Hi everyone,
I'm interested in getting into reloading and after doing some research I noticed there are four major brands of reloading equipment that I found.
1. RCBS
2. Lee
3. Hornady
4. Lymann

Question:
I was curious to know which type brand of reloading equipment you use and why. Do you stick with one brand or do you mix and match; like for instance a rcbs press and lymann powder scale, etc.
I'm interested in your input.
I'm new to these forums, my name is jerry and I have been shooting for some 40 years off and on.
Thanks for your comments!

Choices:
rcbs
hornady
Lee
Lymann
Other

 

when it comes to a press i stop with a coax dies the forsters are my favorites with rcbs 2nd. powder measures go to redding, scales to rcbs.and progressives to dillon

While I have stuff from Hornady, Dillon, Lyman, Lee, Redding, MEC and others.....most of my stuff comes from RCBS.

They work and they provide superb customer service.....what else is there?

Hell....I even have stuff from Herters!

I'm with Butch on this also, but would add the Reading T-7 Turret press is a great press, and built like a tank to last several lifetimes.

RCBS has given me great customer service. Hornady dies have reloaded some of my most accurate rounds. Redding also makes some fine equipment. It would be hard to say one is truly superior, although I have more RCBS reloading equipment than any other brand.

Noobs and those with little experience with different brands are the most likely to firmly have opinions of what brand is "best". Those of us who have been doing this stuff a long time are very likely to have several different color tools on our benches because we have learned no maker has a lock on the 'best' designs, partly because what's 'best' depends on how you eventually prefer to work.

I've been reloading since '65. The four brands you list are what's left out of a much wider assortment back then,partly becasue they are all quite good.

I've chosen individual tools by the design and user features I prefer and couldn't care less what brand it is. I was a life long technical person (in the space and defence programs) so I always appraise the actual design and function of anything rather than it's hype. Saying something thing will last a lifetime is virtually meaningless, most any reloading tool will last a lifetime if it's taken care of, nothing will last long if it's abused or neglected.

I now have five presses by three makers and have sold off three others, not because they were bad but because I just didn't need what they offered. I have some 50+ die sets by all the makers you know of plus maybe eight other brands that you are too young to have heard of; they all work fine if I do my part - there is as much average effective difference between dies of the same brand as there is between brands. I have three different brands of powder scales (no digitals for me!) but use my own home built trickler because none of the four commercial types I tried worked very well. I use two brands of powder measures of wholly different types for different work and will soon add a third of a different brand. Got two lathe type case trimmer tools for different tasks but prefer Lee's inexpensive trimmers for most work. Etc., etc.

All this is said to say you have to start somewhere and do it without experiece to guide you, so you've wisely asked for help. Fact is, no matter what you start with you will make choices you will later regret but,fortunately, all of our domestic makers provide good tools that work well. So, price is no valid guide to usefullness and you may pay more than is justified but you won't get bad tools no matter what you buy. Getting mentally locked into a brand can be the biggest buying mistake you can make.

If you're clumsy and tend to break things then paying high prices for a brand that provides lifetime support (for some items) may be good. If you have good mechanical skills and understand how things work then tools with a one or two year warranty is likely all you will really need and that will save quite a bit of money better spent on guns,scopes and components.

Bottom line, you have a lot of learning to do. Start by knowing that everything works well if it's used correctly while nothing is worth much if it's used incorrectly. The skills and work methods of the reloader - YOU! - are far more important than the brand/color of the tools.

I rarely mention "what I use" because what I use because, of itself, it means little helpful to others; it's just what I have and like, or maybe I just don't dislike it bad enough to replace it.

This ain't as clear and specific as you had hoped but it's all true. Most of all, have fun and don't get too worried about the tools!


