Single stage press Kit?

[rickyd_55]

I know this has been asked to know end and I'm sorry for doing it again. I'm going to start reloading .308 ammo and I'm wondering which would be the best all around kit to start with? Or would I be better off just buying everything seperate. Any advice would be great as I've never done any reloading before. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sportin Wood]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

Buy it all seperate, and buy one big item, or acouple small ones every paycheck. There is WAYYY too many items needed to buy it all at once, unless you just won the mega millions

 

[acttacus]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

What's your budget?

 

[rickyd_55]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

Honestly I really haven't set a budget, because almost like everything else that has to do with guns I'm seem to always blow my budget straight to hell. I'd love to keep it under 4 or 500 bucks, but since I don't know much about it I'm sure I'll spend more.

 

[rusty815]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

I actually recommend the Lee classic cast turret kit, good to start with, and you can use it as a single stage while you learn, it's ok to start with, you will need dies, a trickle and a bullet puller and you're good to go. A lot of the things in the kit will get you by, when you get the hang of it you can upgrade to better parts.

 

[rickyd_55]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rusty815</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I actually recommend the Lee classic cast turret kit, good to start with, and you can use it as a single stage while you learn, it's ok to start with, you will need dies, a trickle and a bullet puller and you're good to go. A lot of the things in the kit will get you by, when you get the hang of it you can upgrade to better parts. </div></div>

I will have to check out the Lee turret kit. Thanks for the suggestion rusty815.

 

[Break Bad]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

I got that 100$ lee anniversary single stage kit, and everything works great. My only gripe is the beam scale, way to sensitive, gets stuck and requires a tap frequently, also it looses its zero slightly after hundred weighs or so. It is very accurate, just a PITA.

 

[OneShotJim]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

+1 on the Lee Classic turret. I've been using this as a single stage for .223 since May of last year. I'm very satisfied. Got mine (all individual items rather than a kit) at a good price/service from https://fsreloading.com/catalogs/lee-precision/

A pretty good kit is available from Kempf https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?page...1&Itemid=41 (I have no experience w/them though.)

Also just upgraded my scale to a Gem Pro 250 to speed the weighing process. Gradually upgrading over time is a good way to go in my opinion. Start low & work up for safety's sake. Have fun.

 

[roggom]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

I have a lee single stage press and have used it for years. Now for dies, the Lee will work, but I sold all of Lee dies and went with RCBS. I just like the threaded decapping and seating adjustments of the RCBS. For 308, I got the RCBS competition seater die, makes life a bit easier when setting seating depth. Especially if you are shooting various brands and weight bullets. Just dial by hand and record the depth.

 

[joemusso]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

i bought a lee turret press and quickly learned that it is easier for me to use a single stage press i found a nice RCBS single stage press here and i love it.

Unless you are gong to just pop out lots of rounds a turret might be your best bet.

I am loading one at a time for precision long range.

 

[rickyd_55]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

Well I think I'm gonna check out the lee single stage that's on midway for like 105 bucks. Seems like a fair price for learning a new hobby. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[normbal]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Willie_Wayne</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well I think I'm gonna check out the lee single stage that's on midway for like 105 bucks. Seems like a fair price for learning a new hobby. Thanks for all the help guys. </div></div>

I own two of the Lee challenger presses, one from around 1997, the other from about five years ago. I've also owned a Dillon RL550 press and still use an XL 650.
Having owned several sub guns and played at steel and bowling pin matches, I've cranked out literally around 75,000 rounds with those two presses.

But the Lees? Combined with Lee carbide dies, RCBS, Redding and Dillon dies, I've used mine to turn out thousands (tens of?) rounds in .44 Mag, .380, .357 Mag, 357 SIG, .223 Rem, .308 Win, .338 LM, .375 H&H, .458 win mag (44-40 too).

They're workhorses. The newer model with the removable die holders and the built-in primer takes a little getting used to, but it's an inexpensive, reliable way to get into hand loading.

Be sure and buy a set of reloading blocks for the calibers you're planning on reloading most. These are fairly cheap, and I wish i'd bought a complete set 15 years ago when I first got into this.

You won't regret it.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Re: Single stage press Kit?

Just remember when the Lee stuff breaks, they want you to pay to fix it. The other companies fix for free.......

I have an RCBS Partner press kit I'll sell you for pretty cheap.