Re: Get me started! Reloading Gear. New Guy.
Many good opinions here. The best one I read was that you should consider your needs. Precision shooting with a bolt action, whether it be for punching paper or critters will require a bit more hands on type of equipment than a gas gun that you anticipate putting hundreds of rounds down range at a session.
A progressive press is almost a necessity if you plan on loading for 3-gun practice using an AR type rifle; it also comes in handy if you ever intend to reload handgun cartridges. (The Dillon 550 is a great press, just be sure that it will accomodate the caliber rifle rounds you wish to load.)
For precision rifle loads, I prefer more basic fare. I rarely load more than 50 rds at a sitting and it often takes me several hours to do so.
If long range precision is your game rather than "SHTF" rates of fire, consider the following equipment.
- A basic press, the RCBS Rockchucker has been around forever and continues to be the mainstay of a good many experienced reloaders bench. Used ones can be found on Ebay for cheap if a person keeps his eyes open. I keep two set up on my bench. (The co-ax is nice but I don't have one yet, too much money for a toy I don't really need.)
- A brass tumbler. I purchased the big blue one that Dillon sells about 15 years ago. It has literally cleaned tons of brass during that time and it is still going strong. I like the large capacity which saves me time.
- A scale. I personally stay away from electronic scales. First, I don't need one, second, I don't trust them and third, well, I just don't like them. Yeah, I know that there are one or two good ones out there. I have a pair of the better RCBS balance beam type and have never saw the need to change. I have changed out the agate bearings a time or two but RCBS will send them to you free if you ask.
- A brass trimmer. Yep, you'll need one of these asap. This is just about as important as your press so plan on getting a decent one. I use a Forster brand. Just make sure that whichever one you get is large enough to accomodate the largest/longest case you plan on reloading. Failure to make this distinction could cost you down the road. I know, I made this mistake and found out when I went to reload some 7mmSTW brass. (All brass, some new and certainly all used brass WILL need to be trimmed at some point. Don't fail to recognize the importance of keeping on top of the uniform OAL of your brass.)
Dies are an especially controversial subject when it comes to loading. I have and use all different brands, types and calibers. The price of reloading equipment has doubled and tripled over the years since I started. Were I to start over, I think I would begin by purchasing Redding brand, precision dies. They cost a bit more but they are about as good as it gets. Their precision seating dies would be a "must have" in my book. I have gotten away from neck sizing over the years. I still thing there is a place for it but I pretty much full length resize everything now and it works for me. Were I still into neck sizing, a person cannot beat the price or the quality of the Lee Collet die. I have used a bunch of them over the years and have always been impressed with the quality of the rounds produced while using them.
I guess my last suggestion would be to stay away from gimmicks. There are quite a few additional odds and ends you will need, a bullet puller, trays, boxes, runout guages, etc. Do your research, find out what others have had success with and go with it other than the newest whizbang gizmo that is going to crap out on you when you need it most.
Good luck and enjoy the process. It has been both theraputic and cost saving for me these last thirty years.
