American Made Re-Loading Equipment

Funny thing when you are dealing with gun based companies, when the stuff is US made it seems it never breaks and if it does just pick up the phone..

I just recently this month rebuilt my gun bench, the razors had taken over most all of the bench space in the shop. I finally took a day and put in a new 10' x 4' bench and several shelves, I moved all the re-loading and gunsmithing stuff to that bench and started cleaning it up and getting it up and running again..

I had two problems with the equipment, first my Pact BBKII digital scale, I couldn't find the platen for it anywhere, (little plate that holds the powder pan) so I get online and track down the company.. One phone call to Texas and $4.95 has a new one heading to the boonies of Idaho for a scale that is about 15 years old, I found it quite funny also that sometime in that 15 years they stole my idea :rofl2: When I bought the scale you had to use batteries to run it which I promtly converted over to using an old phone charger plugged in the wall :) Somebody else got smart because the have an adapter you can buy now :p

Problem number two, my Thumler Tumbler VB-18 finally after about 30 years mine gave up the ghost, and the motor died.. Again Google to the rescue and talked to a nice lady over in Auburn WA who told me no problem they can send one right out, I said "Well I might be over there next weekend for a B-day trip", she said "Better yet stop on by"

That is what I love about the US Gun Industry they still believe in customer service and making quality products...


Gotta love the things that go boom

Even the cheap stuff from Lee Precision is pretty good quality, and they stand behind it.
I've had nothing but great experiences dealing with them.

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Originally Posted by HNSB

Even the cheap stuff from Lee Precision is pretty good quality, and they stand behind it.
I've had nothing but great experiences dealing with them.

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Yep, and MEC, too. A machinist from MEC spent 30 minutes on the phone with me one time helping me reassemble an old 600 JR that was given to me in parts.

I have an old Star Reloader with dies in 45 ACP, .38 special and 9mm. I have had for almost 40 years and have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds with no major problems on that same machine. The guy I bought it from was commercially loading with it for a few years and he didn’t buy it new. So it produced a boat load of ammo, he sold it when he had to go motorized.

About 25 years ago I was in San Diego on training and dropped in at their small shop. They were the nicest people and gave us a bunch of information and tips on maintaining their machines. I left there with a box of spares, springs, pins and stuff, anything that could possibly fail. Still have the box, most of it un-used.

I have Dillions, Lee progressives and RCBS loaders, but that Star is still my favorite, each pull of the handle, drops a perfectly completed round.

I recently taught my grandson how to load on the Star. I don’t know how old this machine is, they were made for over 70 years, but it is going on a Third generation in my family. Sadly they are no longer in business, but there is a website dedicated to keeping them alive with owners sharing information and parts.

Come to think of it… 2 of my house guns are loaded with 185 grains of 45 ACP wadcutter in front of a handful of Bullseye, produced with that Star. I guess you could say, I am still betting my and the lives of my family on the quality of that old machine.

Good Stuff? You bet.

I had a Star in 45ACP and another in 38SPL. Sold them both some years back. Ranges around here don't allow reloads anymore. Insurance they say. I still have my old RCBS 'rock crusher'. Nice to hear something is still made in the USA besides McDonald's hamburgers.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Nice to hear something is still made in the USA besides McDonald's hamburgers.

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Indeed!
I am getting tired of buying imports from Canada.

Is that new head of yours American made? If so, I'm buying foreign.



...it's shrinking??????

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Is that new head of yours American made?

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Made in America with parts from the USA, Germany, Poland, and France.

If only we could look inside ...... then again ...... :thinking:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If only we could look inside ...... then again ...... :thinking:

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Just a hamster on a squeaky wheel.... Sometimes he runs fast, but mostly the whole affair runs pretty slowly. ;)

GSSixgun,

I use Redding Competition Dies for my tight-necked (0.336") 0.308W rifle.

After loading some 1500 rounds, I noticed a hairline crack in the stem of the seating die.

I phoned Redding in the US to enquire how much a replacement would be and the shipping to the UK; they replied that they would send a replacement for free and cover the postage :)

What excellent service !! :)

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

RCBS is spot on with customer service as well. I just called them the other day to let them know the set screw on my trimmer had cracked in half. They sent me 3 for free. It is 9 years old and back up and running now. If I had known it was 8-32 TPI I probably would have tried to hunt a few up local, but they sent them all the same. My brother gave me a RCBC RC2 last year that was LOCKED UP!! It had sat outside for God only knows how long. The paint looked great, but all the metal was thick with rust. Well after more than an hour working on it with heat and ATF it broke free. Called RCBS on the phone and they sent me a new ram and insert for the die threaded portion. Free. Works like a champ now, although it is just sitting under the bench collecting dust......

