Best way to spend $300 on reloading equipment.

98 220 swift · February 18, 2016, 10:01 PM

I have a extra $300 looking to spend on reloading equipment. I have a lee single stage press that I have been using for 10 years with no problems. I have been reloading for about 15 years on about 20 different calibers and have loaded probably over 10000 rounds in that time. I have a electric pact scale that doesn't work the best and I usually back it up with the lee balance beam that came with the kit. I use the lee powder measure that came in the kit for pistol and some rifle calibers. It works quite well with most powders.

My question is what be the best way to spend the $300 on equipment. I was thinking about either a lee turret press or a Lyman gen 5 dispenser and scale. Try to speed up the process alittle. Any suggestions on these 2 or suggestions for something else?

shootniron · February 18, 2016, 10:03 PM

Lee Classic Turret kit would probably be good...lot of people like them.

1stmar · February 18, 2016, 10:13 PM

One of the best investments I ever made was an auto powder dispenser. I have a Hornady which you can sometimes find for $170. Next, if you load a lot of rifle, is a power case trimmer, I like the cts trimmers.

lebyrn2 · February 18, 2016, 10:17 PM

I love my Lyman gen 6!

Sevens · February 18, 2016, 10:42 PM

I haven't done all the math but a quick guess tells me that my "semi-progressive" setup cost me under $300 to implement and it allows me to produce 15-20k loaded rounds annually -- across a dozen calibers, and (most importantly) built to -MY- personal standards.

Only works for handgun ammo...
But I bought a Lee Pro-1000 and I use it exclusively as a brass prep machine. I do not have any interest in letting it handle powder for me.

For me and my pistol brass, it:
--sizes
--deprimes
--primes
--flares case mouth
...and though it may not sound like a huge advantage, it truly is, but it auto advances and auto ejects. Minimizing small finger work in handling brass in to & out of a shell holder ends up being a LARGE payoff.

There is a cost for the press and you spend a bit more on turrets and shell plates. Having multiple shell plate carriers is a luxury that really ramps up the cost, but also makes caliber swaps far quicker and easier.

My semi-progressive method is absolutely not for everyone but I'm more than four years in to this system now and it has been the closest thing to "genius!" that I am likely to come up with.

Cheapshooter · February 18, 2016, 10:43 PM

Lee Classic Turret Kit, and have a few $$$ left over for bulletin s, primers, and maybe a fan of powder.

kilimanjaro · February 18, 2016, 10:59 PM

A reliable digital scale might be good. The Dillon works well.

surveyor · February 19, 2016, 04:27 PM

Toss up,
If you load more rifle, and the powder weighing/ throwing is a slowdown, the scale/powder dispenser.

If you load more pistol, the classic cast turret, as you can pull the handle 4 times and have a loaded round.

If trimming is laborious, a power trimmer is a time saving tool.

If chamfer/debur/primer and neck cleaning, and crimp removal on military cases is laborious
A motorized case prep center is a time saving tool.

The less you handle each piece of brass, the more time you will save.

98 220 swift · February 19, 2016, 05:32 PM

I load about the same rifle and pistol rounds. I use the lee trimmer setup with a cheap power drill so that's not that labor intensive.

I went ahead and bought the lyman gen 5 powder dispenser. Cabelas had them for $230. Have not tried it let. Since I did not trust my pact digital scale anymore I figured I had to get one anyway this is the next step. Should really speed up my rifle relaoding since I shouldn't have to double check every load with a balance beam scale.

surveyor · February 19, 2016, 05:58 PM

It will speed up rifle loading,
I'll not go back to throwing stick powder charges low and trickling in a scale pan after using the chargemaster.
Night and day diffrence in speed, consistiency, repeatability.
You'll like it.

lee n. field · February 19, 2016, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Lee Classic Turret kit would probably be good...lot of people like them.

I agree

Road_Clam · February 19, 2016, 08:11 PM

If you mainly load precision rifle , I would hands down invest in the RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo !

MarkGlazer · February 19, 2016, 08:16 PM

1. Check ebay and other related gear sites for used HW
2. In-Line Fabrication riser - superb investment
3. more reloading supplies..........

berettaprofessor · February 19, 2016, 08:25 PM

Lee Classic Turret, Lee Autodisk pro, a better electronic scale, Lee Safety Primer system, and, if there's money left over, extra turrets so that you can switch calibers quickly.

hartcreek · February 20, 2016, 12:45 AM

Right now you should save your money. Do the math yourself 10k rounds in 10 years is not much reloading. The only thing that can suggest is a way to prime faster since you did not state how you do your priming. A hand primer would greatly speed up priming. I use a RCBs handprimer but a Lee should work just as well.

flashhole · February 20, 2016, 07:35 AM

Get the Lee Classic Turret Press with the Lee Auto Drum powder measure and try not to smile every time you use it. Take the rest of the money and get a good balance scale to verify your Auto Drum powder drops.

98 220 swift · February 20, 2016, 07:40 AM

I already have the lee hand primer and the press mounted saftey prime. I went ahead and bought the lyman dispenser. Tried it last night works great. Only complaint was it took some time to clean the powder out. Probably not worth it for the 10 rnds I loaded.

