Perfect Powder Measure $65, Not unless budget is a big problem better to spend extra $100 and buy Hornady powder thrower.

[Damo300]

In addition to the press and calibre dies.

Powder Funnel

Powder trickle, if you don't get an auto chucker.

Primer pocket reamer.

Inside/outside deburring tool.

Case trimmer.

I use a cheap ebay jewellery tumbler for my brass cleaning with a stainless pin media.

Ugly annealer.

[Fester]

Check the usual big shops to see if any still have the unbeatable RCBS Rockchucker kit for around $600.
The kit was a bit over 800 about 10 years ago.

I should have cried once as I went cheaper with a Hrdy kit and slowly upgraded to green until I only used the press, funnel, and tray.
Then I scored a used Rockchucker press.

It is a rabbit hole if you shoot and load a lot, but once set up, the equipment is then slowly paying its self off.
Unfortunately, starting now means you have to pay top $ for components, look for bulk pack specials after you have loads sorted.

[Willie]

[quote="Fester"]Check the usual big shops to see if any still have the unbeatable RCBS Rockchucker kit for around $600.
The kit was a bit over 800 about 10 years ago.

I should have cried once as I went cheaper with a Hrdy kit and slowly upgraded to green until I only used the press, funnel, and tray.
Then I scored a used Rockchucker press.

It is a rabbit hole if you shoot and load a lot, but once set up, the equipment is then slowly paying its self off.
Unfortunately, starting now means you have to pay top $ for components, look for bulk pack specials after you have loads sorted.[/quote]

Had one of these and it was terrific. RCBS, imo, produce sturdy, long lasting items for reloading. Whatever you decide, have fun. :)

[Harrison S]

Lee Classic Cast Press $449, Hornady Lock n Load Beam Scales $230, Lee Perfect Powder Measure $65,

What are your recommendations for case Trimmer?, and do you have a recommendation for a brass cleaner?

[wrenchman]

I use a lot of lee stuff I do have a rockchucker press it was a gift from my late brother but if you are looking at new lee tends to be the least cost

[fussy]

I've always found Lee to be best value: quality good enough and cost is OK.

I have some spare stuff, so I'll check the shed if you're in SE Qld.

[Fester]

Lee comes into its own for things like the simple cheap trimmer jigs and cutters.
Best way to start trimming on a budget, can use the battery drill.
I still use them if only 6-8 cases need doing in a batch.

When Lyman brought out their version of the new type trimmers, I got one of their old classic benchtop models on sale for about $120.
A power shaft cost about $80 to use the drill.

Also, their special purpose dies go fine, universal decapper, factory crimper and others.

My Lee full length resizing dies didn't cope with my high usage, and had to upgraded.

[morerams]

Buy once cry once, RCBS Rockchucker kit.

[LuvMyDatto]

Harrison, how hve you gone so far?

I bought a crono to get the most out of my onboard ballistics calculator on my Alpex 4k and while in the shop they assumed I was getting it for reloading and load development, then showed me a Lyman kit for $700.

If buying Lyman, be aware the shell holders must be the Lyman brand if you're using the press to install primers. While all shell holders are 'universal', they have slightly different depths and so the Lyman press won't seat to the correct depth with other brand holders.

I'll be reloading .223 and .308 for no other reason than I can't consistently get the same cartridges and the ones that work best for my rifles are usually the ones that are seldom in stock. Hoping reloading means I've got access to consistent ammo I know will work.

Extra to the kit, I've had to buy die sets, shell holders and a case trimmer. I'm at $990 so far with a Lee deluxe quick trim and .308 jig for that, and a .308 RCBS die set. Will save up for .223 stuff.

I'm off to the shop today to buy powder, primers and projectiles, and hope to have some bullets to test at the range by Saturday week.

I already had an ultrasonic cleaner, so didn't need to purchase a brass cleaner. Not sure what solution to use in the ultrasonic yet.

[Cape_Yorkee]

Just out of interest, from a $$$ perspective (and I'm sure someone here has the done maths)...

Minus all equipment to start with - what's a 20 round box of say 243/270/6.5/308 reload ammo cost to produce? Taking into account all materials but again no equipment cost. Generally speaking all of those rounds above for a 20 round factory box up here in Cairns are around 50/55 bucks a box - be interesting to know how much for reloaded box.

Sorry to bombard your thread Harrison... just thought I'd ask the question.

[Damo300]

Price hand loading against the most expensive factory rounds. Essentially, that's what you're providing yourself once you work out the load recipe.

I bought 3 boxes of the cheapest factory 7mm rem mag Norma white tail for $250.
60 rounds of unknown performance.
I say this because factory rounds aren't measured out like a handload is. There can be up to 5gr difference in just powder weights, let alone neck tension, seating depth, and the hybrid powders they use. Even if you find a good box of factory rounds, you'll never replicate it.

For comparison.
Box of 100 speer projectiles.....$75
1kg of powder..... $160. Each hand load takes 4.5 grams of powder, or 70 grain.
1000 primers...... $250

I now have 60 empty cartridges, but if you buy them on their own, they'll cost just as much as assembled factory rounds, so buy some factory stuff, take a mate to the range and let him blast away and empty the rounds for you, otherwise pull them apart with a cartridge seperator and store the powder, pills and primers for a rainy day, remembering to record the average powder weight down if you ever have to reload them.

Resizing and trim dies cost me $90 for the press.