Smartreloader brand

[deac45]

I just got a new Midsouth Shooters catalog and on page 106 they have a line of equipment under the name of Smartreloader. Really low prices. Anyone know anything about this brand? The powder measure and particularly the powder trickler look very Redding-ish.

deac45

 

[wixedmords]

I have never seen them before deac45.

Their website is here:

http://www.smartreloadermfg.com

 

[deac45]

Thanks for the link wixedwords. They appear to be well distributed world wide.

deac45

 

[Cary]

The single stage press they carry under their name looks just like my Lee Classic Cast Press.
Cary

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Huh. Combination of Lee and Hornady (looks like a Lee, but uses a die bushing like Hornady). Never heard of them before. Good luck to them. This is a very brand-conscious market, I'm learning.

-- Sam

 

[Rclark]

Never heard of them before

No wonder.... located in Switzerland.....

 

[WyoGunner]

My first impression after visiting their website was not favorable. Looks like they specialize in knockoffs. Usually a company that skimps on website design (ie: graphical design) is trying to save money because they aren't doing so hot. Could be an indication that they products don't sell well which in turn could be an indication that they make junk. I could be wrong, but either way I won't be buying any of their products.

 

[45flattop]

Their powder trickler does look like a Redding but for the different color
and that it is a pound heavier than the Redding which is the main reason
I bought a Redding in the first place, for stability on my bench, this one
would be even stabler I suppose. I suppose like many Swiss/German
products, if one unit of weight or measure is enough, make it two instead
for surety. I don't get the Midsouth catalog, out of curiosity what do they
charge for this Trickler, Sinclair gets $20.75 before the $11.50 shipping
costs so its advisable to order a lot of stuff from Sinclair to offset that
high shipping cost.

 

[the_buckshot_kid]

I bought one a while ago to use just as a universal decapping station. JUNK!! The ram didn't even match the hole drilled for the die. The difference was about 3/16". I read some reviews on Smartreloader presses and one guy said he had to modify the ram linkage to make it work. I didn't bother.

 

[DeletedMember275]

I bought one a while ago to use just as a universal decapping station. JUNK!! The ram didn't even match the hole drilled for the die. The difference was about 3/16". I read some reviews on Smartreloader presses and one guy said he had to modify the ram linkage to make it work. I didn't bother.

This matches the reports that I've read of their equipment - cheap knockoffs, very poorly made, and generally a waste of money. I get the impression that they are VERY slowly improving, and may eventually become at least usable for their intended purpose. If they survive.

 

[mikld]

When they first appeared on the reloading scene there was much talk about their products on forums. None good. I was curious so I bought their single stage press, "C" style just fer grins. It is not a copy of the Lee press, and I only paid $18 plus shipping. I looked great, nice black crackle lacquer black paint job, nice shiny aluminum parts and a smooth, clear coated ball on the handle. I tried to size and deprime some 38 Specials with my Lee dies in the new press. The leverage was just barely enough to run a case into the die, so I tried a bit of lube, not much better. The "action" felt like there was sand in between the ram and frame, very gritty. I had to guide each case up unto the die as the ram/frame fit was so sloppy the case would be too far off to easily enter the die. I have the "press" (aka junk, POS) hanging over my reloading bench to remind me to never buy any SmartReloader product.

The reports on several forums on the other SmartReloader products were much the same (scales, powder measures), don't waste your money and keep this junk away from new reloaders, unless you want to discourage them from getting into reloading... :roll:

 

[45flattop]

My experience with these cheap garbage grade knockoffs echoes others who
have posted. Presses that are badly out of alignment, etc. The ONLY thing I
ever tried that came CLOSE to working was their powder trickler; it appears
to be another poorly made knockoff of the Redding trickler that weighs one
pound to prevent it tipping over as the lighter weight specimens can from
other manufacturers, however just making theirs weigh twice as much, 2
pounds, isn't a workable solution since it failed almost immediately when
the internal mechanisms that transports the powder from the hopper via
the feed tube fragmented into several pieces locking up the device. I
tossed it into the file 13 and never considered another SmartReloader
product.