Look at these starter tools for great performance at a reasonable price:

Lee's Classic Cast or Classic Turret presses.
Lee's dies
Lee's case trimmer tools

Redding's 3BR powder measure, stand and trickler

Dillon's beam scale (made by Ohaus, same as RCBS but less costly)

A Lyman, Hornady or Lee loading manual for good beginner insructions as well as a wide variety of loading data. Just ONE book is plenty for a noob, more just causes unneeded confusion to new guys. (I ONLY used a Lyman #43 for about 5 years before buying my second book and then only because interesting new cartridges and new powders had come available.)

Berry's impact type bullet puller (You WILL make mistakes!)

Small tools you will need, of any brand:

6" precison dial caliper; powder funnel; case loading blocks to fit your cartridges; case debur/chamfer tool; Redding's Imperial die wax OR Hornady's Unique case lube (applied with your finger tips, not a pad.

Later you may wish to add a case cleaning tumbler, look at Berry's. And media type, cob or nut, won't really matter at all, nor will the type of polish if you want to fool with that. (I did use case polish years ago but soon quit, excess polish is what really csuses the 'lead dust' so many guys fear. All that really matters is getting your cases clean and plain media - or just a hand wipe - does that very well.)

There is a small ton of esotoric tools available for special tasks and high accuracy work but they are optional and few reloaders need them. Stay away from them and keep it basic until you get well grounded in the process. When you start to tell yourself, "I wish I had something to make this job easier" is when you will need to look at the other things!

I don't have any of those Chinese aluminum, knee-knocker presses. My bench (except for an old Dillon), is filled with old, all American steel presses made by CH, Hollywood, and Dunbar. But that's me.

It doesn't matter what press or powder measure you use, as long as it works. However, Those who are smart will have someone teach them how to reload, THEN start buying equipment. It is far easier and less expensive in the long run to see what others use and decide what will work for you, rather than use the shotgun method of just buying stuff until you find what works.

Once you start buying equipment, it doesn't have to be new to be quality. A fifty-year old Herter's Model-3 C-press makes just as good ammunition as a brand new RCBS, and for considerably less money. I'll match any new powder measure out there against the speed, accuracy, and ease of setup of my 60+ year old Hollywood, and the Hollywood will match or exceed the other measures. "New" does not equate to "better". It is more important to figure out what equipment is quality and what is not, then find the best price for that quality equipment (whether new or used).

quote:

I don't have any of those Chinese aluminum, knee knocker presses.

I have to ask, what presses are those? (And I think if you check your Dillon you will find it's largely aluminum.)

While CH, Hollywood, Dunbar and Herter's presses were good for their time they are gone and maybe for valid reasons. I never suggest a noob buy used tools, he doesn't yet have the experience to know which is good and which is not. Anyway, it would be difficult for a noob to get any one of the old toos easily and, if he did, the presses wouldn't have the modern compound toggle link design that replaced the older single toggle presses you mention.

I like some of the old stuff too but not all of it is as good as newer stuff, especially the new presses. ??

Besides reloading, I also cast bullets. I use mostly RCBS. I do use a Lee melting pot. I use mostly RCBS for reloading. It's old and antique but I use a Belding & Mull powder measure. Most of the rest RCBS. With the as mentioned superb customer service of RCBS, you can't go wrong. If there is a problem--it is their problem and they fix it. My RCBS Rockchucker press goes back to 1967, once broken in it might give problems---so far not.

I bought an RCBS kit that included the Chargemaster 1500. The kit contains most of the things you need minus dies, shellholders, etc. That said, one suggestion I received from this forum was the Forster Co-Ax press which I also bought. It has been a fantastic press. I also bought a chrono and of course the Lyman reloading manual. Read, read, read. Then ask questions and read somemore. Hopefully you have a friend that reloads as well.

Ken....

Jim,

Just about any press made within 10-15 years (or more?) is probably made with aluminum frames made in China; RCBS is one example that comes to mind.

"Kneeknocker" presses are those that hang down below the bench. I got tired of bumping up against my old Rockchucker and replaced it with presses that set on-top of the bench.

