What presses and dies are you using and general equipment recommendations.

[1075 tech]

Doing some reading here, researching and learning, as I put together my first Grendel. Just wondering what presses and dies everybody is using.

I currently have a Lee Challenger Breech lock press and mostly Lee dies for 223/5.56, 308, 243, 45ACP, and 38/357. This was a kit that also included the Perfect powder measure and scale.

I also have an old Lyman Tru-Line Jr that will probably get dedicated to just one or two calibers (I have a 7/8" die conversion plate for it as well as original 5/8 dies for 243 and 38/357).

From my reading here, it seems the Lee dies aren't really popular for the Grendel. Are Hornady's the next best option?

I'm thinking maybe an electronic scale. What else should I look at/consider that maybe I can pick up a little at a time?

[pkee]

i have not had any trouble with my lee progressive press . but i am mostly making plinking rounds and a few hunting rounds .
good luck .

[Fredman]

I have a Forester single stage and a Dillon 550B progressive press. Very happy with both. The 550 is loading good enough ammo for me, that I seldom use the Forester. Mostly load development.

Dies- for handgun, I use Dillon carbide dies. They are designed for progressive reloading. With a standard die, I waste time lining up the brass for the sizer die.
Rifle- I like Forester and Redding. I really like the bushing full length sizer and micro seater. With bushing dies, they are easier to use and less likely to distort the brass. Just pricy. The micro seater is great, especially when loading different bullets. Need to seat .035" deeper? Just crank it down .035", check it and load.
Just starting out? I would get a RCBS powder dispenser&scalate on sale at Natchez shooting supply for $279, a press and good set of dies.

[Fredman]

Sorry, I did read your post, just needed to read a second time. Disregard some of mine.

[cory]

Rifle Dies - Redding or Bust (I hear Hornady dies are nice, but I've had no reason to try them since I switched from rcbs to redding.)
Pistol Dies - A mixture of Dillon and Redding

Single Stage Press - I use a Rockchucker. It's a good reliable press. However, if I had it to do over again I'd probably go with a T7. I'd really like to have the new forster coax.
Progressive Press - I run a Dillon 550B for everything, except the Grendel and load development. Great Press!

Powder Measure - I use a Redding BR PM and scale for the Grendel and load development. If you want an electronic scale go with the Chargemaster (from what I hear they work great). Stay away from the Hornady pocket scale. It's the most inconsistent thing I've ever seen. I only keep it for checking my ammo coming out of my 550B to make sure they have a powder charge.

I'm a big believer in buy once cry once.

I really like the Forster Head Space Gauge with my Hornady OAL rod for measuring max OAL for different bullets.

I upgraded my Hornady Calipers to the Mitutoyo 500-752-10 Digital Calipers and can't explain how impressed I am with the Mitutoyo.

Hornady sales a couple deburring tools for one of their hand tools, but the design allows me to chuck them in my drill and go to work. Great investment!

The little crow WFT is the only way to trim brass! However, you'll probably never need it for the Grendel.

Harley deprimer is a nice tool with a 5 gal bucket. It allows me to do thi tedious task while watching the game.

[LRRPF52]

[LRRPF52]

[oldbarnowl]

My favorite bit of help, The Sheridan slot guage. Especially if you resize 7.62x39 brass to Grendel. Lets you see exactly what is going on...


http://www.sheridanengineering.com/index-2.htm

[Younger]

RCBS Chargemaster Dispenser and Scale - 110 Volt is on Sale at Cabela's for $274.99 and FREE shipping. RCBS has a $50 rebate if you order $300 of RCBS equipment. the free shipping saves almost $20.

[lwminton]

That T7 is pretty clean, as is the bench. Did you clean up to fool us?

[LRRPF52]

The T7 is the only thing I don't have. I have quick change bushing dies with a flimsy little Lee press.

[Von Gruff]

Rockchucker lV, Forster FLS die but the Wilson straight line seating die has given me some very good ammo. Simple set-up, reliable and cost effective.

