Best Beginner Reloading kit?

My wife's going to buy me a reloading kit for our 10 year anniversary and I would like to know from some of you reloaders on here which would be the better buy. Over the last few years I have consolidated my ammo needs to 5.56, 6.8 spc, 6.5 grendel, .308, .45, 9mm, and .357 I've been looking a the Hornady Lock-n-Load kit and the RCBS Rock Chucker supreme kit which would be the better buy? Thanks in advance.

I don't have any experience with the Hornady presses...but the RCBS will outlast you.

Don't have any experience with either of them, but most people that I know use the RCBS kit.

My RCBS press is 40+ years old and I still crank them out.

Have you considered a Dillion 550? It will handle all pistol and rifle calibers, has a lifetime "NO BS" warranty, and used/recommended by just about everyone I know that reloads.

Pick one...go load

No matter what you do...after a few years you'll find some reason to get a different one or another one any way

If you can afford the Dillon up front and have the work space for it...Get the 550

If you stick with it, you'll go progressive anyway. I drink the Red Koolaid and have the LNL AP. I also use a Lee single stage.

Its my understanding that many of the current RCBS presses and possibly other products have been outsourced to China so with that
in mind I'd either look for a used RCBS RockChucker in good shape, maybe post a WTB and see what turns up or get a Redding or Hornady, both of them are still made in the US. I've actually seen
one RCBS RockChucker made recently so badly out of alignment
that it was totally unusable, bad casting on the frame.

Thanks for the help I going to get the Hornady kit.

I have been using the Lee Anniversary kit for the past three years, but just upgraded to a used rock chucker supreme. The LEE is an inexpensive kit that is great for beginners, sold mine to a buddy to get him started and went with rcbs because the scale, powder measure, and other accesories seem to be much better qaulity, but the lee is great to learn on.

I have a RCBS Rock Chucker that I have adapted to use the the Hornady LNL bushings to make die changing easier. Before the RCBS, I had a Lee press for several years. The Lee presses are fine for what they are but it's not as high quality as the RCBS.

I have had occasion to contact both RCBS and Hornady on customer service issues within the last six months. RCBS's customer service cannot be beat! My experience with Hornady was less than satisfactory. YMMV.

msredneck wrote:Pick one...go load

No matter what you do...after a few years you'll find some reason to get a different one or another one any way

If you can afford the Dillon up front and have the work space for it...Get the 550

+1

Get a blue press.....
Personaly I would have been pretty cheesed off if would have bought a single stage press.... my 550 can barely keep up, but then again I shoot up to 2000 rounds of 40 cal a month. I'm thinking about investing in a 650.

Stryker6 wrote:Thanks for the help I going to get the Hornady kit.

Not a bad choice. I cut my teeth with the Lee anniversary kit and the Hornady LNL progressive is on my list of possible upgrades. My only advice for you now is to resist being like a kid on Christmas day. Buy a loading manual and read it first before starting any loading. Also don't be shy about asking questions, trust me you will have some.

I bought a Lee turret press almost a year ago, love the damn thing. But as previously stated the desire for a progressive (especially for pistol) is very much there. If you don't already have a few manuals, grab a few its helps.