As far as why Dunbar and Hollywoods aren't made anymore (although Hollywoods are supposedly still being sold), few people are willing to pay the high cost of machined steel when cast aluminum is much cheaper and almost as good.

My Dillon: It is made of aluminum. I am hoping Mike Dillon uses American aluminum or my early 550B does. Oh, and although it was a kneeknocker, I just fixed that problem by adding their Strong Mount.

You mentioned linkage, which is important for men with thread-sized arms and women. I am not having a problem FL resizing oversized 7.62mm machine gun and .300Wby Magnum brass.

The point of my previous post was to explain that "new" doesn't mean "quality" when compared to "old", and that price and age shouldn't be the determinants of what to buy.

I've used RCBS for 40 years. Much of my current stuff is 35 years old and going strong. I do have some Hornady dies but the heavy lifting is all RCBS.

Started with a Herters O press (pops)

Switched to RCBS Rockchucker (primers all over the floor)

Used an older Hornady pro7 progressive (not recommended, the new ones are supposed to be better)

Got an old Co-Ax (need to change all my die lockrings, so I didn't)

Got an old CH progressive (still in pieces, I may leave it as a 38spl machine)

Just got a Dillon 650 yesterday.

RCBS dies , powder throw
Ohaus scale

I have a RCBS Press and some RCBS Dies and RCBS scale.

Also some Hornady & Forster sies

Plus some Lee Crimp Dies.

A Lee Case Trimmer.

Calipers from "other"

Like just about everyone here, I use a mix of different brands. Here are my preferences though:


Lee - Great equipment at great prices. I like their dies better than anything else I have tried. Also like their hand primer and hand press for reloading in front of the tv.

Dillon - Progressive presses (550, 650) for loading large quantities of pistol rounds.

RCBS - Rock Chucker single stage press for resizing rifle brass. I broke my old Lee press resizing military 308 brass.

For someone new to reloading I would recommend getting a complete Lee reload kit like this one:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=423081

I don't really prefer a brand. If a tool works it stays. Let's see. RCBS (Rock Chucker, 2 Trim Pro's one hand one power, uniflow, 505 scale, dies, shell holders, collet pullers, powder funnel, chamfer cutter, hand held priming tool), Lee (Loadmaster, dies, shell holders, powder dispenser, chamfer cutter), Hornady (dies and shell holders, primer cleaners), Lyman (hand tools and check weights, flash hole deburrer), Redding (T-7, dies shell holders), PACT (scale and dispenser), Dillon (Super swage), MEC (shotshell press), Pre Frankford Arsenal Midway(tumbler and seperator, impact puller), MTM (powder funnel), Harbor Freight (ultrasonic cleaner, calipers). I'd bet if I looked hard enough I might find somebody elses equipment, too. Not to mention odds and ends from WalMart(cookie sheets, strainer, slotted spoon, towels). Also ordered an Omega electronic trickler last night.

I started with an RCBS kit that had everything to load with except components and the tumbler. That was also ordered from Midway at the same time. Dies were bought based on price and who had what caliber when I needed it. Loadmaster was bought because loding pistol ammo sucks on a single stage, too slow. PACT so I didn't have to watch the scale, just push the button and pour the powder into the shell. Then I bought the Redding press and dies all at once, I won a promotional certificate and bought it all. Wish I had known about the bushing style dies then, they'll be next.

PS, voted other because there is no all choice.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim C. <><:
. I have three different brands of powder scales (no digitals for me!) but use my own home built trickler because none of the four commercial types I tried worked very well. I use two brands of powder measures of wholly different types for different work and will soon add a third of a different brand.


thanks for the lengthy reply Jim. I learned much just from you post!
I'm curious to know why you won't use a digital powder scale?

Thanks to everyone for replying to my post and setting me some guidelines to go by.
I'm going to step into this hobby slowly and this looks like a fine place to start.
I'm sure alot of you will be answering other questions I will have in the future and I look forward in reading each and every answer.
Thanks again Friends.

