Thanks to Julian and Doc...

[madoktor1]

I am thinking about getting into reloading myself. My big question is- Cabela's and Midway both have Lee kits, I just need to know which one to get. Cabela's has a couple and Midway has several. Julian, if your dies are still for sell, I will take them. The kits say they include everything but dies and bullet components. I just don't know enough to know which one would be the best for just loading 30-06 for now and being able to expand later. Thanks in advance for the help.

[DocHolladay]

Kits- I only posted available items. There are several that are out of stock. You may be able to get just the press and everything else seperate.

Midway-

Lee

RCBS

Cabelas-

Hornady

Lee

RCBS

You will just need to pick a die kit. There are several to choose from. Lee seems to be a popular selection, but you wont go wrong with RCBS or Hornady. I have plans on getting a Lee set. You can use this single stage to do everything for now and get a progressive later. My brother has been using a single stage for 20 years. Once your dies are set, you only have to change them out for other calibers, expanding, neck sizing, etc dies.

[bigblue]

It's hard to beat the price of the Lee kit for a first time loader. I have always used a single stage press and the only time I feel hampered by not having a progressive press is when I'm loading pistol ammo in big quantities. When I started loading, around thirty years ago, I bought the RCBS Rock Chucker press and all RCBS equipment, including their powder scale and Uniflow powder measure. I'm still using the same set up with one addition, I bought a cheap Lee press just to use for priming cartridges. Lee dies work very well and again for the money they're hard to beat.
I think if you bought the Lee kit and later added on as you see what you'd like to have, it will serve you well.
One very important item to have is a good reloading manual or better yet two reloading manuals so you can double check load data. Most bullet or powder companies will come out with a new version every few years. It really doesn't matter much if yours is the latest version or not, so if you see an earlier version on sale I'm sure it will work fine for you. I really like Lyman's manual and I also get the Hodgdon annual each year. The Hodgdon annual is on book store shelves right now for about $7.
One last word of caution. Once you do get set up to load be sure to pay close attention to the powders you use and don't think that you can substitute one powder for another because the names are similar. For instance Alliants Reloader 7 is a very different powder from Accurate's #7. Many powders are like that, having very similar names, but substituting one for another can end in injuries or worse.
IMR4350 works great for the 30/06!
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Don

[bubbawitha4570]

You can't go wrong with a single stage press. My advice would be to just mbuy enough press for the future. I know that you can always upgrade later, but there is a bit of false economy in those statements...spend the bit more cash now, and you will be happier later.

Having said that, you won't go wrong with a RCBS press, Rockchucker or Reloader special series...they are rock solid presses. I've looked at the Lee Challenger series quite a bit and don't think they are quite up to total lifelong loading (by my standards anyway), but the Classic Cast Lee press is definitely worth a look in my book.

www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=317831

They are built right up to any other manufacturers specs, and are more reasonable in price for the press.

If you do get the Challenger series, get a couple of extra toggle links right away, as (for whatever reason) they seem to break at the most inopportune moments.www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=281260 the toggle link comment is from multiple readings on other boards from users who like and use their challengers.

[GrampaJer]

Have ya checked out EBAY...

[bigblue]

Here's a few tips.
(1)I started out with my powder scale on the bench and found it much easier to use at eye level so I now have it on a shelf. I keep it on a heavy piece of tile to get better results with less bounce.
(2)Some cartridges take quite a bit of pressure to resize so when I mounted my press, I used a piece of 1/4" steel plate so the bench wouldn't have any flex. The bench top is made of 2x6s layed next to each other flat, with a piece of 3/4" plywood glued and screwed to the top. The press sits atop the steel plate is bolted through that and through the bench with a 3/8"x3"x24" steel bar under the bench that the bolts go through. It's a pretty solid set up.
(3)When I first built my bench I kept all the powder containers on it and on the shelves behind it. I once was loading using Alliant 2400 powder and when I finished I emptied my powder measure into the wrong container. It was a container of Alliant's RL-7. The containers are the same size and having both on the bench caused the accident. Luckily I caught it immediately or loading and firing charges of the mixed powder could have had some very serious explosive results. As it was I had to throw all that powder away, but it was a lot easier on me than it could have been. Bubba had mentioned keeping the powder containers in a different location and that's what I now do. The only container I now keep on the bench is the one I'm working with at that moment.
Don

[bigblue]

I have a few new photos of my bench.

This is my case prep area.


This is my powder and bullet loading area.


This area I have for working on guns.


This is how I store cleaned and primed cases. I use a regular loading block and cover it with a cheap plastic shoebox available from dollar stores. It does a good job of keeping the cases dust free.


This is the $25 Lee press that I use just for priming cases along with the Lee auto-priming tool.


Don

[madoktor1]

I got the dies from Julian yesterday and he demonstrated the ease of reloading. It was so quick and easy, he did another just so I could see what was going on at each step. Hopefully work keeps up like it is and I will be able to take care of a couple of other obligations that have priority and be able to get my kits within a couple of months. I am really looking forward to getting into this and plan on reloading for Lloyd's .35 also to help him out. I see loading for all of my guns in the future because it's so quick, easy and cheap.