I've been reloading for many years, and in addition to revolver loads in .38 Spl and .357 Mag., I've reloaded rifle cartridges in .223 Rem., .308 Rem., .30-06 Spr., and .300 Win Mag., the latter used at Camp Perry during the Long Range Firing School.
My goals are accuracy and consistency, and my second .300 Win Mag round at 1000 yds was in the X-ring at Camp Perry.
I sort my brass, trim the cases, weigh out my loads on an electronic scale with trickler, manually prime each case to assure no high primers, and measure my finished rounds with an electronic caliper.
I have been using an RCBS Big Max (A-4) single stage and a Dillon RL-550 (upgraded from a RL-450) and believe I have all that I require for my current reloading of .223 Rem and .308 Rem ammunition.
For whatever the reason, I am now being told 'my reloading equipment is antiquated, and I should seriously consider upgrading to newer equipment."
Why?
I chronograph my loads (Oehler -35P) and my SD is usually less than 35.
Any one care to suggest if I should get rid of my old, but dependable, equipment and replace with all new presses?
Rustymusket

What a load of you-know-what. I've been reloading for more than 50 years now. I still use presses older than me.
My every day press is a Bonanza Co-Ax press that I bought in 1972. The most accurate long range loads I have ever loaded has been with this press.
Stay with what you have,not a darn thing wrong with them.
Put the money into bullets,primers and powder instead.

quote:

For whatever the reason, I am now being told 'my reloading equipment is antiquated, and I should seriously consider upgrading to newer equip

We have been using the same RCBS press for so many years.

If it ain't broke, don't change it!

I would suggest you ignore your adviser/s.

In what ways do these advisors say the new equipment will improve your loads?

My reasons for reloading have long included to save waste and maybe a little money. If I can avoid something like buying a powder dripper by sticking a tube through a shotgun shell, I will do that. It kind of fits into the Aldo Leopold outlook, I feel.

Therefore, if your old press still does a reasonable job, I would stick with it.

I had a RCBS Jr press that I bought used @ 50 years ago. It was still making excellent ammo when I passed it along to a young fellow just starting out.
There always seems to be folks that've got to have the latest gadgets but if what you've got works, why change

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

For whatever the reason, I am now being told 'my reloading equipment is antiquated, and I should seriously consider upgrading to newer equip

I'll second that!

I am loading with stuff my dad brought before I was born 60 years ago.

I have up graded brought used stuff what ever works.

Sounds like someone has some "better equipment" they would like to sell to you."If it ain't broke ,don't fix it". Mack

I load for 20+ metallic cartridges, rifle and handgun. My press is a 1974 RCBS Rockchucker. There is no way that you could convince me its not perfect for my use.
My son just got into reloading and he bought the current version of that press.
People that are advising you are incompetent or are selling something you don't have.

It's not so much what you've got as it is how you use it that counts. Your equipment sounds fine to me.

Joe

Wholeheartedly agree with the BS responses. The only obsolete thing here is the brains of the people who suggested that BS.

That advice is HORSE PUCKY!

I use a single station press for all of my rifle loads. The progressive is nice for .38Spl and .45ACP however, I loaded them on the same single station press for probably 20years.

What intrigues me is this: What do they say you need?

An arbour press and special dies?
Umpteen hundred dollar powder dispenser made specially for bench rest shooters?

And what is wrong with what you have?

quote:

I have been using an RCBS Big Max (A-4) single stage and a Dillon RL-550 (upgraded from a RL-450) and believe I have all that I require for my current reloading of .223 Rem and .308 Rem ammunition.

I´ve seen people produce wear on dies and presses - usually from a mixture of abuse, lack of maintenance and high volume reloading. Can´t tell what your gear looks like but from what you are telling us, it would not hurt to take a look at the bearings and moving parts of your 550 or if your dies need a new decapping pin or expander button.
Other than that - rather invest in bullets, powder and a new set of earplugs just in case you hear those guys giving you advice again.

Still using an RCBS A2 press I bought from Gander Mountain in 1960. I was impressed with the claim that it would resize .30-'06 to .250 Savage in one pass. It will, but I never needed it to. However, I no longer use my Belding & Mull loading tool which I began with originally in 1958. Nothing wrong with it, it's just that the RCBS equipment does the job much more efficiently.

Welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place for smart opinions from people who, though they disagree sometimes, really know their stuff.

I agree with the folks who are calling BS on your "advisor."

I have an RCBS Rockchucker. I bought it at least 35 years ago and I use it to load (almost) all my rifle ammo.

My records show that on Dec. 28, 2016 I shot a 5-shot, 100 yard group that measured 0.4 inches with my .223 Stevens 200. I've had equal or near equal results with my other "accuracy rifles" — .225 Win, .243 Win, 6mm Rem. with loads they like.

I wonder what press your advisor would recommend that I change to in order to improve my ammo's performance.

Thanks, y'all, for your advice and comments regarding the individual who didn't think my reloading equipment was 'up to snuff'.
He didn't say the equipment was worn or needed a tune-up, he was clearly 'badmouthing' what I have and use to my benefit.
I found it interesting that he didn't understand the use OR the benefit of my NECO concentricity gauge and why my .300 WinMag cases all had a notch filed on the fired rims!
Ditto for the 4-place accuracy on my electronic scale. Explains why he though shooting a match AR at 600 and 1000 yds were 'extreme'.
I should have acted on my first impulse when he began downing my equipment and set-up to show him to the door!
You guys keep yer powder dry and have a great New Year, spending more quality time out at the target range than you did last year!
Rustymusket

Rustymusket, I have been reloading for 53 years on a rockchucker and a Bonanza Co-Ax for all my rifle stuff and a pair of Stars for 45 and 38. I have never seen much need of replacing anything as yet. Keep using what you've got till you wear it out if you live that long! With routine maintenance and cleaning the crap out of my dies once in a while, I don't think I will wear any of my stuff out in the foreseeable future.
What area of Birmingham are you in? I was born and raised in Royal Oak.
Jim White
Prescott, AZ

HI Henry, welcome to the forum. Tell the know it all bad mouthing your equipment you will be glad to upgrade your equipment. What would you like to buy me? I'll use whatever you think I should have, if you pay for it. Otherwiae shut the hell up!