I think you need to have "ALL" as one of the option. I have a Redding press & a Lee press. I have dies from RCBS, Hornady, Lee, Lyman & Redding as well CH4. I use an Ohaus powder scale, RCBS powder measure & RCBS case trimmer, Lee case trimmers, Hornady case length measure gauge & various other bits & pieces by various manufacturers.

I have equipment by all the choices. I have had good luck with all brands. As of now I am using a Lee Classic Turret, a RockchuckerII, and a MEC 600 JR MK5 presses, RCBS scales and dies and other equipment by just about everyone .

I love my CO-AX press and lyman 1200 digital powder dipenser.

If your going to use an digital powder dispenser, save yourself some time and get a powder thrower too. Adjust it so it throwing a couple grains under your specific weight and the just let the digital powder dispenser top it off. MUCH quicker & saves wear.

I do use a rock chucker 2 also for loading the really big stuff due to clearence issues with the yoke & top of dies on the CO-AX when using Hornady dies w/o crimping.

Most of the dies and tools I use are RCBS.

Not a fan of Hornady dies ESPECIALLY in the big bores.

Almost all of my dies are Redding or Hornady. I started out with a Lyman turret press that still gets the bulk of my work with the included powder measure. I bought the kit. I use a Lee progressive for my 9mm and 40S&W rounds. I could use the dies I had with it and just buy the powder-thru expanding die. Remarkably, at least for me is that the only RCBS product I have is a set of 41Mag dies that I just needed a second seater die for so I bought the set used for $10.

This is a tough one for me because I use a lot of different stuff. Although I prolly have far more RCBS stuff than any other, I voted Hornady just because I like some of their stuff and feel it is generaly underrated. Especially the presses.

I started out decades ago with the cheapest stuff around and not suprisingly that meant lots-o-Lee.. I still use some of their dies, lee case trimmers and their hand held primer tool makes the ones mounted on presses look like dark ages technology.

I love my lyman powder measure.

RCBS are easily my favorite dies.

I should also mention, I know the Lyman manual is real popular and it is a good one. But my personal favorite happens to be Speer. I find their data to be the most reliable and in tune with how I load.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin Rohrer:
I don't have any of those Chinese aluminum, knee-knocker presses. My bench (except for an old Dillon), is filled with old, all American steel presses made by CH, Hollywood, and Dunbar. But that's me.

.

There are some GREAT old presses floating around that can be had for pennies on the dollar. I have two of them that sold dirt cheap and retired my Lee press. One of them was made by Beir Company which morphed into Pacific and my favorite old press is a Pacific 07. Far better presses than the cheape ones. No flies on the Lee Classic though.

Lee Challenger Kit

It's go just about everything, but dies. A great press a good value and it works!

RCBS press, 10-10 scale & most small tools except lee hand primer. Dies are a mix of RCBS, Hornady, & Redding. Lately I buy Redding Dies, I have had numerous problems with Hornady dies & their customer service sucks. RCBS has the BEST customer service in the world. I have never used Redding customer service.

There's not a whole lot of difference in production loading equipment. One thin that i have noticed is that every reloading equipment company seems to have outstanding customer service.

I have four different brands of presses and even more brands of dies. They all work.

quote:

The point of my previous post was to explain that "new" doesn't mean "quality" when compared to "old", and that price and age shouldn't be the determinants of what to buy.

Fully agree that most old stuff was very well made and is still as usable as it ever was. (If I didn't appreciate old stuff that still functions brilliantly I wouldn't love my 70 year old wife so much. Nor would she much care for me! )

Hornady's, Dillons and (most of) Lee's presses are alum alloy but even the 'lightly built' Lee "Reloader" C typr press is MUCH stronger, longer lasting and a LOT more rigid than many people presume. I have two "Reloaders" and once compared the flex while FL sizing .30-06 cases to my "Rock Chucker II"; the RC lifted almost 3 thou, but neither of those tiny Lee's lifted enough to measure!

