Quote:
Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile
I'm a complete noob to reloading and looking to get a decent, reasonably priced introductory reloading setup, mostly for pistol calibers (to start anyway). I found this one for under $300. Any of you more experienced reloading guys know if this is any good? What should I be looking for if not?
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=506874
Thanks in advance. |
I bought that exact same "starter" kit some 30 years ago. The press and scale are, to this day, the only ones I own. I still use the loading block and funnel as well, although I do have other examples of those. I have, by actual count, loaded well over 100,000 rounds of ammunition with this equipment. I currently load 15 different rifle and pistol calibers, from .38 Special to .458 Winchester Magnum. I have never felt the need for another press or another scale.
My dies are a mix of mainly RCBS, with some Lee, some Forester, and some Lyman thrown in for good measure. I use a couple of Lyman #55 powder measures, one with a plastic hopper for smokeless and the other with an aluminum hopper for black powder. My bullet molds are a mix of RCBS, Lyman, Saeco, LBT, Hoch, Paul Jones, and Leeth.
Every head of big game I have killed in the last 30 years has fallen to ammo loaded on this equipment. Every rifle match I entered in the last 30 years has been with ammo loaded on this equipment, and I've won some big ones. The ammo in the guns that I would stake my life on - my self defense guns, has all been loaded on this equipment.
Yes, there are progressive presses that will load ammo faster. They are very popular, and for good reason. I have just never felt the need. Most of my handguns - yes, even my daily carry guns - are single action revolvers. Most of my rifles are single shots or lever actions. I don't have any real need to produce a lot of ammo quickly. When I need a lot of ammo, typically for a black powder cartridge rifle match, it has to be good. The only way to produce match quality ammo in that game is with a single stage press.
Anyway, that is my endorsement for this equipment. You can buy faster, but you cannot buy better. I would start with this, even if you see yourself going to a progressive of some kind some day. Learn the ropes with this stuff, then move on if you care to do so.