Author Topic: Finding New Rifle Loads  (Read 23042 times)

Offline stka

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Finding New Rifle Loads
« on: Jun 26, 2014, 01:42:51 PM »
I know there's a couple guys with a lot of reloading experience. Does anyone have a notable preference for any specific brand/style of press. Even though I've been reloading for a long time I really only stop by my uncles and load a batch every few years. Now I'm ready to set up my own press from scratch. I'll be starting out with 30-06 and 223's but will probably end up doing some handgun and other rifle calibers eventually. I'd like to hear some input from anyone with a fair amount of experience before making the investment.
« Last Edit: Aug 26, 2014, 10:31:17 AM by stka »

Offline monk

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #1 on: Jun 26, 2014, 03:30:07 PM »
I have a Dillon Square Deal 'B' for my .40 S&W, love it! Progressive reloader is the way to go with for handgun ammunition.

Rifle, I have had a RCBS Rock Chucker. I bought it used in the 80's, no problems.

Shotgun, Mec 600. I have had this loader since the 70's, no problems.

RCBS, Dillon, and Mec all are manufacturers of quality products IMHO.
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Offline Green Mountian Hunter

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #2 on: Jun 26, 2014, 05:31:02 PM »

    I go with Monk on the RCBS Rock Cracker had mine for 30 + years now and still working fine and all the goodies
    did replace the scale about 5 years ago , Shot gun have an old Lyman still ticking bought the stuff right out of
    high school in 1980


Offline TallywackahME

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #3 on: Jun 29, 2014, 07:32:35 AM »
I like the rcbs press the best. The lee case trimmer is  the finest I've used. IDE geta tumbler used some where's, till then just clean with oooo steel lol. I really like the rcbs case prep center. This is a HUGE time saver. IDE grab a five dollar tricker and a rcbs or cabelas digital scale.  A decent digital caliper is handy but the cheaper dial style work okay. My rifle loads are to  the tenth of a grain. It's tough to get that accuracy with a triple beam scale. And it DOES  make a difference.

Bench set it is essential too! Have fun and be careful

Offline stka

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #4 on: Jun 29, 2014, 09:04:20 AM »
Are you talking about the RCBS Rock Chucker? I was also trying to figure out if it was worth getting a turret or just sicking with the single stage. The progressive presses don't look like they'd give the precision I want for rifle rounds. It's been a few years since I loaded any of my 30-06 rounds, but I was using a trickler and I think I was getting tenth grain accuracy. I will get a good digital scale though, and I have good digital calipers already. It was essentially within 1-2 granules of powder. If I go single stage it would make it a bit cheaper to get everything I need.

Have you used a manual tumbler, is it even worth considering one? Or am I better off just using steel wool for the effort.

Offline monk

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #5 on: Jun 29, 2014, 11:40:28 AM »
For rifle I like the single stage press and trickle powder loads for each round. It slow things down, more deliberate and more accurate.

With handgun ammunition, things are more forgiving. But I like the Dillon Square Deal 'B', it slows things down a little. It makes you pay attention and helps you not get sloppy. That's why I like the Mec 600 and 700 too.
 MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! God Bless America!
"Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young."
Theodore Rooseve

Offline TallywackahME

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #6 on: Jun 29, 2014, 03:20:48 PM »
For cleaning brass IDE either get a elec tumbler, turn it on and forget it or just clean with steel wool. I do both. I tumble to clean for reloading the polish each round by hand once I'm finished.

Offline monk

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #7 on: Jun 29, 2014, 03:55:07 PM »
For cleaning brass IDE either get a elec tumbler, turn it on and forget it or just clean with steel wool. I do both. I tumble to clean for reloading the polish each round by hand once I'm finished.




X2

Electric tumbler is especially nice with handgun brass. ;)
 MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! God Bless America!
"Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young."
Theodore Rooseve

Offline myemmy

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #8 on: Jun 29, 2014, 07:23:22 PM »
Midway has a great sale going on now on reloading supplies.

Offline mauser98

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #9 on: Jul 12, 2014, 07:16:43 AM »
for my pistols i use a cheapie lee turret... they are clunky and will give ya some problems  but they do work  simple works best, adding on all the doo-dads just makes me growl......rcbs rock chucker for me too for my rifles....dillion rocks but not on my budget.

Offline stka

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #10 on: Aug 17, 2014, 08:58:19 AM »
So I finally got the majority of my supplies. Ended up with an RCBS rock chucker, RCBS charge master auto scale, Hornady case prep center, RCBS hand primer, Frankfort tumbler/seperator kit, also got a Lee quick lock set for the dies and split collar thread locks.

Offline stka

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #11 on: Aug 17, 2014, 08:59:41 AM »
I'll keep my eyes out for a quality triple beam, but for now the charge master will work for me with 0.1 grain accuracy.

Offline TallywackahME

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #12 on: Aug 17, 2014, 09:09:59 AM »
Unless you are shooting bench rest at 1000 yes the scale you have is just fine.

Offline Green Mountian Hunter

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #13 on: Aug 17, 2014, 09:23:26 AM »
You got a very nice set up Steve ....


Offline TallywackahME

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Re: Shopping for a Reloading Press
« Reply #14 on: Aug 17, 2014, 09:31:43 AM »
Post some pics of your work space! Show off the new toys lol

 


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