With an occasional cleaning/oiling (NOT greasing!) a ram, it seems any press will live forever so far as wear goes. Anyway, my 46 year old steel/iron Lyman Spar-T is light weight but it still functions as well as new.

Not everone who welcomes the relief of a compound toggle system was born a pencil-neck geek; injury to my right arm rotator cuff resulted in the loss of about half my right bicep while the joint itself is titanium/plastic and a half dozen screws. So, I home shop converted my old single toggle Lyman to a compound toggle to make it easier to use. I still use it for handgun ammo while the bigger RC gets my rifle stuff. My two little compound toggle Lee "Reloaders" do de- and re-capping chores with a universal decapper die and an AutoPrime II; I LOVE that system!

I made steel "strong mounts" for each of my presses long ago. Each press is high enough I can fully depress the lever without bending; my busted up back really likes that. Each press is high enough so the depressed handle is about the same height off the floor so the working feel is much the same for each one. Partially meaning I have no 'knee knockers" in my loading room!

IF we have a massively strong bench, the old single toggle type presses certainly work okay but they put a LOT of flex force on the bench. Compound toggles keep most of the lever stresses contained within the press, not only reducing the work but preventing much bench flexing as well. I like that and suspect it's why no new single toggle presses have been marketed in decades.

So far as I know, ONLY RCBS did a few runs of presses in China and, so far as I know, it was only the cast iron Rock Chuckers. All their others, including the old RCBS 'RS' series and the current 'Partner" alum presses, have been made here. I think. I know Lee's and Dillons alum presses are made here, really don't know about the Hornadys.


Digital scales vs. beams:

Digitals are electonic and finicky at best. They are sensitive to line voltage changes, ambient temperature and stray magnetic fields AND are more than a little delicate to modest physical abuse.

Sooner or later, all electronics fail no matter what, trust me on that! I used to repair/calibrate electronic instruments in the space program and I had VERY good job security. And ALL reloader branded scales are very cheaply made, almost always in China.

I see electonic powder scales as interesting gimmicks with little or no actual value to reloaders, certainly not for me. At their best, digital scales have the same accuracy as beams and they are not appreaciably 'faster' to use IF we use our beam scales correctly. MY beam scales are fully as easy/fast to read as a digital IF used properly while placed on a support shelf at or near eye level, NOT sitting down on the bench top!

"Speed" should not be an issue with any scale. A properly functioning magnetically damped beam scale will usually settle in three seconds - or less. Making them maybe a second 'slower' than most digitals?

RCBS charges $45 to replace their very expensive digital dumpster ChargeMasters when out of warranty. I suspect that $45 fully covers the cost of a brand new unit plus enough to pay the shipping.

Beam scales are quite simple and they work by gravity. Gravity never fails, it never changes so the scales don't change - no need for any scale 'check weights'.

Unless they get physically damaged from rough handling or neglect, beam scales will last forever and lose none of their accuracy or sensitivity; they don't drift and lose their calibration. Nor will they lose zero unless they get moved around. And they couldn't care less what the power line voltage does.

Lyman and RCBS are our oldest remaining loading tool makers. Pacific designed most of todays presses, dies and shell holders and got copied eventually. Bair was a new start-up in the late 60s; they made good tools but added little to an over-crowded market at the time so they folded fairly quickly. Pacific bought what was left of Bair but the original Pacific owner died and the company fell apart. Hornady only made bullets at the time and wanted into tools so they bought the Pacific name and tooling, eventually dropping the honored old Pacific label.


Some people say I'm old too, a bit crusty and set in my ways. I deny that I'm old. Busted up and worn down some, yes, but not old. Yet. To the degree I may have a slight crust it's because I've been reloading since long before many of today's loaders were a gleam in their daddy's eye. I have enough experiece to know what works, what works only sometimes and why it fails when it does. I want reliability and ease of use in all of my reloading, apprecition of the challenge to overcome tooling obsticals left long ago. I long ago dropped the idea of a favorite brand of any reloading items, I buy by the features I want for the use I'll put the tool to.

