Okay its been quite a long time since I reloaded my own shells, but I have been thinking of getting back into it. I figure this would be a good place to ask who you guys think is the best producer of reloading equipment? I live about 15 min from the Dillon Company, but before I go get one of their setups I would like to know what you guys think I should go with. I will be reloading mostly for a .270, a 30.06, and a 300 Ultra mag. Let me know what you guys have had success.

Knifeboy (I'd rather be lucky than good).

Howdy. I use a RCBS rock chucker i have used RCBS eq for about 20 years and have never bin dissapointed. Dillon from what i have heard is also good eq if you live that close you might get a deal. Cabelas sell's RCBS kits, price varies from $260 to $500 depending on what package you want. About the only eq i have that is not RCBS is my digital scale witch is cabelas they opened a store a couple of hours from here in pa and i got a good deal on it. I love to reload i have taken 40+ white tails with a center fire rifle and have never used a factory round. any how hope this helps.

I have used an RCBS loader since 1968 and am still using the same one today. I like their dies as well. If you can't get their dies I like Lee dies.
Hope this helps.

For my hunting reloads I use a RCBS Rockchucker and mostly Redding bushing dies, about 8 sets in all. For my target rifles I prefer not to use a press, same for competition. For that I use Wilson knockout NS bushing dies, no press, just a little rawhide mallet. You can sure use a lot of different equipment with this hobby, but I guess you know that. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Howdy. Not all my dies are RCBS most of them are, but i also use hornady and redding dies they all seem to perform well.

I'm with Cal. Bushing sizing dies such as Redding and Wilson are the way to go. The Rockchucker is a must have. Get it now cause sooner or later you will buy one.

Ben

I'm just getting back into reloading. It's been 25 years od so since I last did it. I bought a T/C Encore last year with 243,223, & 308 barrels. I'm getting misfires with factory rounds in both the 243 & 308 barrels. After a lot of research and factory returns etc, I've determined that the problem is related to head space, so I'm going to load my own and solve my problem. I just bought a Lee "Classic" and Lee Deluxe dies for both these barrels and have begun to re-size some 308's. I'm looking forward to working up some loads and trying them out this spring. I don't see how you can beat Lee for quality at a pretty good price. Just my 2 pennies worth.

Blaine

Howdy. Just a note RCBS has a lifetime waranty if the press ever brakes they will fix it or replace free ( i like free )

Knifeboy -

If you are reloading rifle cartridges, you can't go wrong with the RCBS Rockchucker Master Kit. You will still need to buy calipers and eventually you will want a case trimmer and tumbler.

I've been using a RockChucker for well over 20 year and it is like new. I broke a decap pin in a die once and RCBS sent new ones for free. And that was before they had a lifetime guarantee (which they do now).

If you do more pistol, consider a progressive, but many folks with both types use their single stage press for their rifles. The advantage of a progressive disappears quickly when you hand weigh each powder charge, as I do with all my extruded powders (rifle cartridges). Every now and then I get an itch to get a progressive for my pistol calibers but I generally get a new gun instead.

If you shoot competitive pistol or Cowboy you will almost certainly want a progressive. Other than that, a single stage will do very well. I lost track of how many rounds I've cranked out on my Rockchucker, but it has been many, many thousands.

I prefer Redding products over RCBS, just a personal choice, but I have to admit that for customer service RCBS is second to none. They're the most fair minded business I've ever encountered and will go out of their way to be helpful. I'm impressed. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Great website!

I know some people look down on Lee reloading equipment. But my first press was a Lee 1000 progressive. Back when they were $99 for the whole works. It was in 223 REM (i had an ar15 to feed) It worked great! I loaded thousands of rounds though it. I still use it.

I loaded 45 acp with it also. It is a pain to change to a diff bullet, but I got pretty good at it. Years later I decided instead of changing everything each time I wanted to change bullet, I'd just order another press. I got one set up in 9 mm. has the bullet feeder. That is great! Just load all the components and start cranking. It's amazing how many rounds two people can crank out! (arm gets tierd, need a partner lol) Has carbide dies, so no lubing.

