Clarksville/campbell area reloaders

[shooterfpga]

Im looking for local reloaders to help with a new set up.

[Omega]

There are a few of us in the area, ask away.

[shooterfpga]

single stage press and mount the quick trim to it for trimming only

On the turret press

1)sizer
2)open for powder
3)seater
4)crimper

What am i missing? Ill be using a kempf kit lee classic turret and lee single stage. Also buying a scale and calipers. Should i buy a case guage?

[camp]

I'm a fan of case gauges , also what caliber are you reloading

[shooterfpga]

308 and 6.5 creedmoor

[shooterfpga]

I'm a fan of case gauges , also what caliber are you reloading

I was told to get a bullet comparator. Doesnt that do the same sthing? Also when using either one how would i adjust? Put it back in the press on the seater and adjust my die?

[Omega]

single stage press and mount the quick trim to it for trimming only

On the turret press

1)sizer
2)open for powder
3)seater
4)crimper

What am i missing? Ill be using a kempf kit lee classic turret and lee single stage. Also buying a scale and calipers. Should i buy a case guage?

Seems you have all bases covered.  I don't use case gauges for most of my reloads, I just use what is referred to as the "plunk test" where you simply drop the case into a barrel and use that as a gauge.  I do have one gauge for my 300Blk, but that is because I am forming the cases as well and the gauge helps make sure all the measurements are taken care of.  Once they pass the first time I am good.  But many do have and use them as well as the comparator which I have as well.  The comparator will measure COAL from the ogive so a deformed lead tip don't throw off the measurements.  I also got the comparator due to the 300Blk since many times you are reloading from internet data and I like to be sure as possible when doing that. 

 

As for setting your dies, yes you make small minor adjustments to your dies as you measure until you get the depth you want then lock your die in place until you change to different bullets.  A kinetic or collet puller will also be needed when you seat too deep, ask me how I know.  Before the comparator I used my calipers and made sure the tips were not too distorted on the one I used to set my dies.

[camp]

What he said ^^^^^

[shooterfpga]

Should i use the auto powder drop on the press or keep it seperate?

[DWARREN123]

The powder drop should work okay but it will depend a lot on the powder, some powders work well in it and some do not.

As for the Lee Classic Turret, it will probably be a lot easier to go ahead and get a new die head and set it up for the second set of dies.

That way you can leave each set up for one caliber and only have to make minor adjustments if any.

Lee press parts are available from Mid South Shooters Supply in Clarksville.

[Omega]

Should i use the auto powder drop on the press or keep it seperate?

If you are reloading a pistol caliber I would mount it.  For rifle I like to weigh each drop so I use a bench mounted one to drop close to my charge then trickle the rest. 

[shooterfpga]

The powder drop should work okay but it will depend a lot on the powder, some powders work well in it and some do not.
As for the Lee Classic Turret, it will probably be a lot easier to go ahead and get a new die head and set it up for the second set of dies.
That way you can leave each set up for one caliber and only have to make minor adjustments if any.
Lee press parts are available from Mid South Shooters Supply in Clarksville.

Im using midsouth for pricing so i can take advantage of their will call. Im also definately going to get another turret head as i dont feel like pulling dies and resetting them.

If you are reloading a pistol caliber I would mount it. For rifle I like to weigh each drop so I use a bench mounted one to drop close to my charge then trickle the rest.

Heres everything ive figured out i need so far except i hadnt added the trickler to this list when i took it and my cart emptied shortly after.

Edited March 31, 2015 by shooterfpga

[Omega]

If you haven't purchased anything yet, I would recommend this: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690304/Classic_Turret_Press_Kit_

I would also do away with the single stage press and the press mounted trimmer.  For rifle you will not be reloading in the hundreds most times; The Lee hand trimmer works good and it has caliber specific case length gauges even the Creedmoor at Midway: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/427646/lee-case-length-gage-and-shellholder-65-creedmoor?cm_vc=ProductFinding but Midsouth may be able to get it in as well if you call.  I would get the wooden ball for it though, it is worth it: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690275/Cutter-with-Ball-Grip- As was mentioned, get extra turrets for the press, that way once your dies are setup changing caliber is a 5 second affair.

 

[shooterfpga]

I go through 100rds easily at the range through my bolt actions. I also factored in load dev testing.

I like that hand trimmer setup. Will get that instead.

As for the classic turret kit i havent checked on if its a better deal or not than piecing it together piece for piece. I excluded the normal kit and the kempf lee classic kit based on parts i will not be using. Such as the auto disk powder which i swapped with the ppm and the auto primer system which i will use the press primer or a hand primer.

[shooterfpga]

How would i chamfer with that hand trimmer? I watched a quick video of it but didnt hear/see what was used?

[Omega]

I go through 100rds easily at the range through my bolt actions. I also factored in load dev testing.

I like that hand trimmer setup. Will get that instead.

As for the classic turret kit i havent checked on if its a better deal or not than piecing it together piece for piece. I excluded the normal kit and the kempf lee classic kit based on parts i will not be using. Such as the auto disk powder which i swapped with the ppm and the auto primer system which i will use the press primer or a hand primer.

