Christmas is coming. Reloading kit for a beginner?

[Mark_Mark]

Still using My RCBS Master kit that my father bought in ‘73. I have a Dillon SDB but haven’t used it in years. I have loaded so many 1000’s on the Rock Chucker that I am very efficient, safe and produce quality ammunition. Really don’t see the need for more.

I also have a RCBS Kit and Dillion SDB! great combo

My other combo is Lyman 8-Turret and Lee APPx2! SUPER Combo

 

[westernrover]

I would never buy someone cheap tools for a gift. Buy quality or pass. The press is not necessarily the most important piece of reloading kit (that would probably be the dies), but the press does tend to be the centerpiece in most of our minds. Get him a good press, and let him build out from there.

I won't advocate only one particular brand because I think they each offer something that is a quality item for what it is. Lee has a lot of cheapo stuff, but good ones too. Get the Classic Cast (iron not the aluminum). Redding is all quality (except the die lock rings) - Big Boss II. MEC makes a slick single-stage press. Lyman single stage - Victory. The Bonanzas are good but hard to find. Nothing wrong with an RCBS Rebel. All of these presses are quality items and will serve a lifetime, even after someone might go progressive.

I wouldn't get a kit because it will come with some junky stuff.

 

[hq]

OK, thanks again to all contributors. There are a few considerations, however, that need to be kept in mind:

It's not a given that my son will be interested in reloading. I didn't reload that much when he still lived at home so all he really did was shoot some of my reloads and there's a distinct uncertainty factor in play. He might get into it big time, in which case I'm happy to swap presses and let him have the Dillon. He might just load occasionally, in which case a single stage or turret press is all he really needs.

Or he might try it and forget about the whole thing. Or start little by little when he has a chance to do it on his own. That's really up to him.

I really wish the prices were even close to what they're in the US. RCBS Rock Chucker master kit sells for close to €600 / $700, Lee Challenger kit for €215 / $250 (on sale right now, regular price €279) and everything worth considering somewhere in between.

 

[ericuda]

Get the challenger kit. I see it as economical, not cheap. It will work fine for cartridges listed and I bet it'll do fine with the larger cartridges he plans on. Probly wouldn't wanta load 1000's of 375 h&h but to load 20 with would be fine and probably what he would shoot. Just use a good lube to size.

I have lee challenger, cast and turret. Cast better for rifle but I have no issues sizing and decaping with challenger and wouldnt be worried to load with it. It is mounted on the 3 legged lee stand I move around to wherever I want to perform the mundane tasks of decapping and sizing.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

OK, thanks again to all contributors. There are a few considerations, however, that need to be kept in mind:

It's not a given that my son will be interested in reloading. I didn't reload that much when he still lived at home so all he really did was shoot some of my reloads and there's a distinct uncertainty factor in play. He might get into it big time, in which case I'm happy to swap presses and let him have the Dillon. He might just load occasionally, in which case a single stage or turret press is all he really needs.

Or he might try it and forget about the whole thing. Or start little by little when he has a chance to do it on his own. That's really up to him.

I really wish the prices were even close to what they're in the US. RCBS Rock Chucker master kit sells for close to €600 / $700, Lee Challenger kit for €215 / $250 (on sale right now, regular price €279) and everything worth considering somewhere in between.

I know I said get the turret press but, for rifles all you really need is a good lube and good dies. Seriously, don't go overboard. I use this setup on the right to load .357Max, .30-06, .35Whelen, 7.62x54R...and a whole host of rifle and handgun cartridges.

That's an RCBS Partner bolted to a bar stool. I paid less than $50 (new/total) from Midway for the press and $20 (new+tax) for the bar stool from Walmart. That was about ten years ago.

I'm not suggesting your son make do with such a strange rig. However...it is nice to be able to take my "reloading bench" outside in nice weather and enjoy some sunshine, a cool breeze, the birds singing, and all that other hippy tree hugger krap.

 

[webrx]

I started with and RCBS single stage partner press then later bought a Lee classic turret when I started loading higher volumes.
I still use the single stage for rifle rounds and accurate rounds for pistol like .38 wadcutters, and the turret is generally for high volume pistol rounds like 9mm range ammo, the exception is .223 rifle range ammo, due to the volume needed (shot by my youngest son in an AR). While I do load .223 range ammo on the turret, when I am loading for accuracy in the bolt action, I still use the single stage for those .223.

So, basically I use the turret for high volume/range rounds and the single stage for "more accurate" rounds.

As others have said, there is always a place for a single stage, even if it is eventually just relegated to the roll of depriming with a universal die prior to or after tumbling. Even when loading pistol, since I deprime in a separate step, I use the RCBS to deprime rounds, have it set up with a little deflector so the primers drop into a trash can so it works for me.

YMMV

 

[eyeshot]

Buy him one of the two rifles you mentioned. You already have a setup, let him use yours. In my family, mechanical and software engineers, all have the equipment but none use it. At all. They just buy what ammo they need and can afford to.

Just no time with ladder climbing and children plans and all. He might be different but he doesn't seem interested in reloading or he would be using your setup by now.

Gather dust or a new/ used rifle from Dad. No brainer at this point in his life. IMO.

 

[hq]

Buy him one of the two rifles you mentioned. You already have a setup, let him use yours.

Thanks for the suggestion but buying a rifle for someone around here would include a bunch of red tape; the whole process of permit application. Or giving for that matter, I've given him a few over the years, mainly about a decade ago when everything wasn't so difficult (thanks, EU) and lately he has bought a number of rifles himself. He definitely prefers to choose himself.

Whenever he has spare time he's at home - in the sticks - and I mainly live in the city these days, so it's also a distance issue. And for $300-ish (+ some of my spare equiment) IMO worth it to find out. The worst case scenario being that I eventually end up with a second reloading press.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The worst case scenario being that I eventually end up with a second reloading press.

Ha! Like that hasn't been the plan all along!

Just kidding!

 

[H&R Glock]

Yup let him use your equipment to reload. If you give him the equipment he's gonna' be awfully disappointed when he finds it impossible to buy supplies. Sorta like giving a gift of one shoe.

 

[hq]

If you give him the equipment he's gonna' be awfully disappointed when he finds it impossible to buy supplies.

Surprisingly enough, reloading supplies are far from sold out around here. Pretty much any gun store has cases upon cases of primers, bullets and powder in stock. Prices have gone up a bit during last couple of years (€60-70/$67-78 for 1000 primers, for example) but there's no shortage of any components.

Some American factory cartridges in less common calibers have become difficult to come by, though. That, on the other hand, may be an incentive for him to start rolling his own. The cheapest .35 Whelen I've found in several months has been Norma Oryx at $4 a pop (Remington Core-Lokt has been $1.70/ea when it's available) so it'll eventually make financial sense. While he's making good money as civil engineer he's keen on getting as much bang for his buck as possible, which is always a good sign.

Ha! Like that hasn't been the plan all along!

Just kidding!

Now that you mentioned it...

 

[hq]

OK, the choice has been made. I got him a Lee Turret 4 kit. Some items may be a bit sub par but I have a spare case trimmer, tumbler, calipers and assorted accessories he can have to complete the set.

Thanks to everybody for contributing & Merry Christmas!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

OK, the choice has been made. I got him a Lee Turret 4 kit. Some items may be a bit sub par but I have a spare case trimmer, tumbler, calipers and assorted accessories he can have to complete the set.

Thanks to everybody for contributing & Merry Christmas!

Great choice!

Merry Christmas!