Use my commnents as each of you sees fit and have fun forming your own crust!

jerdawg,

I had to vote "other", simple due to like most others I have a bench of mixed tools. My die cabinet holds something from, or close to, just about every manufacturer.

When I started out MANY years ago I used my pop's stuff which was Herters for the most part. Beck when he got into it they were building some pretty decent equipment and I still use his press and a few dies today some 40+ years later.

This said I also have a couple of RCBS presses, and a couple of Lee presses. It is something I built upon depending on the need I had at the time. Everything has a purpose, and it is good in that specific niche.

Do yourself a favor, and purchase a good solid press, don't sweat the brand, that is in your budget. Get yourself a good beam scale, a good set of calipers, a mic, and your other purchases will fit right in with them.

As for dies yep like the rest, you will find that while there is quality in the high dollar ones, the others will also produce quality ammo. Unless your shooting BR matches in a rifle that cost half as much as your truck, you will never notice the differences in the field or on paper.

What do I prefer?
I prefer both a low price and quality.
Most of my loading equipment I buy used.

Due to excellent quality and wide availability most of my dies are RCBS.
When I can get them I prefer Forster dies.
Redding are also good though. I also like Eagle dies though they are uncommon.
I avoid Lyman, Lee and Hornaday if I can.

I use an old RCBS Rockchucker press on a metal mount that is portable. I do not have any problems walking into my equipment.

I have other larger and smaller presses for specific tasks.

Case trimmer - Forster

Beam type scales - Ohaus/RCBS

Power tricker/Beam combos - AMT/Lyman Autoscale

Electronic scales RCBS(Pact) & Dillon
Neither were my choice they were inherited from friend.

There are many tools you can get by with and I do use a lot of non-preferred tools, but those are some of my preferences.

You have a lot of solid responses here, so I doubt my comments will add much to the discussion. But for what it's worth...

I started handloading over 15 years ago with a RCBS Rockchucker kit. I still use the press to this day for the "heavy" stuff like case forming, mainly because it was one of the only pieces of equipment that didn't get flooded in hurricane Katrina. After losing most of that, I started over and vowed to keep things simpler and to buy only top quality equipment that wouldn't need to be replaced later. I also wanted to be PORTABLE because I don't have the luxury of having a range next to my loading bench. Soooo I decided to take my loading bench to the range, so to speak. Naturally, the benchrest folks do this routinely, so much of my equipment comes from their lineage. I firmly believe the money I've saved in gas and wasted components makes up for any differences in equipment price. Time is a whole other commodity unto itself.

Press:
For threaded dies, I get the most use out of a small and portable model from Harrell's. For hand dies I use Sinclair arbor press.

Powder Measure:
I also bought a Harrel's premium powder measure. With just a little practice at first, it will throw charges to the 1/10th of a grain all day with most powders. I pre-weigh at home and make a chart or corresponding settings and charge weights, then leave the scales at home.

Dies:
I have threaded dies from Redding, RCBS, and Hornady, and hand dies from Wilson. All the three aforementioned threaded dies are good, with a slight edge for quality going to the Redding. These are general statements as manufacturing variations and anomalies do occur.
All of my pistol dies are Redding w/ carbide sizing rings. I have a couple of the newer generation Hornady dies that I like quite a bit; better than the previous generation where the decamping stem tended to move out of position easily. The RCBS dies that I like the most are the Competition series w/ the sliding sleeve and micrometer top. I've build some accurate rounds with those in the 22-250 Rem. Lastly, for my precision rifle stuff, I have Redding body dies and Wilson neck and seating dies that I use with the arbor press. I get the most enjoyment out of using these and prefer to do my load development at the range with this setup when possible.

Crimping:
I find myself getting away more and more from crimping these days, but on rifles that need a crimp, I do use the Lee factory crimp die and never use the roll crimp in the seating die.

