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  #1  
Old 10-31-2010, 08:12 AM
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Default LnL Classic Total Cost Breakdown?

Christmas is a'coming and my wife has given me the green light. I'm trying to be as upfront as I can and am looking for full disclosure.

I priced the LnL Classic and all the accessories, supplies and materials I would need to load 38/357 and 45. There is a store called "Fin Feather and Fur Outfitters" on I71 halfway between Columbus and Cleveland (Ashland) where I got my prices. Does this sound about right?

LnL Classic - 270
Extra set of bushings - 14
Carbide dies .45 - 44
Carbide dies .38/.357 - 44
Media tumbler - 50
Media - 16
Powder Measure Stand - 30
Shipping on 500 free (.45) bullets - 15
500 bullets .357/.38 - 60
powder - 20
primer 1000 large 30
primer 1000 small 30
Bullet puller - 20

Total - $643. Add Ohio tax makes it approximately $685 for the machine and materials to make my first 1000 rounds. After that, assuming my own brass, it'll cost me about $190 to $230 per thousand for plinking ammo. Not bad at all. Have I missed anything?
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Old 10-31-2010, 08:35 AM
Carnage_7 Carnage_7 is offline
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Does the LNL come with a scale, digital or balance beam? Calipers? Case gauges? Media separator?
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Old 10-31-2010, 08:50 AM
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It comes w/ scales and I own a set of calipers.

Media separator - $30? For a slotted plastic bucket? Really? Grumble mumble ...
What is a case gauge for? Sorry, total noob here ...
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Old 10-31-2010, 09:52 AM
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Shellplates.
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Old 10-31-2010, 10:08 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobf View Post
Shellplates.
Since this is the single stage the ones that come with the dies, if they are Lee at least, will work just fine.

A case gauge is a piece of steel that is bored to SAAMI standards for the caliber selected. Check them out at dillonprecision.com. What you use them for is to drop your rounds into after you load them to see if they fit, thus meeting SAAMI standards.


I have one, it is for 45ACP but that is the only one I have. As a matter of fact, that needs to get back to my friend that lent it to me!

What you need is a good manual. Not necessarily for the data, but for the information contained in the front of most of them. The "How to's" so to speak.

For one with a sales pitch towards their equipment, get the Lee. It is very informative. For one that is more subtle in their sales pitch, get the Lyman. Get one though.

Then, after you get set up to load, get set up to cast. If you cast for those calibers, even if you have to buy lead, you can cut the price of your reloading in half, easily. That makes capital payback faster! Something that the little woman will appreciate as you spend the excess on her!

Have fun, be safe!

p.s. How are you going to prime your cases? What kind of attachment or hand device is with the kit. I don't keep up on what comes with what. I'm into progressives that come with everything you need to make bullets!
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Old 10-31-2010, 10:29 AM
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[QUOTE=smith crazy;135677160]Since this is the single stage the ones that come with the dies, if they are Lee at least, will work just fine.

It's too early I was thinking LNL AP.
Bob
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Old 10-31-2010, 11:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smith crazy View Post
A case gauge is a piece of steel that is bored to SAAMI standards for the caliber selected. Check them out at dillonprecision.com. What you use them for is to drop your rounds into after you load them to see if they fit, thus meeting SAAMI standards.
Aahh, very good. Thanks!
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What you need is a good manual. Not necessarily for the data, but for the information contained in the front of most of them. The "How to's" so to speak.
I think there's one included. I'll check, though.
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Originally Posted by smith crazy View Post
Then, after you get set up to load, get set up to cast. If you cast for those calibers, even if you have to buy lead, you can cut the price of your reloading in half, easily. That makes capital payback faster! Something that the little woman will appreciate as you spend the excess on her!
The excess is already scheduled for her 9 mm ammo! She shoots an M&P 9C.
I thought about casting lead but my indoor range forbids it. If the laws keep leaning further left, I'll probably invest anyway as that'll be the only way we can shoot!
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Originally Posted by smith crazy View Post
p.s. How are you going to prime your cases? What kind of attachment or hand device is with the kit. I don't keep up on what comes with what. I'm into progressives that come with everything you need to make bullets!
It comes with a hand primer. Do progressives come with everything I need? I was under the impression I would have to add another $300 or so to the above tab.
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Old 10-31-2010, 12:04 PM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Hey blu,

A progressive press comes with the ability to prime the case, that's what I meant.

