Getting Into Reloading, Gear List for 7 PRC / 300 WM / 6.5 CM, Looking for Feedback

[BearDown]

Hey guys,


I’m finally diving into reloading and have been trying to do my homework before throwing money at the wrong stuff. Picked up Modern Reloading, Lyman’s 51st, and The ABCs of Reloading, and have been lurking on here plus watching an abundance YouTube videos. My plan is to load for 7 PRC, .300 Win Mag, and 6.5 Creedmoor, with a focus on precision hunting ammo. I put together a list of what I think I need to get started, but before I start ordering everything, I wanted to see if you all had any substitutions you’d recommend or things I’m missing. Left-handed as well, so some choices reflect that.

Presses:
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme – Mainly going this route because the ambidextrous lever setup makes more sense for me as a lefty.
RCBS Partner Press – Planning on using this just as a dedicated depriming press.

Brass Prep

Bench Source Gas Annealer – For the 7 PRC I’ll be buying new brass at first, so I know I won’t really need this until I start cycling brass a few times.
Henderson GEN 3 Case Trimmer – Same idea as above. But I still want to buy once, cry once, so when I have to start trimming cases, I have a good one.
Lyman Pro Magnum Tumbler – I prefer dry tumbling.
Frankford Arsenal Wet/Dry Media Separator – Just for separating media after dry tumble.

Measurements / Tools

Mitutoyo 500-197-32 Digital Calipers
ZERO Headspace & Ogive Measurement Kit
Forster Bushing Full Length Ultra Die Set - for all calibers listed
RCBS Universal Decapping Die
RCBS Automatic Priming Tool - I figure a bench primer is going to be the easiest option.

Scale / Powder Thrower (Still deciding)

SuperTrickler ST101 Gen2 + FX-120i
OR
AutoTrickler V4 + A&D FX-120i Kit

I can’t decide which direction to go here, so would love opinions from guys who’ve used both.


And of course, I’ll have the manuals on the bench too.

Is there anything I am missing or things that youd add? Thank you all for your help and advice, I really appreciate it.
Cheers,

- BD

 

[Andouille]

Frankfort arsenal multi caliber bullet seater works amoothly and accurately or my loading of WSM, WM, 30-06, and 6.5CM. Spend the saved cash on good full length dies. Im partial to LE Wilson bushing dies, work consistently once I found the right bushings for my brass... and they're just top quality and aesthetically pleasing. LE Wilson expander mandrel complements bushing dirs nicely and gives very consistent neck tension. I dont like the lack of control over neck diameter that an expander ball gives.

I have the rock checker supreme and its solid, with acceptable wiggle in the bushings. Everything else you mentioned is fancier than what I use!

 

[thefuzz250]

That's an amazing set up for just getting into it. Doing it right the first time! I do find myself wet tumbling more often that dry.

 

[BearDown]

That's an amazing set up for just getting into it. Doing it right the first time! I do find myself wet tumbling more often that dry.

My thoughts with the wet tumbling is I don’t have an oven or something to dry the casings and also I’ve heard the media can get stuck inside them sometimes. Why do you prefer wet?

 

[Andouille]

My thoughts with the wet tumbling is I don’t have an oven or something to dry the casings and also I’ve heard the media can get stuck inside them sometimes. Why do you prefer wet?

I've just tapped out the steel pin media feom each case, rinse the cases, then put in my boiler room to dry. A food dehydrator also works nicely.

 

[wildernessrimfab]

My 0.02c

The Frankford handheld deprimer works great - no need for a second press.
The Frankford "Perfect Seat" hand primer is also a great economincal option vs a dedicated bench mounted unit.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Geeze man you're swinging for the fences on a lot of that gear. Shooting bench rest?

Anyhow, I like hand primers and progressive presses. With your cartridge choices, id probably do a turret press for easier cartridge swaps.

Look at the lee APP for depriming.

 

[Andouille]

Good point on switching calibers. I use the Hornady Lock n Load bushings to quickly change dies. Otherwise, frequently spinning on and off each die multiple times during a reloading session becomes a nuisance.

Anyhow, I like hand primers and progressive presses. With your cartridge choices, id probably do a turret press for easier cartridge swaps.

Look at the lee APP for depriming.