Priming:
For precision stuff and majority of my handloads, I use the Sinclair hand priming tool. It is slow an tedious, but the feel is second to none. For bulk work and pistol stuff, I use the RCBS Auto Priming tool which I think has a very nice feel to it as well, albeit a hell of a lot faster. The hand held RCBS tool is very nice as well and you can prime many cases quickly.

Case prep:
I have found the Sinclair carbide primer pocket cutter to be great for first squaring pockets, but especially for cleaning pockets (if you so desire; I don't do this on pistol fodder or plinking rounds). Same goes with the Sinclair Flash Hole Deburring tool (Gen II)... I only do it with the precision stuff.

Case trimmer:
I used to enjoy the speed of the RCBS Trim Pro, but I never got around to replacing it. Now, I use the very precise, albeit slower, Wilson case trimmer. It is extremely precise and both repeatable and adjustable.

Scales:
The Ohaus/RCBS 10-10 scale is my absolute favorite beam scale. Additionally, I picked up a Hornady Auto-Charge recently to play with and I use the digital scale on that now too.

Calipers:
I replaced my good but flooded 6" calipers with the $19.99 set from Harbor Freight. No regrets in 5+ years!

Funnels:
To most, this will seem silly to mention, but I do like a caliber specific funnels. Satern makes nice ones.

Loading Blocks:
This seems minor as well, but a good fitting loading block is nice to have. I have started to make my own out of thick cutting boards made out of the white HDPE plastic. After cutting to size, I draw out a grid pattern, set the depth stop on the drill press, and go to town.

http://www.amazon.com/Density-...Length/dp/B000ILHWBG

That's about all I can think of for now. The only bit of advice I would give you is to try and buy the quality of equipment you hope to have some day. Nothing is worse than having to buy something twice.

Welcome to the obsession.

Good luck!

The absolute best dies are Redding.

Redding is my pick for most items, RCBS for scale. Lee or K&M for primer seater. Dillon for progressive.

BigB

quote:

Originally posted by Jim C. <><:
[ My two little compound toggle Lee "Reloaders" do de- and re-capping chores with a universal decapper die and an AutoPrime II; I LOVE that system!

:

I just used mine today for the first time in years, (Auto prime II). I usualy go to the hand held tool, but for some reason the primers (old winchester primers I picked up @ a bargian) were going in real tight and made me worried that I might break the hand held. APII is a real slick system, makes priming a snap. Im now thinking about finding a place on my bench for my old Challenger press and making it my dedicated APII stage..

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
There's not a whole lot of difference in production loading equipment. One thin that i have noticed is that every reloading equipment company seems to have outstanding customer service.

I have four different brands of presses and even more brands of dies. They all work.

your post is very distracting....lol

I'm from Bakersfield also

quote:

Originally posted by Kenati:
You have a lot of solid responses here, so I doubt my comments will add much to the discussion. But for what it's worth...

I started handloading over 15 years ago with a RCBS Rockchucker kit. I still use the press to this day for the "heavy" stuff like case forming, mainly because it was one of the only pieces of equipment that didn't get flooded in hurricane Katrina. After losing most of that, I started over and vowed to keep things simpler and to buy only top quality equipment that wouldn't need to be replaced later. I also wanted to be PORTABLE because I don't have the luxury of having a range next to my loading bench. Soooo I decided to take my loading bench to the range, so to speak. Naturally, the benchrest folks do this routinely, so much of my equipment comes from their lineage. I firmly believe the money I've saved in gas and wasted components makes up for any differences in equipment price. Time is a whole other commodity unto itself.

Press:
For threaded dies, I get the most use out of a small and portable model from Harrell's. For hand dies I use Sinclair arbor press.

Powder Measure:
I also bought a Harrel's premium powder measure. With just a little practice at first, it will throw charges to the 1/10th of a grain all day with most powders. I pre-weigh at home and make a chart or corresponding settings and charge weights, then leave the scales at home.

