Newbe wants to reload for .44 Mag

[johnshiredman]

I want to start reloading. I will start with .44 Mag to load some light 240gr cast plinkers and possibly some 300gr lbt hunting rounds. I have read three reloading guides and went to a reloading seminar. What I would like your input on is the brand of equipment I should invest in. I have heard through forums that Lee equipment works fine for the money; so I am thinking about the four hole turret with the deluxe pistol carbide dies including the factory crimp. BUT, in chatting with someone the other day I heard that Lee scales and power measures are not as accurate as other brands like RCBS etc... PLEASE set the record straight for me so I know this is not just one persons biased opinion. Will the Lee equipment be good for me or do you have other recomendations? Thanks for your thoughts.

[handloader1]

Most of my equipment is RCBS, and it has worked well for me. I own one set of Lee Dies, and I am not impressed with them. Good luck.

[Highpower]

I'll second the RCBS vote. Strong press and quality equipment. If you're looking for a turret press for loading handgun ammo, look at the Lyman Turret. I picked one up several years ago for just handgun work, and it has served me very well. Seems like a pretty high quality press. Only downside I can see, is depending on how many calibers you're loading for, you have may have to buy several turrets. Each turret will hold 6 dies so you can 'set and forget' dies for 2 calibers ammo per turret. Much faster than working with a single stage press. I wouldn't even consider Lee equipment, but that's just my opinion.

If its something you feel strong about, go with good equipment. The RCBS works good. If this is pistol only, look into the hornady progressive. I always suggest people starts on a single stage, then after a year of that, move to the progressive.

If pistol only, the rockchucker kit is a bit too much. Tell us a bit more, like how much you plan to shoot. How much time are willing to invest in say 100 rounds of reloading. How deep are your pockets.

The lees will work just fine. But they are on the cheapie side. I could easily replicate factory loads with a lee.

[HighDesertWolf]

I feel most confident with RCBS and reddings quality but I also use some lee stuff when i first got into it I bought the lee aniversary kit I still use everything in it except the scale. The powder throw is decsent but a little flimsy but gets the job done the challenger press is great with carbide pistol dies it actually works alright with most everything except full length rifle sizing when you start doing that you begin to see how it lacks in strength when I saw that I bought a Rock chucker, I'm about to buy a Redding T-7 turret press but it ruins about $180. if you go the Lee road to start out I deffinately recommend using carbide pistol dies since they require no case lube and are pretty easy on the press. Dont be to turned off from lee if you do have a problem with their equipment they have a no haggle customer service. A friend of mine uses the lee challenger press for resizing 45 colt and 454 cassull cases he loaded in the upwards of atleast 10,000 45 long colts with it and atleast 3,000 cassulls with it before he had a problem but the problem he had was with the ram it was misaligning with the dies due to the wear on the aluminum frame even though his 2 year warranty was up they still sent him a new frame for just the cost of shipping. But redding and RCBS will last you a lifetime before you have a problem with one of them, Another press I looked at was a Lee Classic cast its seems to actually be one of the better designs I have ever seen Lee make I have no experience with one but I would almost bet it is just as good if not better then the rock chucker. It also is alot cheaper it is half the price of a rock chucker.

[johnch]

IMO a new reloader should NEVER start on a progressive press ,I know the turret can be used as a single stage but most don't. A new reloader will mess up some ,the progressive press lets you do it faster and to more cases. I load on 2 rock chuckers for most things . I used the new cast iron Lee single stage and liked it ,a good starter press . I use Lee carbide pistol dies and factory crimp die for 357 mag 44 mag and 454.
When you have loaded for a while and want a progressive press look at Dillon , I have used a 550 for years and have never had a problem.

[HighDesertWolf]

I coulndt agree with you more johnch, I have been loading shotshells for 10 years and metallics for a little more then a year, I still use a single stage press even with my shotshell loadings I personally prefer to do one thing at a time less likely to make a mistake.