Mach 1
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2018
- Messages
- 767
No it doesn't. Just match by the weight of the bullet and use the corresponding data for powder charge.
Help -- about to purchase my first set of reloading equipment!
- Thread starter Brydawg512
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No it doesn't. Just match by the weight of the bullet and use the corresponding data for powder charge.
theosmithjr
Well-Known Member
I have been reloading for over 30 years and you will always learn something new even after 30 years. My advice to you would be to buy the best equipment you can afford and read all the material you can. Sinclair has a good selection equipment
John Klingenberg
Well-Known Member
Cant go wrong with a rock chuck. I bought mine in '87 and never had a single issue. I own a Dillon that just collects dust and several older Pacific presses. Going all RCBS is a good plan as well. Scales? A balance beam scale will do all you need. You'll get so good and fast with it youd be amazed. I can pour on a balance beam faster than my hornady can dispense it. A case trimmer isnt really needed so much. A 7 mag will use up it's likely brass life before trimming is necessary. I've rarely used one. Only thing I'd add after the kit is a powder throw like a Lyman 55. Get a copy of ABCs of reloading. I learned with that book. It's very good for even "stoopider" people like me. One of my rock chucks I installed the hornady lock n load kit on. It's a time saver but wholly unnecessary.
misterc01
Well-Known Member
IMHO a beam-balance scale is a MUST HAVE item. I have digital powder dispenser and a digital scale. but I SIILL check it with the BB, I and if it is the same, I then check about every tenth round.
Bullet manufactures load date - try for more than one source.
After that, read the various other posts, forums, etc. Current trends are nice, but YOU make the decisions. I have full length sizing dies, collet dies and match grade neck bushing sizing die. Which I use "depends" on what I find the right choice at the time.
AND read them all with a "grain" of salt - pun intended! Good luck.
Bullet manufactures load date - try for more than one source.
After that, read the various other posts, forums, etc. Current trends are nice, but YOU make the decisions. I have full length sizing dies, collet dies and match grade neck bushing sizing die. Which I use "depends" on what I find the right choice at the time.
AND read them all with a "grain" of salt - pun intended! Good luck.
Still using the rock chucker kit I purchased 25+ years ago. Most of my dies are rcbs. I use a lee hand priming tool, standard dial type caliper, and manual rcbs case trimmer. The scale that came with the kit is still accurate. I use a cordless drill for chamfering and to run the case trimmer when doing a lot of brass.
I am confident the equipment will outlast me.
John Spadaro
Well-Known Member
I just got started in reloading myself. I was going to go with the RCBS kit but ended up buying individual components. I have the MEC press and am happy with it. I have a cheap Frankfort small digital scale. I think I will have to get a balance beam scale to check it for accuracy. Once you start buying items you will find that you need a lot more than what is in the packaged kits.
Tony Formicola
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2017
- Messages
- 87
Most any single stage press will be adequate to get started. Some things to think about. If you want a really top end press get the Forster Co-ax. Another thought is expediency and repeatability of changing dies out and making adjustments to seating depth. There are some systems for that such as Hornady lock-n-load and I think Forster makes something similar. I personally use a Redding T-7 turret press because I feel that I save a lot of time and gain repeatability by leaving my dies installed and ready to go. For seating dies do yourself a favor and get a micrometer die. Soon you will be trying various bullets at various seating depth and you will be thankful. If you are talking to old school reloaders who are not familiar with the T-7 Press or Redding products take their condemnation of turret presses with a grain of salt and do your own research. Also, I strongly recommend the wilson/Sinclair case trimmer. Nothing has worked better for me to get a square, accurate and repeatable cut.
sodakota
Well-Known Member
I started reloading in the 50's. I've had quite a few different manufacturer's equipment for Herters to present. I had a Star Reloader that was great for loading quantities of ammo. I have at least a dozen different brands of dies.
If I were to do it all over again, I think I'd go with RCBS equipment. Their warranty and prompt customer service is the main reason. But there's nothing wrong with there run if the mill dies and presses.
There would be exceptions. I have some wildcat cartridges that other manufacturer's dies were much better product for the $'s.
Also if you get into bench rest or into extreme accuracy you might want to look at speciality benchrest dies.
If I were to do it all over again, I think I'd go with RCBS equipment. Their warranty and prompt customer service is the main reason. But there's nothing wrong with there run if the mill dies and presses.
There would be exceptions. I have some wildcat cartridges that other manufacturer's dies were much better product for the $'s.
Also if you get into bench rest or into extreme accuracy you might want to look at speciality benchrest dies.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
That's a good kit to get you started. Buy a good set of dies. I like Redding, but I have tons of RCBS dies that work great, too. Getting your basics down is important, then as your knowledge progresses, step up, like adding a micrometer seating stem for your seating die. Get yourself a good set of calipers (don't go cheap). I use the Starrett 799A. Also, get a Hornady comparator set to measure from base to ogive, instead of measuring COAL.
