What reload setup is everyone running

[slickncghia]

G'day Guys,

I am considering getting into reloading my 30-06 and havent seen a simmilar post on here.

I was just wondering what different kits and setups people are running?

Anyone have any fancy multi stage presses or are people keeping it simple?

Thanks
Ben

[Baronvonrort]

Some have fancy multi stage stuff and others have a simple press.

Nothing wrong with simple things, my old fashioned balance beam scales never need calibrating or new batteries, people were getting by just fine before all this fancy stuff came out.

I guess it comes down to how much do you want to spend and how much space you have, I reckon starting to reload is a sign of shooting addiction

[AusTac]

Bare basics for me, i only reload .303, 2 boxes ( 40 ) at a time usually if that, lee classic hand loader with a hammer and all the associated trimming tools with a hand primer, gets the job done with tolerances being within .5 mm if i'm really going for it

[bladeracer]

G'day Guys,

I am considering getting into reloading my 30-06 and havent seen a simmilar post on here.

I was just wondering what different kits and setups people are running?

Anyone have any fancy multi stage presses or are people keeping it simple?

Thanks
Ben

Lee Breechlock single-stage press and Lee's collet neck dies for me.
I'm loading .204, 6.5x55mm, 6.5x52mm, 7mm-08, .303, and 8x57mm, and probably 7.62x54R next week.
8x57mm is the same brass as 30-06 just with slightly heavier bullets.

[yoshie]

I run a lee single and turret for rifle, lee progressive for pistols.


Why not have both?

[on_one_wheel]

Lee hand loader

2016-04-12 17.00.35.jpg (229.52 KiB) Viewed 5201 times

[Wm.Traynor]

For my /06, a 30 yo Master Simplex, Redfield dies, Lyman trimmer, beam balance scale but the original Lyman wore out after 40 years.

[Noisydad]

Dies from Lee, RCBS, Simplex, Lyman.
An RCBS Partner press, Simplex turret press, my home made press (which does most of the work), an old Lyman Easy Loader 12g press and some antique roll crimp tools.
A Lyman O'Haus beam scale that's 40 years old and lots of assorted home made tools and bits and pieces.

[Oldbloke]

Press. 25 yr old Simplex Master O
Scales. 25 yr old set of RCBS
Dies. Lee & RCBS
Scoops. Home made
Trickler. Home made
Trimmer. Simplex
Bullet puller. RCBS
Blocks. Home made
Other bits & bobs

12g lee plastic fantastic

Like on one wheel I started with the classic lee load all hand loader. I still reckon the lee kit for about $210 here looks hard to beat.

http://leeprecision.com/50th-anniversar ... r-kit.html

[p3seven]

Over 500 once fired cases. Sierra projectiles Lee and Lyman case prep tools. Digital calipers. Wilson case gauge. Frankford Arsenal scales with RCBS tray/funnel. Wilson dies ordered. Converting my drill press to a arbor press by turning a lip on a alumimum bar to clamp into the drill head hole. First batch next week

[sandgroperbill]

I load a couple of different cals, and my brother also uses my press. Rather than buying different presses, I went straight to a lee turret press kit while the dollar was above parity. Thatw ay all you have to do to switch cals is switch out the turret, check all the measurements are good and away I go.

Worth mentioning that I load hunting rounds, not precision shooting stuff.

All my dies are lee, too

[bigfellascott]

Simplex Master Press (like a RCBS Rockchucker only built like a tank and bigger)
Dies:- RCBS, Simplex, Hornady, Lyman, Lee
RCBS Chargmaster plus RCBS 505 scales for back up if needed
Homemade reloading blocks
Projectiles - where do I start I got all sorts!
Powder funnels - got a few diff versions of those two
Primers: CCI and Rem
Powder, got a good variety of that too
Lube: got lanox, inox, one shot, WD40, graphite powder
Various case prep tools and trimmers

Only a hunter here

[Cooper]

I am only just getting started reloading. The first thing I bought was Nick Harvey's reloading manual.
I have a Rcbs rock crusher press and Lee dies. The Lee stuff seems to be pretty hard to beat value wise.
I have just ordered a Hornady powder trickler and digital scales.

[Gamerancher]

Bladeracer,
8x57 is NOT the same brass as 30-06.
They have the same case head dimensions, but have different case lengths and bullet diameters.
8 x 57 has a .323 diameter bullet and 2.24" case. 30-06 has a .308 diameter bullet and 2.49" case length.

To the O.P
I agree with Oldbloke, for the newby to reloading, the Lee kit is hard to beat.

[bladeracer]

Bladeracer,
8x57 is NOT the same brass as 30-06.
They have the same case head dimensions, but have different case lengths and bullet diameters.
8 x 57 has a .323 diameter bullet and 2.24" case. 30-06 has a .308 diameter bullet and 2.49" case length.

To the O.P
I agree with Oldbloke, for the newby to reloading, the Lee kit is hard to beat.

I didn't say they were identical
I merely mentioned the 8x57mm as being very similar to 30-06 from a reloading point of view.
I am aware of the minor differences and that you can use 30-06 brass to make 8x57mm brass.

[Gamerancher]

You said they were the same. I worry about statements like that as a newby might see that and think they are interchangeable.

[bladeracer]

You said they were the same. I worry about statements like that as a newby might see that and think they are interchangeable.

I'll pay that. I was using the word as an adverb rather than an adjective, I should have been more precise.
Thanks for catching it

[Gamerancher]

No worries mate, not trying to pick a fight. I've seen the results of people using the wrong ammo because they thought it was "the same". One bloke used .308 win in a .308 Norma Mag. Being a Mauser it fired due to the case being held against the bolt face by the claw extractor. Brought the gun back to the shop and demanded that the gun was faulty. Was given his money back and told to stay away from guns.

[brett1868]

Old school RCBS Ammomaster 2 for everything except pistol & .223 cause they go through the Dillon XL650's. What you end up using will depend on the volumes you need to reload, the amount of time available and what level of precision you require.

[TheDude]

I started with a Lyman t-mag turret press. Later upgraded to a Forster co-ax which I use for most calibres now with the t-mag left setup just for the 45/70 black powder.

When I got my 577 snider I needed a press to fit the larger dies so bought a Lee classic. Also got a Lee pro 1000 progressive for 357 mag.

Dies are a mix of Forster (bushing bump neck dies and comp seaters) for the modern stuff, Lee for the milsurp and some Lyman, rcbs, ch4d and Steve roadnight dies for the black powder cartridges.

For Lead casting I use Lyman and Lee pots and a mix of CBE, NOE and Lee moulds.

I use an RCBS chargemaster powder measure for smokeless and a Lyman 55 classic dropper with drop tube for black powder.

Also have a stainless tumbler and bench source annealer.

[kylemiller86]

I use a lee progressive on my pistol

[Wobble]

Gotta go progressive for the amount of ammo you need for pistol shooting

[nightforcenxs]

i like my lee breech lock challenger press and just use lee dies in it and have a lee powder thrower easily reload .308win that gets me 1/2inch at 200 metres if i do my part

[Wylie27]

Lee pro 1000 is what I use..

[bigM]

Rifle and pistol have quite different requirements.

I only load pistol so I use a Dillon 650 with Lee dies including FCD.
My total setup (excluding powder, primers and projectiles) was double the $870 basic press price.I worked out that my payback was 13,000 rounds. I am up to 8,000 after 18 months. Only problem is you shoot more because you can.

My main driver was not cost but ammunition supply. I got tired of gun shops only stocking FMJ which most ranges will not let you shoot.Sometimes they had Winchester LRN which would not hit125 PF and Winchester was disinterested in doing anything about it.