The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Reloading Advice needed for my 1st releading setupGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I need to get into relaoding for my .450-400 NE double rifle. I would like to use the same set up for .308, .223, 9mm, and .45 ACP in the future but want to avoid ending up with a collection of reloading equipment. I do not do a lot of shooting so high throughput is not a real need. I got some good advice a while back in the double rifle forum but wanted input from this reloading forum as well. I will get the equipment from Cabelas because it will be free. I have $900 in Cabelas Club points to burn. So help me spend it. I like the idea of a turret press. Set it and forget it. Swap in a different dialed in turret for a different caliber. I do not mind at all weighing out charges. Cabelas has the Hornady Lock and Load Auto Progressive Press, the Lee Turret Press, the Lee Classic Turret Reloading Press, the Lee Loadmaster Progressive Press, the Lymann T-Mag II Turret Reloading Press, the RCBS Pro 2000 Auto Progressive Reloading Press, and the RCBS Turret Press. These appear to be my choices. Which one would you suggest or shoot down? They come as presses only or as kits. Your advice on press only vs. kits is appreciated as well. Thanks, Dave | ||
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Oh, and excuse the typo in the title. Reloading, not releading. I live in California and our politician a-holes have decided that we can not use lead to hunt with starting in 2014 so yea, I can't get a "releading" system.  | |||
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Rcbs supreme kit.. The Supreme will handle your long cases easily. Most others can't opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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My thoughts based on 19 years of reloading: There is enough play in a progressive press that it is difficult (though not impossible) to build highly accurate ammo for longer ranges. For rifle, I would suggest that you start with a good single stage press like the one Jeff suggests (Rock Chucker supreme). Another good press is the Lee classic cast press which I currently use for very long cartridges. The new RC supreme select kit at Cabelas looks to be an excellent choice. For pistol and short range (<300 yds) .223, look at a progressive. I have owned a Dillon 650 which I thought was too complicated and eventually sold. I now use a Hornady LNL AP progressive which seems to have a tight tolerance mechanism and for me is simpler to use than the Dillon was. I use the Lee auto disc powder measure on pistol rounds in my LNL press because the set up is faster when changing calibers. Cliff NRA Life Member CMP Distinguished Rifleman NRA Master, Short and Long Range | |||
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I will recommend the same set up as jeffeosso. You need to have a press that will handle the long NE cases. Buying the kit will give you several of the other things you will need to start loading. You can add to you can add to it later as you decide what works for you. I would have recommended a Dillon 550B but as a low volume loader you will be fine with the Rock Chucker supreme. I see you have a Verney-Carron .450-400 double rifle. That is a nice rifle and I bet it uses the 3 in case. If you have any other questions feel free to ask me. Bill Member DSC,DRSS,NRA,TSRA A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain There ought to be one day - just one – when there is open season on Congressmen. ~Will Rogers~ | |||
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With my 50+ years reloading experience I can tell you my match ammo loaded on my 550B will shoot as good or better than your match ammo. I can understand how the 650 can be complicated for some people. Bill Member DSC,DRSS,NRA,TSRA A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain There ought to be one day - just one – when there is open season on Congressmen. ~Will Rogers~ | |||
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With my 50+ years reloading experience I can tell you my match ammo loaded on my 550B will shoot as good or better than your match ammo. I can understand how the 650 can be complicated for some people. Bill[/QUOTE] Bill, If your 550 derived loads can hold X ring elevation at 1000 yards my hat is certainly off to you! As I said, I thought it was difficult, not impossible to load such rounds progressively. The biggest issues are using stick powders through any powder measure (as all long range shooters do) and maintaining consistent seating depth with the shell holder plate not fully loaded with cases. There is a reason that most long range shooters load on single stage presses. If you can overcome the two issues mentioned above, enough case preparation is required to largely negate the advantage of the progressive. Cliff NRA Life Member CMP Distinguished Rifleman NRA Master, Short and Long Range | |||
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Fo Fiddy NE Progressive vs. single stage debates will continue for ever. It is worthy to note all three respondents to your query recommend the same approach of starting with the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Kit. There are three of those kits with different equipment in each. I would suggest the one that includes an electronic scale. Cliff | |||
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As you have stated...turret presses are very handy. I use a Lee Classic Cast Iron turret press for everything. Just leave my common calibers in turrets all the time. This press will load a .450 #2 so I think long-enough for you. I commonly load for .22 Hornet and .500 NE on the same press...just seconds to switch. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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>>>Set it and forget it<<< You need to rethink your thought process. You do not want to reload without using your brain full time. It is not like putting gas in your car. As I see it you do not want to waste time on set up and you want everything simple. A turret press would allow that. I would avoid buying anything new when it is available for half price or less used. You can scrounge up all the best tools for cheap and then buy your components at retailers. If you are going to buy new pick the best deal with the best press. Do not buy a chumpy press because the deal is better. I have no idea how you are NOT going to wind up with a collection of reloading equipment. You need to understand that case prep is part of the process that requires other equipment and is not part of the loading sequence.
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I started with the rcbs clasic kit because I to was loading large cases. Find some dies and components and you will have every thing you will need. I've been temped to go progressive and load for pisle. I found some 9mm dies and a harber freight tumbler and loaded 2000 rounds in my spair time over 2 months. This will last me a year. I don't think unless you are in the high thousand rounds per year a progresive is not needed. | |||
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Thanks for all of the input. Not sure what I'm going to end up getting. Due to the low volumes that I expect to reload then maybe a single stage press makes sense. | |||
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If your loading low.....say 1k or less a year Go single stage ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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With the Nitro express loading requirement, I state again, Rcbs supreme reloading kit. It handle the big stuff easily... While you can get a turret that can, it will cost the same as a Hornady lnl Ap. Trust uncle Jeffe, this is the shortest, safest, and cheapest path to being happy. Don't buy used for your first gear opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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One of the most important things to add is plenty of light over whatever press you get, and I'd say a ridiculous amount of light to see everything very well. Initially, I skimped on my lights. Big mistake. Stay away from the curly bulbs as they can explode and often do. Sparks and mercury are then released into your room. Politics  I now actually visualize the powder in each brass as a step in my reloading before putting the bullet on top. As far as California goes, you have my sympathy. I wouldn't live there. It is a shame the politics have ruined such a lovely state. | |||
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Yes I agree with uncle Jeffe on this. I would by the Hornady 450-400 dies as they are much cheaper than the RCBS dies and just as good quality if not better. I will see uncle Jeffe in about 10 days if he is going to be in Dallas. Bill Member DSC,DRSS,NRA,TSRA A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain There ought to be one day - just one – when there is open season on Congressmen. ~Will Rogers~ | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Reloading Advice needed for my 1st releading setup
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