I love my RCBS Chargemaster 1500 scale. It's pricey, but worth it, IMO. Especially when loading in any sort of large volume. It's very easy to get within the .1 and .2 grain measurements.
Do yourself a favor, and get a Mighty Armory Magnum decapping die (universal). It will make cleaning your cases easier when you decap the spent primers before sonic cleaning.
https://www.mightyarmory.com/collec...m-100-universal-decapping-die-for-all-presses
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theosmithjr
Well-Known Member
Agree. I suggest a LEE HAND PRIMING TOOL. Much more uniform primer seating. I've NEVER used my Rockchucker for priming. Get a good Sinclair primer pocet tool & a Flash hole tool. I have all my dies made now, but REDDING COMPETITION BUSHING DIE SETS are hard to BEAT in Factory calibers. I've been loading for over 50 years now. Ever since I could CAM OVER the Rockchuker sitting on my dads lap. The dies were set, and he'd allow me to decapitate & neck size his brass for him. I'd do his .17, .220 Swift, 7mm Mag. Id look for fired brass for him. When I was around 12 I was experimenting on developing loads & bullets that could & would easily defeat the Bulletproof vest of the 60's, and even today's Kevlars dont stand up to some of my inventions and ideas! Not saying that it was ALLOWED or APPROPRIATE, but I was a 12 year old kid! I'd take .45 cupped wad cutters, flip em around. Drill 1/8" pilot holes, screw in sheet metal screws. Charge em 80%, then add 5grs. of BULLSEYE! OMG! NOTHING was BULLETPROOF anymore! P O Ackley was my HERO! Just know this, I've been a WILDCATTER for over half a CENTURY! CHUNK AWAY son!
Theosmithjr
epoletna
Well-Known Member
Welcome to a great hobby! Your RCBS Rockchucker is an excellent way to start. For 7mm Rem Mag, RCBS dies are good. If you were doing bench rest shooting with a rifle having a tight chamber, I'd recommend custom dies, but for the Rem Mag, RCBS dies are just fine.
Dedicate an area to reloading, make a very stout bench, and keep things organized. Book shelves are a good help. Keep good records. Keep only one type of powder open at a time -- all others on the shelf.
Think seriously about the RCBS Chargemaster electronic powder measure/scale. It's not cheap, but seems to do a good job and is fast. The revolving drum type powder measures don't work real well for long-grain extruded powders.
I agree with a previous poster that trimming is probably not important on 7 Rem Mag cases -- you'll wear them out before they stretch. If you were reloading a long gradual-taper case like a .30-30 or .375 H&H magnum, trimming might be important. And for bench rest cases, you'd want to trim for length and turn the case necks for thickness. Not for the 7 Rem Mag.
Someone recommended a Forster Co-ax press. I have one and think it might have better leverage for serious case sizing, like forming a different case out of an existing one, but don't think they're better than the Rockchucker for production work.
Do get a separate priming tool. Someone mentioned the Lee -- I have one, but have recently gone to using the RCBS hand priming tool.
Enjoy your new hobby. There's an awful lot to learn when you start reloading your own ammo!
Dedicate an area to reloading, make a very stout bench, and keep things organized. Book shelves are a good help. Keep good records. Keep only one type of powder open at a time -- all others on the shelf.
Think seriously about the RCBS Chargemaster electronic powder measure/scale. It's not cheap, but seems to do a good job and is fast. The revolving drum type powder measures don't work real well for long-grain extruded powders.
I agree with a previous poster that trimming is probably not important on 7 Rem Mag cases -- you'll wear them out before they stretch. If you were reloading a long gradual-taper case like a .30-30 or .375 H&H magnum, trimming might be important. And for bench rest cases, you'd want to trim for length and turn the case necks for thickness. Not for the 7 Rem Mag.
Someone recommended a Forster Co-ax press. I have one and think it might have better leverage for serious case sizing, like forming a different case out of an existing one, but don't think they're better than the Rockchucker for production work.
Do get a separate priming tool. Someone mentioned the Lee -- I have one, but have recently gone to using the RCBS hand priming tool.
Enjoy your new hobby. There's an awful lot to learn when you start reloading your own ammo!
Wow. This could be a bucket of worms. IMO, Dillon is the only way to go! I have a RCBS Rockchucker and love it, but now it mostly gets used only for trimming and case forming. You'll spend more at first, but it will be worth it. If you have a friend that reloads, see if you can let you try it or let you watch. It's not rocket science. First, on a single stage, you will have to change out the dies for each step. pain in the a-- and there's a chance the dies will not go back exactly the same way every time (slight). On the Dillon, once the dies are set, they never have to be moved except for bullet seating screw if you want to play with seating depth. And later, if you want to reload something else, all you have to do is remove two pins and slide replace the die holder and slide the other in and replace the pins. takes less then ten seconds. The shell plate can also be changed in less than a minute. The primer seater if you have change it might take a minute also. There are probably You Tube videos to show you.