Seriously, the equipment you have will last you and serve you well for a long time. I too have stuff older than I am, also have some newer stuff too.

The RCBS Big Max was probably the best press ever made. They line bored the ram and die hole in one operation. (I have two). If somehow you get convinced to "upgrade" (don't) I will buy the press from you.

Progressives are a different matter. Dillons are the way to go. 550/650/1050 depending on volume

Just curious, is his day job does your advisor sell any of these products?

- cars
- weight loss products
- exercise equipment or videos

Was your adviser trying to sell you some of his products?

How did I guess?

LOL!

Measuring case and bullet runout is the best way to determine if your press and/or dies are causing accuracy problems. Standard Deviations in velocity has a lot more to do with powder charge accuracy and neck tension issues and bullet seating depth and not so much to do with the slop in your press and dies.

Measure case and bullet runout and then make a determination if it is time to upgrade. I would start with Competition die sets and if runout is not resolved, move to the press.

If you want to solve your SD issues, trim all your brass, separate it into weight lots, anneal your brass, accurately measure powder and most likely you will significantly lower your SD spread.

I don't know what clown told you that, but he obviously is using his knowledge for your support as opposed to illumination. Wipe him off your best friend list, he is just ignorant.

Your equipment is excellent and will be for ions to come..I have a RCBS single stage A-2, and an old as hell Hollywood single stage press and if it would fit I could resize a 20 mm cannon shell in that big boy...these pressed are heavy duty and will do it all without warping or being springie..

I also use RCBS from 1960 that dad bought me.

Only thing I resist is going to these powders like VARGET which a lot use in my area.When I say I use IMR youg kids look at me funny?lol
I am old school and staying with what I know like IMR powders..

Nice getting back into loading my rifles again after stopping from 1980 to now ....Great info on here ..I just wish that deer situation [doe killing] in pa would not have happened kids are losing interest in hunting..I saw no deer for 2 weeks of gun season been at it for 53years hunting the Buck..

I saw only 4 kids for 2 weeks on deer ..We used to have 21 dpsm now its 3 or none ..Doe tags have ruined our hunting which affects reloading...

Sorry I went off topic a little..

Id betcha Im older than you, and I quit using IMR and H powder a long time ago..I use mostly RLs and some H like H-414..well I use powders that are easy to toss in a measure as I hate weighing powder!! an the ones that fill the case enough so as not to double charge...Jeffe, the reloading, gun, and everything else cop is going to hate this post! yeehaw!!

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
Id betcha Im older than you, and I quit using IMR and H powder a long time ago..I use mostly RLs and some H like H-414..well I use powders that are easy to toss in a measure as I hate weighing powder!! an the ones that fill the case enough so as not to double charge...Jeffe, the reloading, gun, and everything else cop is going to hate this post! yeehaw!!

I was 12 when dad started me reloading for hunting back in 60..Boy it was fun sitting with him loading the 250-3000 model 99 and 300 sav..He loaded for his brothers 8 of them they all had 7 ea 300 sav and 1 had 250-3000..dad had both ..
he used 87 grain speer bullets and in depression they killed a lot of deer with that gun...
he used to say Jim use 87 gr bullet it knocks deer down better than 100 gr ..

I miss dad and all uncles what a crww we had for deer 23 in crew 11 kids now its just me and my brother that are left ..

boy I got off topic ..back to press etc prices have really shocked me on everything on all things you needed great I have stuff from wayback..

i have price on can of powder IMR3031,price is $2.49 a can .box of speer bullets $2.19 cents ..50 brass for 250-3000 $4.95 .lol.....

Those were days..

Well, kind reloaders who have responded to my question, I NOW have the answer to the reason my 'friend' was strongly encouraging me to get rid of my older reloading gear. It appears that he has been seriously searching for an RCBS Big Max (A-4) single stage press, and when he saw mine, he was determined to get it!
The A4 was a great press for resizing and reloading my .300 Win Mag rounds with nary a hiccup, and since I will be focusing primarily on reloading .223 Rem and .308 Rem cases in the future, as we talked about how badly he wants this press, I asked him what he was willing to pay for it, but knowing at the same time that used A4 presses have been going for $300-400 on eBay lately.

His original bid was an embarrassment to me, so I counter-bid $450! I'm letting him sleep on that for a while.
He also is interested in my PW Duo-o-matic 375 with full tooling for trap and skeet with all the necessary powder and shot bushings, cover, and instruction manual in very nice condition.

I mentioned that I might be interested in a pristine M1911-A1 Remington Rand in unissued condition (Pristine doesn't really do it justice)in his possession, so we'll see where this goes in coming weeks.

Thank you so very much for your supportive comments to my original inquiry.

rustymusket

If you can find one the old Hollywood single stage massive press is the one to get, its heavy as hell and that big single post is stout beyond comprhhension..I found mine while dumping trash in the local dump, cleaned it up and been using it for years...If you can find one be prepared to pay as much as 4 or 5 hundred dollars..but that's a deal for something that will last 10 lifetimes.