| Posted: Tue Apr 25th, 2006 10:16 PM |
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25th, 2006 11:24 PM |
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2nd Post |
dakotasin
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you'll want a trickler (go w/ rcbs, ~$10), calipers (can be as low as $20 to a couple hundred - an inexpensive cabela's analog for $20 will work fine), i'd also suggest a speer #13 manual - far easier to read and understand than the lee book (~$20), and then of course consumables (powder, primers, etc). you will certainly need a case trimmer if you plan to load for rifles or if you want precision.
i'd suggest you use rcbs or redding dies - the lee dies are a nuisance.
i don't know a lot about the lee press... but, i do know the rcbs rockchucker kit is as solid as they come, and will load almost anything you care to load, and has everything the lee kit has except the shellholder pack, but does include the case trimmer, and the common pilots (if the lee kits include that, i didn't see it).
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26th, 2006 03:35 AM |
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3rd Post |
Poacher
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Monkeyman
I use some Lee dies. They are a pain in the butt to store but I haven't had any major complaints with them. If I am loading for my target rifle then I do use RCBS dies as well as some other stuff.
For just starting out Lee dies will be fine. First off I would say you actually need some lube for the cases. It isn't that expensive and having stuck a case or two in the die its a royal pain in the butt to get a stuck case out of the die. and if you are unlucky that day and mar the inside of the die you pitch the dies and get a new set.
Calipers are another must have you don't have to spend 300 bucks for one just a nice decent set. I think I spent 30 or so bucks on mine.
Take care Be safe Poacher.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26th, 2006 12:44 PM |
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Charley
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I'd replace the Chalanger press with a Lee turret press. The newer classic press if it is in your budget, the older model if price is an issue. You can prime on the press for now, you don't need the seperate priming tool up front.
For .38/.357s here is what I would recommend:
Turret press
Die set. You will get a lot of grief about using Lee dies. Most of my handgun dies and ALL my military rifle calibers are Lee. They work for me.
Powder measure. I use an RCBS measure.I don't have any experience with lee measures. I've heard good and bad about Lee measures. I do know they work better with certain powders.
Case trimmer: No big deal with straight walled revolver cases. When you start loading rifles you willneed a trimmer. I like Lee's system. Less than $10.
You don't need a funnel right now, the drop tube from your measure will do the same job.
Scale. I like RCBS's balance beam, the 10-10. Don't know if it is still made. lee will work for now.
You will need to add more when you start loading rifle cartridges.
Lee equipment is not nearly as bad as some make it out to be. Their presses do have a limited life...maybe 60,000-100,000 rounds. It won't last the rest of your life like some of the other presses on the market, but so what. At the price you pay, when it wears out, get a new one!
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26th, 2006 01:22 PM |
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mr mom
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i would also get 2 loading blocks and a bullet puller.... the blocks are under 10 bucks each and the puller is abuot 15 bucks........
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26th, 2006 04:07 PM |
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Gunrunner
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Any of the small lee presses should work fine for the 38/357. When you get to the 270 and other rifle cases you would be better off with a rcbs rockchucker as it's much stronger and should last a lifetime.
The lee dies for 38/357 will work fine.....I use them myself. I use redding dies for my rifles.
That lee powder measure isn't on my list of 'good items'. The one I had sent more powder out the sides than down the drop tube. rcbs uniflow is the way to go.
Getting started in reloading can seem somewhat overwhelming, but once you start loading you own ammo you'll find for yourself what works and what doesn't.
Beware..........Handloading is habit forming. 
Gr
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27th, 2006 03:01 AM |
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7th Post |
monkeyman
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So if I buy it piece by piece then dose the press come with shell holders or do I need to buy them seperate? I already have a decent triple beam scale my dad gave me since he had another one. All Im wanting to buy for now is the stuff needed for loading the .38 special and .357 rounds. Even if I do start loading for the rifles that would be fairly minimal since they mostly just go out a few times a year for target shooting and hunting, most all of the plinking and reagular target shooting is with the .357 (generaly useing .38 specials) or my 10/22.
Thanks for the thoughts so far. Keep in mind that Im looking at the most stripped down simple and basic set up I can do for starting off with as budget is a major issue for me at present and I have more time for slow reloading than I do money for gear to load fast or the extra consumables I would want to shoot if I was loading faster. lol
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27th, 2006 04:07 AM |
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Charley
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Lee dies come with the required shellholder. One more reason to buy them!
