beginner kits

Hunter06FlKy · 05-30-2005, 02:43 PM

i've been thinking about starting to reload a little for my 30-06, 44 mag, and 30 carbine. do ya'll have any recommendations for a low priced setup to start with. i've looked at the lee anniversary kit, the classic kit, and the portable kit. i don't have alot of money to go toward but i would like to do a little of reloading. i probably wouldn't do a whole lot of reloading but at least a box or two a month. thanks in advance.

WVHunter129 · 06-07-2005, 09:55 AM

I just got into reloading myself about a year ago and I am like you, a casual reloader. I went with the Lee Anniversary Kit with the manual. I highly recommend you go with that one. Now a lot of people will put down Lee stuff, but I am here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with Lee. I reload for the following, 30-06, 303 British, 8mm (8x57) Mauser, 38/357 and 9mm Luger. You will also need to get the Lee Case Length gauge for each of the calibers your going to reload for trimming your brass, cause brass stretches once fired.

The Lee kit doesn't come with the Case Length gauge or the dies for your particular caliber...you have to order that separately. But it comes with most everything else you will need. It is a good kit for someone who wants to try their hand at reloading without going through the big expense.

The only thing that I replaced out of the Lee package was the scale...I purchased, off eBay, a RCBS 5-0-5 scale, a much better scale.

I then purchased a tumbler to clean my brass, cleaning by hand sucks.

Gundigest · 06-07-2005, 03:20 PM

I got the RCBS Rockchucker reloading kit when I got into it a few years ago. It is a great kit, I would recommend it. I have not delt much with the Lee stuff, but I do like RCBS.

Just a tip: I like the RCBS hand priming tool better than the Lee version (we have both). The RCBS takes the same shell holder as the press does when the Lee takes a different shell holder. If you buy the Lee shell holders in the multi caliber package (about 12 shell holders for about $15) that fit in the press you can modifey the RCBS hand priming tool to accept them. It will save you some money and it is very easy. On mine I just shaved the shoulder on the plastic sleeve that the shell holder rest on untill the Lee shell holders would fit.