If you don't need the die mounted powder dropper then it may not be as good a deal for you. 

 

How would i chamfer with that hand trimmer? I watched a quick video of it but didnt hear/see what was used?

Inner and outer chamfer can be done with this: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690109/Chamfer-and-Deburring-Tool-

But if you are doing hundreds of rounds per sitting you may be better suited with either a case prep station or a bench mounted trimmer with an inside outside chamfer and deburring cutter ,ounted on it.  I recently purchased two, one a Lyman with all the original pilots for $50 and another was a Forster.  The forster was last, it had the outside case neck turning tool with it and setup for .308 for just $35 so couldn't pass it up.  

So these can be had for a decent amount if you keep your eyes open.

 

Depending on your budget, which I guess we should of inquired earlier, you can get much better tools but the Lee products do work and are a hell of a deal for the price.  I have used Lee to reload since the mid to late 80's and just recently started getting into other brands but used.

[shooterfpga]

If you don't need the die mounted powder dropper then it may not be as good a deal for you.

Inner and outer chamfer can be done with this: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690109/Chamfer-and-Deburring-Tool-
But if you are doing hundreds of rounds per sitting you may be better suited with either a case prep station or a bench mounted trimmer with an inside outside chamfer and deburring cutter ,ounted on it. I recently purchased two, one a Lyman with all the original pilots for $50 and another was a Forster. The forster was last, it had the outside case neck turning tool with it and setup for .308 for just $35 so couldn't pass it up.
So these can be had for a decent amount if you keep your eyes open.

Depending on your budget, which I guess we should of inquired earlier, you can get much better tools but the Lee products do work and are a hell of a deal for the price. I have used Lee to reload since the mid to late 80's and just recently started getting into other brands but used.

Thanks for the all the good info. I went with lee because everything i will need will be within my budget. More for the money so to speak. Instead of sitting on a press with nothing else.

[shooterfpga]

Is there a case gauge for a press mounted trimmer? Or is it a moot point?

[Omega]

Is there a case gauge for a press mounted trimmer? Or is it a moot point?

I think the die takes care of that.

[maroonandwhite]

I would look at the Hornady deburring tool of you go with a hand tool. Much better than the lee. I have the lee classic turret press and love it. Great value.


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[Omega]

I would look at the Hornady deburring tool of you go with a hand tool. Much better than the lee. I have the lee classic turret press and love it. Great value.


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Yes that is much better, I have a Lyman version that has the same aggressive chamfer and debur edge. But if you are not careful it will take too much off the case and make the case a bit shorter. If done by hand it works great, but I was still using a drill on the case holder and did not notice until later. The cases did not go below spec but I had less case so had to seat a little more to make up, not much just .0001 or so but it was hit or miss on which case got shorter. Now that I know, I barely touch the trigger and its done. Oh, and it was also one sharp edge on the end of that case. The Lee one seems to have a less aggressive cutting surface and the angle isn't as sharp so is less likely to do the same. A little more user friendly but yes, I still prefer my lyman due to the handle but I used the Lee version up until a couple of years ago when I prepped over 1K 300Blk cases so my fingers needed the Lyman tool, and the wooden ball on the Lee cutter, I also got the Lee chuck which is much better than the one that comes with the gauge.

If I were to do that many cases again I think I'd splurge on the 3-way cutter for my Forster, but for now I am good with what I have.

[shooterfpga]

See now you guys are making me second guess my trimmer setup. I want to make it as easy as possible to switch calibers. If i have my press trimmer set for one i dont exactly feel like adjusting it again. Is there a trick i can do if i end up going that route? Count the amount of clicks and mark its depth where it sits in the turret?

[Omega]

For that press mounted style just get locking collars (set screw) for the die, once set, lock the collar down.  Since you are using separate dies for each caliber you should be set.  The hand operated one has a case length guage which only needs to be screwed in all the way to be set.  With bench setups, like the Lyman I have, you make master cases which you use to set the locking collar.

[shooterfpga]

Ill have to see if those quick trim dies come with collars or if theyre extra. Im assuming i can get locking collars for all of my dies and in the event i only had on turret i would just seat em down to the collar and start up again. Im also assuming because of it not being torqued to a precise number that i should always check before i start.

[Spiffy]

single stage press and mount the quick trim to it for trimming only

On the turret press

1)sizer
2)open for powder
3)seater
4)crimper

What am i missing? Ill be using a kempf kit lee classic turret and lee single stage. Also buying a scale and calipers. Should i buy a case guage?

 

Get a Lee Auto Disk for powder. You'll need a scale and calipers because you can't just eyeball powder measure and OAL.  The Auto Disk doesn't drop exactly what the list say it does. You can get one for like $40 and for calipers I got a digital one at Home Depot I think it was. Another thing that is really good to have is a Chrono. As you get more experienced you will find that a chrono is probably the most needed piece of gear a reloader can have. You can follow the manuals and load data to a perfect T and it still wont come out with the same reading the books have.