Help with new reloading press and setup needed

[wind gypsy]

zip lock bag or box store plastic bag and spray > lube pad.

 

[Castle Rock]

Consolidated several posts to one list for my own sanity
Press
Dies (seating and sizing)
Scale and dispenser
Case trimmer
Tumbler with media separator
Priming tool
Annealer
Shell holder
Calipers
Bullet Comparator
Headspace comparator
21st Century expander mandrels
Deburring tool
Primer pocket cutting tools
Lube pad and lube
zip lock bag or box store plastic bag and spray > lube pad.

You really don’t need half that shit

 

[z987k]

You really don’t need half that shit

Agreed.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

You don’t need anything fancy. As far as the general setup make sure your bench is high enough assuming you’ll be standing. I made mine a few inches over waist height and also put a pad down to stand on that my wife used when she did hair. Much better than standing on concrete.

You’ll discover your own preferences as far as equipment once you do it a few times. Everyone has their own method.

 

[SwiftShot]

2 things I wish I had purchased earlier. 1 a rock chucker press. There are a bunch of good presses out now and the one I started with was not bad. It was the Lee starter press. The rock chucker is just nicer. I do like the newer presses with led lights on them. Make seeing so much easier. The 2nd thing is Quick Load computer program. I have tons of reloading manuals and they work but are limited in data. You can also get lots of free info from phone apps like Hornady ect. Anyway Quick Load is awesome. Especially with not your favorite powd6as availability is still an issue. It just has all the data you could want. It gave me the info I needed to make my 308 subsonic so I can really smoke hogs suppressed.

 

[peterk123]

If you are planning on rifle only, I agree with others about the rock chucker. I've been reloading for over fifteen years now but only recently purchased one. Inexpensive, reliable and consistent. Wish I got one years ago. I started off on a Lee turret press. It worked well for 9mm and other pistol rounds. I quickly moved to a progressive press, hornady lock n load. Love this thing. I can crank out rounds with it. I also used it as a single stage for rifle up until last year. I bought the rock chucker mainly for depriming but soon learned I got more consistent seating for my rifle rounds. So I've moved over all rifle dies to the rock chucker. Even 223 because I'm not mag dumping with my ar. I'm going for accuracy.

As for other components, try to keep it simple at first. I always go for the bare minimum, adding things over time as I perfect the things I'm doing and as I search for more accuracy. But I think there is a point of diminishing returns unless you are precision shooter.

 

[benconfused]

How does the Rock Chukar compare to the Mec Marksman?

 

[cmahoney]

How does the Rock Chukar compare to the Mec Marksman?

I have both, same loads have less run out with the MEC. Id say it’s a step up from the standard rock chukar. But they are both great presses.


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[benconfused]

I have both, same loads have less run out with the MEC. Id say it’s a step up from the standard rock chukar. But they are both great presses.


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I was thinking MEC for bullet loading and something like a rock chukar for necking down and primer loading. I'm trying to avoid handheld based squeezing tools for some of this stuff.

 

[cmahoney]

I was thinking MEC for bullet loading and something like a rock chukar for necking down and primer loading. I'm trying to avoid handheld based squeezing tools for some of this stuff.

I use the rcbs bench primer, I prefer using it over a hand priming tool.


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[benconfused]

I use the rcbs bench primer, I prefer using it over a hand priming tool.


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That's the one I was looking at until I saw the Derraco primer lite tool.

 

[BigGrinner]

I have in cart so far:

Press
Dies (seating and sizing)
Scale and dispenser
Case trimmer
Tumbler with media separator
Priming tool
Annealer
Shell holder

What am I missing

I'd hold off on the annealer til you get a little further down the road with reloading.
Between all the members here, post kind of what you're looking for and we might have some good used stuff that we've upgraded from to help you out for little $ compared to new. I've got a good trickler (you will need) if you want it for the cost of shipping.