New year, new budget/timeline......options

[bnewt3]

So my wife and I have decided to start the new year with some different money priorities. To be clear, I could buy any of these options right now, but we are going to get a better handle on and be smarter about our spending.

Because of that, I have some options but they are on different timelines.

Basically what it comes down to is the Lee Challenger worth having? I have concerns about the aluminum frame. But i dont know if it actually matters. Cartridges will be 6.5CM to start, 308 not too far off, maybe 22CM or ARC later. The 6.5 will be a LR(for me) target rifle mostly with an antelope hunt in WY at some point, 308 for hunting mostly eastern but im buying elk points in WY.

The kit is $170 or $190 depending on the priming option so with a few additional items, I can get reloading sooner. Im looking at a little over $800 including a couple powder options, 3 bullet options, primers, a WFT for 6.5, at least 1 more reloading manual(I have a Lyman already). Is there anything significant in that kit thats just junk and should be replaced immediately? That also doesnt include a bench ~$150 and I plan to use Inline Fab QC mounts.

Or should I wait and go with a better press and ancillaries later.....later being probably near the end of the year for the RCBS and unsure for the Forster.

RCBS is $500 for the kit, Forster is ~$400 for the press and then piece everything else together.

Ive done some looking for used locally and on ebay and im not seeing much that makes much sense price-wise. Im definitely gun-shy about anything used that has to ship if its not on ebay, such as classifieds on here.

Maybe as much as making my own better ammo, I also want to have something to do at the house thats not watching TV, doom-scrolling or playing video games. Ill also get my shotshell loader setup again(it hasnt been unpacked after moving 3 years ago). I enjoy the process.

Which route would you go?

Is there anything im not thinking of? Also im a lefty so I want an ambi press.

 

[Marbles]

I think the Lee kit will work fine.

I hate kits because they never come with exactly what I want, so personally I would skip it.

I would get a Lee press ($70-120).
Get a hand priming tool ($80 for RCBS universal).
Get a Lyman EZ trim set ($44)
Get Hornady metal funnel set ($39, I had problems from static with plastic).
Get a scale of your choosing ($50 and up)
Get a set of calipers ($30~)
Depending on scale, set if lee powder scoops ($14)

For $320 you are set, plus needing case lube (Hornady One-shot) and components.

Get RCBS, LEE, or Lyman full length sizing dies.

 

[bnewt3]

Anymore wisdom here?

 

[coast range]

Skip the kit. I did a rock chucker kit years ago. I did get it for a steal thankfully. The only 2 things I use from it are the press and hand primer. Upgraded everything else rather quickly.

 

[Chris in TN]

-used rock chucker on facebook marketplace.

I have long said I prefer Redding dies but I have two sets now with really draggy expander balls and it halfway annoys me, and meanwhile I had never had a moment's problem with RCBS.

Don't worry about getting multiple powders to try in your 6.5cm. Get one powder - at current prices I'd go H4350 or VVN550 or N555 and be done with it - and one bullet. Nobody has ever set out with H4350 for their 6.5CM and regretted it. You're highly unlikely to end up with a rifle that shoots poorly with one set of components but magically does materially better with some other components.

 

[Chris in TN]

I think the Lee kit will work fine.

I hate kits because they never come with exactly what I want, so personally I would skip it.

I would get a Lee press ($70-120).
Get a hand priming tool ($80 for RCBS universal).
Get a Lyman EZ trim set ($44)
Get Hornady metal funnel set ($39, I had problems from static with plastic).
Get a scale of your choosing ($50 and up)
Get a set of calipers ($30~)
Depending on scale, set if lee powder scoops ($14)

For $320 you are set, plus needing case lube (Hornady One-shot) and components.

Get RCBS, LEE, or Lyman full length sizing dies.

I wouldn't buy the metal funnel, just wipe down the plastic one with a dryer sheet with some anti-static stuff on it every few months. YMMV. And I wholeheartedly agree on the Lee dippers. They make weighing individual charges way less trouble. It's very rare for me to weigh a charge without them.

