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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,306 |
I want to do some reloading with my son. We only shoot rifles as of right now, but he does have an interest in pisols. Can you guys recommend an inexpensive "package" for reloading? I have reloaded before and had an RCBS Rockchuker, but I want to try to keep the expense down.
Thanks.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 197
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 197 |
Local Cabelas flyer that I received yesterday, list the Rockchucker kit on sale for $279, add a set of carbide dies and you can send in for their $50 rebate.
Check your local Craigslist and swap & sells, this time of year the Tax Man cometh, and a lot of people that panic bought reloading kits last year will probably put them up for sale. Most you will find NIB.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,890 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,890 Likes: 4 |
If you just want to do some reloading, there is nothing wrong with the Lee Anniversary Kit. If your hoities are a bit on the toity side, then you would probably want to look elsewhere.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 148
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 148 |
I tried the Lee kit and within a month pieced together a RCBS kit from Craigslist and gun shows. The Lee kit is inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. I would recommend getting the RCBS right away, not only because of better quality but also because of top notch customer service.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,732
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,732 |
If you just want to do some reloading, there is nothing wrong with the Lee Anniversary Kit. If your hoities are a bit on the toity side, then you would probably want to look elsewhere. I don't think you'd ever go wrong with Lee equipment, and their customer service is excellent as far as the one dealing I've had with them. Bought a Lee press in 1990, back then it was called the Lee 2001 (guaranteed till the year 2001). Figuered I'd upgrade in a year or 2. Well I never did upgrade it, and it's still going strong. About 2 years ago the cam stop broke off. Saw it had an identical stop on the other side, so pulled the pins and turned the camming piece around and had a new stop in about 5 minutes. Between the middle of this January and the middle of February, I resized 1,678 pieces of brass on that press, 30-06, .308, .270, 6MM remington, 7MM Remington Magnum and it's still going strong. I could afford to upgrade at any time, just don't see a need to. Had a Lee .308 resizing die and the primer punch didn't look centered in the die when I went to use it. I called Lee and told them I wasn't happy with it, they said send it back. Had a new one in a week, no questions asked. I have some Lee stuff, some RCBS, some Lyman, etc. and it's all good, could never understand why some knock Lee so much, but can only talk from my own experience.
Last edited by wink_man; 03/11/14.
Garry Trump won !!! Trying to live like a free man in the Communist Republic of New Jersey. Love your country, distrust your government. Democrats and the people who vote for them, enemies of America and a free American people
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692 |
I would recommend the Lee kit as a great starting point. That is what I started out with and worked up from there.
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 197
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 197 |
The latest Cabelas' flyer has the Rockchucker kit on sale for $279, add a set of dies and will easily put it over $300 and make it eligible to get $50 back from their promotion.
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,705
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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A very inexpensive and portable way to start and see if you want to go farther is the Lee Hand Press Kit adding Lee Dies, Lee Trimmer, and scale of your choice.
If you do choose to go farther, you will then better know what more your you want; and you'll already have the portable kit that most handloaders later want.
If you choose not to go farther, you'll be OK for basic handloading.
If you choose not to handload anymore, you'll have wasted the least money, effort, weight, and bulk practicable
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,233
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Just buy used. Presses are one of those things that never die.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 211
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2011
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Amen! My RCBS press has been owned by at least a half a dozen guys! Some knew more about reloading than me and some knew less. It shows signs of wear, but it's 'honest' wear, and enough ammo has been run through it to fight a war, a small war mind you, but a war nonetheless! With proper care these things will serve the cause forever.
...making America shoot straight again.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,890 Likes: 4 |
Just buy used. Presses are one of those things that never die. Ever wonder what happened to scrapped battle tanks? Each one was turned into a Herter's press.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Campfire Regular
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I've never had a problem with a Lee product and I've been reloading for over 30 years. YMMV
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You cannot solve a problem at the same level of awareness that created it - Einstein
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I bought the lee anniversary kit from midway. 2 years later the parts that I still use regularly are the press, case trimmer, funnel, powder throw, primer pocket cleaner, and the press mounted priming system. I've picked up a Chargemaster, and a bunch of other accessories to make the job easier, but for 120$, I can't complain about the Lee kit. I will probably get another press someday, since it would be nice to have a couple of presses to work with, and I'd like to get a powder throw that is a bit more stout...
Eat moose, burn spruce
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