11-17-2009, 01:26 PM
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#41 | | Firearm Aficionado
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucker, GA
Posts: 1,194
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i found a kit off craigslist local. new kit only opened to take pics for $50. im checking it out later this week. freakin pumped! now i gotta figure out the table/bench part of the equation.
all in all i just need a table that is sturdy. wont flex, shake or give correct?
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The right to bear arms is WAY less ludicrous than the right to arm bears!
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11-17-2009, 02:32 PM
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#42 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 275
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I used siomething similar to this when I had no dedicated place for reloading.
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My Anchor is holding fast.
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11-17-2009, 11:05 PM
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#43 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: South Western NC
Posts: 312
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"If you want the "prestige" of RCBS or a Foster Coax press and Bench Rest Dies, go ahead, "
I have the RCBS RC press and quite a few green die sets. Believe me, any "prestige" is in the glazed over minds of the equipment snobs. Those tools are, mostly, as good as others, on average, but no better. I would defy anyone to show any average difference in the very expensive RCBS's "premium" dies and standard dies of any brand. What makes a real difference is individual user features - what do you like and not like? - but RCBS is living off their anchient past and even that was less glorious than is often understood - Fred Huntington was a smart engineer but an even smarter marketer, there's NOT much real glory in that! Lee is still moving ahead in both tool design and workmanship.
The Forster/Redding presses and their premium dies do offer some advantage in accuracy but it's slight, they won't automatically make a 3" shooter into a 1" shooter nor a 1" shooter into a .5" shooter. In fact, few factory rifles or reloaders will ever notice any significant AVERAGE difference in ammo made with those premium tools compared to any others...
Handloading skill and understanding of what's being done is FAR more important for accuracy than the color of the press or glitter of the dies.
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11-18-2009, 01:57 AM
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#44 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,234
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That depends on the skill of the user.I find higher quality tools often lead to lower standard deviation and better accuracy.If a person doesn't know how to adjust an adjustable wrench properly or read a meisuring device such as a rule,placing the foot heal to toe may very well be as efficient as using a tape meisure.From the lowest to the highest quality,tools are only as good as the knowledge we invest in them. ,,,sam.
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11-18-2009, 08:31 AM
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#45 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Blair, NE
Posts: 5,067
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Go  | Lee is still moving ahead in both tool design and workmanship. | This is only half true, I find lee to be great innovators and ahead of the curve with ideas and tools. Their workmanship is what I expect from a highschool industrial arts class. I am not even sure if they have a finishing stage on their dies or molds. Any lee piece of equipment I have purchased the treads have been sharp and jagged and typically I have to lap their bullet molds to get rid of sharp edges and flash.
Make no mistake lee does think out their tools but RCBS, Lyman and Hornady go the extra mile for finish, quality and uniformity.
If you talk to the guy that used to sell Ranchdog Molds for the 45-70 he can tell you all about the massive headaches lee caused him with the bullet molds not being consistant. The guy was trying to sell a custom designed mold built by lee for him. It was supposed to be .460 and they would come from lee all the way from .456 to .462. That is pretty unacceptable IMO.
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We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. -Aesop | |
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11-18-2009, 10:03 AM
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#46 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA
Posts: 5,441
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TargetGunFan | This is only half true, I find lee to be great innovators and ahead of the curve with ideas and tools. Their workmanship is what I expect from a highschool industrial arts class. I am not even sure if they have a finishing stage on their dies or molds. Any lee piece of equipment I have purchased the treads have been sharp and jagged and typically I have to lap their bullet molds to get rid of sharp edges and flash.
Make no mistake lee does think out their tools but RCBS, Lyman and Hornady go the extra mile for finish, quality and uniformity.
If you talk to the guy that used to sell Ranchdog Molds for the 45-70 he can tell you all about the massive headaches lee caused him with the bullet molds not being consistant. The guy was trying to sell a custom designed mold built by lee for him. It was supposed to be .460 and they would come from lee all the way from .456 to .462. That is pretty unacceptable IMO. | Yes I agree. Please contact Michael, and ask him which press he recommends. http://www.shootersforum.com/member.htm?u=2461
As far as the precision of the new Lyman moulds goes, go to Cast Boolits and read the complaints. Is something wrong at Lyman Products Co.? - Cast Boolits
If your going to buy a Lyman mould I suggest you buy a used one made in the 1960's. I don't care much for the Lee moulds either, but I love their Classic presses. If your going to buy commercial moulds I suggest RCBS. For a little more money you can get a custom made MiHec or NOE.
