The Original CZ Forum
GENERAL => Ammunition, questions, and handloading techniques => Topic started by: arthurstearl on August 05, 2018, 07:30:24 PM
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I really want to start reloading I have a 223 and I don't want just the bare bones but I don't have a lot of money for every little thing there is gentlemen could you steer me to what I would need basics for safe loading for 223 caliber
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Single stage press is the most economical and will produce top quality reloads. As far as cost I think Lee the least cost. There are a lot of economical single stage presses out there but reloading stuff lasts for decades and it would be hard to beat a Rock Chucker.
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses&utm_content=937051&cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses-_-RCBS-_-937051&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInu_kjonX3AIVjMDACh1QwAtVEAQYAyABEgKdo_D_BwE
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There are a lot of economical single stage presses out there but reloading stuff lasts for decades and it would be hard to beat a Rock Chucker.
It?s very easy for best a Rock Chucker. It?s an outdated design w/ poor primer collection. I personally don?t like the ergonomics of it either. I own one but haven?t used it in a long time. For the money the Lee Classic Cast single stage is the best bang for the buck. It has a hollow ram for primer disposal. And while they don?t advertise, it can handle swaging duties. There?s a die maker that sells conversion kits for them.
The Lee Classic Turret is a stop in between a single stage and progressive. You get auto advancement between dies which speed things up a lot. But you?re still only performing one operation at a time. There is some play in the turret which can lead to slight variations in OAL of rifle rounds. But I still use it from time to time when I need to load more than I want to on a single stage and not enough to warrant setting up the 550.
You?re gong to find lots of opinions when it comes to presses. Start naming them and I most likely own it. Except for Hollywoods and Stars because their performance doesn?t warrant their price. For starting out any quality single stage will work. Time will allow you to develop an opinion on what features and ergonomics you like best. It?s why I don?t like the Co-Ax. The Lee Classic Cast will serve a new reloader well and leaves more money in your pocket for components.
Edited to add that I do most of my reloading on a hand press lately. I travel for work and it gives me something productive to do in hotel rooms at night. I?m lucky enough to have a serial numbered version of the Buchanan Precision Machine hand press. Randy only added serial numbers for the initial run. The Lee hand press is a lot cheaper but it doesn?t compare.
https://buchananprecisionmachine.com/products/buchanan-precision-machine-hand-reloading-press
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The first thing to do is read this:
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=58939.0
? Because ammo volume will be a HUGE driver in your press selection, you MUST first consider whether any handgun cartridge will ever be part of your reloading. So it may only be 100 rounds of 223 today, but if you also have (or are considering) a 9mm or 38 Spcl, then things could change really fast.
Nettle is correct, for 223 ONLY I might go with a really nice single stage press. But making 200 pistol rounds per week on a single stage might make you loose it, unless you're retired and simply have too much time on your hands.
? Another consideration is who lives in your house and what illnesses do you have ? If you have small children or you're already dealing with breathing/lung issues, then a press that collects the spent primers and smut might be a BIG advantage.
? Give us a general picture of your car while you're at it. A person who drives a Lexus or Mercedes might have grown accustomed to having a few added features around. A reloading machine that's no-frills, bare-bones might irk you a bit. On the other hand, if you drive a 1962 pickup truck, then your mind might be in a different place. ::)
? The big thing to remember is that unless your budget is already packed, you're going to be saving so much money that you don't need to get the most basic thing out there. Let me put it in car terms... if a tiny Fiat would be paid off in 4 months and a mid-sized Ford Fusion would be paid off in 6 months, for the same weekly operating costs wouldn't you really rather have the larger vehicle with more features and better re-sell ?
So you have a lot to think about. ;)
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Better price on a Rock Chucker kit. You will need to buy some calipers. Can't get far without calipers.
https://gun.deals/product/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit-30000-225-after-75-mir
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Good quality calipers are $10 at Harbor Freight.
That's low enough where a press decision ought NOT to be based on the presence or absence of calipers.
;)
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? Give us a general picture of your car while you're at it. A person who drives a Lexus or Mercedes might have grown accustomed to having a few added features around. A reloading machine that's no-frills, bare-bones might irk you a bit. On the other hand, if you drive a 1962 pickup truck, then your mind might be in a different place. ::)
Hey! I'll have you know that it's a '65! Geez!
(https://i.imgur.com/8IFNC9u.jpg?1)
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I like my Rockchucker, except for the lack of a good primer collection system. The ergonomics aren't an issue for me.
I load 9mm, ,223, 6.5x55, and 30 Carbine.
Handles everything well for my purposes.
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I bought a 3d printed primer collector for my Rock Chucker. $20 or so on eBay and works great. I started out with a progressive and added the single stage later. I don't load a high volume of rifle cartridges though. Rifle reloading is more of a meditative endeavor for me.
