Are you searching for the best 5.56 reloading kits? By the end of this post, you will find a reliable reloading kit that will deliver value for the money you spend.
For any gun enthusiast or hunter, reloading your own 5.56 ammunition is way cheaper than buying new rounds every time. While reloading is strenuous and time-consuming for beginners, it improves with time. Moreover, with patience and the right reloading kit, you’ll be reloading your own ammo more accurately and easily. Once you start reloading, you’ll love it so much that you even do it as a hobby.
With the market offering many different kits, some will perform better. To find the right kit, you’ll have to do thorough research to find the best for your needs.
Best 5.56 Reloading Kits
1) Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit
If you want an affordable yet quality reloading kit, the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit tops among the best 5.56 reloading kits. This basic tool is easy to set up and operate and guarantees great performance.
Suitable for beginners, this kit has impressive user-friendly features and is friendly in the pocket too. By being lightweight, the kit is portable and occupies very minimal space.
It comes with every item you’ll need to start reloading apart from the dies. The kit has an ambidextrous O-frame handle design and is sturdy, durable, and highly versatile. For smooth and simple reloading, its chamfer tool deburrs the cases after trimming, while the powder funnel enables you to deliver perfectly sized loads every time.
A double-ended primer pocket cleaner cleans large and small primer pockets, and its safety scale is one of the most accurate and sensitive.
Highlights
- Sturdy and durable construction.
- Highly stable.
- Ambidextrous O-frame handle design.
- 11 auto-prime shell holders.
- Perfect kit for those who prefer to prime off the press.
- One resizing lube tube for easier sizing.
- Double-ended primer pocket design.
- Convenient and repeatable powder measure.
- One breech lock quick-change bushing.
- Accurate powder funnel.
2) RCBS Explorer Reloading Kit
From one of the top reloading brands, we have the RCBS Explorer Reloading Kit. This is an excellent reloading kit for beginners and pros alike.
Its convenient and unique design makes it one of the best reloading kits for the 5.56. Compatible with a wide set of dies, the kit is highly versatile and easy to use. For it to work properly, it requires skills and precision.
Highlights
- Hand priming tool.
- Suitable for reloading beginners.
- Uniflow-III powder measure.
- Highly versatile.
- 1500-grain digital pocket scale.
- Reloader special 5 press.
3) Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Deluxe Kit
Learn how to reload your 5.56 ammunition using the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Deluxe Kit. Featuring a large loading window, it becomes easier for you to make adjustments during the reloading process.
The handle and body are made of high-quality materials, ensuring many years of use. With the Lock-N-Load technology, you can easily switch dies and start reloading again in seconds.
The CNC machined die and ram openings deliver exceptional ram and die alignment, so cases are always correctly lined up with the dies, resulting in better accuracy. Backed with a Hornady lifetime warranty, this kit is worth your investment.
Highlights
- Easy grip handle.
- Positive priming system.
- Ideal for beginners and professionals alike.
- Strong and durable angled frame.
- Sturdy and rigid construction.
- Power-Pac linkage design.
- Lock-N-Load quick change bushing system.
- Great visibility and easy access to the cartridge.
- Accommodates a wide range of cartridges.
- Easy to set up and operate.
4) Hornady 3-in-1 Lock-N-Load Ammo Plant Reloading Press
Having a magnificent reloading speed of up to 500 rounds per hour, this 3-in-1 Lock-N-Load Ammo Plant Reloading Press from Hornady is all you need to reload a wide range of cartridges, including the 5.56.
This versatile reloading kit not only easily switches different calibers but also enables you to load in multiple shells quickly. It also gives you better leverage and many impressive features that make the reloading process quick and smooth.
Also included are an adjustable center plate and bullet feed wipers for smooth feeding. The 5-station quick-change bushing system accepts a wide range of reloading dies while the hard-wearing and sturdy make ensures reliable use, year in and year out.
This kit also features an EZject system that ensures each complete cartridge’s safe ejection without jamming.
Highlights
- Reliable performance with a wide range of cartridges.
- Reliable ejection of cartridges without jamming.
- Automatic indexing and priming solution.
