Hi,

I would like to start reloading for my 7x57 and 308 and was wondering what is best kit to start out with.Thanks Bruce

Which kit is "best" is relative to your needs. Fact is, they are all fine but NONE are totally complete.

We need to know what other cartridge(s) you might expect to reload for, and in what volume for all of them. Large volumes need one type, low volumes benefit from other choices. Will you be using the ammo for hunting or casual or serious target shooting/competition? Without more info all we can possibly do is tell you what WE might like best and our needs may not even come close to yours. I've noticed that people who have the least experience with brands or tools other than their favorites are the ones most adament that their's is the only choice!

Personally, I don't care for KITS from anyone. They are okay but no brand has a lock on the "best" tools across the board. But no kit gives you any options for the better choices, everything in it will be the same color.

The first, and surely the most important, reloading "tool" you need to buy is a loading manual. Both the Lee and Lyman manuals have well written and well illustrated beginner info as well as a LOT of good loading data. Get one of those, read it well and THEN ask more specific questions, okay?

RCBS Rockchucker kit is a good place to start.

quote:

Originally posted by Juggernaut76:
RCBS Rockchucker kit is a good place to start.

+1

quote:

Personally, I don't care for KITS from anyone. They are okay but no brand has a lock on the "best" tools across the board. But no kit gives you any options for the better choices, everything in it will be the same color.

Kits don't even offer the best tools from that manufacturer. For example, all of the RBCS kits come with the older pre-univerasal hand primer and their pre-QC Uniflow PM. Redding sells kits around their Boss and Big Boss presses, but not their Ultramag or BB II, and none of their kits include a priming tool. Forster does not offer kits at all. Lee does not offer a kit based on their Classic Cast press.

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by southpost:
Hi,

I would like to start reloading for my 7x57 and 308 and was wondering what is best kit to start out with.Thanks Bruce

Most kits will get you started but if you can get to a few gun shows and start looking at what's available, new and used, you can put together a nice collection of gear.Try to have someone with you that is knowledgeable in reloading.Jmho. roger

I think the kit route often is a barrier to entry into reloading. The newbie is often interested interested in reloading for purely economic reasons and coughing up the money in one big chunk can be difficult to do especially when it represents the cost of another decent firearm.
If you can reasonably identify the component pieces and have enough patience to find most of them on the used market the out lay can be taken in small chunks. About the only thing to be wary of used is the powder scale.
I equipped one of my brothers this way. About 15 years after he first started he finally bought a new item - a bullet puller.

Use the Search function. It will get you every opinion ever offered.

Thanks everyone for their answers.Sounds like the best way to go is buy the press,then add all the other bits of kit.The reloading for 7x57 is for hunting and for 308 plinking.

quote:

Originally posted by southpost:
Thanks everyone for their answers.Sounds like the best way to go is buy the press,then add all the other bits of kit.The reloading for 7x57 is for hunting and for 308 plinking.

No! Unless you have someone to guide you through the selection process or you are willing to do a bunch of reading, trying to get all the tools together is a bad idea.

There is a reason every manufacturer offers a kit. For a new reloader this is the best option.

A quality kit like the RCBS Rockchucker will get you started reloading in no time. You can add or replace tools as you see fit. RCBS stuff has good resale value, so when you find that their hand-priming tool is a PITA you can sell it in the classifieds for $35 and upgrade to the $12 lee hand priming tool.

BTW, I started with the Rockchucker kit and found it to be "good". The problem is that the items that come in the kits are not the best and yet they are not bad enough to warrant replacing(priming tool excepted).

I have often thought that if I had it to do over I might get the Lee kit that I see on sale for $75. The Lee kit will get you started, and the parts in that kit are "light-duty" enough to warrant replacement. The great thing about that is that after reloading for a while you will get a feel for what you like and you can then make informed decisions as you upgrade.

You can then keep the Lee kit as a spare, or you can give it away to your cousin/friend who is interested in reloading but not ready to take the plunge.

Once you get hooked on reloading you will want to get your shooting buddies hooked also.

Jason

The logic of a kit is inescapable: an economical way to get you started with sufficient tools to get the job done. None of these tools are likely to be best in class, but sufficient. If you decide that reloading is not for you, your investment is low and mostly recoupable.

I personally usually avoid kits/starter versions of anything. As a personality trait, whatever the instance, I tend to go into new things whole hog, and I despise mediocre tools. This personality trait (defect) tends to be expensive, but not as expensive as buying kits/starter versions, and then quickly replacing them with upgrades. Cry once, as the saying goes.

A few years ago, ignoring my own advice, I started with an RCBS kit. I sold 90% of that kit within 6 months; I wanted an electric scale and powder dispenser, I found out that I hated rolling lube on cases, etc. etc.

-nosualc

quote:

BTW, I started with the Rockchucker kit and found it to be "good". The problem is that the items that come in the kits are not the best and yet they are not bad enough to warrant replacing(priming tool excepted).

I have often thought that if I had it to do over I might get the Lee kit that I see on sale for $75. The Lee kit will get you started, and the parts in that kit are "light-duty" enough to warrant replacement. The great thing about that is that after reloading for a while you will get a feel for what you like and you can then make informed decisions as you upgrade.