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I used a single stage Pacific (Hornady) or RCBS press for almost 40 years. .38 Spcl., .357 magnum, .44 magnum, .223, .308 and .30-06. Then I added 9MM, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .300 BO and just lately, .380. Too many calibers with too many dies.
I bought one of the Lee presses with the 4 die discs that you can install the dies in and just leave them after you've set them up. No more adustments (other than maybe bullet seating depth - but the resizing dies, case mouth flaring dies (pistols/straight wall cases) and bullet seating die bodies are set, locked down and good to go after that. When I change operation (sizing to case mouth flaring or bullet seating) I just twist the die disc in the press to put the right die over the shell holder (I took the automatic disc rotating parts out of the press). When I want to change calibers I just remove the disc and shell holder and install the correct disc and shell holder. Those Lee presses cost around $115 on sale. The discs that hold the dies cost $8 to $10 depending on where your buy them. The discs work with RCBS, Lee and Redding dies (all I've tried so far).
You need a good/accurate scale. For working up loads - or just loading if the powder you choose doesn't meter consistently - you'd want a nice little powder trickler. You meter a powder charge into the scale pan (set the powder measure to throw a charge less than the desired charge weight), put the pan/powder on the scale, use the trickler to gradually increase the powder charge weight till you get what you want. Very slow/tedious, but it works on the IMR powders that don't meter consistently.
For powders that do meter consistently I've used TAC (accuracy, but at charge weights that weren't 100% functional in my 20" rifles - need to do some more testing - with heavier bullets), BLC2 (one of my two go to loads/powders for .223 - accuracy and reliability), H335 (very consistent charge weights). There are other powders people say meter very consistently but I've not tried those, or not used them enough to have an opinion on charge weight consistency with my powder measure (RCBS uniflow and Lyman 55B). I bought one of the Lee powder measures, tried it out and put it back in the box on the shelf for some time when I'm so bored I've got nothing to do but fiddle with it to see why it doesn't work as well as the others (it was supposed to be better).
If you use the scale/trickler method you'd also want a small powder funnel to insure your powder charge gets in the primed case.
And reloading manuals. They are like car repair manuals. One isn't enough. The second one will have helpful info/tips and data on powders/bullets the first one didn't have. The third one will have even more data on powders and bullets the first two didn't have. Etc., etc., etc. I think up up to around 8 or 9 reloading manuals now. Four very old ones and 5 bought in the last 10 years. I have to say, the Lyman manuals have always been my favorites for the amount of info in them vs. the others.
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I too refer people to a RCBS Rockchucker single stage as a starter press, it is what I started out with and still load larger calibers (.308, .30-06, 7mm Mag, etc) on it.
Concur with the inexpensive 3D printed primer catcher as well, works great.
The rockchucker (as well as others) can be found on Craigslist, usually with additional items and at a decent price.
Sample listing; https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/for/d/rcbs-reloding-set-up/6637626064.html
Prices on ammo has dropped so many are dumping their equipment.
Craigslist is where I recently purchased a loaded progressive (<-----gawd I loathe that word) Hornandy LNL Ammo Plant for about 1/3rd the cost of new. Planning to use it for higher volume pistol calibers....... once I build another reloading bench.
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Sorry to hi-jack, but is this the unit for the upgraded catcher?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Improved-primer-catcher-for-RCBS-Rock-Chucker-RC-IV-Supreme-reloading-presses/112585783454?epid=11012092531&hash=item1a36a2b89e:g:3J8AAOSw8GtZT9nY
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Sorry to hi-jack, but is this the unit for the upgraded catcher?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Improved-primer-catcher-for-RCBS-Rock-Chucker-RC-IV-Supreme-reloading-presses/112585783454?epid=11012092531&hash=item1a36a2b89e:g:3J8AAOSw8GtZT9nY
Yep. I believe they are sold depending on model RC owned & what side of the press you want the primers to fall.
The one I have works great.
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I load 1000's of rounds each year on a Rock Chucker.
I am getting one of those primer catchers for sure.
The machine makes awesome bullets and is built very well.
The Lee is less expensive for a reason, it is noticeably cheaper.
if you only reload a few hundoh a year
I'd still look on Craigslist for a RCBS
RCG
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Just bought the primer collecter?..this has been a good day!
RCG
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Just bought the primer collecter?..this has been a good day!
RCG
I think you'll be very happy with it. I bought mine a couple months ago. Along with it, my wife boght me a Frankford wet tumbler and the 3 pack of case sorting baskets. I've actually been enjoying brass prep lately. :D
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I've actually been enjoying brass prep lately.
That sir, is in direct violation of Reloading Rule #37. Or was it #57 ??
O0
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Its #37
#57 taking apart bullets you already made is awesome
RCG