- Quick-change lock-n-load bushing system.
- Rugged and heavy-duty construction.
- 500 rounds per hour reloading speed.
- Well equipped for all your reloading needs.
- Intuitive and easy to operate.
- Adjustable center plates and bullet feed wipers
5) RCBS Turret Reloading Press
With over 75 years of reloading history, the 88901 turrets reloading press from RCBS still offers high-quality reloading performance to many gun enthusiasts and hunters. This high-quality kit is solid cast iron, making it sturdy and durable.
It is precision crafted and engineered to deliver long-term performance and reliability. It holds up to 6 dies and comes with everything a reloader will need to start reloading, from scales, primers, cleaning brushes, lubricant, priming tools, and dies, among others. Its output can be increased from 50 to 200 rounds per hour in the output mode.
Highlights
- Durable and rugged cast iron construction.
- Fits the RCBS turret press.
- Holds up to 6 dies.
- Made for durability and longevity.
- Precision crafted.
- High-quality reloading equipment.
- Adjustable output from 50-200 rounds per hour.
- Operate the table in either progressive or single-stage mode
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best 5.56 Reloading Kits
Compatibility
A highly compatible device is essential because it saves you money and space. Having a kit that accommodates a wide range of calibers enhances its versatility. If the reloading kit has low compatibility from the beginning, the manufacturer tends to provide a conversion kit that improves the usefulness of the equipment. Such conversion kits can transform a different caliber reloading kit to take on a wide range of caliber bullets. Conversion kits are not only affordable, but they also fall in line with the rest of the optional accessories provided by manufacturers.
Durability
5.56 reloading kits aren’t cheap. It is, therefore, important that you purchase one capable of standing the test of time. The repetitive mechanical nature of any reloading kit should be able to resist user error and the bad materials being pushed through it. While it is difficult to guarantee high-quality materials from the users when they manufacture their own ammo, getting a reliable press kit built to take in punishment is important. Check closely at the warranties that come with the various reloading kits and overall customer reviews.
Budget
How much you are willing to spend will determine which 5.56 reloading kit you will buy. The cost factor is important because the most expensive reloading kits are normally the best. You might, however, have a tight budget and be looking for a cheap yet quality reloading kit. If so, you should go for a single-stage press reloading kit. Even if these presses load one cartridge at a time, they are precise and economical. In most cases, the turret and progressive presses are quite expensive and suitable for massive rounds of production.
Quality
Buying a reloading press kit is an important investment that you’ll be making. You should compare different kits and then go for one made of high-quality and durable materials. Many kits listed above are crafted from sturdy and durable materials to ensure many years of use. They also come with additional accessories that are high quality and durable.
The volume of production
The production volume largely depends on how much reloading experience you got and how much ammunition you use every week. A progressive press will enable you to produce thousands of rounds every hour. Their downside is that they are quite expensive and would be impractical if you only shoot once a week or after a fortnight. For average shooters, the best option is a turret press that produces about 100-500 rounds per hour. Such production is practical and more affordable. When needed, you can equip the turret press with aftermarket accessories to increase production and diversify the calibers.
FAQs on the Best 5.56 Reloading Kits
1) Is reloading ammo dangerous?
Yes, if proper precaution isn’t exercised. When reloading your own ammo, it is important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to enhance safety.
2) Which is the ideal place to mount a reloading press?
Mounting your press on a sturdy and stable workbench or table would be best. The workplace area should be spacious enough to allow easy foot and elbow movement. You’ll require plenty of space where you can store all components needed. Also, ensure that there is adequate space above the press, so it can fully extend when the need arises.
3) Is it worth reloading 5.56?
Yes. Reloaded 5.56 ammo is better than factory ammo. Factory ammo can be inconsistent, but when you reload your ammo, you’ll find that you can produce better and more consistent ammunition. It is also cheap and reasonable if you are engaged in mass production.
Conclusion
Reloading your own 5.56 saves you time and money as well, and to do this effectively you require the best reloading kit. With the market offering a wide range of reloading kits, finding a kit that best suits your reloading needs becomes easier. All the reloading press kits listed above are quality and worth your investment.
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