Starting to reload

[Ichiban]

This thread is making me want to go through some of those boxes that haven't been unpacked for a couple of moves and see if I can find my old RCBS Rock Chucker, etc.  I'm pretty sure I still have the dies for .38s and maybe some others.

[garand4life]

This thread is making me want to go through some of those boxes that haven't been unpacked for a couple of moves and see if I can find my old RCBS Rock Chucker, etc.  I'm pretty sure I still have the dies for .38s and maybe some others.

A guy at the gun shop by me recommended that exact loader today.

[MikeBjerum]

A guy at the gun shop by me recommended that exact loader today.

RCBS and their Rock Chucker are probably the Jello, Kleenex, Band Aid or Lazy Boy of reloading.  I haven't heard anyone refer to reloaders as RCBS's, but I have been to gun shows and in big box stores where single stage presses have all been called Rock Chuckers or just Chuckers.  For many years I thought there were three companies supplying reloaders - RCBS, MEC and Lee.  RCBS and MEC were heavily engineered and luxury, and Lee was economy.  What a shock to start learning and see what is really out there.

I would like to know what RCBS pays for its positioning in most chain stores.  Take a look at the number of slots for RCBS kits and their displays, and the end cap placement RCBS gets for their lines.  Most other brands are in one location only and lumped as an entire group, and RCBS is there as well.

Not bashing RCBS by any means, bit it is interesting their strong marketing and public foothold.

[Solus]

RCBS stands for Rock Chucker Bullet Swaging.  The company started making presses to swage bullets using spent .22lr cases as the jackets of the bullets.

Bullet swaging takes a lot more pressure than resizing standard rifle/pistol so when they moved into reloading presses they had the same strength built in.  The RCBS "O" presses became known for their strength over "C" presses.  Don't know if anyone offers a "C" press any longer, but I believe everyone offers "O" presses now.

In looking at single stage presses this morning, I see that Hornady offers a single stage "O" press that uses the LnL die bushing.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Classic-Loader/

That would offer a very quick way to swap dies for reloading a single caliber or from caliber to caliber....and the parts would lend themselves for use in the LnL AP if that was your upgrade path.

[showdown]

I have an rcbs rock chucker master reloading kit seems really nice to me .

[Sponsor]

[les snyder]

Garand4Life... if you are only going to load 100 or so rounds a month, a single stage like a Rock Chucker with compound linkage is a good option, and allow rifle calibers... many can be found in the used market, and a good set of carbide sizing dies, powder measure, and powder scale , primer flipper tray, and possibly a dial caliper is about all you need

if you want to get into the practical shooting sports, then by all means go with a Dillon... I went the following route, starting in the 80's...Lee pound in with hammer,  RCBS Junior, CH444, Dillon 450, upgrade to 550 specs, Terry Phelps case feeder for the 450/550, second 550 (purchased from MB), and finally to a Super 1050

the first year with the 550 , I cast, sized and lubed, and  shot over 33,000 rounds

[mauler]

I suggest buying a Dillon product, hands down, no question.  Their customer service is second to none.  A couple weeks ago, one of the link arms on my Square Deal B broke.  I've had this press since 2002 and have loaded tens of thousands of rounds with it.  I called Dillon, and the guy verified with me on the phone whether or not my press had the brass bushings (it did) and he mailed me two new link arms and told me to go ahead and replace both.  No charge.  They never charge me for anything.  They stand behind their product.

If you are planning on reloading only handgun, then I strongly suggest the Dillon Square Deal B.  You can easily reload 300 rounds per hour once you get the hang of it.  It is also much less expensive than the 550 or 650.

I have told many people that I cannot more highly recommend any company and its products more than I do Dillon.

You will need a brass tumbler, a good set of scales, a set of hand calipers, a media/brass separator.  Dillon can provide all of these in one neat package.

[jaybet]

I have been reloading for the past two years, so I'm not as experienced as some on this board. But here's my recommendation based on my own experiences:

I would start with a Lee Classic Turret press. It gives you the simplicity of a single stage press and some of the benefits of a progressive press. It is very well made and I have never had a problem with it. It allows you to see exactly what is happening every pull of the handle.

I have a Hornady LNL AP, like Alf, but I have had a very different experience with the press than Alf, unfortunately. I'll save those comments for that thread.

To me if you are starting out and you are not trying to load for volume, I would get my feet wet with a Lee Classic Turret and go from there. Here's the link to it on Midway:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=814175

Best of luck!
-FA

That's MY rig and it works great. I get very consistent ammo out of it and I've never had a "BAD" round. Just make sure you seat the primers fully or you'll get an occasional ftf on the first try.

[Tyler Durden]

I've really come to the conclusion that I want to start reloading on a limited basis. Mainly only 9mm and later .45ACP but I'm not sure where to start. I know you can by kits from Hornady and the like that supposedly have all the hardware you need but how true is that. Also, does any brand of reloader tend to be easier to operate than another? When it comes to availability and cost of dies is there any advantage of one versus another? Empart some wisdom... If you were advising a good place to start and making a shopping list of needed items what would it include? Trying to keep the cost down and I don't need high volume. Thanks

I would do a keyword search on the Craig's List major metropolitan area closest to you.  Key words would be:

RCBS
Hornady
Dillon
Lyman
Lee
MEC
Redding
Texan
Star

Just now doing a google maps search has you closer to Pittsburgh:

for example:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=33&subAreaID=&query=RCBS&catAbb=sss

just be careful...meet in public if you can, or bring another person with you.  definitely let somebody know where you are at or where you're heading.

[Tyler Durden]

if you were to be shooting competitions like IDPA or USPSA competitions, I would highly recommend a Dillon 550 or 650.

If you're not going to be shooting competitions, then I would just get a single stage press.

BUT....and this is a really big BUTTTTTT....I wouldn't buy anything unless I already a source lined up for cheaper primers.  I guess right about now anything under $30 per 1,000 primers would be considered good.