Need a little help picking Reloading Tools!!

[Glen1978]

Hey guys fixin to try my hand at reloading for my .308. Ive read and read and read....LOL! Ive settled on the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master kit. It seems to be the best deal BUT does it have everything I need to load up good precision rounds? Ive got 500 never fired pull down/primed Lake City LR brass to start with. I plan to use the Forster Benchrest Ultra dies with the micrometer built in.

The main thing Im concerned with is case prep.....trim/chamfer/debur. I know the kit comes with a chamfer/debur "hand tool" but not sure on case trimming. I cant afford a Girbaud right now so thats out. What tools do you guys use for this step and why? Ive read that the LC LR brass is a pretty tough cookie to trim.

 

[maggitas]

Glen,

Since noone on her has chimed in as yet I will. Yes the RCBS Rock Chucker is an excellent kit. You will keep most of the items that come with the kit. The press, hand primer, and scale are all top notch. If you are worried about a trimmer and do not have a lot of cash to splurge check out the Possum Hollow trimmer. It attaches to a drill and will trim your brass. I think they are between 20-30 bucks. Do not sweat the case prep. It is time consuming but it is not rocket science. You should keep it simple to start off with and learn the verbage and language of reloading and before you know it you will become very proficient. Also you should purchase some kind of case tumbler. They will keep your brass nice and shiny and help keep your dies from getting too dirty. finally there are numerous resources out there to learn from. This site, 6mmbr, Sinclair International are just a few that provide valuable information to get you on your way. The reloading manual will spell out many of the procedures but a video may provide a little more clarification if you are having trouble with the description in the book. The important thing to keep in mind is to start your loads at minimum levels and work up. Keep it safe!!

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

hey, you may want to take a look at the Redding Group buy going on now. It would give you some other options - potentially save a few $$ also...

 

[Cstanm70]

Yep thats the kit I started on and it was a good choice. you may eventually graduate to a forster co-ax but almost all the other pieces you will keep.if your using military brass you may want a reamer to shave off the primer crimps

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

I think that must be common . I have a Rock Chucker right next to my Co-Ax .

 

[Pinecone]

If you have LC pulled and primed cases, you might want to look into a Redding S bushing die or similar to neck size the cases. I have a lot of those, and while some are OK on neck tension, many are not, so I am neck sizing all of them.

And they DO need to be chamfered. I got the Lyman VLD chamfer tool, it cuts a 22.5 degree angle instead of the 45 degree that most tools do.

Lyman Chamfer Tool VLD (Very Low Drag)

 

[Glen1978]

hey, you may want to take a look at the Redding Group buy going on now. It would give you some other options - potentially save a few $$ also...

I saw that but dont wana wait 3 months.

Yep thats the kit I started on and it was a good choice. you may eventually graduate to a forster co-ax but almost all the other pieces you will keep.if your using military brass you may want a reamer to shave off the primer crimps

Im using LC LR brass....no primer crimp.

If you have LC pulled and primed cases, you might want to look into a Redding S bushing die or similar to neck size the cases. I have a lot of those, and while some are OK on neck tension, many are not, so I am neck sizing all of them.

And they DO need to be chamfered. I got the Lyman VLD chamfer tool, it cuts a 22.5 degree angle instead of the 45 degree that most tools do.

Lyman Chamfer Tool VLD (Very Low Drag)

I plan to F/L size with Forester Ultra dies. Ive pretty much got everything else down as far as equipment and how I wana go about doing it.....at least till I actually get my hands on it. Mainly looking at the case prep like I said....trimming/chamfer/debur. Because I have read that the LC brass is a PITA to trim.

 

[Will Fennell]

To the OP,
If you are going to concentrate on loading .308( good idea) google the WFT trimmer....works great. Its a single cartridge type trimmer, but man is it fast. I primarily load 3 cartridges, and now have WFT's for all 3.

 

[Glen1978]

Funny you mentioned that. I was just looking at that. Im thinking that WFT trimmer or maybe the WFT 2 (for different calibers) paired up with the Lyman case prep station would be a pretty good buy and be sub $200 for it all. Im only 34 but have some arthritis in my hands and dont think turning a hand trimmer is gona work for me. I would like to find some kinda motor to mouth that WFT too and make it a little tool instead of trying to use a drill or something.

Pretty sure this is what Im gona go with. Might hand chamfer/debur the first batch since the Rock Chucker kit comes with those tools. Then buy the Lyman case prep next go around and can hit the primer pockers/chamfer/debur in style.