I may get another Lee 1000 in 45 acp.

I use a Lyman orange crusher for the bigger stuff.

I have RCBS, Hornady and a lot of Lee dies. The only thing I dislike about the Lee Dies are those O-ring Lock Rings because you can't depend on them "staying put". What I do is buy the Lyman split rings and pitch the Lee rings. Now I can install the die and go to town with only an occasional "check" to see if all measurements are where I left them from the previous time. I also measure from the top of the ring to the top of the die and write that down along with the bullet used. As I use different bullets, I keep a log of those measurements. This lets me get back "real close" to the setting I had for a specific bullet. Your not re-inventing the wheel every time you switch. Anybody want bunch of Lee rings??

Jim

This has been a really good post. I like all the comments. I Still havent heard if anyone has ever used a Dillon reloader. Let me know if you have. And keep these posts on this topic up. I keep learning more and more. Oh Yea I wont be reloading for pistols, so if that changes things let me know.

Knifeboy

Knifeboy,
Personally, the only major complaint I have heard of concerning progressive press (including Dillon) is that certain types of powder have a tendency to lodge in the powder measure drop tube. This is generally on small necked cartridges like the 223. I’m sure you know this can cause variations in powder weights and possible over/under charges. A miss-charged case can produce a bullet stuck in the barrel or even worse a blown up gun, definitely unwanted mishaps.
For most of my rifle reloading I generally use IMR powders, they usually don’t meter very well in small drop tubes. That is one reason I use single stage presses. Consequently, I drop a light powder charge from a measure into a scale pan, then trickle the last half grain or so onto the scale. After charging, each case is inspected before the bullet is seated. Using a loading tray helps and it only takes a few seconds. By placing all the brass in a flat it is easy to compare the charged brass under a good light, any significant miss-charges can be readily seen. As far as brands, I use single stage RCBS and Pacific (now Hornady) presses for rifles and a Lyman T-press for pistols. My reloading dies consist of RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Lee and Herters. Lee Auto-Primers are also handy pieces of reloading paraphernalia. I have two, one set up for small primers and another for large.

Good luck in your quest!

Knifeboy wrote:

This has been a really good post. I like all the comments. I Still havent heard if anyone has ever used a Dillon reloader. Let me know if you have. And keep these posts on this topic up. I keep learning more and more. Oh Yea I wont be reloading for pistols, so if that changes things let me know. Knifeboy

Well,.. I just signed on and read your post.

I have owned and used a Dillion RL 550B progressive press now for about 12 years. I use it to reload all of my metallic shooting shells. I have had the powder measure give me abnormal shots of powder from time to time (extruded powders) but it has never been much of a complaint for me as I monitor each rifle round I produce by varifying the charge weight in a digital powder scale anyhow. Most of your progressive machines will do this as the powder cylinder shape will from time to time make a little "log-jam" in the neck of the powder funnel. Ball or flake powder and even the "short cut" version of extruded powder all meter flawlessly. But me being me,.. I personally always check each rifle round that I produce.

Handgun shells I try and check every tenth round for consistancty but have yet to see anymore than a 00.2 variance from load to load which is fine as I work normaly on the light end of the max loads for them the majority of the time.

Dillon has,.. in my opinion,.. the BEST warranty out there I have had only 2 failures in the whole time I have used this machine and the problem was NOT the machine. I had on 2 different occasions a round stuck in the decapping / sizing die for my 7mm Mag. But after a phone call the folks at Dillon had a NEW die sent out to me and I would send them the bad one back in the packaging I received the new one in.No charge to me & No questions asked,.. the just said "We'll send a new one out to you"!

They DO have what they call a "NO B.S. GUARENTEE"!!


Just about EVERY reloading piece of equipment I own is Dillon,... If they make it,.. and I need it,..... I own it !

They have earned my trust and my business