RCBS rules,made me a custom re-sizing die in carbide for 45/90,had it in a week.

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Originally Posted by EMC45

RCBS is spot on with customer service as well. I just called them the other day to let them know the set screw on my trimmer had cracked in half. They sent me 3 for free. It is 9 years old and back up and running now. If I had known it was 8-32 TPI I probably would have tried to hunt a few up local, but they sent them all the same. My brother gave me a RCBC RC2 last year that was LOCKED UP!! It had sat outside for God only knows how long. The paint looked great, but all the metal was thick with rust. Well after more than an hour working on it with heat and ATF it broke free. Called RCBS on the phone and they sent me a new ram and insert for the die threaded portion. Free. Works like a champ now, although it is just sitting under the bench collecting dust......

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My wife and I buy a bit of gear off ebay, I notice that Americans are pretty keen on delivering good service, something we could do with down under. I often deal with stuff for black powder shooting and have had a really good run.

cheers

heelerau

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I had a Star in 45ACP and another in 38SPL. Sold them both some years back. Ranges around here don't allow reloads anymore. Insurance they say. I still have my old RCBS 'rock crusher'. Nice to hear something is still made in the USA besides McDonald's hamburgers.

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They actually inspect your ammo for reloads before they let you shoot? Never heard of this.

It happens in some ranges down here; usually indoor ranges.

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Originally Posted by Crotalus

They actually inspect your ammo for reloads before they let you shoot? Never heard of this.

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The worst offenders will only let you shoot ammo that you buy there at the range :(

I have always had excellent relations with American manufacturers in the firearms fields. I wish I had purchased a Star reloader before they went out of business. Old Uncle Elmer Keith, the daddy of the .44 Magnum kept a Star Reloader around to load .45 acp. for his 1911s.

I haven't been to the range in quite a while, but I will take the family this weekend.

I bought myself a new shotgun and the rest of the family want to bust some clays with the wife's 20ga.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

The worst offenders will only let you shoot ammo that you buy there at the range :(

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I tell them I bought it there the last time. I have also put reloads in the name brand boxes they have never looked in the boxes. If they ever do I will have to find another range. But I had to sell my reloading stuff along with a lot of other stuff a few years back and havent had the money to get started again (damn economy). Even still I loaded close to factory loads and never really got into "hot" loads, just good ole range ammo.

The range I went to Saturday didn't check ammo at all.

I've heard of some not letting steel cased in, either. They must not have much competition or have to be really conveniently located if they're forcing you to buy their ammo.

I cant speak first hand to it, but people rave about Dillion gear and customer service.

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Originally Posted by Pete_S

I've heard of some not letting steel cased in, either. They must not have much competition or have to be really conveniently located if they're forcing you to buy their ammo.

I cant speak first hand to it, but people rave about Dillion gear and customer service.

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Steels cased?????????????? pls explaine

Some foreign-made ammo is made with mild steel cases (Wolf brand, for one). It works, is cheap, and can't be reloaded.

Yes, there are several Russian ammo mfg's that produce steel cased ammo. Stuff runs dirty, but goes bang every time i have pulled the trigger on it.

I found Dillon Precision from USA to be the best for me (handgun loads). I initially had a Lee progressive press but I didn't care for it.

Forster Press, Redding Compition Dies and Harrell's Precision have served me well all great companies and pretty sure all still made in the US.

I know this is an old thread, but to reduce clutter on the forum...

This isn't the first time or place I've heard stories like this about American gun industry companies, as I've been looking into starting to reload. Nearly every story, no matter who the manufacturer is, they stand behind their product and ship replacement parts for free or cheap and are a pleasure to deal with over the phone or email.

This isn't reloading equipment, but I was at my local gun store, had been on the range shooting for a bit and was looking around through the shop afterwards. I ended up coming across a Remington 597 in .22lr that was used with a Tasco 3x scope and two mags. The price was $100, though with any firearm purchase, new or used, they give you a $25 credit for some range time. So, essentially, I got the rifle for $75, and now have a .22lr that will be fun for me to shoot and will give me something to teach my son on in a year or three.

Fast forward a couple of weeks down the road, and I find three mags at Walmart for somewhere around $10 each, which is about $5-$7 cheaper than every place else around here, and $7-$10 cheaper than online (though I think prices may have dropped some by now). I bought all three, took them home and loaded 'em up. Well, a few weeks go by and I finally find some time to back to the range. Out of all five mags, one of them simply will not feed the last round, period. I went through about 200 rounds, so in 20 times, the mag didn't feed ONCE.

