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

[Packmansion]

Something like the Redding T-7 for a turret press? At that point would it make sense to drop the second die for depriming and also the external primer?

I would not get a turret press. It just doesnt really solve any actual problems. Your main issue is going to be handling the brass. Picking up brass inserting it, taking it out again, sorting it putting in trays, spraying them with lube, inserting bullets, pouring the powder thats like 90% of reloading time, the remaining 10% is swapping dies and pulling the lever.

I would not get obsessive about the press look at youtube videos. Quick change systems are negligble, my press has it, its not terrible but doesnt add much. To me any single stage press is as good as another. Urrently i use a hornady and while its shitty it works really well. You just need the basics, get started and learn what is worth upgrading.

 

[wind gypsy]

Just decap when you size. No need to run brass through a press twice when once works perfectly fine.

I like dry tumbling with rice. Don’t need to dry anything and you don’t clean out the desirable carbon in case necks. Frankford arsenal tumblers are a bargain.

I’d look at the prstf /t3 thrower with the ingenuity trickler in an a&d 120 over an auto trickler or pro trickler.

 

[Packmansion]

Just decap when you size. No need to run brass through a press twice when once works perfectly fine.

I like dry tumbling with rice. Don’t need to dry anything and you don’t clean out the desirable carbon in case necks. Frankford arsenal tumblers are a bargain.

I’d look at the prstf /t3 thrower with the ingenuity trickler in an a&d 120 over an autho trickler or pro trickler.

What kind of rice are you using and how long does it last? I'm tired of the walnut dust

 

[wind gypsy]

What kind of rice are you using and how long does it last? I'm tired of the walnut dust

Amazon.com

Lasts long enough. 15# should clean multiple thousand pieces.

 

[wind gypsy]

Not sure what a bench source flame annealer goes for but I’d bet some of the less expensive induction annealers are getting close in price. The burst fire induction annealer would have my attention over something I need to load every piece of brass on like a bench source.

Also, depending on how many pieces of brass you're using, you can go very long without annealing so I'd make that a last buy item. I think i went a couple years without annealing prior to this summer.

A shell kicker for the press is a must have for me. Makes press operation way faster when you only need to handle brass once for each handle pull. That usually goes along with a Inline fab bench mount too.

 

[Quandary]

I started with a RCBS Summit but quickly moved to an Area 419 press, expensive but worth every penny. If you don't want to spend that kind of money on a press get a Redding T7 with the Creedmore Sports upgraded turret.

You may find that I would spend a little more and get the new Burstfire Induction annealer.

You could save a lot of money by getting a LE Wilson case trimmer with a power screw driver. For the volume you will liking be reloading this should work great and the precision can't be beat.

For powder measure you may want to consider an RCBS Chargemaster (or similar) along with the Creedmore TRX scale and Dandy trickler. All in less money and gives you options. For example if you just want to crank out range loads use only the Chargemaster. For precision Chargemaster in combo with the TRX. Although you can't go wrong with the other two!

I have Forster, Redding, Hornady and Area 419 dies, they all work well. Pull the expanded out of the dies and use a 21st Century expander mandrel.

If you have a SAAMI spec 7PRC versus a wide base 7PRC you will likely get clickers. I use a Cortina PRC expander mandrel. Routine for 7PRC or 300PRC is Forster or Area419 FL die, followed by the Cortina die which takes the base down even further. I have brass that is going on 10 reloads with no clicker issues.

I have done wet, dry and sonic cleaning. I prefer dry as the inside of the case neck stays a little slippery and the bullets seat better. I wash the dry off with water towel, then into a case drier to make sure the inside gets dry.

Get a Hornady OAL tool and the modified cases for what you are reloading for measuring length of Ogive to lands.

The Area419 headspace and ogive measuring kit along with the caliper stand is a great tool to have.

RCBS or similar case prep center.

Stuck case remover kit. Regardless of what you think you will get a case stuck in a die.

Hornady bullet puller and the collets for what you are loading.

And of course all the other bits you didn't mention powder funnels, case trays etc etc

Good attitude! Reloading is great fun!!

 

[Packmansion]

Im moving to progressive at this point due to the volume. I plan to use a powder funnel for manually throwing stick powder, however I've basically switched over to ball powder due to it being good enough for my purposes and the speed of a powder thrower. Waiting for your trickler just takes too much time. I plan on owning multiple presses I already ordered a Lee app and a Lee six pack, my goal is to use these to get started and then eventually ill probably buy another 6 pack and then an x10. For the Lee presses those will eventually be permanently setup for 9mm and 223 and the x10 will be primarily 6.5 and 308. This way I wont be swapping shell plates just dies. I just prepped 1000 cases of 223. Im done with this lol I need to go faster! Burst fire annealer will be on my list ill eventually be asking myself what to buy next. Wish I would have known about the Lee app years ago. Ive always shyed away from Lee as it is budget but looking at youtube videos of end users they seem to work well enough and provide good value. Hard to justify the cost of a dillon when a fully loaded setup is $1500 and there is a shortcut like the app which goes for $68 at battle Hawk armory... not to mention you can buy a bare 6 stage Lee presses for about the price of the a dillon shell plate and powder thrower.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

How are the lee 6 packs working for you? I have an xl750, and the cost differential is huge

 

[flyfisher117]

If you’re dead set on a single stage press just wanted to throw out the new Hornady classic (pro?) press they are releasing this winter. They’ve reworked it to have tighter tolerances looks pretty cool at its price. I have their old classic design, it is sloppy as all get out but still produces ammo better than I can shoot it. I’m not a brand loyalist though. I’ve used a few brands of single stage presses and can’t tell a difference other than color.
If you get a Forster coax press just watch because some micrometer seating dies will not fit in it. If you don’t want micrometer seating dies then party on.

Depending on what Forster seating die and what projectile you want to load you may have to buy or make a custom seating stem. Forster does not make or sell a generic “VLD” seating stem for all of their dies. You have to send in a few of your projectiles and have them custom made to match. Or sacrifice a few projectiles and get some lapping paste and custom make your own. I was not Ok with that so I returned my Forster die for a Redding. So far I don’t feel like the Redding die produces ammunition any better than my basic RCBS and Hornady dies. But I am enjoying it.

Good choice on powder throwers. I wish I had just went with the best and skipped the middle stepping stones I have used.