Loading Equipment

cuddlefish · March 4, 2014, 09:36 AM

Would someone be willing to share what equipment you are using for reloading? I want to upgrade, I do not do a high volume but I do need very consistent loads for competition. I would very much appreciate any help.

jwrowland77 · March 4, 2014, 09:37 AM

I use the Hornady classis LNL single stage for my .308 match loads.

I use a Hornady Auto Charge for powder. I figure .1gr over/under doesn't make much a difference when using 47gr of powder.

Shootest · March 4, 2014, 09:45 AM

RCBS Rockchucker, Lyman T-Mag II, RCBS Partner, Dillon XL 650, are all on my bench.

Jim243 · March 4, 2014, 10:58 AM

For rifle, I use a RCBS Rockchucker press and RCBS 1500 Loadmaster for powder.

Jim

old roper · March 4, 2014, 11:04 AM

Most match shooters would help new shooter if asked. I would go to a match and ask.

GWS · March 4, 2014, 11:11 AM

I've never shot a competitive meet in my 44 years of reloading.....but if I did I would add an RCBS Loadmaster 1500, first choice for the convenience and speed. That said any good scale and trickler will do the same thing.....I use an RCBS 10/10. Common denominator is my Rock Chucker press.

Guess this is a long way of saying, Jim's advice is as good as there is.

F. Guffey · March 4, 2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Would someone be willing to share what equipment you are using for reloading?

"willing to share" ? You are in Colorado, sharing equipment would be difficult with a distance of 800 miles between there and there, then here would be shipping.

Then there is sharing information as in make, model and brand with color thrown in.

Quote:

I would very much appreciate any help.

So I ask: What kind of help do you need? There is not much I do not have.

F. Guffey

mikld · March 4, 2014, 11:32 AM

"Willing to share" I'm sure means to tell/share info with him, about the equipment we are using to reload, not actually allow him to use our equipment...

I use a Lee turret press for 75% of my cartridges, a C-H cast iron "O" single stage, an older C-H aluminum "C" type single stage for priming and bullet sizing, a Lee handpress occasionally, and when I feel "retro" I have 5 Lee Loaders I use. I have a Smart Reloader "C" press that I keep in view, not used, to remind me to never buy Smart Reloader again...

cuddlefish · March 4, 2014, 12:14 PM

Thanks to all for your responses.

Nick_C_S · March 4, 2014, 12:31 PM

I bought my single stage RCBS press in 1984. It's the only press I've ever owned. And after hundreds of thousands of cycles, it still works perfectly. I know Dillon makes a great product; and probably Hornady too. But for me, I wouldn't consider any other brand.

flashhole · March 4, 2014, 01:36 PM

You can make very high quality consistent ammunition with any of the major manufacturers equipment. Most people think you have to spend a lot of money to get good quality ammo. Not true, you simply have to pay attention to detail. True, some tools (like specialty dies) make the job a bit easier but there is no substitute for paying attention to detail and learning the proper use of whatever you buy.

Roughedge · March 4, 2014, 04:41 PM

I have a rock chucker for rifle rounds and my carry handgun rounds. I have two Dillon 550's ,one small primer and one small primer for target rounds.

Rico567 · March 4, 2014, 04:59 PM

I've gone through a certain amount of equipment in 50 years, and some of it's gone, or I've moved on. Right now, I use a 40 year old Rock Chucker for most of my rifle reloading, a MEC Grabber that is about that old for 12 ga., and a Dillon XL 650 for .223 and all my pistol stuff. The Dillon is positive overkill for the amount I reload, but with the onset of arthritis, a progressive press is a blessing.

Axelwik · March 4, 2014, 11:52 PM

I really like my Redding T-7 turret press. I don't shoot enough to justify a progressive press, but the turret press speeds things up a bit - about twice the output of a single stage press.

The T-7 is a massive press; very solid, and produces consistent ammo.

For the two handgun calibers I shoot most, 45 and 38, each has it's own turret head set up with all the dies and a powder measure. Each round takes 10 or 15 seconds to make start to finish.

For rifle I use it as a single stage press, and for my big bore revolver ammo something in between.