If you want an even more basic (read inexspensive) setup, forget the powder measure for now and buy the set of Lee powder scoops. Once you get the technique down, they are very consistent. Midway has them for $6.49 a set.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27th, 2006 04:21 AM |
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Poacher
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Loading blocks are a nice thing to have. I make mine by using a drill press and a bit just a tad bigger than the case. I cut a 2x6 down to a 1x6 after that I just mark lines where I want the holes and put tape around the bit at 3/4" so I don't punch thru and start drilling. It's cheap but it does work and I save money to go buy more componants.
Take care Be safe Poacher.
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| Posted: Fri Apr 28th, 2006 09:28 PM |
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10th Post |
greysmoke
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Gents
I think you all got the most important things covered.
When i started out, i was on a VERY tight budget, i was still in school and had to buy the most important things out of my pocket money.
A good thing to have around is also a buddy that knows what is going on, and to pass the beer ....
Honestly, id go with the following:
Lee cast press(if money is really tight, the aluminium one will do)
Lee dies(got shellholder included, and a power scoop-ill get to that later)
stamp pad and some lube
Scale, LEE is ok, but i do think there is better
Analog calipers.
A good reloading manual.(Dont know what is the latest and greatest at the moment)
Id not worry to much about a powerd tricler, as i used (and still do out of habbit) the scoop provided with the lee dies to trickle powder onto the scale pan.
it might be a little bit slower, but works for me, and you rather quickley figure out how many full scoops to use, and then dribble in the last bit.
Just my two cents worth.
All the best
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29th, 2006 03:30 AM |
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monkeyman
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Thanks for the info guys. I didnt know if the dies came with the shell holder or not.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29th, 2006 03:40 AM |
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Timberghozt
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Hye monkeyman..Let me check downtown with a buddy of mine.I might be able to pick ya a set of 38/357 RCBS used dies up for next to nothing...
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29th, 2006 03:45 AM |
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monkeyman
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That might be cool...do RCBS dies fit Lee presses and are they carbide? I like the ease of the carbide dies and not haveing to worry about the lube. Makes one less thing I can make mistakes on.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29th, 2006 04:05 AM |
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Timberghozt
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Hey monkey..not all of em are carbide..but yeah they`ll fit 7/8 by 14 threads Lee presses and most all use...I use Carbide dies for my 40 Smith and I agree..I hate lube..
I`ll look and see what he has on the shelf the next time I head to town.He has a bunch of pistol dies.Most of the used ones ya can get fairly cheap...
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| Posted: Sat Apr 29th, 2006 04:11 AM |
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monkeyman
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Cool, thanks.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 30th, 2006 01:49 PM |
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CB900F
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Monkeyman;
I have a set of non-carbide .38/.357 RCBS dies if you still need a set to get started with. I'll suggest haunting the pawn shops for a press. The better ones really don't wear out. Why not pay Lee's price & get a good Redding, RCBS, Lyman, Pacific, or CH? Just make sure the link pins are tight & the ram moves smoothly. An RCBS Jr. would be a good one to keep an eye out for.
Depending on the powder you use, you'll find yourself wanting a tumbler at some point in the future. Dirty cases are a pain, & tumblers get them clean. Clean cases are much easier to inspect. No high-tech involved with a tumbler, a cheap Frankford Arsenal works just fine. A dollar store plastic sieve separates the media from the brass just fine too. Corncob media is cheap & works well.
On cleaning cases in a tumbler, you have two choices. Clean before de-priming & then get the little wire brush that cleans the primer pockets. Or de-cap before priming & use the finish nail to get the stuck bit of cob out of the flash hole. Some folks don't clean the primer pockets, but if you don't you may not be able to seat the primer all the way down in the pocket. A high primer can tie up a revolver & is NO fun to deal with then.
900F
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monkeyman
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Thanks for the info and the offer, I think I will end up going withthe carbide dies though even if I pay a bit more just to avoid haveing to mess with the lube.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23rd, 2006 04:38 PM |
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Future US Soldier
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I was thinking of buying myself some lee products and starting I do it on my dads right now he has a redding but I like red and black and I've heard that lee was a good product so I think I'll stik to that idea.
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