Best way to start?

[Rascal]

Had a quick look through to make sure that this hasn't already been answered, and some posts partly answer it. So I'm really after opinions from the collective knowledge gathered on the forum!

I have enjoyed reloading pistol calibre (.38 & .357) on a friend’s Lee progressive press which produced 'accurate enough' loads for my requirements. I now want to reload .308, with a bit more precision, I could be cheeky buy some dies and carry on using the friends set up for the odd case of beer. I think however I might be pushing my luck a bit with the frequency of use that may be required for load development. So I think the time has come to invest in my own set up.

So my immediate needs are for .357 & .308

The six million dollar question is of course, start with a kit and add to it or buy bi spoke. I suspect the way forward is a good quality single stage press like a rock chucker, and add scales, callipers, powder thrower, decent dies and all the other tools to get me started. Then add as needed as experience grows.

So has any one seen a reasonable quality kit, maybe one that has been put together by a shop rather than a manufacturer, as a starting point? Or is the best approach just write a list make up my own?

[dromia]

I would write your own list first based on your research and any sound advice you might get.

You then have something to compare kits with and help you decide if its for you.

When I started too many years ago now it was what I could make and get choice and availabilty was almost non existant.

Nowadays you are swamped with choice.

A good single station press is the heart of any handloading set up.

The Lee classic cast press has had good reviews and seems to be good value from what I've seen of it so that could be a good place to start.

My single stations include an old model Rockchucker, a Bonanza Co-Ax and a Redding Ultramag, if I was looking for another I be happy to put the Lee classic cast alongside them and I'm not really a Lee fan.

[ovenpaa]

Make your own list or you will either end up with things you never use or quickly replace, and another vote for the Lee cast classic.

Dies - well I use Redding competition and Forster, oh and Hornady and Lee and a few others. Starting off you will be hard pushed to beat Lee dies, I have a Lee bullet seater permanently in a press for building .308 plinking rounds and it gives perfect results. You can always upgrade at a later date when you feel the need. For precision work the Forster dies are hard to beat and sensibly priced as well.

Scales - your call, a beam scale will give more consistent results that cheap digital scales.

You will need odds and sods like primer pocket cleaners, load funnel and load trays (I make my own these days) and a combination chamfer/de-burrer is handy.

A good tip is make sure you have a decent surface to work on and bolt your press down to, I have mine through bolted to a lump of beech work surface and then screwed to the bench.

Get a digital vernier as well, Lidls were doing them for under a tenner a couple of years ago and eBlag is a good source as well.

[Christel]

Rascal,

Welcome to the darkness

[dromia]

A good Handloading manual is a must, I would recommend the Lyman as they don't provided reloading components so don't have bias that component makers manuals do. The new edition has updated data and they do Cast Boolit loads as well.

The how to section is very good and is easy to follow.

I would also recommend The Complete Handloader by John Wooters as a good how to book without data.

[Robin128]

RCBS press, full length dies (carbide if budget allows), uniflow and scales...Lee auto prime...pick up some second hand micrometers, but the traditional ones are not expensive new. And the latest Sierra manual...it beats the rest, but do collect others.

Don't buy a cheap press and replace it in a year or two...it's not economic.

:)

[Alpha1]

A good single station press is the first buy get that right and it wil stay with you for the rest of your life.
I use a Lyman crusher I must have had it about 15 year.
I would recomend the new Lee cast press.
The RCBS
The Lyman crusher
Get one of the above new or second hand then add the rest of the gear as you need it.
In my book the Hornady beam scale is the best on the market.
And you wont go wrong with a RCBS powder measure. I have two a pistol measure and a rifle one.
Lee dies will do to get you started.

[dromia]

If you are going for a Rock chucker don't get a new one as they are not as good as the earlier models, the beauty about RCBS kit is their cast iron warranty that extends for life not just to initial purchaser.

Any of the main brand "O" presses are good, the Lyman, Hornady or Redding so if you see a good buy on any of these grab it. Don't touch the Smart Reloader presses or any Lee, other than the Classic Cast, with a barge pole.

The Hornady is a fine beam scale indeed but has been unfortunately dropped from their line so second hand is the only option on this. Again all the main brands make good beam scales. I have Hornady, RCBS, Redding, Lyman and Ohaus scales scattered around my loading room and I trust them all, I would not recommend the Lee though.

RCBS, Hornady and Redding all make very good adjustable powder throwers but I prefer the Lyman 55 as it will do small to large charges as bought where as the others use rifle (for larger charges) and Pistol (for smaller charges) metering inserts so you need to swap over and that involves additional cost. I have and use RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Redding, Belding and Mull, CH and Bonanza adjustable powder measures on my benches and I trust them all.

Fixed rotor dispensers are very accurate and handy if they have a rotor that matches the load that you want to throw or you are prepared to adjust cavities to suit. I use RCBS Little Dandys x 4, Lyman Accumeasures x 2 and the Lee Prodisk which is definitely one of their better efforts.

Fixed cavities are not very flexible for load development where you are upping the charge every 5 - 10 rounds or so, for that the electronic powder dispensers come into their own RCBS and Hornady make very good ones with the RCBS supposed to be the bench mark but the Hornady is good too and is cheaper. I use the PACT system as the scale is separate from the dispenser so it can be used on its own. It is a very good unit as fast or faster then the RCBS, I've been using mine now for over six years now, with upgrades. If I needed to replace it then I would get the Hornady.

That awful You tube has a plethora of videos on reloading equipment and could be useful for you to see whats on offer and how it works, just beware that every one thinks their mouse trap is the best.

All the main brands make good equipment each with their own strengths and weaknesses it is finding one that suits you and your pocket that is the trick.

Lee is a bit of a pig in a poke with their kit, probably the most innovative reloading manufacturer out there but their choice of materials, QC and finish are not of the highest, but then they do produce the cheapest kit on the market. I regard their equipment like kits they will require some fettling to get them working as advertised. Their dies are OK and I use a lot of them, their collet dies are the best neck sizers out their but they do need fettling. Their hand prime used to be good value but they have "improved" it and the new model isn't worth the money. Don't even ask me about their "casting" equipment.

[Rascal]

Thanks all for you response, some really good advice and should help prevent me making some expensive mistakes.

Thanks

Andy.

[dromia]

Let us know what you end up with and why.