March 4, 2014, 09:36 AM	#1
cuddlefish Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5	Loading Equipment Would someone be willing to share what equipment you are using for reloading? I want to upgrade, I do not do a high volume but I do need very consistent loads for competition. I would very much appreciate any help. __________________ Savage 110BA .300 WinMag, Savage 10BA .308

March 4, 2014, 09:37 AM	#2
jwrowland77 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2012 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 1,398	Loading Equipment I use the Hornady classis LNL single stage for my .308 match loads. I use a Hornady Auto Charge for powder. I figure .1gr over/under doesn't make much a difference when using 47gr of powder. Last edited by jwrowland77; March 4, 2014 at 09:45 AM.

March 4, 2014, 09:45 AM	#3
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	RCBS Rockchucker, Lyman T-Mag II, RCBS Partner, Dillon XL 650, are all on my bench. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

March 4, 2014, 10:58 AM	#4
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	For rifle, I use a RCBS Rockchucker press and RCBS 1500 Loadmaster for powder. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

March 4, 2014, 11:04 AM	#5
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	Most match shooters would help new shooter if asked. I would go to a match and ask. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

March 4, 2014, 11:11 AM	#6
GWS Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 688	I've never shot a competitive meet in my 44 years of reloading.....but if I did I would add an RCBS Loadmaster 1500, first choice for the convenience and speed. That said any good scale and trickler will do the same thing.....I use an RCBS 10/10. Common denominator is my Rock Chucker press. Guess this is a long way of saying, Jim's advice is as good as there is.

March 4, 2014, 11:32 AM	#8
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	"Willing to share" I'm sure means to tell/share info with him, about the equipment we are using to reload, not actually allow him to use our equipment... I use a Lee turret press for 75% of my cartridges, a C-H cast iron "O" single stage, an older C-H aluminum "C" type single stage for priming and bullet sizing, a Lee handpress occasionally, and when I feel "retro" I have 5 Lee Loaders I use. I have a Smart Reloader "C" press that I keep in view, not used, to remind me to never buy Smart Reloader again... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

March 4, 2014, 12:14 PM	#9
cuddlefish Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5	Thanks to all for your responses. __________________ Savage 110BA .300 WinMag, Savage 10BA .308

March 4, 2014, 12:31 PM	#10
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,524	I bought my single stage RCBS press in 1984. It's the only press I've ever owned. And after hundreds of thousands of cycles, it still works perfectly. I know Dillon makes a great product; and probably Hornady too. But for me, I wouldn't consider any other brand. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

March 4, 2014, 01:36 PM	#11
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	You can make very high quality consistent ammunition with any of the major manufacturers equipment. Most people think you have to spend a lot of money to get good quality ammo. Not true, you simply have to pay attention to detail. True, some tools (like specialty dies) make the job a bit easier but there is no substitute for paying attention to detail and learning the proper use of whatever you buy. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

March 4, 2014, 04:41 PM	#12
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	I have a rock chucker for rifle rounds and my carry handgun rounds. I have two Dillon 550's ,one small primer and one small primer for target rounds. __________________ The man that die's with the most stuff win's!

March 4, 2014, 04:59 PM	#13
Rico567 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Posts: 162	I've gone through a certain amount of equipment in 50 years, and some of it's gone, or I've moved on. Right now, I use a 40 year old Rock Chucker for most of my rifle reloading, a MEC Grabber that is about that old for 12 ga., and a Dillon XL 650 for .223 and all my pistol stuff. The Dillon is positive overkill for the amount I reload, but with the onset of arthritis, a progressive press is a blessing. __________________ "Dear reader, suppose you are a member of Congress. Now, further suppose you are an idiot. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

March 4, 2014, 11:52 PM	#14
Axelwik Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Location: Land of Enchantment Posts: 436	I really like my Redding T-7 turret press. I don't shoot enough to justify a progressive press, but the turret press speeds things up a bit - about twice the output of a single stage press. The T-7 is a massive press; very solid, and produces consistent ammo. For the two handgun calibers I shoot most, 45 and 38, each has it's own turret head set up with all the dies and a powder measure. Each round takes 10 or 15 seconds to make start to finish. For rifle I use it as a single stage press, and for my big bore revolver ammo something in between.