Trimming is a necessary evil. I used a Forster trimmer for years, but there are other alternatives. I have a Dillon electric trimmer. You can trim a bunch of brass in a short time, but kind of pricy. Lyman, RCBS, and others make similar products, but Lee makes a trimmer that's inexpensive and works for small batches. I have a friend that swears by it.
Definately get an electric scale. Hornady makes a relatively inexpensive scale. RCBS makes a good cheap powder tricker. you can pour the powder into the case on the second stage through a cheap powder funnel. I like to put my brass in a case tray and pour there. That way before I seat the bullet, I can check all the cases visually and confirm that the levels or uniform.
And by the way, it has an automatic primer system. You literally do not have to ever touch a primer. RCBS mavens a gaget that orients the primers so you can pick them up with a primer tube and you simply pull a pin and the slide them into the primer feeder.
You can use a chamfering/de-blurring tool for a trimmer. Works but is not very precise.
You can save a lot of money on ammo if you shoot a lot. The brass can be the most expense, but it can be used several times. although, you can sometimes find ammo online pretty cheap. A with reloads you can tailor you ammo to your rifle and can get amazing accuracy.
The initial cash outlay can be high, but the savings and satisfaction of customizing your ammo for velocity and accuracy will make it pay off.
Also, if you just want to shoot and don't care about the velocity, you can make reduced loads. Buy the cheapest bullets and plink away. I shoot a lot of cast bullets. You can buy them, but I cast my own. you can buy powders for reduced loads. Do not use high power powder with reduced loads! There is a phenomem that can cause detanotion which literally destroy a rifle. A friend of mine lost a hand and the scope was foun over a hundred feet away. With the price of powder now a days, you can shoot a lot more. A 7mm RM can take more than 70 grains of powder. A reduced load might only take 20 grains of powder. You can get get extremely good accuracy. It doesn't were your gun out, They are pleasant to shoot and paper, prairie dogs, rocks, cans clay targets etc. will never know the difference and you get to practice more.
If you are not sure you will like it, buy the cheapest equipment you can find, but plan on upgrading later if you want to continue reloading.
Look in the classified ads.
Online is the cheapest way to go, but know what you want. You might get lucky on Ebay but you really don't know what you are getting.
Again, try to find a buddy that reloads or watch You Tube. And no I don't get any kick back from Dillon or RCBS, or Lyman, but that's most of equipment.
Good luck and enjoy. it can be habit forming.
Trimming is a necessary evil. I used a Forster trimmer for years, but there are other alternatives. I have a Dillon electric trimmer. You can trim a bunch of brass in a short time, but kind of pricy. Lyman, RCBS, and others make similar products, but Lee makes a trimmer that's inexpensive and works for small batches. I have a friend that swears by it.
Definately get an electric scale. Hornady makes a relatively inexpensive scale. RCBS makes a good cheap powder tricker. you can pour the powder into the case on the second stage through a cheap powder funnel. I like to put my brass in a case tray and pour there. That way before I seat the bullet, I can check all the cases visually and confirm that the levels or uniform.
And by the way, it has an automatic primer system. You literally do not have to ever touch a primer. RCBS mavens a gaget that orients the primers so you can pick them up with a primer tube and you simply pull a pin and the slide them into the primer feeder.
You can use a chamfering/de-blurring tool for a trimmer. Works but is not very precise.
You can save a lot of money on ammo if you shoot a lot. The brass can be the most expense, but it can be used several times. although, you can sometimes find ammo online pretty cheap. A with reloads you can tailor you ammo to your rifle and can get amazing accuracy.
The initial cash outlay can be high, but the savings and satisfaction of customizing your ammo for velocity and accuracy will make it pay off.
Also, if you just want to shoot and don't care about the velocity, you can make reduced loads. Buy the cheapest bullets and plink away. I shoot a lot of cast bullets. You can buy them, but I cast my own. you can buy powders for reduced loads. Do not use high power powder with reduced loads! There is a phenomem that can cause detanotion which literally destroy a rifle. A friend of mine lost a hand and the scope was foun over a hundred feet away. With the price of powder now a days, you can shoot a lot more. A 7mm RM can take more than 70 grains of powder. A reduced load might only take 20 grains of powder. You can get get extremely good accuracy. It doesn't were your gun out, They are pleasant to shoot and paper, prairie dogs, rocks, cans clay targets etc. will never know the difference and you get to practice more.
If you are not sure you will like it, buy the cheapest equipment you can find, but plan on upgrading later if you want to continue reloading.
Look in the classified ads.
Online is the cheapest way to go, but know what you want. You might get lucky on Ebay but you really don't know what you are getting.
Again, try to find a buddy that reloads or watch You Tube. And no I don't get any kick back from Dillon or RCBS, or Lyman, but that's most of equipment.
Good luck and enjoy. it can be habit forming.