You still need to purchase the components!

As for the ammo you are going to load, with 2/3rds of it being for semi automatic firearms, you may have a hard time keeping up with demand!

If it was me, any you need to thank God you ain't me, I would buy a Dillon Square Deal B for the cartridges you are loading. I would buy it used, from ebay maybe or another forum, and get the caliber changes needed. Change over can be pretty quick with a time saving step I use and you can put a bunch of ammo out in just a little bit of time.
It'll be good ammo too!

What you have suggested will work just fine. Some say that a single stage press is the ONLY way to start. Well, I'm not of that crowd. It all depends on your personal abilities, something I can't know, if you can handle a progressive to start with.

The ONLY down side of the Square Deal B is that it cannot do rifle cartridges. Oh, it does take proprietary dies too. That means you HAVE to buy them from Dillon and they will fit no other press. About $70 a pop.

Another option would be the Lee Classic Cast Turret Press. It takes regular 7/8" x 14 dies and the output is much better. Not what can be done on the the SDB but better than any single stage.

One thing to remember, you are married to your wife, not your reloading equipment. If you buy the one you said in your first post and you need or want something better, sell it and buy something else.

Maybe by then you will be more comfortable with reloading and the "fear" of the progressive won't be so much!

At any rate, now is the time to get started. Don't wait another day. Everyday you wait, the day comes closer to the day you will not be able to buy reloading equipment or components. We have seen the day already when there was nearly no ammunition available. We have seen the day when components weren't available. If you had neither and needed them, you were out of luck. Don't wait any longer, get started now.

FWIW
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Old 10-31-2010, 01:40 PM
Kevin G Kevin G is offline
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Ask around at the range or club you shoot at, find some reloaders who use the LNL and ask them questions, perhaps attend a reloading session.
Only problem I found in getting help reloading was me being reluctant to ask for help.
Those in the Shooting and Reloading community are very generous w/their help supporting new comers.
Good Luck, Kevin
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Old 10-31-2010, 10:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smith crazy View Post

The ONLY down side of the Square Deal B is that it cannot do rifle cartridges. Oh, it does take proprietary dies too. That means you HAVE to buy them from Dillon and they will fit no other press. About $70 a pop.


FWIW

WOW-great information. I did not know you could only use proprietary dies in that press. That takes that press completely off my radar, I was actually considering one. I knew you could not reload rifle ammo on the press, but did not know about the dies. That makes the Hornady a shoe in for my bench. Thanks, Tom.
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  #11  
Old 11-01-2010, 05:02 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Tom,
Not to hijack blue's thread but, even with the SDB having proprietary dies, they still have a place on a lot of benches. I have 7/8"x14 dies for almost every caliber I have ever loaded for and I still have 3 SDB presses. That little press will do a bunch of things that other presses just won't do. Even the more expensive Dillons. The shorter stroke of the press and compact size makes it a good choice for those loaders that live in cramped quarters or have limited space for loading.

I have given 2 of mine away, one to our son and the other to a son in law. Both have limited space and they will meet their needs for a very long time. I even have a bunch of caliber conversions for them still.

At any rate, in my opinion, they are a great press.

FWIW
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Old 11-01-2010, 05:40 AM
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I don't mean to pop yoour reloading bubble, but you do not save reloading ammunition or reducing the cost of shooting. For instance, your current budget is $20 per week on ammo. Now with reloading, because you are saving so much money on cheap reloaded ammo, you spend $35 per week on components. Where is the Congressional cost savings or deficit reduction?

On the other hand you are spending more time at the range.
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Old 11-01-2010, 09:05 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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This is true, sometimes. There are others who save quite a bit because they do not increase their shooting.

Believe it or not, there are folks that just reload to stockpile the ammo! Know a few of them. They are saving tons. Oh, sure, they are spending the same amount of expendable income, it just gives them more bullets for the buck.

So, technically, yeah, you are right but not always!
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