February 18, 2016, 10:01 PM	#1
98 220 swift Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2015 Location: Perryville MO Posts: 426	Best way to spend $300 on reloading equipment. I have a extra $300 looking to spend on reloading equipment. I have a lee single stage press that I have been using for 10 years with no problems. I have been reloading for about 15 years on about 20 different calibers and have loaded probably over 10000 rounds in that time. I have a electric pact scale that doesn't work the best and I usually back it up with the lee balance beam that came with the kit. I use the lee powder measure that came in the kit for pistol and some rifle calibers. It works quite well with most powders. My question is what be the best way to spend the $300 on equipment. I was thinking about either a lee turret press or a Lyman gen 5 dispenser and scale. Try to speed up the process alittle. Any suggestions on these 2 or suggestions for something else?

February 18, 2016, 10:42 PM	#5
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,758	I haven't done all the math but a quick guess tells me that my "semi-progressive" setup cost me under $300 to implement and it allows me to produce 15-20k loaded rounds annually -- across a dozen calibers, and (most importantly) built to -MY- personal standards. Only works for handgun ammo... But I bought a Lee Pro-1000 and I use it exclusively as a brass prep machine. I do not have any interest in letting it handle powder for me. For me and my pistol brass, it: --sizes --deprimes --primes --flares case mouth ...and though it may not sound like a huge advantage, it truly is, but it auto advances and auto ejects. Minimizing small finger work in handling brass in to & out of a shell holder ends up being a LARGE payoff. There is a cost for the press and you spend a bit more on turrets and shell plates. Having multiple shell plate carriers is a luxury that really ramps up the cost, but also makes caliber swaps far quicker and easier. My semi-progressive method is absolutely not for everyone but I'm more than four years in to this system now and it has been the closest thing to "genius!" that I am likely to come up with. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 19, 2016, 08:11 PM	#12
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,695	If you mainly load precision rifle , I would hands down invest in the RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo ! __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

February 20, 2016, 07:35 AM	#16
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	Get the Lee Classic Turret Press with the Lee Auto Drum powder measure and try not to smile every time you use it. Take the rest of the money and get a good balance scale to verify your Auto Drum powder drops. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

February 18, 2016, 10:03 PM	#2
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Lee Classic Turret kit would probably be good...lot of people like them.

February 18, 2016, 10:13 PM	#3
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	One of the best investments I ever made was an auto powder dispenser. I have a Hornady which you can sometimes find for $170. Next, if you load a lot of rifle, is a power case trimmer, I like the cts trimmers.

February 18, 2016, 10:17 PM	#4
lebyrn2 Member Join Date: December 3, 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 40	I love my Lyman gen 6!

February 18, 2016, 10:43 PM	#6
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Lee Classic Turret Kit, and have a few $$$ left over for bulletin s, primers, and maybe a fan of powder.

February 18, 2016, 10:59 PM	#7
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	A reliable digital scale might be good. The Dillon works well.

February 19, 2016, 04:27 PM	#8
surveyor Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2007 Posts: 771	Toss up, If you load more rifle, and the powder weighing/ throwing is a slowdown, the scale/powder dispenser. If you load more pistol, the classic cast turret, as you can pull the handle 4 times and have a loaded round. If trimming is laborious, a power trimmer is a time saving tool. If chamfer/debur/primer and neck cleaning, and crimp removal on military cases is laborious A motorized case prep center is a time saving tool. The less you handle each piece of brass, the more time you will save.

February 19, 2016, 05:32 PM	#9
98 220 swift Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2015 Location: Perryville MO Posts: 426	I load about the same rifle and pistol rounds. I use the lee trimmer setup with a cheap power drill so that's not that labor intensive. I went ahead and bought the lyman gen 5 powder dispenser. Cabelas had them for $230. Have not tried it let. Since I did not trust my pact digital scale anymore I figured I had to get one anyway this is the next step. Should really speed up my rifle relaoding since I shouldn't have to double check every load with a balance beam scale.

February 19, 2016, 05:58 PM	#10
surveyor Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2007 Posts: 771	It will speed up rifle loading, I'll not go back to throwing stick powder charges low and trickling in a scale pan after using the chargemaster. Night and day diffrence in speed, consistiency, repeatability. You'll like it.

February 19, 2016, 08:16 PM	#13
MarkGlazer Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 329	1. Check ebay and other related gear sites for used HW 2. In-Line Fabrication riser - superb investment 3. more reloading supplies..........

February 19, 2016, 08:25 PM	#14
berettaprofessor Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2008 Posts: 1,091	Lee Classic Turret, Lee Autodisk pro, a better electronic scale, Lee Safety Primer system, and, if there's money left over, extra turrets so that you can switch calibers quickly.

February 20, 2016, 12:45 AM	#15
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Right now you should save your money. Do the math yourself 10k rounds in 10 years is not much reloading. The only thing that can suggest is a way to prime faster since you did not state how you do your priming. A hand primer would greatly speed up priming. I use a RCBs handprimer but a Lee should work just as well.

February 20, 2016, 07:40 AM	#17
98 220 swift Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2015 Location: Perryville MO Posts: 426	I already have the lee hand primer and the press mounted saftey prime. I went ahead and bought the lyman dispenser. Tried it last night works great. Only complaint was it took some time to clean the powder out. Probably not worth it for the 10 rnds I loaded.