[NugginFutz]

For Rifle:
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme single stage press
RCBS ChargeMaster measure and scale (tried the Hornady, but it got returned in favor of this)
RCBS dies (X-dies and Competition)
Hornady New Dimension dies for Grendel and 22-250 (both of these seat very concentric ammo)

For Pistol:
Hornady LNL AP progressive press
RCBS carbide pistol dies

Misc:
RCBS Case Prep Center (helps a lot with carpal tunnel)
Hornady LNL Concentricity Tool (yes, it makes a difference)
Little Crow WFT (nothing faster for trimming cases)
RCBS 505 Scale (seldom used)

As for Lee dies, I can only say this: Buying a set is actually pretty neat because with the purchase of each Lee shell holder, you get a free set of dies.

[devildogandboy]

for my press i'm using an Lee "Classic" and dies i'm using Lee.

Bruce

[TropicalVibe]

I just returned my RCBS SB dies for the Hornady New Dimension set. This is the first set of Hornaday dies I own, but maybe not the last. I am using the RCBS Rockchucker as my single stage press for rifle loading. I have a Dillon 650 for all my pistol loading.

I really enjoy the single stage process for the Grendel! Although, the brass prep sucks! I hand weigh all of my powder on the Dillon electronic scale. For now, the precision craftsmanship and custom loading is much more enjoyable than cranking out 1000 rounds of .45 ACP on the Dillon. I guess if I had to load 1000 rounds of Grendel, then I might change my tune.

[VASCAR2]

Another RCBS Rock Chucker user here, I bought mine in 1981 and it has held up great. I'm using Hornady 6.5 Grendel dies but have a set of RCBS SB TC 264 LBC dies I've never got around to using. I primarily load 6.5 Grendel, 223/5.56 in rifles and 9 MM, 380, 40 S&W, 45 ACP and 38 Special for handguns.

I'm still using my RCBS 10-10 scale I bought when I bought my press.

[BjornF16]

LRRPF52, that looks like a T7 photo from "Ultimate Reloader" (UR) videos I've seen.

Anyone actually using a T7?

I've been using Rockchucker (Redding dies) and a Lyman powder measure.

It's a slow process.

I've been pondering a setup like T7 to help speed things up. What about a powder measure? UR uses a Redding BR3 measure.

What is a proven and consistent powder thrower?

[ricsmall]

Bjorn

If you're throwing ball or flake and maybe even the small kernels of XBR, the Harrell measure works great. For larger stick powders you have to throw @.5 grain under and trickle up. RCBS chargemaster is another option, as there are tweaks u can perform to speed it up. IIRC, bwaites has one that he modded to b faster.

http://www.harrellsprec.com/

Richard

[BjornF16]

Yikes!...which Harrel to choose? Custom 90 for rifle and pistol?

[LR1955]

LRRPF52, that looks like a T7 photo from "Ultimate Reloader" (UR) videos I've seen.

Anyone actually using a T7?

I've been using Rockchucker (Redding dies) and a Lyman powder measure.

It's a slow process.

I've been pondering a setup like T7 to help speed things up. What about a powder measure? UR uses a Redding BR3 measure.

What is a proven and consistent powder thrower?

Bjorn:

I have owned a T-7 for many years. It is the most heavily used press I own and I own a number of presses.

It is a single stage press with a tool head. This is convenient because you don't have to change out dies but it is not a conventional turret that you can easily spin around to load one round at a time. The turret is too difficult to rotate for it to be used like a Lyman or RCBS turret press.

Among the other presses I own is a RCBS turret and that one you can spin around easily. It works for the Grendel but that is about the biggest cartridge I would put through it. I have always had an affinity for turret presses but haven't used it in years. A single stage press only slightly slower than a turret in my experience. Especially if you own a Bonnanza Co-Ax. Changing dies takes about three seconds or less.

For a powder measure, get the Harrel. I have the 90 I believe and it works better than any other measure I have used. It is easy to use, is repeatable, and throws charges more consistently than any other measure I have used.

If you want to load a lot of ammo fast, and want to use ball powder, the progressives are the way to go. Once you have them set up, that is. And providing their primer feed system works reasonably well.

LR55