Have my want list made, please look it over.

[ksmith13]

I am new to reloading. Can y'all check my list and make recommendations.
Rock Chucker Press
Chargemaster Thrower with Scales
Frankfort Tumbler Kit
RCBS universal Hand Primer.
Possum Hollow 223 and 308 Trimmer
Possum Hollow Power Adapter
Possum Hollow Primer Pocket Uniformer
Wilson Chamfer and Deburring Tool
Dies for 223 and 308 (please recommend brand)
Universal Decapping Die (I plan to build a Wet tumbler and use SS media eventually so want to be able to deprime before I tumble)
I plan to eventually buy a bench top drill press but for now will use a corded or cordless hand drill for the case prep.
I know I will need misc items like loading blocks, powder funnels and such. Any recommendations on this stuff would be appreciated.

I have looked at the RCBS Supreme Deluxe Kit at Cabela's that would have the majority of the items listed and replace all the case prep stuff with RCBS. Any thoughts on just going that route would be appreciated. I would then just have to have Dies, and a tumbler to get started. I could add the power drive to the case trimmer to use a drill and eventually buy the motor that goes with it. I have digital calipers. I also plan on ordering the ABC's of reloading and at least one or maybe two manuals.

Sorry this is long but I am going crazy looking at all the different options and had thought about going with a Dillon 550 but decided I want to start with a single stage.

 

[X-fan]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

What rifles and types of shooting are you doing?
Gas gun, bolt action, hunting, competition, varmints?
Helps to know what your intended usage is.
Seems like you have a good foundation selected there.

The Lee hand primer is better than the RCBS any day...One of the best IMHO...I own the best out there and still use my lee hand primer. I gave my hand prime to a buddy starting out and I feel like I ripped him off ever time we load at his place....

Starting out I would save a much as possible and put it into bullets, brass, and powder.

Clean the brass with 4-0 steel wool until you are sure you need a media cleaner...Takes seconds per case and works just fine. I still do that on my low volume precision stuff. A couple of hundred clean up in 15-20 minutes. You also get he bonus of hand inspecting each case...A good thing for a guy learning the ropes.

Dies don't mater unless you can shoot 1/2 groups or much better on demand...Most guys buy Redding because they are the "best", not because of any accuracy difference they can actually see or prove. When you can see the difference it gets measured in tenths of an inch..if not smaller.

Come back to this after 10,000 rounds is my advice.
You will know what die set you want (and why you want it) by then as well.

Lots of fancy things out there to suck you out of your hard earned pocket cash...It all looks cool, but most do nothing for real world accuracy....Zero.
The only thing that makes you better is bullets down range and practice....Spend your money accordingly.

Good luck!

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

Single stage is a good place to start, most guys with progressive presses still keep a single stage around.

I like your list, if you have the cash, go for the Gold.
Most of us, including x-fan has spent a fortune upgrading to what we use today.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

The kit you are looking at on Cabela's is similar to the kit I started with, except I got a 505 and Uniflow with stand. The Case Prep Center and DVD are new to the kit also, mine had the neck brushes and deburring tool.

The press is still mounted on my bench and I use the scale to verify the digital and work up loads. Some of the hand tools are still in use 15 years later too. I haven't used the Lee priming tool, I have the model before the Universal came out. I've heard pereferences for the case holder models.

I'd see if some one else has the same kit for less but I think that kit would be a great investment.

 

[Skg_Mre_Lght]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

I prefer the case holder model RCBS priming tools, over the Universal one. I used the Universal for a few weeks, and paid it forward to a friend.

The RCBS priming tools are superior to the Lee tools.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ksmith13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am new to reloading. Can y'all check my list and make recommendations.
Rock Chucker Press
Chargemaster Thrower with Scales
Frankfort Tumbler Kit
RCBS universal Hand Primer.
Possum Hollow 223 and 308 Trimmer
Possum Hollow Power Adapter
Possum Hollow Primer Pocket Uniformer
Wilson Chamfer and Deburring Tool
Dies for 223 and 308 (please recommend brand)
Universal Decapping Die (I plan to build a Wet tumbler and use SS media eventually so want to be able to deprime before I tumble)
I plan to eventually buy a bench top drill press but for now will use a corded or cordless hand drill for the case prep.
I know I will need misc items like loading blocks, powder funnels and such. Any recommendations on this stuff would be appreciated.


