Reloading Press

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

THE GUESS WHO

Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
49
I am looking to buy an new or used reloading press for .38 special. I am not a pro and my realoading skills are just above a novice. What brand would be a good brand to buy. Looking for something simple but durable.

Thank you ,
 
RCBS Jr. press (single stage), will load anything you need to load. Once you get real comfortable, you can always upgrade to a progressive and keep the Jr. for special loadings
 
Beware the Reloading Press.

I started with a Lee (and they ARE great products), moved to an RCBS RockChucker, then to a Redding turret press, finally to a Dillon 550B. The faster you load, the more you can shoot.

Probably a single stage press is the best way to learn though, and the most inexpensive route too.

It's lots of fun, and you may still save a little money......maybe.
 
if you decide on a single stage leave room on your bench for another in tandem. if you have a 'buddy' to pull the lever and extra shellholders can crank some rounds out after you set the die in 2nd press.
I have a chucker (bottle neck sizeing) and lee classic in tandem. handy for loading rifle too.
 
For your need, any press made will do the job quite nicely. Used can be good but beware of eBay, a LOT of dummies pay more than new retail for old, well used stuff there!

I would suggest you look at the little Lee "Reloader" bench press. It's about as inexpensive as you will find and plenty strong/durable enough to allow you to load quite a few thousands of .38 Specials. The Reloader press does NOT reprime, so you would need to add a hand primer of some kind.

Again, I'd recommend the Lee Autoprime tool, and it's special shell holder will be required too. (Lee's Pacesetter and Delux die sets include the proper shell holder for the press, at no extra charge.)
 
I just bought a Lee Classic Turret press, along with the auto-disk powder measure and safety primer feed, so it is basically a start to finish 4-stage press for a single cartridge (no batch loading). I think this is a very good way to go. The reloading rate is dandy for low volume (150+ per hour once setup and running) and it will avoid alot of risk with running in batches and forgetting which casings are charged and which aren't.

I'm new to this also (less than 1k cartridges loaded on it, assembled three weeks ago), and I would absolutely spend my money this way again if I needed to rebuy already.

FYI: with current prices I spent roughly $350 in equipment, and assuming a pro-rate over 5000 rounds to recover costs I'm reloading 40 caliber S&W for 21 cents each. Local bulk ammo prices in California are near 75 cents each.
 
lordmogul: "I just bought a Lee Classic Turret press, along with the auto-disk powder measure and safety primer feed, so it is basically a start to finish 4-stage press for a single cartridge (no batch loading). I think this is a very good way to go. The reloading rate is dandy for low volume (150+ per hour once setup and running) and it will avoid alot of risk with running in batches and forgetting which casings are charged and which aren't".
Click to expand...

This is good to hear. In my opinion too many new reloaders feel that they have to have a progressive loading system either because they get intoxicated with the numbers of rounds per hour or because of some other reason without first establishing good loading habits and without due consideration to the dangers involved.

Progressives can be very impressive, and for experienced reloaders they can provide a lot of ammo in a relatively short time. But they don't generally have an easy method to double check the process and I think new loaders should be double checking every part of their procedures and never stop doing it.

ONE double charge will blow up an expensive gun. So it can cost a lot of money to make one mistake.

More than that though is that that one mistake can take fingers or eyes and sometimes it can even take the life of the errant reloader.

It takes a lot of time, a lot of repetitions to get loading right for sure every time. The most successful loaders NEVER take any part of their loading for granted no matter how long they've been doing it.

I think progressive loading takes away the kind of forced slow solid learning curve that can keep a person safely reloading ammunition over the course of a lifetime.
 
You learn the same habits, regardless if the machine is progressive or not. The thing is, you can use a progressive just like a single stage and make 1 round at a time, if you want. Except, you don't have to change the toolhead between every stage! In fact, when you change calibers on a progressive you do use it like a single stage, until you get the dies set properly, then it's rock and roll time.

Of course, if you are the type that can't walk and chew gum at the same time, I digress. I spose riding around in a horse drawn carriage is safer than riding in one of them new fangled automobiles, too. :)
 
Last edited:
Except for some time with the Lee "whack a mole" loaders, I started reloading with a Dillon 550B:

Read the instructions. Maybe 4 or 5 times. Then read them again. :)

Read the introductory chapters in a reloading manual.

Load a few pistol rounds, using one station at a time.

Read the manual again.

Finally get progressive operation working for pistol.

Try to get grin off your face. (Fail...)

Decide to reload bottleneck calibers, order dies and additional toolheads.

Read the manual again.

Fight headspace, order Wilson gauges.

Load a few rifle rounds, using one station at a time.

Get trim length and headspace figured out, and use press progressively after doing resizing as a separate operation at station 1.

Try to get grin off your face. (Fail...)

Anyway, that's the general idea. Progressive presses are more complicated, but I believe they are not beyond mastery. If you are into details, and understand what the machinery is trying to do, you can usually get it working correctly.

Did I mention reading the manuals?

I believe I ultimately saved money, because I didn't wind up with a garage full of "beginner" presses and tools. However, I will readily admit that, if I'd gotten frustrated with the whole business and gave up, it would have been a more expensive mistake.

