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I decide to make the move and start reloading. I have the following that I plan to reload for;
Colt AR 15 in .223
Mauser K98k (BCD 43)
I also have 2 Garands, a 640xxx & a 5.4. I had read that the '06 cases could be resized for 8mm. I'm using the Greek hxp from the CMP. It's still pretty cheap so I don't plan to reload for that yet.
The question is starts with presses. I thought that a 3-4 hole turret press would be a good place to start.
What are your thoughts?
My advise would be to not get a turret press as your first rifle press. I would recommend either an RCBS Rock chucker or a Lee Classic Cast.
8mm CAN be formed from trimmed .30-06 brass, but I would not recommend it. It's A LOT of work to do so, and the .30-06 base is smaller so you'll get bulged casings and shorter case life. Also, you may need to ream the necks.
X2 on the single stage press. I'm biased towards the Lee :D .
Also, why not just get 8mm brass? It's available and not that expensive. A lot less hassle than reforming.
(E) :cool:
A Turret press will work great for you, as long as you buy a good one. RCBS, Redding and Lyman allmake very good turret presses. DON'T buy a Lee turret thet are crap. They have aluminum turrets !
Hi SG5054,
The best thing is to start with an single stage press. You could reload an .223 with an multi stage press but an 8 mm and the old 30-06 would destroy your multi stage press.
You should also invest in an good powder dispenser (RCBS) and in equipment to load the primer, RCBS has an very easy to use press mounted priming tool.
You will also need an powder scale and an good dies-set. I would also recommend RCBS.
In all RCBS is an little expensive but worth the buck.
.... I'd have to go with recommending a single stage press, and also RCBS ! They are virtually indestructible, and certainly easy to use, with an excellent customer support base and a very comprehensive line of accessories and other needed tools ! Prices MAY be a little higher initially, but the re-sale value is better than most. 'Well worth any additional costs ! ...... Unless you do an awful lot of shooting, the time saved with a Turret Press is immaterial! Besides which, personally, I enjoy the reloading process, so time is not a factor ! ... David K.....:cheers:
I have been reloading for over 35 years and I would suggest that you get a DILLON 450 or 650 reloading press. It is a little more expensive but allows you to change calibers in seconds and their 100% no BS garuentee. The 450 press is a 4 station press which will allow you to manually index the cartridges and it is a rock solid press, which allows you to change out any set of dies in a few seconds. This is great when you set down and in one afternoon want to reload 308, 8mm, 30-06, and 45ACP.
The cheapest way to go is the lee press, but, I find the system as slow and I cannot feed my babies with it. On average I must reload about 2000 rounds per month, mostly pistol, but my M1919 can eat up ammunition at a prodigious rate. With the price of ammunition going up so high, I would not be shooting since it would cost me over $800.00 per month. My reloads are costing me less than half the cost of factory ammunition. I have started using cast bullets in my 45ACp and 9mm pistol reloads as they are costing me about $0.045 per 45 bullet.