New Reloader Equipment

eastTN270

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Joined
Nov 18, 2005
Messages
911
Location
Greene
I'm going to take the plunge into reloading. I'm in the process of collecting brass and bullets and am ready to begin buying the equipment. I'm going to go with a single stage press. I'm not in the category of "money is no object", but I am a "buy once, cry once, do it right the first time" guy. What would your recommendations be for press, brass prep, brass cleaning, ect? I plan to load 223, 308, and 9mm. Thanks guys.
 

nso123

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Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
761
Location
Dunlap
An RCBS Rockchucker press will last you forever. For brass cleaning you will find a Ford vs Chevy debate. A vibratory tumbler will do the job, or you can wet tumble. In the current times your dies may have to be what you can get your hands on. Any of the major brands are fine.
 

philsanchez76

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Joined
Jul 6, 2019
Messages
1,937
Location
Middle TN
I have an old RCBS single. Basically bomb proof but slow. Various different. brands of dies, all seem to be pretty good. I'd say your biggest concern is finding daggum components. Especially primers.
 

backyardtndeer

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Joined
Jul 29, 2015
Messages
21,014
Location
West Tennessee
Good luck finding components. I have a hornady single stage. Been happy with it, and hornady has been very good with customer service when I have needed anything. I have a mix of rcbs and hornady dies, hornady is quick to respond, rcbs in my experience has not been. But don't think you could go wrong with either.
 

Gad Father

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Joined
Nov 27, 2016
Messages
127
Location
Lauderdale County
RCBS all the way. It might be slower, but the accuracy and consistency is top notch. Dies should not be a problem if RCBS does not have what you are looking for you can use about any other manufacturer.
 

trtr0611

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Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
143
I'll agree you can't go wrong with an RCBS rock chucker. That's where I would start. Not sure of your exact budget but you can spend as much money as you want on all the prep tools, powder thrower and cleaning tumbler. I would suggest an RCBS kit with a rock chucker press if you want to stay in a reasonable budget. Also get a good set of calipers. If you're interested in accuracy and not loading in bulk, I would also invest in a COL gauge with cases of each rifle cartridge you will be loading. As I said, it can get really costly when you start getting the extra stuff. Good luck!
 

Derek

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Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
96
Location
Rutherford County
I usually reload rifle cartridges on a single stage press, but pistol is all Dillon 500B.
It will spoil you. Having said that, a turret type press might be what I would consider in your situation.
There are several good ones. I just can't imagine reloading a lot of 9mm on a single stage press.
 

Omega

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Joined
Dec 16, 2018
Messages
7,486
Location
Clarksville, TN
I will break from the rest and recommend a Lee Turret press. It is great as a single stage press and can be used as a semi progressive if so desired. I have an RCBS RC, for when I need to swage any bullets, but have yet to use it for any reloading and in the end, it's just a single stage. I have been using a Lee since the mid 80's, though I upgraded to the new classic cast, but reverted it back into a 3-hole instead of replacing all my turrets. This kit gives you everything you need except dies and expendables. The items are not the best, but do the job and will get you into reloading quick. You can then upgrade items as you see the need, or keep using them for years as I did, because I normally didn't reload more than a couple hundred pistol and about 40 rifle at any one given time.
Classic Turret Press Kit

006-90304.jpg
 

utvolsfan77

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 7, 2014
Messages
921
Location
Greeneville, TN
I will break from the rest and recommend a Lee Turret press. It is great as a single stage press and can be used as a semi progressive if so desired. I have an RCBS RC, for when I need to swage any bullets, but have yet to use it for any reloading and in the end, it's just a single stage. I have been using a Lee since the mid 80's, though I upgraded to the new classic cast, but reverted it back into a 3-hole instead of replacing all my turrets. This kit gives you everything you need except dies and expendables. The items are not the best, but do the job and will get you into reloading quick. You can then upgrade items as you see the need, or keep using them for years as I did, because I normally didn't reload more than a couple hundred pistol and about 40 rifle at any one given time.
Classic Turret Press Kit

006-90304.jpg
I've used Lee equipment since the early 1970s and have honestly never had a problem with it. My main metallic cartridge press is the single stage Challenger anniversary kit, and I load more than 20 different calibers. About four years ago I wanted to speed the process up a bit so I bought a Lee four-hole turret press. Things happened, I got busy, but haven't even set it up yet. My intent was to keep all of my dies in separate turrets, and use the old single stage for depriming and other brass prep tasks.
 

DaveB

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Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Messages
16,808
Location
Shelby County
I have 3 Lee turret presses-This is because I like to use a turret for each caliber and in several instances, two turrets for two different rifles same caliber.

The single stage RCBS/Hornady/Lee/you name it are mostly alike. Too slow for me, too much setup.

My BIL takes his Forster coaxial press to bed with him. Serious. It is stored in his closet. Inside a custome made cedar box. YMMV

I would go with RCBS dies or just wait. Serious.

Build a component list: Here, to start -once fired Federal match brass for 308 and one for 9'.s



Tell John Dave sent ya.

Cannot find 30.06 brass. Focus on 308 and 9's while continuing to search for 06.

Primers
 

fairchaser

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Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
8,852
Location
TN, USA
As you can tell from all the comments, reloading equipment can vary a great deal. I've seen reloading rooms that have 6 figures worth of equipment. Everything is automated. For me it's been an evolutionary process and I've had several upgrades along the way. I started loading for hunting rifles and now I load for F Class competition. So, the equipment must follow and well as the number of steps involved. There's no one way to do it successfully, so have fun developing your own.
 

skipperbrown

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2021
Messages
361
Location
Birchwood
I'm going to take the plunge into reloading. I'm in the process of collecting brass and bullets and am ready to begin buying the equipment. I'm going to go with a single stage press. I'm not in the category of "money is no object", but I am a "buy once, cry once, do it right the first time" guy. What would your recommendations be for press, brass prep, brass cleaning, ect? I plan to load 223, 308, and 9mm. Thanks guys.
Midway has the rock chucker on sale with free shipping.
 

Cherokee

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2020
Messages
404
Location
McMinn Co.
RCBS Rockcrusher for me as well. I have never planned on being in "production mode" and I enjoy the slower pace.
The only thing I have upgraded on is the cleaning process. I started with a vibratory and later went to a wet tumbler. Cleaner, less fuss, and overall does a better job.
I would recommend this text: Metallic Cartridge Handloading: Pursuit of the Perfect Cartridge
 

gustaf

Active Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
34
Location
Tenn
I resize rifle cases with a Rockchucker. I seat bullets in rifle cartridges, and load pistol ammo with a vintage Lyman Spartan press. The reduced leverage of the Spartan or a press similar to it is an advantage because you can feel your way through seating bullets in rifle and pistol ammo.
 

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