</div></div>

You're list is kind of a mess. You're starting out with the same things everybody does but later replaces so you might as well save the money and do it right the first time.

Get the
-RCBS Chargemaster 1500
-Skip the tumbler and just save up for your stainless set up.
-RCBS hand primer is a piece of shit! Get the Lee one.
-Save the headache and just get the RCBS trimmer with the three-way attachments for each caliber and forget all the possum hallow/drill-press/deburring/chamfer stuff.
-Get whatever dies you want. I use competition dies but any type/brand will work just fine.
-I've NEVER had to uniform primer pockets.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

Everybody needs a balance beam scale.

 

[steve123]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

IMO don't waist your time uniforming primer pockets. Get a flash hole deburring tool instead. http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=34127/Product/Gen-II-Universal-FlashHole-Deburring-Tool.

Here' a few things I like.

Forster Coax press.

Forster bushing bump dies.

+1 on the Lee auto prime.

Imperial die wax.

Imperial case neck dry lube applicator.

Saturn caliber specif funnels. Sits on the neck so you don't have to hold it.

http://www.larrywillis.com/ The headspace gauge is a excellent tool.

You might want to invest in a Kinetic bullet puller and a stuck case extraction tool also.

 

[fish30114]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

I'll disagree with those who prefer the Lee auto prime, I prefer the RCBS universal by a mile. Gave the auto Prime away--with the Specific case holders it REQUIRES. I would recommend Forster dies--I think they are superior to Redding--their bullet seater die is great. +1 on the Satern Powder funnels--they are caliber sopecific...I'd get a primer pocket uniformer and square up my brass after I sized it.

 

[ksmith13]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: X-fan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What rifles and types of shooting are you doing?
Gas gun, bolt action, hunting, competition, varmints?
Helps to know what your intended usage is.
Seems like you have a good foundation selected there.

(Snip)

Good luck!
</div></div>

I have a 700 308 that thus far i have shot out to 600yds,hitting consistently a 12" steel plate using FGMM. I would like to get to 1000yds and maybe shoot some competitions if I can get where I feel comfortable. I also have a CMMG SASS 308 and a CMMG bull barrel 223 that I would like to reload for both Precision and plinking rounds. I may also reload some 9mm as I already have lots of brass saved. But I am the most concerned with the precision and plinking 308 and 223. I would like to be able to load 100-200 rounds at a time and stockpile them. Hope this gives you some insight into what my plans are.

 

[X-fan]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

Sounds like your barking at the right tree.

I missed the powder thrower..save the money for later...just use scoops and trickle up to weight.
A 505 or something cheap to start..Sell it to a buddy if you go digital.

The 9mm really wants a progressive if you shoot a lot, but if you can wait I would out until later.

Like I said the RCBS was free to my buddy and I feel bad about giving it to him!
Fish must be on crack!

Sorry fish!

 

[rusty815]

Re: Have my want list made, please look it over.

The best alternative would be a turret press, you can use it with manual index like a single stage press, and auto index to speed things up for pistol loading. Also if you get a turret press, get a cheaper single stage press like the lee reloader press, I use it simply to decap, so long as you don't make it multitask, it works great for the task.

I agree with everyone else, ditch the possum hollow trimmer for something like the lyman universal trimmer (I recommend the one with the carbide head), ditch the RCBS primer for the Lee, and ditch the frankford arsenal kit and get a rotary tumbler or ultrasonic cleaner. I didn't see any lube on the list, I use hornady unique, a lot of people swear by imperial wax.

Also, I didn't see any mention of reloading manuals. You're going to need as many as you can get your hands on, I have the Lyman 49th edition and Lee 2nd edition revised, both are great to start with, most manufacturers of reloading equipment make a manual so just go out and buy some.