You can then keep the Lee kit as a spare, or you can give it away to your cousin/friend who is intrested in reloading but not ready to take the plunge.

Mr. Southpost, there's a lot of wisdom in all that.

There is no single stage press today, at any price, that is any better than the Lee Classic Cast and some aren't as good. Including my old Rock Chucker.

And Lee's Classic turret with it's "auto index" feature is the only rational choice for that type press. (IMHO.)

Lee's "Perfect" powder measure works better than any other with stick powders, works with ball powders too if it's set up and adjusted correctly. Redding's 3 BR is also great as a more conventional - and expensive - measure.

Discounting external appearances and a few mostly trivial user features, all common dies (ie, other than the Redding or Forster BR/Comp sets) are, on average, equal in the quality of ammo they produce.

Digital scales & powder dumpsters are expensive but largely pointless gimmicks. A beam scale from RCBS or Redding is a better, more reliable choice. (IMHO. YMMV.)

It rarely gets mentioned but perhaps the most critical "tool" for reloading is a large, strong, proper height bench with lots of lighting. And a LOT of storage shelves, etc.

i got the rock chucker supreme kit it is a decent kit but as you start and read you will probably want more and more accuracy so i wouldnt worry much about a kit if i had it to do over i would get the same press and benchrest dies dont skimp on the dies i did and ended up buying the benchrest dies as soon as i check case and bullet run out

The RCBS kit is an excellent start. I have both the hand priming unit from the kit and a univeral hand primer that I bought separately, I prefer the one that came in my kit. I still use the press, the uniflow measure, the beam scale, the deburring tools, the loading block,.... basically I use everything from my kit still. You will only need to purchase components, a set of calipers and a set of dies/shell holder to start loading. As you progress you will need to purchase a case trimmer and other odds and ends but the items that came in your kit will still be uses. RCBS tools are excellent quality and their customer service is second to none.

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Originally posted by DIXIEDOG:
The RCBS kit is an excellent start. I have both the hand priming unit from the kit and a univeral hand primer that I bought separately, I prefer the one that came in my kit. I still use the press, the uniflow measure, the beam scale, the deburring tools, the loading block,.... basically I use everything from my kit still. You will only need to purchase components, a set of calipers and a set of dies/shell holder to start loading. As you progress you will need to purchase a case trimmer and other odds and ends but the items that came in your kit will still be uses. RCBS tools are excellent quality and their customer service is second to none.

their customer service is the best i have ever seen

The absolute minimum to get started would be the Lee classic kit. The first thing that I would recommend replacing would be the scale. As you gain experience you'll see what works for you and what doesn't. The Lee case gauge and trimmers are inexpensive and work well. Dies all do about the same thing so that is pretty much a wash, while Lee dies are not as pretty they do get the job done at a value price. A tumbler is not really necessary but you do want to ensure that your cases are clean.

You won't find anything cheaper than Lee. They have the low-cost market covered. Don't buy until you've looked.

Your best kit is built around a Forster or Redding press and an RCBS ChargeMaster Combo. Pick your priming tool (Lee or RCBS) and your trimmer (Wilson or Girraud), and some other stuff out of the Sinclair catalogue, and you're ready to hand load. You can substitute an Ohaus or Redding scale and a Redding trickler for the Combo, along with a set of Lee scoops, but that's just delaying the inevitable.

someone will kill me for suggesting this....But I got started with Lee loader. 25.00 for each caliber and a block of wood and hammer was all that was needed in the equipment department. Sure I was only able to reload a few dozen cartridges in a few hours, but I learned alot....
you may try this approach...Pays for itself against the price of factory loads in just two or threee evenings. Any primer, powder and bullets you buy can be used in a real press later.

I just did this for the wife of a friend. She wanted to surprise him on his birthday. Saved a little money and I believe he got better tools than what he would have gotten with a kit.
RCBS Rockchucker press
RCBS 505 scale
Lee Hand primer tool + shellholders
2 sets Lee dies (comes w/ shellholder)
Lyman #55 powder measure
MTM loading tray
MTM powder funnel
Almost as much fun as helping her order the "kit" was helping him set it up and turn out his first batch of 30-06. A "coach" helps a "newbie" get over the jitters and gain the confidence necessary to turn our good reloads.

After you read your book(s) cover to cover, you need to at least look at a Lee Loader. Spread the frugal parts out on the counter and know that's all you really NEED to reload a cartridge. Everything else is whistles and bells. So when someone tells you you cannot possibly reload without the most exspensive set of german calipers on the market, just smile and keep on walking. If you do not have a mentor, a kit is the way to go, but, as posted, most kits contain some of the good stuff and some of the junque. If you buy one of the high dollar kits to start out with, it's harder to turn loose of the junque and get something that works better. I don't use much Lee stuff (although I swear by the Lee autoprime) but I've read in here about too many guys that are totally satisfied with the start they got with theirs to not believe they're pretty good.

quote:

I got started with Lee loader.

Me, too, way back in 1983 when I bought a used Colt SP-1. It made shooting cost about half as much, and I was hooked...

