View Full Version : ok kit buyers, would you do it the same if you could redo
I'm about to buy the lee classic turret kit, 223 die, double disk, riser, digi scale. Let's say about 230.00.
I was wondering for the guys that bought a"kit" of you could have redo, would you just piece together your own kit from different manufacturers or whatever.
Ante up for a Dillon RL550b, Dillon accessories, and never look back. That's what I did and I can't imagine doing it differently. (Besides getting a 650 or a 1050 ;))
The first reloader I bought was a Lee progressive reloader for pistol ammunition. The best day that I owned it was the day I gave it away. I should have spent a little more money and purchased a Star, RCBS or Dillon reloader.
Maineshooter
01-15-14, 21:50
I don't know what is included in the kit you are buying, but if you are buying anything made by Lee go to FS Reloading. They have the lowest prices around that I have found. I picked up that same press for under a hundred bucks there. There are a bunch of Lee products that I have tried and I think are junk, but for the intended purpose that press actually works very well. It's an auto-indexing turret press, not a progressive. I think their progressives are crap. The press, riser, powder measure, double disc kit and dies are all you would need. Personally I haven't found an electronic scale that I trust. If you are only checking with charge weights with it, get a decent beam scale (even a used one). The Lee beam scale is a piece of junk, by the way, from my experience.
With all that being said, if you can afford Dillon stuff go for it - you can't lose. The first Dillon press I ever used was a Sqaure Deal B for pistol reloading and I fell in love with it. If you absolutely can't afford to get into a Dillon setup, the Classic Turret is really pretty damned good for the money.
Well damn, I trust what y'all say is true. I may just wait till tax time and get the dillon. I'll check some vids see how those operate. I know everything Dillon comes at a premium, but I'm a firm believe quality over quantity.
Btw, I thought the square B only does pistol? Why can't it do rifle, too short?
Well damn, I trust what y'all say is true. I may just wait till tax time and get the dillon. I'll check some vids see how those operate. I know everything Dillon comes at a premium, but I'm a firm believe quality over quantity.
Btw, I thought the square B only does pistol? Why can't it do rifle, too short?
You guessed it. The Square Deal B does not have enough room for rifle brass and an unseated bullet to fit.
I own one Square Deal B and a RL550. If I had to do it over again, I would have two Square Deal B reloaders set up for the calibers I shoot the most and single stage equipment to reload rifle ammunition.
I bought the RCBS Rock Chucker kit and it has served me well. If I was going to buy a new single stage press I would get a Forester Co-Ax press, not having to deal with switching shell holders in the press appeals to me. I later bought a case prep center to speed up the process of trimming, chamfering and cutting the primer crimp out of the cases.
If I was going to seriously get into reloading pistol ammunition a progressive or turret press would save a lot of time.
I pieced together my kit. Tons of research, trying to spend my money wisely. Buy once, cry once. I load 300blk on a Forster CoAx press and dies. Love it. I loaded 300 rounds today on a friend's Dillon 550. Absolutely fabulous. Single stage, Forster rocks. Progressive, Dillon can't be beat.
My Hornady AP. No "kit" available, but add a scale, dies, and some measuring gear and you are off and running.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/11199545663_e6ac02d65e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41385771@N03/11199545663/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/41385771@N03/11199545663/) by zweitakt250 (http://www.flickr.com/people/41385771@N03/), on Flickr
I have the RCBS Rock Chucker kit (Basic). There are three things in this kit that I chose in my research: the press itself, the hand priming tool, and the 5-0-5 scale. Having used various scales, I came to the conclusion that I would not be comfortable with any digital scale that was in my price range. I have found the hand priming tool to be very nice, and nothing needs to be said about the press besides "Rock Chucker". With these 3 items, their individual cost added up was more than I paid for the kit. The kit comes with sundry other goodies including the Uni-Flow powder measure, de-burring/chamfering tool, case lube, funnel, etc. In other words, I got everything I was looking for, plus ~$100 of extra stuff with no added cost.
No one can answer this question for someone else. Simply add up the cost of the items in the kit which you would otherwise buy, and decide if you are paying for things that you will not use. If you have never reloaded, then I encourage you to seek out someone who is local to you who is willing to show you around their setup and get a feel for some different designs before you spend money on something which you aren't comfortable with or that doesn't meet your requirements. This is what I did when I got started- I learned what I did not like, but I also learned what worked for me.
Reloading is fun, but addicting. In order to maintain the economical advantages of reloading, strive to make well-informed decisions and resist impulse buying.
My first press was an rcbs rockchucker and I pieced together my own set up. Last year I bought a dillon 550b. It's amazing, I can't tell you how much more I enjoy reloading now. Not that the rcbs is bad, it's a great press. The dillon is just much more efficient.
I love my dillon. Every time I use it to load I'm amazed at how well it is designed.
If you do it right buying the tools is a one time expense. Take the benefit of my and many other's experience, and get a dillon. I highly recommend the 550, but it's the only dillon I've used so other than features I can't tell you how it differs from the rest of their line.
I'd $394 for the basic a deal? Or are there other vendors I need to check out?
Which press are you talking about? I think all Dillon stuff is going to priced the same now matter where you look. You can buy from them directly but their shipping is a little high. The Brian Enos website also has Dillon stuff and so does a member here by the name of Chadbag.
I'd $394 for the basic a deal? Or are there other vendors I need to check out?
Graf has it for 394.00, Dillon has it for 460.00, but includes a die set.
I started with my dad's old Lyman single. Works great to this day. But after using a friends Dillon550...
Wish I would have known sooner.
black22rifle
01-17-14, 02:12
Look on ebay i bought an rcbs powder beam scale for $60 brand new. If i could do it over i would not have bought the lee classic turret press and would have gone straight to the loadmaster i have now. I originally bought into the whole "start on a single stage" that a lot of people recommend on the net although it is not as slow as one it still is a bit slow. It took me forever to churn out 300 rounds on that thing.
I bought my first kit when I bought my first firearm nearly 4 years ago.
It was a Lee 50th Anniversary Kit. It cost me $89.95 at the time.
It loaded plenty of ammo including a bunch of precision rifle rounds and it still is doing so.
I have since bought a Hornady LNL AP progressive with bullet and case feeders.
A Hornady LNL Single stage, RCBS Chargemaster, Dillon RT-1200, Giraud Annealer etc.
Obviously I've gone into reloading with both feet but for someone starting out who is not sure if he'll like reloading the Lee kit is perfect.
I use a Rockchucker, Chargmaster, and a Giraud trimmer. I really like this setup. I don't mind a single stage press but I HATED trimming and chamfering, and I like the accuracy of the Chargemaster.
My only regret is buying those cheap Lee dies. Don't scrimp on the dies. At the least get RCBS competition dies. I prefer Forster or Redding myself. Make sure your bullet sating die has a marked micrometer. It is a headache and time saver.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.