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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?
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. :D
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.
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.
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by specweapon
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.
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
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
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 mallQuote:
Originally Posted by specweapon
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikee
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?
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)Quote:
Originally Posted by scaggly
I know what you mean about the chats................... :(
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.
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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.
Isnt that Hornady training ammo cheaper than you can reload for?
Not any more, sadly. Steelcase training ammo has become the stuff of myth, and the brass case training ammo runs around $1 a round.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wildman
Reloading runs around 60c a round, which is now less than nasty old Barnaul costs. Hopefully the training ammo starts making a comeback soon, it is fantastic!
Hey Scaggly I full length size and trim if the case wasnt fired in my rifle first time and neck and trim once fired in mine (for .223 & .308) so no risk of cases being too long so besides the length and all that is there any other potential risk with firing neck sized brass in a semi? It feeds well and shoots under 1 inch in my AR. Cheers.
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Sorry. Been out of town all week.
On the neck-sizing, just bear in mind that .223 headspaces off the shoulder, and every time you fire a round, the case stretches to fill and seal the chamber, which will see the shoulder move also. Neck sizing doesn't bump the shoulder back into spec.
Its up to you, but I personally wouldn't want to fire your ammo. You might get lucky 9,999 times out of a 10,000, but that one time it goes wrong it might ruin your whole day (or your rifle, or your face).
If you shoot over a thousand rounds a year buy a progressive press. Buy the best quality you can afford. If the reloading bug bites you hard you will upgrade your gear so best to spend the money once if possible.
I guess it depends on how much spare time you have. You may rather spend your money on rifles, I would rather spend my time shooting my rifles than reloading so the more automated the better in my case.
Always full length resize with an auto loader and you wont have any issues with cases getting stuck in your chamber from range picked up brass.
Buy yourself a 223 case gauge as well. This is the best way to check that you have bumped the shoulder back enough (and not too much) to ensure it will fit in your rifle.
Yep, best investment I ever made ... particularly if you're just neck sizing and giving the shoulder the odd bump as I do ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon
What's a good brand of Headspace gauge, was about to order a Lyman one but have seen they have all bad reviews
Its perfectly normal to neck size and I cant see how its dangerious? If the round is out of spec on the shoulder too far you wont be able to close the bolt, so it cant be dangerious. I bought some wilson gauges and I check the re-sized case with these, if they are OK I fill them. If not I full resize though my shopping list has a shoulder bump die on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by scaggly
You are correct on not firing someone elses neck sized ammo, its not for your gun.
Let me re-phrase it since I'm not being very clear.Quote:
Originally Posted by steven
No way in hell would I fire any neck-sized ammo in a gas gun! I don't care if it has been neck-sized for my chamber, in my opinion neck-sizing is asking for stuck cases in chambers at best, and a potential kaboom at worst.
Neck-sizing is normal for bolt guns, NOT gas guns. I've never seen a single reloading manual recommend neck-sizing for semi autos, they all recommend against it as dangerous as far as I am aware.
We're playing with explosives, and setting them off by our faces. A little bit of caution is warranted. FFS, I'm a lazy bastard at the best of times, and lubing and tumbling brass is a pain, but I see absolutely no point in taking stupid chances just to save a few minutes.
Get yourself a Dillon case gauge.
A stainless one is the way to go so it wont rust.
Cool cheers for the info Scaggly much appreciated.
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