Another Reloading thread

[specweapon]

I'm about to order a basic Lee loading kit tonight, what the difference between the Lee Breech lock anniversary kit and the Classic Turret press kits?
Both from Reloaders.

I know half of the replies will say to just spend the coin to get a better kit but I'd rather spend my money on rifles.

Will mostly be loading 223 for the AR so the turret kit looks much faster but at $395 is near twice the price, should I just get the basic Breech lock press and use it until I need to upgrade?

[Grunta]

You've sort of answered your own question in a way. I guess it depends on how much time you've got on your hands. I'd personally just get the breech and like you say - spend money on actual hunting. Mate shoots with an ar and he just uses the powder thrower (lee) and his accuracy is good/great. When you think about how many rounds your shooting just because it's an AR compared to a bolt action then the powder thrower is your friend. It would be the only calibre I would probably use the lee powder thrower only on though.

[steven]

If you want to do a lot of .223 like hundreds in a sitting the turret might be the better deal. Otherwise no, go for the single stage press 50th kit. Delux lee die sets are I think both price wise and perfornance wise great buys dont bother spending more. Oh and dont even look at the Lee Loadmaster 223 kit, awful thing.

[steven]

If you ever want to upgrade then maybe a better press, like a RCBS or Hornady press but that is $300 each. The Lee scales is OK and usable but I prefer the Lyman, but that is 2.5 x the price.

[specweapon]

I ended up ordering the Single Stage Lee last night, with the Lee Ultimate 4 die set, don't know whether I should be neck sizing or just full length sizing but will just be good to get away from factory ammo, although my AR loved that American Eagle varmint stuff.

Picked up some Benchmark 2 and a box of Nosler 55gr from Stirling Sports Richmond, good price as they've sold to Hunting and Fishing

[scaggly]

I ended up ordering the Single Stage Lee last night, with the Lee Ultimate 4 die set, don't know whether I should be neck sizing or just full length sizing but will just be good to get away from factory ammo, although my AR loved that American Eagle varmint stuff.

Picked up some Benchmark 2 and a box of Nosler 55gr from Stirling Sports Richmond, good price as they've sold to Hunting and Fishing

If you're loading for a semi, always full length size. Neck sizing is fine for bolt guns, but much safer to f/l size for a semi. Did your kit come with the case trimmer and guides?

Also, in a .223 brass life is not a worry if you're f/l sizing. The primer pockets will get loose before the brass gives up anywhere else.

[rambo-6mmrem]

I started with a lee kit and the only thing that remains is the primeing tool other than that its all been upgraded i always tell pepole its better to cry once and buy good kit the lee kit is useable apart from the powder scales which are very poor

But being honest just buy the rcbs rock chucker kit and be done with it much better gear

[specweapon]

Yes it comes with case trimmer and guide.

I just figure I can sell parts of the kit on trademe to recover most of the original cost if I upgrade in future

[mikee]

Picked up some Benchmark 2 and a box of Nosler 55gr from Stirling Sports Richmond, good price as they've sold to Hunting and Fishing

Small base dies are the way to go loading for the AR. I guess i will be buying all my stuff online now as H&F will never get anymore of my $$. I have heard they were moving into the Richmond Mall. Never been to a gunshop in a shopping mall

[scaggly]

Small base dies are the way to go loading for the AR. I guess i will be buying all my stuff online now as H&F will never get anymore of my $$. I have heard they were moving into the Richmond Mall. Never been to a gunshop in a shopping mall

The Lee F/L dies size quite small anyway, so personally I wouldn't bother with spending any extra on small base dies. If you're shooting an AR with a specialist match chamber, then maybe. FWIW, I've got a Wylde chambered AR, and it doesn't need small base sized brass.

[specweapon]

I'd be interested to see how the full length sizing goes as my CMMG has been quite fussy on chambering some loads but I think it's due to long FMJ's that a mate loaded for me not exiting the magazine cleanly.

I was talking to Neil at Stirling Sports and only the sports store/merchandise is going to the mall, H&F will be doing the hunting/fishing/dive gear. They're going into the shop beside Pak n Save that has the arcade machines currently, laying off all the staff from upstairs. Now where will I go for 2 hour long chats about guns?

[mikee]

The Lee F/L dies size quite small anyway, so personally I wouldn't bother with spending any extra on small base dies. If you're shooting an AR with a specialist match chamber, then maybe. FWIW, I've got a Wylde chambered AR, and it doesn't need small base sized brass.

I have one AR with an absolute min spec chamber, owning it has made me re evaluate my whole reloading procedure (for the better too I might add)

I know what you mean about the chats...................

[EK9132]

Can anyone explain the full length vs neck sizing for semis? Ive been shooting neck sized brass in mine for close to a year now and never had an issue.

Sent from my GT-I8190T using Tapatalk

[scaggly]

F/L sizing takes the case back to the proper spec (case length, shoulder, neck size etc). Neck-sizing only re-sizes the neck, the rest of the case isn't touched. The theory I've been told is that in a worst case scenario an out of spec case could result in things going kaboom when you pull the trigger.

I know that when neck sizing for my bolt guns, after a few reloads, I can't chamber rounds any more due to case stretch, and they need to be F/L sized again. I can't feel how rounds are chambering in a semi, because the action is doing all the work.

I don't know how likely it really is to be a problem, or whether it just won't go bang, but when I'm setting off explosions an inch in front of eyes, I'm going to go with the majority view on brass sizing and err on the side of caution. YMMV.

[Wildman]

Isnt that Hornady training ammo cheaper than you can reload for?