So I begin my descent into madness...

[whitewolf001]

Er, reloading but I digress... I am sick of paying ridiculous prices for match quality ammo and just as crazy prices for the inflated blaster .223/5.56 and I also have a .300 Win Mag and that gets expensive buying factory ammo. I am going to get a single stage setup and take it from there. I think I will probably go with the Lee challenger starter kit, it's not a high cost investment, I can tinker with it and see if I like it enough to jump into a Progressive to really churn out some blaster ammo mostly. I know already that I am going to need a case trimmer for rifle casings and a tumbler. What primers have you guys gotten the best results out of? I've reloaded a little bit at a buddies under his tutelage for .45LC and 10mm Auto but never did any rifle rounds. Any advice you guys can give to a rook?

[Raoul]

The only primers I don't recommend are the PMC. The CCI, Tula, Wolf, Winchester, and Federal have all been satisfactory.

[runco]

One of the better decisions I have made in my gun hobby.  I pulled the trigger December 2012.  Instead of the Challenger, I went with the Lee Classic Press, its a beast.  This site here was a good place to start with: 

 

https://fsreloading.com/

 

Plus this thread was the most informative thread that I followed quite closely, look at post #5 by Dolomite_supafly:

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/56167-good-reloading-starter-kit/

[whitewolf001]

The only primers I don't recommend are the PMC. The CCI, Tula, Wolf, Winchester, and Federal have all been satisfactory.

 

Ah, I see. Well that's good info to have. I'll probably go with CCi no.41 which I believe is milspec. I know that's probably silly of me as it is just a minimum adherence but meh. :p

 

One of the better decisions I have made in my gun hobby.  I pulled the trigger December 2012.  Instead of the Challenger, I went with the Lee Classic Press, its a beast.  This site here was a good place to start with: 

 

https://fsreloading.com/

 

Plus this thread was the most informative thread that I followed quite closely, look at post #5 by Dolomite_supafly:

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/56167-good-reloading-starter-kit/

As far as purchasing equipment I'm good but that link did contain lots of useful info, thanks Runco.

[RED333]

Get a book, and reloading is not madness.

Casting is a whole nother story, it is where the madness is.

[mikegideon]

Runco did it right. Get the Classic Cast press. 

[Dolomite_supafly]

Trust me when I say you want the classic cast, especially when sizing the 300 brass.

 

Also, I made up a list for about $200 that has pretty much everything to start reloading. If you want I can post it.

 

When I started I bought the Challenger kit and although it works it isn't worth what they are asking. Everything, including the press, in that kit is cheap.

[gregintenn]

Primers are primers.

 

I agree with the others. Spend a few more bucks and get the Classic Cast press.

 

You won't save a lot of money with common calibers like 223, but you'll really clean up with the savings reloading the 300 Mag.

[Hershmeister]

Cci milspec are excellent for guns with floating firing pins - the harder primet avoids an accidental detonation from the floating firing pin. I use them in all of my 7.5 french, M1 garand, 308 and 223 loads for my semi autos

[whitewolf001]

May I ask why the Classic is superior to the Challenger? This is not some sort of smart-aleck response btw, I'm really just curious more than anything.

[whitewolf001]

Well it would appear that Lee has discontinued their hand priming tool. I have a couple buddies though whom say they're junk in that the levers break... like alot, which I also saw in the reviews for it on Midway. I like the fact that this one is pretty much universal and has many excellent reviews but it is somewhat expensive, thoughts?

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319794/rcbs-universal-hand-priming-tool?cm_vc=subv1319794

[mikegideon]

May I ask why the Classic is superior to the Challenger? This is not some sort of smart-aleck response btw, I'm really just curious more than anything.

 

The Classic Cast is cast iron. The Challenger is aluminum. NOT the place to pinch your pennies

[mikegideon]

Well it would appear that Lee has discontinued their hand priming tool. I have a couple buddies though whom say they're junk in that the levers break... like alot, which I also saw in the reviews for it on Midway. I like the fact that this one is pretty much universal and has many excellent reviews but it is somewhat expensive, thoughts?

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319794/rcbs-universal-hand-priming-tool?cm_vc=subv1319794

 

I have the Lee and the RCBS Univiversal. The RCBS is MUCH better. It does take a little more time to change between small and large primers. Here's the Lee...

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/413473/lee-auto-prime-xr-hand-priming-tool

[gregintenn]

The old Lee hand primers were awesome. The new ones not so much. Watch ebay, and you can still find an old model.

[whitewolf001]

The Classic Cast is cast iron. The Challenger is aluminum. NOT the place to pinch your pennies

Fair enough, metallurgy then, lol.

[mikegideon]

Fair enough, metallurgy then, lol.

 

Not just. It's beefier all the way around. 

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/75727-i-just-broke-my-press/

Edited March 24, 2014 by mikegideon

[mudstud]

glad to see this post I am also thinking about making the plunge in to reloading

[JPS]

glad to see this post I am also thinking about making the plunge in to reloading

 

Yeah, I'm watching this one too...

[Mike A]

I haven't checked out their shipping costs, but fsreloading.com seems to have pretty unbeatable prices. 

[RED333]

If ya feel up to a drive, check out Outpost Armory.

[gregintenn]

There's a dealer in Cookeville who posts ads on GOC. He seems to have attractive prices on reloading paraphernalia Also, you would get the benefit of hands on prior to purchasing, rather than ordering fbased on an internet photo..

[whitewolf001]

Indeed, I have a source to get the supplies and all the equipment through(though he has slightly biased opinions so I take his info with a grain of salt till I can compare my own data) a good friend of mine. Dolomite however has provided me, with the link provided previously, with enough of a shopping list to get started. This will be somewhat drawn out so updates probably will only be periodic but I'm looking forward to this. My first purchase will be a reloading manual to at least to start an understanding of the data before actually beginning.

[mikegideon]

Yeah, I'm watching this one too...

 

Looks like we're going to be talking quite a bit in the near future. Feel free to bring up reloading any time.

[cgpeanut]

[quote name="whitewolf001" post="1129158" timestamp="1395667414"]May I ask why the Classic is superior to the Challenger? This is not some sort of smart-aleck response btw, I'm really just curious more than anything.[/quote] I have the Lee classic single stage and its built like a tank, you can reload up to .50 caliber rifle ammo with it with no problem, simply put it's better quality and you can pass it on to your kids. Sent from my Nexus 7

[stumpy]

Whitewolf001, I started with a cast RCBS JR in 1970.  Still have it and would use it but got a deal on a RCBS RC and upgraded to the toggle linkage.  A cast press should out-live you, and perhaps another generation of your family.  No, have never owned an aluminum press, but have seen several owned by friends that failed to hold up to the continuous, heavy use like I gave my RCBS.  If you are looking for handgun cartridge service, aluminum should work out for you.  With rifle calibers, especially with case sizing and/or forming, you will appreciate a cast press immediately.  They are a no BS press that will give you more service than the initial cost suggests.  With handloading you have only 2 groups of materials to buy:  equipment (press, dies, and other durable goods) and components (consumable items of powder, primer, bullet). Replacement of equipment suggests either poor quality equipment, abuse by the user, or an intentional upgrade (ie, steel to carbide).  Replacement of components is expected and necessary, or you aren't shooting!  Invest wisely in your equipment and this should be a one-time investment.