 

[bnewt3]

Heres the list I have picked out so far:
Challenger III press $87
Lyman trickler $27
Hornady G3 digital scale $58
Frankford hand primer $77
Lee perfect powder measure $25
imperial wax $13
WFT 6.5 $83
lyman case prep hand tool $30
press comes with 6.5 3-die set for the same price as the press alone
lee dipper set $14
powder funnel $5
loading blocks $16
Bullet puller $18
stuck case remover $23
digital calipers x 2 $50
HS comparator kit $30
bullet comparator kit $40

$596 plus tax & ship
then powder, primers, bullets

+Inline ultra mount QC riser $85
+press QC plate $29
$114 + tax & ship

$710



Anything im forgetting?
anything you would trade out or unnecessary?
It seems the dippers are redundant if I am throwing/trickling charges unless theres something I dont know?


My list of things to get later are:
Lee Load-all II QC plate
wet tumbler
Intellidropper or similar
308 dies & WFT

 

[tstowater]

Buy a decent press that is going to give you consistency. Don't know if the one you listed is it or not. I will defer to others on that. What are you missing? Two or three of everything, but then you would be like me and your reloading space would be overrun with stuff.

 

[Chris in TN]

Heres the list I have picked out so far:
Challenger III press $87
Lyman trickler $27
Hornady G3 digital scale $58
Frankford hand primer $77
Lee perfect powder measure $25
imperial wax $13
WFT 6.5 $83
lyman case prep hand tool $30
press comes with 6.5 3-die set for the same price as the press alone
lee dipper set $14
powder funnel $5
loading blocks $16
Bullet puller $18
stuck case remover $23
digital calipers x 2 $50
HS comparator kit $30
bullet comparator kit $40

$596 plus tax & ship
then powder, primers, bullets

+Inline ultra mount QC riser $85
+press QC plate $29
$114 + tax & ship

$710

Swap out the Lee press for an RCBS press. Skip the trickler; you won't need it after a week with Lee Dippers. You don't need the digital scale until you can afford a GOOD one. I've been reloading nearly 40 years and can't afford a good one yet. Skip the Lee measure. Maybe get a used RCBS one - I only use a measure for 5.56 and 6.8spc myself. And I only load hunting ammo, not blasting ammo, for 5.56. YMMV.

Instead of sizing wax get a spray bottle, some isoheet, and a tube of lanolin. Make your own case lube - one bottle worth will last a decade if you remember to close off the nozzle when not in use and stop the alcohol from evaporating out. One caliper is enough - not digital. Digital requires batteries. Get an analog model.

You don't need a comparator kit. Invert a fired 9mm case, drop it on the shoulder of your fired case, and measure that, for an index length to determine shoulder bump for fired cases. Yes, bumping 0.002" is fine. If you're really worried about being able to fit dirty ammo into your chamber, maybe go 0.0035" or so. I do that with semi-autos with good results.

You don't need the riser. I'm reloading on an old table my wife had (but we didn't need) when we got married. Before that I had my press mounted on an oak board and I'd spread our old kitchen table out, like I was going to stick the center leaf in it, then c-clamp my oak board onto it, and reload in our dining room.

You might want a rolling chair to sit behind while loading. Buy used ones. You might want a raised platform (I made mine from stacked 2x lumber pieces) to put your powder scale on, so you can look at it at eye level when weighing charges.

Those are just ideas, worth what it cost you. Everyone ends up doing something slightly different. YMMV, a whole lot. You can make safe/good ammo with a wide variety of equipment options.

 

[Judd]

Lyman trickler $27
Hornady G3 digital scale $58
Lee perfect powder measure $25
lee dipper set $14
stuck case remover $23
Digital calipers $50
Inline mount $85
QC plate $29

^^^ I'd dump all that stuff for a used Chargemaster. Just simply for the efficiency gain.

You don't need a stuck case remover, buy that when you need it versus just to have sit and collect dust...I've never owned one. I'd also go with a standard analog caliper, they are going to be better and especially when you're dealing with the cheaper side of things. Plus, you aren't always having to feed it stupid little watch batteries that it seems you never have when they die.

I'd also rather have a used RCBS press than the Lee but either would work.

Good luck...both with the reloading, the budget and most importantly the wife.