best rifle reloader

[rocketray]

opinions on best reloader for the common rifle ammo??for lite to moderate activity

[Jess from VA]

Do you want a single stage or a progressive reloader?

My Dillon 550B progressive will do most rifle (up to a certain size) and all pistol cartridges.  Carbide dies mean no lube necessary for pistol rounds, but rifle reloading requires lube.

This is a subject worth doing some reading on before making decisions.  Press, dies, brass tumbler, hand tools, brass sizers, auto or hand priming, and a couple good reloading manuals.  

[dreamaker]

Is there or was there a reloader by the name Camdex maybe, would have come out of Michigan. Or maybe under a different name from Sterling Heights or Clinton Township, Michigan

[Gavin_Sons]

I just bought a hornady single stage and have only reloaded 44 mag so far. Ran 200 rounds through it already tonight. If your just starting to reload start with a single stage. Less room for error. You could run 100 rounds through a progressive before you find there is a problem. Then that means pulling bullets from the casings. I plan on loading 380, 40 s&w and 243 eventually. 44 mag was the priority because I can load them for about 40 cents compared to $1.20. Have 500 more casings and 500 more bullets on the way. Get a good reloading manual like a lyman, actually 2 or 3 reloading manuals is better so you can compare. A single stage works great for me because I will only shoot maybe 1000 rounds of each caliber a year unless its a new gun and I like to run a couple thousand rounds through it to deem it trustworthy.  I bought the hornady lock n load classic kit for 250 bucks from www.midwayusa.com comes with everything but the dies and bullet components to get started. Also bought a good set of calipers and a good beam scale because I didnt trust the digital one that came with the kit but it does read perfect after comparing it to my beam.

[captsharky]

Dillon 550B progressive if you want to load a lot of ammo, if you want good long range ammo Lyman T-Mag II Reloading Press works real well. I have used both, 550 for 55 g and 62 g 223, and the lyman for 80 and 90 g 223, plus 6xc and 65.08 for long range.

[Serk]

I'm a cheap-skate, and don't do high volume. My Lee setup has served me well for many years now.

[Patrick]

I don't reload or shoot that much pistol or rifle. But, my recommendation is a full frame single stage if you're not planning doing a whole lot of loading. I'm not sure if the term ' full frame' is correct, but, I'm talking about a frame shaped in a circle/ O / D and not an open frame shaped like a C.  There is probably a correct term, but, I can't think of it.
The companies now have whole kits available.
Not that it means much, I use a full frame Lee that I've had over 40years. It loads just fine for my long range shooting [ which may not be that long a range as some guys].

For shotgun I use a hydraulic progressive and thats 40 years old too with a lot of use.

[Pete]

Many have been using the same RCBS equipment since 1970 and it all still works, like new.
Good equipment and last a lifetime.
A group of friends have all been using the equipment, no telling how many rounds of ammo it has reloaded. Both rifle and pistol.

Many weeks 1000 to 1500 rounds are loaded for several folks, nothing ever breaks it just keeps turning out the rounds.

[MarkT]

Yep I have the same, since the 70's.  A Rockchucker press and Lyman stuff, powder throw I think is Lyman.  Case lathe, powder trickler, RCBS balance scale (also works if you're a dope dealer, I understand).  Case tumbler, don't recall brand.  Other stuff.  None of it has ever failed.

[Varmintmist]

opinions on best reloader for the common rifle ammo??for lite to moderate activity

RCBS Rockchucker.

It is the standard to what others compare themselves to.

Do you need to spend that much to make good ammo? No, but it is the best or equal to the best single stage press's.

A good kit to get started like a RCBS partner http://www.midwayusa.com/product/531246/rcbs-partner-single-stage-reloading-press-kit will get you started. Lee equipment is good, except for that scale. It is accurate, but S-L-O-W, it will drive you bat poop crazy in short order.
Whatever you do, get a "O" framed press.

Man cave, rt to left Rockchucker, Partner. Reloader spl, and a old turret press. I could do it all with one, but I like to leave the turret set up with 2 sets of straight walled pistol. The RS holds seating die for 06, I shoot a lot of 06, and the other two get whatever needs to be in there.




All will load any rifle or pistol/revolver ammo I shoot, 222, 223Rem, 30-06, 8mm Mauser, 6mm Lee Navy (if I can get brass) and...... you get the picture.

Most of my stuff was bought used. The Reloader Spl was my first, bought used 30 years ago and it was loading stuff for 600 yard matches.

[solo1]

All of the above is good advice. RCBS, Hornady, Lyman. Lee (cheaper to buy).

Press O with compound leverage, Carbide dies if pistol. Scales, electronic or manual, funnel, trickler (maybe) calipers (absolutely necessary) loading block, maybe case trimmer (keeps you out of trouble.) Alt least one reloading manual, better to have more.

I started with RCBS and our family went to 550 Dillon progressive press (not advisable when first starting out)