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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,632
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
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Lee, challenger and the lee 3306 dies. still have and use both of them!
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,126
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2004
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Lee Loader first, then a Rock Chucker.
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 202
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 202 |
C&H 4 station press, powder measure, scale with 38/357, 44 and 45 dies all at the same time. Took almost a year of saving. Still use the scale and dies today - wish I still had that little press!
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,247 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,247 Likes: 1 |
1988, RCBS master reloading kit, that was a hell of a time, also a time i needed to stay in shape, a green canvas pack with heavy shoulder straps loaded with three 35lb plates and using a drop tube for every round even when not needed, trickle up charge, stand from bench with pack, pour powder, sit and repeat, to be that young and stout again with the constant high and amazement of shooting and building ones own loads, then filling freezers with those loads left a permanent mark, it's a damn great hobby we enjoy ladies and gentlemen!
Trump Won!
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,928
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,928 |
Lee loader 6.5X55. Same in 303 Brit. Then a Rock Chucker and a multitude of die sets. First being a set of RCBS for the Swede. Been a good ride. The RC is used for sizing cast now. A Dillon 550b and a Redding T7 make the ammo.
Society of Intolerant Old Men. Rifle Slut Division
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,705 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,705 Likes: 3 |
The first press I loaded on was my Dad’s RCBS partner press. Bought in the early 70’s I believe. My first set of dies were RCBS. Then as a teenager I received the Lee Anniversary kit for Christmas. I used the press from it while I attended University. Now the powder cup that sits on my lab grade scale is worth more than that press (I still have it and those dies).
Last edited by pathfinder76; 12/28/21.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,735
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,735 |
In 1977 I bought 3 Manuals (read them first) and a Balance Beam scale with the Lee Loader (.280). The Rock Chuker came about 6yrs later plus RCBS .257 Roberts then Redding 257 Roberts Ackley Improved dies. Still using the RC!
Last edited by Jim_Knight; 12/28/21.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,621
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,621 |
Inherited a Lyman Spartan and three sets of cardboard boxed RCBS dies 270, 30-06 & 243. Still have them but upgraded the press.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,908 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,908 Likes: 2 |
Some neat stories. Do you think the ammunition you made from that old equipment was worth it? Was it better, worse or the same as the store bought stuff?
. Better ,don't think I ever rested on mediocre results. A major factor is even if you had a lot of money you still can't buy a lot of loads you might use everyday. Honest to god mid range loads featuring lyman's 429421 swc for example who sells them or 357's loaded with lyman's 358156 hollow point mold? What of all the custom loads for my black powder rifle cartridges with paper patch bullets? For that matter #5 shot in my 20 and 16 gauges because some marketing turd doesn't think they are necessary? Sometimes I actually buy and use some factory ammo , it has gotten better over the years. I'll give it that but will count on my own made exactly how I want it....mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,355 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,355 Likes: 1 |
Lyman 310 tong tool. Dies were for the .38 Spl., 30-30 and 30-06. The year was 1954. Paul B.
Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them. MOLON LABE
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,556 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,556 Likes: 3 |
Hornady 007 kit . Was my starting point, early 80's
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,267
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,267 |
My first press was a Pacific Tool and Die 12 gauge kit.I shot more shotgun sports including Trap,duck and goose hunting,pheasant hunting.When I had picked up a couple rifles and handguns I bought an RCBS RockChuker kit in the late 60s.308 Win was my first metallic cartridge.
Its all right to be white!! Stupidity left unattended will run rampant Don't argue with stupid people, They will drag you down to their level and then win by experience
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 12,136
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 12,136 |
Steve; Good morning, I hope you're all keeping warm enough and all in your world are well.
Thanks for the interesting thread, it looks like a few here of my vintage started in a similar way.
The first reloads were done with a Lee Loader for the '06, then quickly after that a .308 and .357 Lee Loader followed.
Maybe a year into my reloading I picked up an RCBS Reloader Special press - the one with the over center knuckle and no compound linkage.
That was replaced by a Reloader Special with compound linkage and then I picked up an older Rock Chucker which I still use.
Thanks again for the thread and Happy New Year all.
Dwayne
The most important stuff in life isn't "stuff"
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,821
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,821 |
Some neat stories. Do you think the ammunition you made from that old equipment was worth it? Was it better, worse or the same as the store bought stuff?
. Better ,don't think I ever rested on mediocre results. A major factor is even if you had a lot of money you still can't buy a lot of loads you might use everyday. Honest to god mid range loads featuring lyman's 429421 swc for example who sells them or 357's loaded with lyman's 358156 hollow point mold? What of all the custom loads for my black powder rifle cartridges with paper patch bullets? For that matter #5 shot in my 20 and 16 gauges because some marketing turd doesn't think they are necessary? Sometimes I actually buy and use some factory ammo , it has gotten better over the years. I'll give it that but will count on my own made exactly how I want it....mb Yeah, a low brass #5 would be dynamite rabbit load !
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,416
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,416 |
First reloading was with a 12 ga Lee Loader when I was still in college. Got away from it for a long time and then bought a Lee Anniversary kit to start on metallic cartridges. Still have it although the press is only used for depriming these days. First dies were an RCBS set for 30-06. Many other sets (mostly RCBS and Redding) have joined them on the shelf.
Jerry
Minnesota; Land of 10,000 Taxes
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,587 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,587 Likes: 1 |
Around 2007 my Uncle Johnny passed away and left us enough to pay off our mortgage and all our bills. My wife said I should buy something to remember him by so I bought an RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit and a set of RCBS 30-06 dies. I still have/use them. I so glad I became a reloader before this latest shortage came along. Start reloading they said, you'll save a lot of money they said. HAH!
Wag more, bark less.
The freedoms we surrender today will be the freedoms our grandchildren will never know existed.
The men who wrote the Second Amendment didn't just finish a hunting trip, they just finished liberating a nation.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,757
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,757 |
RCBS Dies and RCBS Partner Press. Had if for over 30 years, still using it. Have loaded thousands of rounds with that rig.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,206
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,206 |
Circa 1967 Lyman press, Lyman and RCBS dies, Lyman 55 powder measure, Lyman beam balance scale, Lee powder dippers, etc.
I've owned a few Ideal, Lyman, and Winchester "nut cracker" presses,
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,808
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,808 |
Right after I got home from SEA in 73 got a Pacific single stage press and dies to feed my 77V in .25-06 (best woodchuck cartridge ever…lol). Soon RCBS .222 dies followed for my 788. My sons are still using that press along with the Redding powder scale and measure and Forster case trimmer that soon followed. Today I do all my rifle/handgun loading with a Redding turret press, mostly Redding dies and support equipment.
Mathew 22: 37-39
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 306
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 306 |
I bought that Browning .348 and down the rabbit hole I went. Dies from Lee (only ones that were in stock) and a Rockchucker II.
They don't make 'em like they used to
Don't tread on me
Nothing runs like a Deere
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