Thread: 357 magnum kit

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Yep that will work for a pistol round such as 357 mag
However 99% chance he’ll wanna load rifle stuff in the very near future
In that case all the stuff you suggested won’t be accurate enough
Cheap turret presses have alot of flex which is horrible for loading rifle

You are far better off with a cheap lee single stage press unless you can afford something really nice

You need
A press
A set of powder scales
A set of dies (nothing wrong with lee dies)

There is soo meny little bits that are ether must have like a case trimmer (cases stretch and need trimming every few fireings to insure they don’t get too long)

And things that aren’t absolutely necessary but life is way better with such as a loading block

I would suggest biting the bullet and buying something like this

Most brands offer similar kits however although they are the cheapest by alot stay away from the lee set
The press is ok but everything is is poor quality and will need replacing sooner rather than later better off to buy once cry once with this stuff as if you buy the right product it will last you a lifetime

https://reloadingdirect.co.nz/produc...nl-classic-kit

I beg to differ.

If you are not bench rest shooting then a Lee Turret Press can be the bees knees for rifle. The used now obsolete Three Hole Turret Press is cheap, extra turrets are cheap and others, like me, have a turret set up for each different calibre so it's an easy and quick calibre change and dies stay set.

Also the old chestnut about flex in Lee Turret presses is at best misleading and perpetuated on-line when folk, sorry @rambo-6mmrem, really ought to know better. The Lee is NOT poor quality. It is made to a price and a design and boy do they last. Of course you can break them. Just like I had a RCBS Summit (cast iron) break its casting at 3 yrs old (and quickly fixed under warranty). Richard Lee made the case that the reason RCBS and other cast iron presses are so bloody heavy is because they had to be made in that thickness to match the strength of the aircraft-grade aluminum his presses were made out of. His son came into the business and persuaded Richard to introduce cast iron presses for MARKETING reasons - not strength or quality. Go figure. Dillon have long made their semi-progressive and progressive presses out of cast aluminum - but went the thickness route no doubt (speculating here) not just for strength but because folk associate heft with quality. But even Dillon castings will break - as per another recent thread on here.

1960s Lee Three hole turret presses are still going strong today and still last bugger all time on the yellow site. I wonder why?

Yes, there is up and down movement in a Lee turret press. BUT it is the same for each case loaded. if it changes with use over time, it is a minsicule change that very few would ever notice or have the equipment to measure. Not only that, but as per a recent thread on this forum, the world's top competition Bench Rest shooter uses a 2010 Lee 4 hole Turret press to load his competition ammo. On video he states he never saw any reason to change it.

There are not many shooters who would find any issue between one round and another loaded on a Lee Trurret Press, three or four holer, within their own or their rifle's accuracy capability, It just doesn't come into play. Yes, the linkages get sloppy, are sloppy in the three holer from factory, yes, the turret rises slightly when the ram pressure comes on. No it does not matter to anyone less than absolute top world class target shooters. Not many of those in this country.

Do I rate all Lee stuff? No. The pro1000 is a pet hate of mine because the primer feed reliably stuffed up in all three of them that I have owned, repaired, and operated. Lee in my view has never succeeded (maybe has changed with latest offerings), in doing as good on automated primer feed as say Dillon. But that is not what I'm suggesting the OP buy. Manual primer feeding or off-press priming offer very workable options. Using the manual priming arm that came with the Three holer and still with the 4 holer is often a good idea for a new reloder because it encourages them not to race and make mistakes. If you are loading in batches of 50 or less it's just not an issue. And if your fingers are clean and dry, nor is handling primers out of a tub into the primer cup and issue.

So, what it comes down to is preference for fine machinery. Lee has long made its name making affordable gear that will produce reliable, accurate ammo for the average working bloke. And has satisfied many thousands of reloaders for many years. If you want finer made machinery, go buy a cast iron press that you like the heft and feel of and be prepared to pay the price. But wait, Lee currently is seen by many to be in the top spot there also with their Classic Cast Press. An RCBS or a Lee? both cast? check the price and leave prejudice at the door. Your wallet and your rifle will appreciate you.