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For info purposes only, use it at your own risk. JFKimmons and G&G aren't liable for it's misuse.
Last edited by jimkim; 11-18-2009 at 10:07 AM.
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11-18-2009, 01:34 PM
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#47 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 142
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Never a problem with Lee Challenger press. Use it for everything form 380 ACP to 45-70. Their dies work fine too. Have trieda set of RCBS dies, went back to Lee. Their scales and powder measures are not so good. My "perfect" scale would stick frequently. Had to fiddle with the beam to get consistent results. Got an RCBS "competition" powder measure and a 1010 scale. What a difference. Still use the single stage press, priming tool and dies. Use the $ savings on the press and dies to get a better scale and measure. When upgrading to a progressive, go with Dillon and keep using your Lee dies.
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11-19-2009, 02:19 AM
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#48 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bakersfield, Kalifornistan
Posts: 27
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I've got 3 Lee presses, a 3 hole turret from the 1980's, a "Reloader" (The cheap like $20 one) & the hand press as Well as a RCBS Rockchucker & an OLD Junior? press. The only thing I've worn out or my late father for that matter is the nylon gear in the turret press & those are easy to change. I've formed brass with the Reloader (308 to 250 Sav & 308 to 243 when money was tight) & never had a problem. As for dies, I've got RCBS, LEE, C&H, Redding & a couple others, never had a problem with any of them except the broken deprime pins in the RCBS & C&H dies. I've got a RCBS & the LEE scale, no problems with either one, just check what it's set at. With the moulds read the instructions, you have to lube the aluminum ones or they will gall, Lee mentions this a number of times in their instructions, nice thing is they don't rust. Most of my moulds are Lyman, Ideals & LEEs with a few RCBS & Lachmiller & oddballs thrown in. All the moulds will throw an even size bullet if the same alloy is used, remember different alloys weight different, if the bullets cast different size the mould probably isn't filling correctly. This all comes from 30 years reloading for me & God knows how long for my late dad. The point is all the equipment works fine, even with some abuse, just keep in mind if you do abuse any piece of equipment it will probably fail sooner or later.
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BSA Pack55 & Troop 712
NRA Rifle Instructor
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11-19-2009, 02:50 AM
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#49 | | Firearm Aficionado
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,026
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was looking at one of the LEE breechlock presses the other day when a friend of mine came over with his new reloading kitset as he wanted advice on how to set it up and a quick run over on how to use the powder thrower etc so I showed him and he is happy with his purchase they look like a good solid press for cast alloy.
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11-19-2009, 02:55 AM
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#50 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central Western S.DAK.
Posts: 1,866
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I prefer RCBS! If you dont get in a hurry you could probably find a good used one for a little more money than a new lee set-up but you have to look for them! (e-bay, craigslist are a couple of places to watch)
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"Decaffeinated coffee is kind of like kissing your sister" ~ Bob Irwin
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11-20-2009, 09:31 PM
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#51 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: South Western NC
Posts: 312
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"That depends on the skill of the user.I find higher quality tools often lead to lower standard deviation and better accuracy."
I've been at this since '65. Loaded a lot of ammo, used a LOT of different tools - presses, dies, measures, scales, etc. - and have found one thing for sure about equipment: I can load good, accurate ammo on anything unless it's defective. And very little of our equipment IS defective but it is OFTEN used poorly.
A shiney exterior and really neat knurling on any tool reminds me of that old saying about "teats on a boar hog". May be pretty but it sure seems worthless since the ammo is made inside. And surface glitter sure never held my ammo's standard deviation down, that's always been a component/charge solution for me!  | |
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11-20-2009, 10:18 PM
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#52 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA
Posts: 5,441
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For info purposes only, use it at your own risk. JFKimmons and G&G aren't liable for it's misuse.
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11-20-2009, 11:23 PM
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#53 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: central illinois "pit of the prairie"
Posts: 425
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I have had a RCBS RC for pushing 20 years now and it would be my #1 recommendation. I know guys that have bought other presses and ended up spending the $$ twice to get the RC. For dies I pretty much go with Lee although I have some RCBS and Hornady dies. A couple months ago I slipped up and bought a Lymann taper crimp die, the threads are so bad on it it won't even start to thread into the press. I talked to Lymann and they said to send it in and they would check it out. I decided it was money better spent to just buy a Lee taper crimp die than to waste 8 bucks sending the Lymann one back to get it replaced. Even though it was only 15 bucks or so it really ticks me off to have a brand new anything be a total piece of garbage.
