Lee Challenger press and 44 mag dies back in the mid 90's
Lee Challenger press and 44 mag dies back in the mid 90's
RCBS Reloader Special bought new in 1977. Still on my bench, although the Redding T-7 gets more use.
When we started we purchased the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit.
About 3 years later our shop got broken into and they cleaned us out.
Now we have a RL Special, 2 Lee Breechlock Challengers and 1 Lee turret press.
Life is a series of bullseyes and backstraps - Ted Nugent
My first press was the old Herters lightweight single stage, back when I was earning $45. a week, as a plumber apprentice, $18. was a lot of money! Not long after I bought the "boat anchor" cast iron single stage Herter's press. Unfortunately all my reloading stuff was stolen when I went into the Army, in Nov. 1960--
Fred
RCBS Rock Chucker, back in 1981. I still use it. I have the top end Hornady progressive press too with all the trimmings that I bought 5 years ago, and I have only used it once. My go-to press is still my 37 year old Rock Chucker.
I started in about 1956 with a lyman nut cracker in 25-20 -- In about 1960 got a CH alum "C" press for about $12 new and about $3 for the shellholder rams -
Still have and occasionally use both the nutcracker and the CH ----
Rock Chucker
Then added a Pro 2000 auto-index that handles most of the volume.
Got a Summit Press this week. Nifty press.
If I had to live with just one, the RC since it can do jobs that the other two can't.
The ubiquitous Rock Chucker and the equally ubiquitous Square Deal B. Only need the chucker these days as I got better things to do on Sunday than watch other people shoot
I had a mentor. Lee Pro1000. Wore the thing out and moved on.
Mine was a MEC 600 Jr.
Loaded about 250 rounds a week with it for a long time. Then changed jobs and haven't used it in 25 years.
I believe mine was a Lee hand press back in about 1977, still have it too but haven't loaded anything on it in almost 40 years.
Steve..............
NRA Endowment Life Member
GOA Life Member
North American Hunting Club Life Member
Rereading this thread I remembered that the acquisition of the "free" TruLine Jr from Dad's B-i-L (see post #107) led me down the path to 310 tools (of which I now have a bunch!) and got Dad going first with a little green RCBS Jr then one of the early Dillon progressives. As I said previously, the first shotshell press I loaded on was a MEC 600 Jr that I inherited a couple of years ago, but I really started seriously loading shotshells on a Glacier Bair in 12 gauge. Nowadays I don't reload as much as I once did, but presses and other gear keep following me home, and the basement is starting to really fill up!
Froggie
"It aint easy being green!"
RCBS Junior, bought new in 1970 when I started handloading. First die set was RCBS (steel) in .38 Special, bought it with the press. Added on a few more die sets. Decided to venture into casting so in 1973 I bought (all used) a Lyman furnace, Lachmiller lubesizer with dies and top punches, and about a dozen sets of mold blocks as a group buy (my first!) from a guy who was transitioning into swaging. Now the die sets fill up a complete shelf in the shop and the molds are crowded into plastic storage tubs (to aide keeping similar diameters together) under the bench. Still adding on, I need more stuff....
I started on the Lee hand press, loading 45 acp. Set of Lee dies, powder dippers, a scale, manual, set of calipers. Didn't need anything else. Pretty slow though. Had success at the range right off. Shot what I loaded in 2 hours in about 15 minutes.
Ordered a LCT the next day after the range trip.
Still have it, right next to my 650, a winning combo.
Lyman Spartan back in 1971 with RCBS .45 ACP amd .30-06 dies. Been using it off and on until I gave it to my oldest son earlier this year. Ed
I too started on a Lyman spartan. I bought it 6 years back or so for 25.00 off the local gunsmith. Lost it in a housefire. I have another one currently.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |