Precision reloading setup critique

[rjacobs]

I have my list together of what I want to order as soon as the press comes back in stock. I already have a Dillon 550b setup for like 10 or 12 calibers. I have found myself lately loading WAY more precision and using the damn thing as a single stage and hand trickling the damn powder, etc... so I decided to just bite the bullet, so to speak, and get setup for single stage precision reloading. Also the Dillon 550b is setup at my dads house which is about 45 minute drive away from me so its becoming a pain to drive all the way over there to reload. We have never really reloaded for precision except for the .308 and that is arguable that we are even getting good precision out of the damn thing. Everything we load for is volume so its a different mindset for me to move into precision.

Ok here is my list:
Forster Co-ax
RCBS Chargemaster
Thumblers Tumbler
Forster Ultra Micrometer .308 dies
Forster Ultra Micrometer .223 dies
Forster Ultra Micrometer 300blk dies(already have these)
Lee Autoprime hand primer tool: not set on the Lee Autoprime. I dont want to handle each individual primer so something like the Sinclair tool is out. I may just continue to use the Dillon 550b for primer seating as it does a dang good job, but I would like to have a hand primer on hand. Is the RCBS hand primer tool better at twice the price of the Lee?
Lee FCD's for each caliber(already have 300blk)-probably wont use these all the time, but they are cheap and I would like to have them on hand. Loading for both bolt and semi guns for each caliber.

That is the bulk of what I am going to get. Still need to come up with the odds and ends.

We have the Wilson case gauges for .223 and .308, but I am not sure how "precision" oriented they are OR if that really matters for setting a sizing die.

Also I think I want to move from OAL measurement to ogive measurement so I need a suggestion for this. I think I have seen the Hornady tool being recommended, but I dont know since I have no experience with them.

Also have to get a micrometer, probably snag a digital one. I have a Dillon dial now(at my dads house) and it seems to be good, might just snag another Dillon, but I might like to move to something digital.

Any reason to have a beam scale with the RCBS Chargemaster?

On the Dillon I have the RT1200 electric trimmer and I think I will just continue to use that since its not like you have to trim cases after every loading(at least i personally dont think you need to).

Anything else I am missing or that you all would get?

 

[former naval person]

Lee Autoprime is great. If you have arthritis, the Dillon will make up for that, or get the RCBS bench primer. Snag a set of Lee Collet dies and Forster Body dies for each caliber. I find I get much less runout for precision using the collet dies for most of the work and only bump the shoulder every three loadings for headspace, using the body dies. Get a beam scale to check the digital, and to have just in case the Chargemaster goes tits up for some electronic reason.

 

[rjacobs]

Ill have to do some more research on the collet dies and then the body dies separately. So far I havent had any complaints full length sizing all of my brass every time, but ive been loading for a semi auto .308 only. Cant you use a regular full length sizing die as a neck sizer only by screwing the die body out and the sizer ball insert down further? And then use it as a body size die only by removing the sizer ball assembly?

And good call on a beam scale, they arent expensive so I will snag one. Probably also grab a hand trickler like a Redding since I have read good things about them. Probably wont use either very much, but like you said, not a bad idea to have around just in case.

 

[former naval person]

No. By the time you resize enough of the neck you may have resized some of the base, stretching the case. Pulling the ball out can pull the neck off center. It does mine to a variable degree. That is why I went to the collet/body die setup. If you use the FL as a bump die with the ball out, the neck tension will be too great. Keep the bolt gun cases separate from the semi auto. You'll get greater case life that way. You probably need to do the full length shoulder bump trick each time with the semi just as you have been doing.

 

[capreppy]

I'll give my recommendation for the Hornady OAL and Case Gauge tools. They work well and are very reasonably priced.

I think you have the major pieces that I have.

Definitely keep the bolt and auto brass separate. You can neck size bolt but not auto and your bolt brass will last MUCH longer if your not constantly FL sizing.

 

[P7id10t]

Lee autoprime is a POS especially if you have a big hand.
Heard good things about sinclair Comparator. I have the Hornady and like it.
Digital caliper can be had for ~$20 (NAPA)
Didnt see head space gauge.
If chargemaster is back ordered, i have a Pact. Works great

 

[rjacobs]

Was just looking at the Sinclair comparators.

I have Wilson case gauges already that I can use to setup my size die.

I have read lots of good things about the Lee Autoprime. I dont have big hands. Like I said, I am open to suggestions there, I just dont want to handle each individual primer like a lot of the high end primer seaters require you to do.

 

[P7id10t]

I heard the old one with round primer tray was good. I had the new design (rectangular). It did not fir my hand, required lots of strength (good exercise actually) and 1-2 of 10 primers would not seat properly. Got a RCBS old style instead, tripled my speed and have zero primers not want to feed.

 

[Silverbullet2]

I have wore out several Lee Auto primes, and do most of my priming with a Sinclair. But the RCBS priming tool as a WAY better priming tool that the Lee. I also use the Hornady comparators. Nice tools for the money. The chargemaster is nice, but a mine throws +or- by a few tenths, so I have my beam scale to trickle up. I load medium volume of precision, and works for me. You have to go into it with the idea of finding what works for you. I also swear by Redding dies. For what it's worth, J

 

[haroldwilson]

I just went through this and got set up to hand load. Palmetto State had the Charge Master on sale for $289, I think. Looks like it is $300.00 now. It does still have a $50.00 rebate on it. I also got the plastic tray that has a built in funnel. I just zero it on the scale and dump the charge in it. It makes it easy to dump straight to the case.

I couldn't find a Coax in stock, so I got a Redding Big Boss 2. No regrets. Great press. I am priming on that press and don't find it objectionable. I am just starting to load and am doing load work up right now, so I am not producing much volume at this time. I wear a disposable rubber glove on my primer handling hand. May look at a hand priming tool when volume picks up if priming on the press becomes a problem.

If you are interested in info on calipers, there is a good write up on Long Island Indicator's website about the differences between different brands of calipers.

011 : Dial Calipers

I got the Hornady bullet comparator for measuring base to ogive. Buying the set might be good if you are going to load enough different calibers to use all the inserts that come with it. You can also buy the base and inserts separately if you don't need all those calibers. The base for the bullet comparator also works with the shoulder bump / head space comparator inserts. I bought one base, the bullet comparator inserts I needed and the shoulder bump / headspace inserts I needed instead of buying kits.

 

[opeagle]

Just use the priming set up on the top of the Co Ax. Works fine once you figure it out and your not going to break it like some of the hand primers.

 

[rjacobs]

21st century hand primer is nice and can be used with lee trays, if you choose the aluminum version.

DAMN, now THATS a hand primer I can get behind. Now the question is round or square tray, which are better? I heard the round trays are better, but the squares work better since primer trays are generally square. Is there even a difference in how the damn things function besides shape?

 

[M1Amen]

Add some stainless steel media to your Thumlers Tumbler. You won't regret it.

The Lee Classic Cast "O" press is also an excellent piece of equipment and might save you some coin. Lee told me the press makes 40 ft/lb for every 1 ft/lb on the handle. It's a great press, just skip the quick release option for the dies.

 

[rjacobs]

Got the Forster Coax ordered from Midway today. Also got a Forster Ultra Seating Die. They didnt have the 2 die set and if I get the full length sizer later its only a $10 difference between the two(95 if bought as a set, 105 if bought separate). IM still researching just neck sizing vs full length so I am ok with just getting the seater die for now.

So my plan of action is to size and prime a bunch of brass over on my Dillon 550b at my dads house and then I will load it over at my house. Will probably steal his powder trickler and scale for a bit. Got to buy these things in batches. I think next month will be the RCBS chargemaster.

 

[Twoboxer]

I've had trouble using small primers on the Hornady hand primer, a Lee hand primer, and the Lee Classic Turret on-press primer. Got an RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool and love it.

Excellent feel. Doesn't need any shellholders, so I'm never asking where I left that .223 shell holder last. NEVER get a jam at its ram when using small primers, so no primers ever get flipped while clearing a jam. When I want all the primers back in the tray, tilt and they slide back in without ever flipping over.

Only con is its a bit small for larger hands, so if that's your size you'll adjust your hold to fit it. Nits are the Lee trays flip primers a bit quicker, and the Hornady stands up by itself Would love the RCBS feed system using a Lee tray and a Hornady body.

Someone should make one like that