I am looking to start reloading and was offered the following package. I am looking for comments on its value compared to new. Thanks.

Tell ya what, how about this setup:

-Lee Classic Turret - Base Press
-Lee Pro-Disk powder measure with Double disk kit- Powder drop source
-Riser for powder measure to clear the primer setup
-Lee Safety Prime with Lg and Sm primer setup- Priming
-Hornady Digital Scale- For weighing powder drops
-At least 2, maybe 3 turrets to put the dies in
-Gently used 9mm Lee dies
-Hornady Universal Loading block- Holds 50 shells while loading


Really, to load the 9mm, all you would need would be brass, which I could throw some in, primers,powder and bullets. I would also suggest a reloading manual to get not only load recipes but a better idea of the process.

If your at all interested, I would say $200 shipped to your door with delivery confirmation is fair. Let me know

200 bucks sounds more than reasonable for that lot.

Get it bought and crack on.

Great deal.

Tastes vary I guess.
There is nothing much in that list that I would want and I would probably scrounge some other used equipment.

Aye, but for a new reloader interested in making some 9mm go bang, it's not half-bad at the money surely?

When I was contemplating starting reloading, I bought a couple books to include a Lyman reloading manual. Read the books on my way to Alaska where I was moving to. I thought I knew what I wanted, but a new neighbor in Alsaka gave his opinion. Glad I followed his advice. I agree with SR4759 not much on that list that would be my pick. Do you intend to load anythig other than 9mm?

I want to start with 9mm and 40 SW. Eventually, I will start rifle 5.56, 257 Roberts, 7mm Mag. I believe in the "Buy once, cry once", but I have been told I should learn on a single stage. I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by tikka3006:
I want to start with 9mm and 40 SW. Eventually, I will start rifle 5.56, 257 Roberts, 7mm Mag. I believe in the "Buy once, cry once", but I have been told I should learn on a single stage. I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

SR may be right in that case mate.

The Lee stuff above will produce perfectly servicable ammo for all the cartridges you mention however.....


If you intend to stick at this then your mantra of "Buy right, buy once" is the correct approach.

For large volume re-loading a progressive press, or at least a manually indexable one like the Lee turret press above, saves a lot of time and for short range pistol and plinking rifle ammo will produce better ammo than most can hold.

For rifle ammunition nothing beats a nice solid single stage press like a RCBS rock chucker or Forster co-ax. these last however cost more new than the entire kit and kaboodle above.

The way I started was with cheap Lee hand press, dies and priming tool, a cheap digital scale from ebay, small funnel, cheap digital callipers and time, lots of time.

As I grew more experienced I bought a Lee challenger press, a RCBS 5-0-2 scale, case prep tools (De-burrer, chamfer tool, primer pocket cleaner) , kinetic hammer, Ultrasonic cleaner, powder trickler and a proper bench to set them up on.

When a decent used RCBS Rock chucker press came up at the right money I bought that too, the same with a Lyman powder thrower, RCBS 10-10 scale, vibratory tumbler, OAL to ogive measuring tool, more expensive and specialised dies etc.

Of all of that lot the only bits I've gotten rid of were the 5-0-2 scales.

Everything else has made my life easier in some way.

For example:

The Lee hand press:

My first press, neck-sized 30.06, 308, .243 and even 375 brass for a couple of friends and I just fine for the first 6 months of my reloading career. Bought a bench press when the shoulders needed bumping back as FL sizing on a hand press is not for the faint-hearted.After I got the full size press the Lee has become a very useful addition to my range box and load bench.

At the range I can adjust OAL for load develop[ment purposes by loading a batch ot the maximum length I want to test and adjusting as circumstance dictate on the shooting bench. Also handy around the load bench if you need to quickly mount a specific die for a small job.

The Lee Challenger press:

Cheap and cheerful, did my FL-sizing ( for the calibres above) without breaking a sweat. Didn't like the feel of it, it felt like it was cheap, but have to give it it's due. It now serves as a dedicated de-priming press most of the time, keeps the nasty grit and crud away from my lovely....

RCBS rockchuker: Great press, does everything and does it very well. Quality bit of kit but loads ammo no straighter than the above.

Cheap digital scales: Used for batching cases, measuring water capacity (Try it on a balance beam when you've an hour or two spare....) etc. Not used much now that I have the balance beams but at £20 I can't complain.

5-0-2 balance beam: nice and very accurate but liked the build of the following more:

10-10: inspires confidence.



In short then, by all means buy the best as and when you can afford it but the above kit is not bad for the money and you will be able to find a use for most of the above as and when your experience grows and you see the need for other bits of kit.

HTH,

A

What do you all think of this deal?
HRN PRESS LOCK-N-LOAD AP WITH SCALE AND HANDBOOK

Item #: HRN095100BF

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Vendor: Hornady Ammunition, Components, & Reloading Tools

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Tiika3006---I don't have experience with the Hornady Lock N Load. I have heard good things about it. It is my understanding and I well could be wrong is that instead of screwing the dies in place you place them in and they lock somehow. That really is no big deal in my books. It is not like you are removing and installing the die with every round. In otherwords you have your die in place and you do that step to the whole batch, then change dies and repeat. The few seconds you save changing the die is just no big deal. Having said that, You can buy an RCBS Rockchucker supreme kit from Midways for about half the price you stated. I do have experience with the RCBS Rockchucker--had mine since 1967 and I think after I get it broke in, it will be a keeper. You can never go wrong buying RCBS---if anything at all goes wrong--even if your fault, RCBS either fixes or replaces it. Somebody else could match their customer service, but it will not be beat.

tikka since i have fairly recently done this myself i will give my opinion. i bought a similar setup except it was the lee breach lock set. i picked up the press, safety prime, perfect powder, safety scale a bunch of primers,powder, bullets, brass, and other stuff for $250. it wasn't a bad price for everything i got and i actually loaded about 3k rounds between pistol and 223 but my opinion of all the lee stuff was it pretty much sucked. the scale wasn't very precise, the powder thrower wasn't all that great and the safety prime had its problems. the only thing out of the bunch that i cared for was the press. it was a bit rough on the stroke but the primer catcher is what i liked about it. i ended up selling off the press/scale/priming unit and all the breachlock bushings for a decent price and replaced it all with a rock chucker, 505 scale, and rcbs powder thrower. i like all of the new equipment much better with the exception of the spent primer catcher on the rock chucker it leaves alot to be desired. as for the hornady lock and load. i actually have a set of the bushings and adapter that i put in my rock chucker and then took back off. i didn't care for it as it seemed to have alot of slack in it. also the lock and load bushings can get expensive if you need them for several sets of dies. i currently load for 7 calibers and i didn't care to spend the money it would take to put a bushing on each die.

SKS
You about hit the nail on the head.
My Rockchucker is a 1971 model with the green wrinkle paint. It had seen long hard use.
I had owned a C press before it and learned that I did not like cases being decapped by the FL die. I use a hand punch with a plastic hammer to knock out the old primers and keep the primer ash out of my press.