I may have dumped on RCBS in my earlier post, but I will say that they have the best customer service I have ever seen from any manufacturer.

I a few years ago I purchased a used rifle. When the rifle arrived there was a set of RCBS dies that the seller had never mentioned. The sizer die was missing the stem.

I called RCBS and asked explained that I had received a free set of dies with a rifle and that I needed to purchase a replacement stem for the sizer die. The guy at RCBS took my address and said that he would mail a replacement out to me. He didn't ask for payment.


I figured that there would be an invoice with the part. I began to worry that RCBS would charge me more for the stem and shipping than the cost for a new die set.

Well the stem arrived the next day with an invoice that read "no charge."

They did not even charge me for shipping!!!

IMHO the RCBS Rockchucker Combo kit is the best way to get started in reloading.

I've worked with a few different people that have gotten started that way and all were quite successfull and all were satisfied with the RCBS kit.

Shop around and you can sometimes find a better price on it.

There are more expensive and cheaper ways to go, also more complex and confusing ones. The RCBS kit is just a solid all around choice, you can add more stuff to it later. Buy one and I think you'll be glad you did...................DJ

I started reloading in the late 1960's with the old Lee Classic loader and moved up to a RCBS JR press.I never went to a turret or progressive because I love to reload and don't require a huge volume.
All the manufacture's presses will work.I'm not fond of the ones with aluminum frames.I personally prefer presses without quick change inserts or turrets because I don't care for the play or slack that goes with them.They DO work and quite well,I just don't care for them.
I now use a RCBS Rockchucker II press,Uniflo powder measure, Lyman O'Haus scale and a LEE Load All II shotgun press.I have an old Herters case trimmer(same as Forster original) but have went to the Lee case trimmers.I've had great experience with RCBS service and their guarantee that's good even for equipment you buy second hand.Some of the others also have that guarantee.
I have dies by Lee,Lyman,RCBS,and Redding.They all work fine.I prefer a balance beam scale.Again that's a personal thing.Digital scales probably work fine.You can compare prices and quality before you buy.Just remember,some bargains may not be a bargan in the end.Quality does count to a degree.
The advice on getting the reloading manuals was good advise.Get two or three good ones to start.I have three,Hornady,Speer,Sierra and Lee.Lyman also makes a good one.
I'm also not a big fan of kits.I prefer to get the individual items I prefer.Lee does have some kits that are good for getting you started.Some of the kit items are not the best quality,but don't cost much and WILL WORK. Just look everything ver and pick what suits YOUR needs.Get set up and enjoy your new hobby (addiction).

Would anybody here say not to buy the Hornady LNL kit.

Go buy a Lee Aniversary Kit and read, read, read. Then go up from there.

quote:

Originally posted by GrosVentreGeorge:
Would anybody here say not to buy the Hornady LNL kit.

If the LnL press, aluminum, is your preferred choice, AND
if the scale is your preferred choice, AND
if the priming tool is your preferred choice, AND
if the powder measure is actually needed and is your preferred choice, AND
if you believe it is a good price for what you are buying, THEN
it is exactly what you should get.

Otherwise, I don't recommend kits.

As I understand your position, you have a press, a collection of shell holders, and a mentor. You should delay buying any equipment until you better understand reloading. The major decision facing you regards your powder dispensing/measuring facility. Your needs are determined by the type of shooting and the exactness of the rifles you are loading for. If precision enters into the picture or you are dealing with stick powders, you are looking at a powder facility beyond the capability of a mechanical measure. The exception to this argument is loading for short-range benchrest calibers that can be accommodated with easily-metered powders. Otherwise, each load must be weighed. The practical solution these days is an RCBS ChargeMaster Combo. The economical substitute is a beam scale, Lee dippers, and a trickler (Redding makes the best one). Good beam scales are made by Ohaus (Dillon, RCBS 502, 505 and 10-10) and Redding. Other tools needed are a trimmer and priming tool. While learning the loading regimen, equipment available, and your needs, you will be building a process. As your knowledge and experience accumulate, you can assemble a set of tools to meet your needs. Loading volume will also influence your needs. Buy each piece of equipment as needed and according to the requirements of your process. Don't be in a hurry. You have a press and don't need to replace it immediately unless it proves to be a limitation. Don't buy anything unless you understand why your process requires it.

You need to do a lot of reading. Loading manuals are your friends; they all have instructional sections. Speer, Hornady and Lyman are all good. When you have absorbed Glen Zediker's Handloading for Competition you will know fully well what equipment you should be looking at (not necessarily based on Zediker's recommendations). A Sinclair catalog will give you an idea of what equipment is available, especially in accessories and specialty equipment.

Last press I purchased was the Hornady LNL. My only negative about the press is that it generates more quality ammo than I can shoot. I routinely do 500-700 in a night without breaking a sweat.
I did the math and with the LNL rebate in bullets The entire press only cost me about the same as RCBS press.
Did I say I love the press?

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Originally posted by graybird:

quote:

Originally posted by Juggernaut76:
RCBS Rockchucker kit is a good place to start.

+1

:vomit: