ross Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 What's everyone's setup? I'm looking to start reloading over the winter months to allow me to shoot more often.I'm most likely looking to start out with a single stage press but would like something that can be upgraded in the future. Let's see some setups and hear some opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attentiongetter92 Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 What's everyone's setup? I'm looking to start reloading over the winter months to allow me to shoot more often.I'm most likely looking to start out with a single stage press but would like something that can be upgraded in the future. Let's see some setups and hear some opinions.My dad and I use an rcbs progressive press for "plinking" rounds(5.56, .45 , 9mm, etc) and we are getting a single stage for the accuracy type tack driver rounds (.308, 50bmg, etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross Posted November 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 My dad and I use an rcbs progressive press for "plinking" rounds(5.56, .45 , 9mm, etc) and we are getting a single stage for the accuracy type tack driver rounds (.308, 50bmg, etc)I'm leaning towards the RCBS turret press because of the turret and also being usable as a single stage. I like that the turret press has to option of adding a primer feed and powder feed directly onto it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vf1000ride Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 I started out on a Rcbs Junior single stage. It's a great machine to learn reloading on as there are less things to pay attention to on each stroke. It also makes for very nice accurate loads. I upgraded to a Lee progressive press last spring for the pistol stuff. Still use the Rcbs press for my rifle loading and load buildup for pistols as it is easier to set up and make small changes versus the progressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzer Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 I use an old Pacific tool (now Hornady) single stage press with rcbs dies for my .223 and .45 acp reloading. Lee makes a nice single stage press kit that comes with a lot of the basics, but some of the stuff included is pretty crappy quality. I use an rcbs 5-0-5 scale, redding powder trickler, and lyman case trimmer and have been very happy with all of those components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imprez55 Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 What are you planning on reloading? I have the Lee classic turret press with the pro autodisk. I would recommend staying away from kits for the most part because generally they include other things you don't need (to jack up the price) and lower quality additional parts. If you buy just what you need, you can usually get to the same price for the kit as the price break they give you is negated by the unnecessary extras. I searched for a long time for what press and what manufacturer I wanted and here is why I picked what I did:turret - I wanted to produce 2 different styles of rounds, long range accurate rifle and plinking pistol. For the pistol, quantity is everything because you can go through so many in a day and the progressive presses were just too expensive. Single stage would be best for the rifle, but I am not going to buy two presses (at least right now, I'm not even reloading rifle yet). The turret is the best of both worlds; like you said you can go to single stage if you want but it also increases the speed of production by a substantial amount.Lee - They are the best bang for your buck. They are very affordable, and if you know what you are getting, also very durable and well made. I would recommend to always spring the extra few $$ for the "classic" or "pro" versions as they are more heavy duty and better made. Dillon, RCBS and Hornady are usually much more expensive, sometimes justly and sometimes not. A single stage O frame is going to be pretty much the same anywhere, a little blue or green paint doesn't justify $100 or so more to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flounder Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 What are you planning on reloading? Lee - They are the best bang for your buck. They are very affordable, and if you know what you are getting, also very durable and well made. .This is the best question and overall best general statement depending on what you are looking to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross Posted November 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 ImprezI'm in the same boat as you. I'll be reloading .45 and .380 and whatever else I buy in the near future as far as pistols are concerned. I'm looking to shoot more often so reloading the .45 will help multiply the rounds I can go through for the same $$. I will also be reloading 7mm and .222 and even if I only save a couple bucks per 100 rounds on those two I would be happy with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beegreenstrings Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Mst sgt and I use a lee "o" press to work a load up, 1-10 rounds for testing and to set dies then we just bought a dillon progressive or " blue press" to run them out after we have tweaked them out to what we like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 I've heard that .40 is too expensive to reload, that the supplies are too expensive. Truth? Calling out the Mythbusters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beegreenstrings Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 I call b.s. Reloading is reloading? Technically u should not reload to save money anymore but to work a load that works best with your weaponJust my honest drunkest opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 I call b.s. Reloading is reloading? Technically u should not reload to save money anymore but to work a load that works best with your weaponJust my honest drunkest opinionI'm not sure your opinion is any good in your current drunken state! I'll review it tomorrow! Actually, shouldn't reloading help out with both cost and optimizing a load for your weapon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beegreenstrings Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 I used to reload to save money, but I don't really care anymore! I used to save big bucks but it is down to pennies amymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vf1000ride Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 I save about half on loading 40cal, we are just loading fmj but for plinking ammo it works just fine. 45ACP there is not as much savings, maybe only save 25 cents on the dollar for them. 357sig is the big winner, we load that for $9 per 50 when the same is selling for $30 at the gun store. I also load rare stuff, .303 brit, 7.65 Argentine, and my 30-06 ammo for the garands. Those three all cost roughly half to 1/4 of what new ammo runs for.Check out this website to see how long it will take to pay back the initial outlay of cash on the press and all your reloading supplies versus just buying factory ammo.http://10xshooters.com/calculators/Handgun_Reloading_Cost_Calculator.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 I have an rcbs single stage I do everything on. Later down the road ill get a progressive but for now its suits me. I reload. 233 .243 and will soon be doing pistol stuff as soon as I decide on what caliber I'm going with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flounder Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 If youre going to be doing any precision shooting with rifle reloads, I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest one of these. Made my life sooooo much better.RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Combo Scale/DispenserOr a slightly cheaper but still quality version. Hornady LnL Auto Powder Dispenser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flounder Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 I save about half on loading 40cal, we are just loading fmj but for plinking ammo it works just fine. 45ACP there is not as much savings, maybe only save 25 cents on the dollar for them. 357sig is the big winner, we load that for $9 per 50 when the same is selling for $30 at the gun store. I also load rare stuff, .303 brit, 7.65 Argentine, and my 30-06 ammo for the garands. Those three all cost roughly half to 1/4 of what new ammo runs for.Check out this website to see how long it will take to pay back the initial outlay of cash on the press and all your reloading supplies versus just buying factory ammo.http://10xshooters.com/calculators/Handgun_Reloading_Cost_Calculator.htmDamn that website. I put the same thing together with an Excel formulas which also took into account your cost in loading equipment and compares it to the cost of purchased preloaded ammo. For precision 308 for me, it worked out to right around 250-300 rounds since precision 308 cost about $27-30$ for a box of 20 at the time. And I go through 100 rounds each time out so 3 events and I covered my costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit12 Posted November 26, 2011 Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 If youre going to be doing any precision shooting with rifle reloads, I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest one of these. Made my life sooooo much better.RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Combo Scale/DispenserOr a slightly cheaper but still quality version. Hornady LnL Auto Powder Dispenser.Which do you use and is it OK with both stick and ball powders? Which type powder do you use in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flounder Posted November 26, 2011 Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 Which do you use and is it OK with both stick and ball powders? Which type powder do you use in it?I have the charge master but only because i was able to order it through a friends dealer account and there was a $50 mail in rebate at the time. These types of units dispense and measure by weight so they work perfect with any type of powder. The hornady just came out last year at SHOT show and the RCBS has been around for years. There are some vidoes of each on youtube and you can see how they dispense. Like I said, no problem with any type of powder and the RCBS will dispense up to 300 grains of powder in a single dump. Since these are electronic, they recommend not using them with black powder but most people use the pellets for muzzle loader now days anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit12 Posted November 26, 2011 Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 Thanks for the input, many years ago I picked up one of the RCBS electronic scale only and when you tried to trickle up to the desired weight you would go over half a grain before it settled.I'll head over to youtube to check out the vids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted November 26, 2011 Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 I'm looking for one now too. Flounder is a horrible influence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flounder Posted November 26, 2011 Report Share Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) I'm looking for one now too. Flounder is a horrible influence.True statement. If you want help reprogramming it to make it faster with less overthrows, let me know. Edited November 27, 2011 by flounder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambambam Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 If you are going to load both pistol and rifle,Dillion is the way to go.Go to Dillion Precision and check out the website.These guys wrote the book on reloading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vf1000ride Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 Dillon is certainly the best out there but the shit certainly caries the Ferrari style price tag also. I purchased a Lee Loadmaster 5 station progressive press. I can currently load 9mm, .357Sig, 40S&W, and 45acp. I was able to afford 4 calibers and everything you see in this first picture along with making the bench and buying the light for roughly the same as a low end Dillon progressive in just one caliber. Currently have about 3k rounds through the press and other than a couple initial problems chalked up to the learning curve I have no problems doing 200-300 rounds an hour.Here is a shot zoomed back so you can see the entire bench with my RCBS single stage on the end along with the scale, tumbler and other stuff.Then if you turn around, here are two shots of the supply shelves (please excuse the messy condition, it's organized chaos). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 Lol my room looks the same.shelves and shelves of empty brass lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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