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I'm thinking about taking the plunge into .303 reloading (and maybe .308 as well!) and was wondering if you guys think that this setup would be good value for money: http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/prodde ... OADING_KIT

As far as I can tell, all I'll need to reload 303 will be 303 collet dies, primers and powder! I'm not looking for the perfect reload, just something that will get me churning out .303 of an acceptable standard and as close to MkVII ball as possible!

Its a bit of a pig in a poke. The challenger kit will certainly get you going. I wouldn't touch smartreloader kit with a barge pole. The Lee book is an entertaining read but not the best out there.

I'd suggest that you get the Lee challenger kit. Lee deluxe 303 die set, case length trim gauge, Lyman 49th edition Handloading Handbook and a couple of reloading trays. You can look for a better tumbler at a later date as ai assume that cost is an issue.

I'd also seriously think about getting another set of scales than the lee ones as the scales are your safety valve and would trust my life or those next to me on powder weighed out by them. All Lees loads are cribbed from other sources and are always at the bottom end so theoretically "safe".

The problem with kits of any type is that no one manufacturer is good in all the kit departments.

If you want to do single stage I'd go with the Breech Lock Challenger press (or the cast version which is very nice), a set of the Deluxe carbide dies instead of the RGB's, a decent scale (RCBS 5-0-5 or 10-0-10), the Lee perfect powder measure isn't bad (I use one for .308 and hand trickle on a 5-0-5 for accuracy) and the Lee case length trimmer/chamfer tool/ primer pocket cleaner are not bad either. Peter Lawman has the Lyman 1200 pro tumbler on offer at about £59 delivered or Bush Wear have it for about the same price.

If you're anywhere near Durham/Newcastle you're more than welcome to come and see most of the stuff in person :)

Lee don't do carbide dies for bottlenecked cases.

I have run the Lyman 1200 pro for the last 5 years, mine also came from Peter and at GBP59.... A bargain I would have thought.

I have the Lee Cast Classic and use it all the time, I also have the smaller aluminium Lee shown in the kit and use it with a Lee .308 seater. the press is only used to seat bullets for my 7,62x51 NATO round and gives great results in that respect however the die has not come out of the press for a few years and it was a faff to get the exact 2.800" OAL I needed.

My view is a one shop order is great in some respects but some of the gear is going to frustrate you very quickly so if at all possible save for the extra.

As a starter I have a brand new spare Redding Type S .303 neck sizer you are welcome to borrow and I probably have a spare Forster .303 seater, they are both very good dies and should see you OK until you get a set of your own.

dromia wrote:Lee don't do carbide dies for bottlenecked cases.

I thought the full length sizing die in the deluxe set was carbide as it's one of their "needs no lubrication" dies, not that I'd full length size without lube anyway! smile2

It is the Collet neck size die in the Deluxe rifle set that needs no lubrication.

Just had a stroke of good luck - got a set of Lee .303 collet dies from another forum for £20! Thanks for the offer though, ovenpaa, very much appreciated!

Phaedra - I'm in Lancaster so not particularly close, thanks though.

So... Lee Challenger kit, Lyman tumbler, better scales, case length trim gauge and Lyman reloading guide and I'm good to go?

dromia wrote:It is the Collet neck size die in the Deluxe rifle set that needs no lubrication.

Having looked on the Lee site you are of course right, thought it was a bit strange. I'm not having a good day today :?

Divvent worry I'm like that most of the time. :?