After 20 years of using the RC I have a Hornady AP on my wish list and would sure like to get a deal on one before their free bullet offer runs out.
tim
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11-20-2009, 11:49 PM
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#54 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Go "That depends on the skill of the user.I find higher quality tools often lead to lower standard deviation and better accuracy."
I've been at this since '65. Loaded a lot of ammo, used a LOT of different tools - presses, dies, measures, scales, etc. - and have found one thing for sure about equipment: I can load good, accurate ammo on anything unless it's defective. And very little of our equipment IS defective but it is OFTEN used poorly.
A shiney exterior and really neat knurling on any tool reminds me of that old saying about "teats on a boar hog". May be pretty but it sure seems worthless since the ammo is made inside. And surface glitter sure never held my ammo's standard deviation down, that's always been a component/charge solution for me! | If seniority had anything to do with accuracy,I know several that have you beat,including me.I always had to use scales,trimmers, reamers,meisures,dial guages books,and,yes,nice bright shiney dies of high quality.(and the best components I could find,and all the skill I could summon)(and the crux of it is,you may very well be loading better,more accurate ammo than I) ,,,sam.
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11-21-2009, 12:39 AM
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#55 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn.
Posts: 3,096
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I just checked e-bay and they have lots of presses. Rcbs with bids of only 30to 40 dollars and less than a day left a precision press at 11.00 so far and many others like lyman etc check it out before you buy elsewhere.
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11-21-2009, 02:45 PM
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#56 | | Firearm Aficionado
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucker, GA
Posts: 1,194
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trust me, ive been watching ebay too. the catch is the last 4 hours. prices go from $30 to $150 really quick. i think im gonna go with the lee starter kit and buy the RCBS scale and maybe powder thrower seperate. not even sure i want to use a thrower at this point. might be better just to get dippers or the RCBS powder trickler.
again i want to thank everyone here for their insight. its what makes G&G the best place on the web for gun!
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The right to bear arms is WAY less ludicrous than the right to arm bears!
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11-21-2009, 08:09 PM
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#57 | | Firearm Aficionado
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,026
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FN FAL | I have had a RCBS RC for pushing 20 years now and it would be my #1 recommendation. I know guys that have bought other presses and ended up spending the $$ twice to get the RC. For dies I pretty much go with Lee although I have some RCBS and Hornady dies. A couple months ago I slipped up and bought a Lymann taper crimp die, the threads are so bad on it it won't even start to thread into the press. I talked to Lymann and they said to send it in and they would check it out. I decided it was money better spent to just buy a Lee taper crimp die than to waste 8 bucks sending the Lymann one back to get it replaced. Even though it was only 15 bucks or so it really ticks me off to have a brand new anything be a total piece of garbage.
After 20 years of using the RC I have a Hornady AP on my wish list and would sure like to get a deal on one before their free bullet offer runs out.
tim | I had that issue with my Lyman 6.5x55 neck die I just wound it in and out until the thread started to ease up and now I have no issues at all. It is usually a burr on the thread that can cause that
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11-21-2009, 08:17 PM
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#58 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Florida - the Gunshine State!
Posts: 15,415
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Gotta remember, no matter the company, they all are now run by bean-counters. They use unskilled labor running automated equipment - hand fitting is no longer done by and large. Keeps costs down and profits up - til they go out of business due to crap quality......
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11-21-2009, 08:38 PM
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#59 | | Firearm Zealot
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Blair, NE
Posts: 5,067
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gamehunter | I had that issue with my Lyman 6.5x55 neck die I just wound it in and out until the thread started to ease up and now I have no issues at all. It is usually a burr on the thread that can cause that | This would be part of the finishing stage that I feel is important.
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We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. -Aesop | |
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11-21-2009, 08:51 PM
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#60 | | Firearm Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 317
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For new guys I recommend the Lee turret press. First thing you should get is a manual. Lyman is good. Study the whole thing before making a decision. Ive been reloading since 1972. You can get defective stuff from anyone but they will fix it for you. I use mostly Lee dies. The Lee factory crimp dies are used on all my loads except match rifle which has no crimp. Good luck and ask questions here.
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