Hello all,
I know this has been talking to death, but here goes..
I was thinking of buying the Lee hand press reloading kit for reloading .30-06 and .30-30. The kit comes with a RAM Prime, powder funnel, and 2 ounces of resizing lubricant. I'm fond of using nosler partitions with my .30-30 and .30-06, so I'll be using new brass and (obviously) new bullets. Aside from the dies, what else would be a good thing to buy? just a note.. i was thinking of buying the Pacesetter 3 die pack (bullet seater die, full-length sizer, and factory crimp die). I was also thinking of getting the "powder through expander die". If I got all this stuff, is all I need are primers and powder? And maybe a scale to start reloading? Is there something I missed?
Thanks all

Price the stuff out seperately. I would much rather have the hand primer than the ram prime. I'm not sure what your plans might be for the powder through expander but I don't think I would use it to charge cases in the hand press.

You need a loading block but you can make that easily with drill and a piece of wood. The plastics ones are cheap though.

You can get by with dippers for the powder but it sure is limiting.

Thanks Kenk
I didn't really know if I needed the powder through expander die. what's the block used for?

You put the cases in block between operations on the press. It keeps them upright and prevents them from falling over. The powder through expanding die is mainly for pistol cases, you can put in the powder while belling the case.

You need some way to weigh and measure powder into the cases. Lee makes a set of powder dippers that are simple to use. I like a powder measure and a scale and Lee makes both that are dandy. I would also add a Lee case length gauge/trimmer for each caliber. The loading block allows you to stand your cases up in an orderly manner while loading them. I would also suggest one of the Lee hand held "Auto Prime" tools to install primers.

Here's one in front of the electronic powder dispenser/scales.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Reloading/RCBSdispandscale.jpg

Just keep in mind that you have to have enough equipment to do all the reloading steps.

Lube, size and deprime the cartridge:

Hand press
Sizing die
Lubricant

Measure and Trim the case for over length

Lee Trimmer/case length gauge with cutter handle. (I like the ball handle one)

Prime the case:

Lee handheld auto-prime

Add powder:

Lee Perfect powder measure
Lee Powder scale

Seat the bullets:

Lee seating and crimp die.

Now go shoot those new reloads. All this stuff will fit in a small tool box that can go in a closit or under the bed.

Actually, I saw in a Cabela's magazine the Lee Classic turret press kit. Sounds like a good deal. I think I am going o go with that. Any suggestions on what dies to get. I'll be reloading for the .30-06 and .30-.30

Get the Lee dies, they are very good. I've been using them for lots of years.

The Lee RGB are a great deal and good dies. Wideners sells them for $10.50 a set and 30-30, 30-06 are both available in the RGB. If you buy the Lee pacesetter dies a shellholder and powder dipper are included. You may want to to check Wideners on the press kit also they have great prices.

What dies do you need with this? I know I need the bullet seater die. But what else?

I got the Lee Hand Press, but not in the kit. I got the Lyman powder pal funnel pan (little more expensive, but it is a powder pan and funnel in one.) I would suggest you get a scale reguardless of weather you get a powder measure. The Lee dies do come with a powder measure, but I have found it to be about 1 or 2 sizes smaller than what is needed for the powders I use and the scale also is a good way to check to see how much powder you are really getting from each powder throw because the chart is off (usually on the conservative side).

Most rifle dies (including the Lee RGB) come in a set of 2. One resizes/deprimes the case the other is for seating a new bullet. If your kit doesn't include a reloading manual be sure to get one or two. Reloading manuals will walk you through the process and will answer many of your questions.

What Nosler Partitions are you planning to use for the .30-30? Will they be fired in a rifle with a tubular magazine?

Dies for bottle neck cases usually come in a set of two as mentioned above, a resizing die that also removes the old primer and sized the cases and a bullet seating die that also will crimp the bullet into the case if set up to do so.

Straight neck cases such as most pistol revolver cases come in three die sets. A resizing die the also pushes out the primer, a belling die that bells the mouth of the case so you can seat a bullet and a seating die that will also crimp the bullet into the case. Some folks like Lee make a four die set that seperates the bullet seating and crimping into two separate steps.

Also as said above get a couple of different manuals. I happen to Like Lee's manuals and his new one is only 15 bucks at Cabela's. It will cover reloading step by step as most manuals do. The manuals will have all the specs to load most available cartridges on the market. You need to know recommended powder charges, trim length, COL and other facts to make safe reloads.