So, if you are determined to make this a lifelong pursuit, and if the initial investment isn't more than you can handle, I wouldn't give up on the idea of starting off with a "low end" progressive like the 550B.

Good luck!
 
It's for those who can't walk and chew gum at the same time BUT THINK THAT THEY CAN that I make a post like that above. Progressive reloading is a breeding ground for complacency, for idiots to say "Aw heck, this is easy" and then come to a forum asking what on earth could be wrong with their revolver that blew out the cylinder and lifted off the frame bridge, leaving their fingers and eyes alone of course, but only because someone protects the foolish ...... for a while.
 
I would suggest this kit:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tnumber=423081

It doesn't include absolutely everything, but it has most of the basics, is a fine press for .38 Special, and is an especially good deal right now.
Click to expand...

It's even better than when I bought that kit a month ago from Midway.

I concur as far as equipment goes. I'd also find an electronic readout dial caliper and a small electronic scale. The VERY FIRST THING I'd buy or rather the very first two things is The ABC's of Reloading 8th edition by Chevalier and some kind of load data manual. I bought the Lyman book myself, but there are other quality books out there as well. Good luck.
 
Progressive reloading is a breeding ground for complacency
Click to expand...

I guess I can see this angle, if you equate speed with complacency, but I'm not sure how a single stage press prevents complacency...

I probably should have mentioned, along with reading the manual, that absolute concentration is essential for safety. (Kind of like how driving one of them new fangled automobiles is supposed to require your full attention...but that was before texting while driving :) )

I believe, from my limited experience, that an appreciation for safety is necessary before you even start. If the new reloader can't grasp that, I maintain that he is going to get into trouble, regardless of the type of press he uses.
 
my advice to you would be to buy a lock and load hornady. right now they have a deal where they will give you 200 free bullets with a single stage press and thats worth about 60 bucks so there hard to beat at that price. I bought one and its every bit as good as my rock chucker or the old lyman orange crush i used to have. the lock and load feature is pretty handy to boot.
 
GUESS, when I decided I wanted to start reloading my own ammo I lurked a lot and learned a whole lot! I read whatever I could find about all the brands. What I came away with was this: I didn't want to invest too much only to find out I did not like reloading. (I later realized that this didn't matter as there will always be someone out there that will buy your stuff if you want to unload it.) Lee products seemed a very good compromise. I began by looking at the single stage stuff. Then I noticed the Lee Classic Turret Press. It's a compromise between a single stage and a full-tilt boogie progressive. You can use it as a single stage or, with 4 pulls of the handle build ammo a bit quicker; 150 to 200 rounds per hour. You can also easliy keep your finger on the pulse of the operation. By that I mean I can look at every charge and make sure there's no double charged loads, etc. So, I opted for the LCT and have not regretted it. My initial cost to set up for that first (45ACP) caliber using 4 carbide dies was $330. Add the bench I bought from COSTCO and 4ft fluorescent light fixture from Home Depot and my grand total was $436. I purchased the setup in a kit from Sue at www.kempfgunshop.com This included a tumbler, the upgrades that lordmorgul mentioned and assorted goodies like a scale, bullet puller and calipers. I have since added 2 more calibers at a cost of around $50 per caliber including the dies and turret. I'm way pleased with my setup, the cost, the quick payoff with the money I have saved reloading and have not seen the need to upgrade to a progressive. Others definitely needed the progressive. Good luck with your research and choice. There are plenty of folks on the forum that will be glad to help you work through any problems you may have no matter which rig you choose.
 
I am looking to reload 300-500 rounds a month.
Click to expand...

LEE's Classic turret kit from Kempfs and then add yourself a Lee Classic cast single stage and you'll be set.

LGB
 
I prefer a single stage press because I enjoy reloading and am not concerned with speed. Presently I have a RCBS JR3 and a Lee Breechlock Challenger.They both work fine for what I do. The Lee Classic Cast and Classic Turret are both good presses and you can operate the classic turret as either single stage or turret. If I were going to get one today it would probably be the classic turret for the ease of handling the dies.Mount each set in a different turret. But for now I'll stick with what I have.
 
Order the Lee kit (http://www.grafs.com/product/233045) and dies from Grafs and while you're there, get a couple boxes of Missouri Bullet .38 Match. You're all set, then.

Remember: Grafs includes shipping in their prices.

You'll note I did not link you to the "classic" turret. IMHO, this is perfectly adequate for pistol ammo (it's what I have), plus you get the whole kit for just a few shekels more than the Classic.

Q
 
I bought a Pacific press at a gun show for next to nothing. Takes two guys to carry it but it says its for 30-06 type cases what ever that's supposed to mean. I have to get it bolted down and see what it can do.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Getting into handloading/reloading...
Replies
4
Views
399
bflobill_69
B
D
  • Locked
Shotgun Reloading, what to buy?
Replies
10
Views
566
Dr.Who
D
J
  • Locked
Classic Cast or Rock Chucker Supreme
Replies
5
Views
515
BluesBear
B
sturmruger
  • Locked
  • Poll
What type of press do you own
2 3 4
Replies
91
Views
5K
donkee
donkee
U
  • Locked
Reload but do not chronograph?
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
5K
joed
joed
Back
Top