 

[TaperPin]

Hey guys,


I’m finally diving into reloading and have been trying to do my homework before throwing money at the wrong stuff. Picked up Modern Reloading, Lyman’s 51st, and The ABCs of Reloading, and have been lurking on here plus watching an abundance YouTube videos. My plan is to load for 7 PRC, .300 Win Mag, and 6.5 Creedmoor, with a focus on precision hunting ammo. I put together a list of what I think I need to get started, but before I start ordering everything, I wanted to see if you all had any substitutions you’d recommend or things I’m missing. Left-handed as well, so some choices reflect that.

Presses:
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme – Mainly going this route because the ambidextrous lever setup makes more sense for me as a lefty.
RCBS Partner Press – Planning on using this just as a dedicated depriming press.

Brass Prep

Bench Source Gas Annealer – For the 7 PRC I’ll be buying new brass at first, so I know I won’t really need this until I start cycling brass a few times.
Henderson GEN 3 Case Trimmer – Same idea as above. But I still want to buy once, cry once, so when I have to start trimming cases, I have a good one.
Lyman Pro Magnum Tumbler – I prefer dry tumbling.
Frankford Arsenal Wet/Dry Media Separator – Just for separating media after dry tumble.

Measurements / Tools

Mitutoyo 500-197-32 Digital Calipers
ZERO Headspace & Ogive Measurement Kit
Forster Bushing Full Length Ultra Die Set - for all calibers listed
RCBS Universal Decapping Die
RCBS Automatic Priming Tool - I figure a bench primer is going to be the easiest option.

Scale / Powder Thrower (Still deciding)

SuperTrickler ST101 Gen2 + FX-120i
OR
AutoTrickler V4 + A&D FX-120i Kit

I can’t decide which direction to go here, so would love opinions from guys who’ve used both.


And of course, I’ll have the manuals on the bench too.

Is there anything I am missing or things that youd add? Thank you all for your help and advice, I really appreciate it.
Cheers,

- BD

That’s cool you’re going all in. I’d add a 1” micrometer that reads in .0001” for case head expansion measurements. Nothing is as useful for determining max pressure loads and estimating case life for different amounts of pressure.

An ordinary beam scale may seem redundant to what you have, but that’s exactly why they are a good idea. Ask someone who has had their electronic scale go down how inconvenient it is to be left high and dry until it gets back for repairs. If you’re ever concerned the electronic one is wonky it barely takes a minute to double check it.

Everyone should have a hand crank powder measure since they are such a time saver for short range practice loads that don’t need to be exact, and any time the manual beam scale is used.

For annealing necks, just for kicks and giggles you might try a simple hand held torch to heat until the necks just get a dull red. Spin them in a deep wall socket held in a drill, or just set them spaced out on a cookie sheet. I enjoy doing it by hand with the torch and even accurate rifles shoot just as good with this method as they did with once fired brass. However, don’t let me talk you out of a gizmo if you like gizmos, it just isn’t needed.

Everyone has their preferences in loading blocks. I really like the machined aluminum ones. Same for powder funnels - aluminum funnels sized specifically for each caliber makes life easier.

You have a lot of stuff listed, so for the well outfitted reloader I’d add an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning up dies, gun parts, and anything that gets dingy over time. You can be a hero to a spouse cleaning rings in a ziplock with water and a few drops of dish soap. Just toss the zip lock in a water bath and it cleans just like the ziplock wasn’t there. The bag tick works for all cleaning really, even solvents. It’s been years since filling my ultrasonic with anything other than just tap water.

I really like that you added a second smaller press. You might find it starts getting used for a lot more than depriming.

Everyone grabs a dial mic to take rough case neck thickness measurements, knowing it’s a rough technique to measure a curved surface with it. For $50 buying the Shars tubing mic, or same thing rebranded by RCBS for $100, is a nice tool when trying to estimate bushing sizes, or just measuring things out of curiosity.

Sounds like you’ll be off to a great start.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Good point on switching calibers. I use the Hornady Lock n Load bushings to quickly change dies. Otherwise, frequently spinning on and off each die multiple times during a reloading session becomes a nuisance.

i had multiple bushings break, both with a case activated powder measure and with a collet neck sizing die. super annoying.

 

[Andouille]

Yikes! So far so good on my bushings with 3-400 rounds loaded. I dont cam over super hard, so i expect ill be fine.