I emailed Remington about it, just asking if there's a way to have it repaired or get an RA number from them to take to Walmart, since I'd already thrown out the packaging and receipt. They tell me to give them my address and they'll send out another free of charge. Not only did they do it, but it was here in 4 days (two of which were over the weekend) and they sent not one but two mags, plus didn't make me send back the defective one. No muss, no fuss, and they thanked me for buying Remington, even if it was a used rifle (which I was up front about, even though the defective magazine was brand new).

Side note, and slightly OT, but I'm all ears for opinions on a reloading noob's first choice for a first press... The only thing I know is I want a progressive press based on the research I've done.

BTW, poppy926, dunno if you're still active here, but hello from Powder Springs!

Dillon 550b.......

With this it is easy to set up multiple plates so that all you have to do is switch them out and have your favorite caliber dies ready to go with out resetting everything. Not top of the line but no where near low end either.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

That is what I love about the US Gun Industry they still believe in customer service and making quality products...

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Mere self defense: they know you own one of their guns, they don't want you to turn up and aim the barrel in their direction.

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Dillon 550b.......

With this it is easy to set up multiple plates so that all you have to do is switch them out and have your favorite caliber dies ready to go with out resetting everything. Not top of the line but no where near low end either.

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Ditto, I am not a huge fan of Progressives (LMAO just realized that has a double meaning) myself, but Dillion is the first name that comes to mind for a casual reloader.. They have an excellent reputation also

Yeah, Dillion is one of the names I've come across more than the rest as far as standing behind their product... even if you're the 5th owner (taken from a true story).

I know that the cost is about double that of Lee, but still, it'll be paying for itself... I guess that just means I gotta shoot more to make that happen? :shrug:

Glen, what type of press are you a fan of? I'll be loading .40 S&W as well as .223/.556

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Originally Posted by crouton976

Yeah, Dillion is one of the names I've come across more than the rest as far as standing behind their product... even if you're the 5th owner (taken from a true story).

I know that the cost is about double that of Lee, but still, it'll be paying for itself... I guess that just means I gotta shoot more to make that happen? :shrug:

Glen, what type of press are you a fan of? I'll be loading .40 S&W as well as .223/.556

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I really re-load slowly, for most all rifle stuff I have a Heavy Duty "O" style Franklin that will handle up to .50 bmg I bought it shortly after I bought my Weatherby 30-378

I also have a 40 yo Lyman Turret for most everything else :)

The Lyman is plenty fast enough for for the Pistols and the Black Rifles and the O style is more than accurate enough for the Long range stuff.. But honestly I mostly shoot .308 (a few) .223 rem and .22-250 rem for stupid small groups.. Now and then I pull out the 45-70 Marlin GG just to make sure the Broad Side of the Barn is still in danger of getting shot too hehehe..

I work out with a couple of my Carry pistols once a month to stay smooth, so I don't have a need for a progressive press..


ps: Saving money on re-loading is as big a myth as saving money using a SR :rofl2: you just shoot more you never save money :p

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I really re-load slowly, for most all rifle stuff I have a Heavy Duty "O" style Franklin that will handle up to .50 bmg

I also have a 40 yo Lyman Turret for most everything else :)

The Lyman is plenty fast enough for for the Pistols and the Black Rifles and the O style is more than accurate enough for the Long range stuff.. But honestly I mostly shoot .308 (a few) .223 rem and .22-250 rem for stupid small groups.. Now and then I pull out the 45-70 Marlin GG just to make sure the Broad Side of the Barn is still in danger of getting shot too hehehe..

I work out with a couple of my Carry pistols once a month to stay smooth, so I don't have a need for a progressive press..


ps: Saving money on re-loading is as big a myth as saving money using a SR :rofl2: you just shoot more you never save money :p

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Well, hey, I gotta have something to tell SWMBO, right? :deal:

I've considered loading shells for my S&W Model 3000 (read: Remington 870 clone), but I don't really shoot it that much. I think really the only reason SWMBO went for buying it was because she wanted something beat to Hell that looked and sounded scary. Oddly, she would be more familiar with an AR-15, given her time in the Army, and a good shot, too... she hit 38 out of 40 when she qualified in Basic.

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Originally Posted by HNSB

Even the cheap stuff from Lee Precision is pretty good quality, and they stand behind it.
I've had nothing but great experiences dealing with them.

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I'm a Lee user myself.
Great experience with their Turret Press (4 hole).
My wife has been known to say I don't really reload, I stock-pile.