Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Hey guys, I'm really new to reloading. As in, I just got my first used RCBS turret press from another forum member... What do I need just to get started? I can't afford to go out and buy a big Dillon package, So, I'm just gonna have to find the items as I go. I already have a set of dies and two turret heads as well as the press itself. Any help will be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Mods, if this is in the wrong place I'm sorry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 If that is all you have you should be looking to find: Tumbler and separator- Seems like any of them work good enough. On the cheaper end you will find Frankford Arsenal at midwayusa.com to be pretty good. Calipers- Get digital if you can swing it. I saw a pair at Lowe's the other day for less than $30. Dial type are fine but get a good quality pair. Scale- You need to get a good one. I use a Dillon but if I were in the market now I would get the one from Brian Enos that has a forever warranty. Case gauge- You can use the barrel of your gun but you will find it is much easier to use a gauge. And when money permits, a decent chrono.- No need to spend several hundred dollars here. Many people including me have great results using the Pro Chrono Digital. it's around $100. If you are going to reload you will need one eventually. And of course as many good manuals as you can get your hands on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks Sarge. What route should I go to get primers in? hand priming tool or something mounted to the press itself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) I'm not all that familiar with RCBS presses but unless you want to spend hour upon hour priming cases you will want to do it on the press if possible. Edit to add: I did find this and it appears to have priming capability. Don't know if yours is similar? https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=2840&route=C04J146 Edited January 23, 2012 by Sarge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 That's identical to mine, minus pretty much EVERYTHING ON IT! I don't even have the piece to sit the primer on... I got a decent price, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mda Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 That's identical to mine, minus pretty much EVERYTHING ON IT! I don't even have the piece to sit the primer on... I got a decent price, but... Hope you got a really really good price then. Have you watch the videos on the RCBS website on reloading with the turret press? RCBS turret press reload video. Videos show loading for rifle so some of the steps can be skipped for pistol, like primer pocket cleaning and trim/debur. You will have to find and or purchase new parts to replace those missing. Press parts book. MDA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOvalBandit Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) Thanks Sarge. What route should I go to get primers in? hand priming tool or something mounted to the press itself? Personally I prefer the hand priming method, I find it has more "feel" than priming on my single stage Hornady. In addition you can take a box of sized unprimed cases, another empty box, and go anywhere in the house, ideally in front of the TV for me, and prime batches of cases since its doesn't require a lot of visual input and attention to hand prime. Edited January 23, 2012 by BlueOvalBandit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Hey guys, I'm really new to reloading. As in, I just got my first used RCBS turret press ... What do I need just to get started? MRD, what caliber(s) are you reloading? And, how many of each caliber are you reloading/year? That makes a difference in what you need to get started. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drysideshooter Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 With regard to priming it is going to rely quite a bit on what type of volume you plan to be doing. If you aren't loading high volume a hand priming tool is a great way to go. I load most of my low volume precision ammo on a single stage press and I hand prime all of that ammo. If you plan to be doing quite a bit of volume then you will probably want to go with press priming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 I won't be reloading thousands of rounds a year, just enough to have fun with and shoot a few competitions... Mostly 40 S&W, 9mm, and .223... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I won't be reloading thousands of rounds a year, just enough to have fun with and shoot a few competitions... Mostly 40 S&W, 9mm, and .223... MRD, you'll definitely need calipers, scale and chronograph. You can get them all for $140 or so. The rest, you can buy as you feel you need it. Good luck, Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Last night I bought a caliper, brass cleaning solution, some more dies, the Lee hand priming tool, primers, yada, yada, yada... I'm getting there. After using Vise Grips to remove a stuck .223 case from a die, I have realized the value of lube! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOvalBandit Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I have realized the value of lube! Remember a little goes a long way! Especially with the waxy, or greasy types of lube like Imperial Sizing Wax or Hornady's Unique. Dents will occur with too much lube not a big deal it will fireform out, but it's ugly, and sometimes its up in the dies and you have to clean them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrdwayne0405 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 I have realized the value of lube! Remember a little goes a long way! Especially with the waxy, or greasy types of lube like Imperial Sizing Wax or Hornady's Unique. Dents will occur with too much lube not a big deal it will fireform out, but it's ugly, and sometimes its up in the dies and you have to clean them too. I didn't think about that... I haven't jumped in heavy yet, I'm still waiting on bullets to get here... I'll dive in shortly after that though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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