Dies:
I have threaded dies from Redding, RCBS, and Hornady, and hand dies from Wilson. All the three aforementioned threaded dies are good, with a slight edge for quality going to the Redding. These are general statements as manufacturing variations and anomalies do occur.
All of my pistol dies are Redding w/ carbide sizing rings. I have a couple of the newer generation Hornady dies that I like quite a bit; better than the previous generation where the decamping stem tended to move out of position easily. The RCBS dies that I like the most are the Competition series w/ the sliding sleeve and micrometer top. I've build some accurate rounds with those in the 22-250 Rem. Lastly, for my precision rifle stuff, I have Redding body dies and Wilson neck and seating dies that I use with the arbor press. I get the most enjoyment out of using these and prefer to do my load development at the range with this setup when possible.

Crimping:
I find myself getting away more and more from crimping these days, but on rifles that need a crimp, I do use the Lee factory crimp die and never use the roll crimp in the seating die.

Priming:
For precision stuff and majority of my handloads, I use the Sinclair hand priming tool. It is slow an tedious, but the feel is second to none. For bulk work and pistol stuff, I use the RCBS Auto Priming tool which I think has a very nice feel to it as well, albeit a hell of a lot faster. The hand held RCBS tool is very nice as well and you can prime many cases quickly.

Case prep:
I have found the Sinclair carbide primer pocket cutter to be great for first squaring pockets, but especially for cleaning pockets (if you so desire; I don't do this on pistol fodder or plinking rounds). Same goes with the Sinclair Flash Hole Deburring tool (Gen II)... I only do it with the precision stuff.

Case trimmer:
I used to enjoy the speed of the RCBS Trim Pro, but I never got around to replacing it. Now, I use the very precise, albeit slower, Wilson case trimmer. It is extremely precise and both repeatable and adjustable.

Scales:
The Ohaus/RCBS 10-10 scale is my absolute favorite beam scale. Additionally, I picked up a Hornady Auto-Charge recently to play with and I use the digital scale on that now too.

Calipers:
I replaced my good but flooded 6" calipers with the $19.99 set from Harbor Freight. No regrets in 5+ years!

Funnels:
To most, this will seem silly to mention, but I do like a caliber specific funnels. Satern makes nice ones.

Loading Blocks:
This seems minor as well, but a good fitting loading block is nice to have. I have started to make my own out of thick cutting boards made out of the white HDPE plastic. After cutting to size, I draw out a grid pattern, set the depth stop on the drill press, and go to town.

http://www.amazon.com/Density-...Length/dp/B000ILHWBG

That's about all I can think of for now. The only bit of advice I would give you is to try and buy the quality of equipment you hope to have some day. Nothing is worse than having to buy something twice.

Welcome to the obsession.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info......just what I need. Another obsession.

quote:

Thanks for the info......just what I need. Another obsession.

Awww you can't even imagine the Pandora's box which is about to be opened......

My name is Mike, I am a shooter and reloader, welcome to the group.....

We use an RCBS press
An RCBS digital powder scale
RCBS auto priming tool
Redding powder measures, both for rifle and pistol
Wilson case trimmer
RCBS case holders
Sinclair bits and pieces one needs, such primer pocket uniformers, cleaners, etc.

Most of our dies are either RCBS or Redding. We also have some from Lyman, Hornady, Foster and others.

They all work for the purpose they designed for.

quote:

Originally posted by Mke / Tx:

quote:

Thanks for the info......just what I need. Another obsession.

Awww you can't even imagine the Pandora's box which is about to be opened......

My name is Mike, I am a shooter and reloader, welcome to the group.....

Hi Mike,
I guess I'm on my way!
I do not own anything yet of reloading value.....but I have watched tons of you tube videos, made countless trips to home depot and have too many ideas in my head for a reloading bench.
Can I borrow your straight jacket?

99% RCBS..Been using RCBS for over 60 years, I have a scattering of other stuff...Most of it is good such as Redding dies, I think they are top notch and Wilson trimmers or Forester..