Help Choosing Reloading Equip.

[slabbandit]

I used to reload with a basic RCBS press years ago for my 30-06. Then when I got my first auto, a Beretta 92FS I successfully loaded for it. Had to put each primer in individually while all the time cursing the small casings.
All I want to do is load basic 115 gr FMJ for my M&P9 Full-size.
Can you guys give me a grocery list of what I might want to buy to have everything to load for this round from equip. all the way to powders and load data. I have long ago gotten rid of my reloading equip. and must start new.
Thanks,
Dave

 

[OKFC05]

Can you guys give me a grocery list of what I might want to buy to have everything to load for this round from equip. all the way to powders and load data.

Sure, but without knowing your budget, ability, interests, how much shooting you do, and what powder you can actually get, it's like picking your clothes or next car, and planning your next vacation.

The ammo burners in USPSA and IDPA Sanctioned competition favor Blue Presses by a large margin, but can you afford and justify the expense? If so, break out the Blue Press catalog, call them up and tell them to fix you up with the works. Otherwise, do some comparison shopping with Hornady, Lee turret, RCBS, and so on.

 

[slabbandit]

Hit me with the good stuff and I'll see what I can do. Right now I have a decent budget for my handgun shooting so I need to capitalize on getting most of what I need right now.
I do know that I can't afford 38.00 bucks a pop very long for 100 rounds of 115 FMJ just to practice.

 

[chief38]

My recommendation is to go with a Dillon product - they have the best Customer Service in the industry and you will never buy a part to fix it. More importantly they work splendidly and last almost forever!

I stared out and kept my Dillon Square Deal - B for about 30 years but about a year or so ago I finally upgraded to the Dillon 650 which is a whole lot faster and allows rifle calibers to be loaded as well.

Here's the important thing...............

IF you are REALLY ONLY going to use your press for one caliber and one configuration (no adjustments after initial set up) than the SD-B will be the least expensive way to get into a Dillon. That said, please be aware that the SD-B does NOT use standard Dies and if you do want to upgrade down the road you will have to get all new dies. That was not a big deal for me because I sold my entire SD-B outfit including the Dies to a friend when I upgraded. If you think that you might get into other calibers and rifle calibers I'd go with the 550 or my favorite the 650.

I believe the base pice on the SD-B (including a set of dies) is under $400 and the 650 runs around $700 (no dies included). Of course you will need a good quality scale, a tumbler, separator, tumbling media, primer tray, bullet puller hammer, etc. As a guess I would say you are looking at about $750 to $800 with a SD-B outfit and about double that for the 650 set up. Call Dillon and request a printed catalog which they will gladly send to you. I find it mush easier than doing it on-line.

I still own a RCBS Rock Chucker and have dedicated it to only two non carbide Die sets for my 45-70 Gov't and 38-55. Truthfully I only use it every other year or so as I don't shoot those calibers too much anymore. While the Rock Chucker is a very sturdy and well built press, I would not recommend it for reloading now days since there are so many faster and more advanced machines now available.

 

[OKFC05]

Well, I started out a pistol-only reloader recently on the Dillon SDB, digital scale, brass primer flipper, cartridge gauges, calipers, spare parts kit, brass tumbler with polish, media, and sifter; inertia bullet puller, Dillon tool kit, Dillon 2-sided ammo bag, all right out of the Dillon catalog. If you want to load anything quickly, then the Dillon 650 is the "Mercedes." Used 4.8gr HP38 under 115gr fmj in 9mm, set to clear the 9mm cartridge gauge, and it worked fine in his XP 5" and made minor power to USPSA. A chrono is very useful, but your local competition club will usually check power factor for you.

You may have to use another powder depending on supply. Titegroup, Universal, Power Pistol, etc.

I am running 124gr Precision Delta fmj over Titegroup.

I see chief and I were typing much of the same info at the same time.

That's one set of choices to consider.

 

[slabbandit]

Thanks, all useful advice!
Dave

 

[smokindog]

Not trying to offend anyone but posts that begin with "buy a brand" tend to be lightly read by me.

There are a number of well thought out threads on this topic, some in just the past couple of weeks. Look for them, read them, digest them, and the ask

Also look here Ultimate Reloader Reloading Blog on the left side of the page under "Info Center". Lot's to read there.

And then there's everyone's friend

Reloading Basics (Decisions To Make) - YouTube

Good luck!

Here's a couple search freebies from the forum!!!!!

The Progressive Press Or Single Stage?
Progressive Press?
The wife wants to buy me a progressive reloader for christmas
Want to start reloading
New to reloading and need supplys
Reloading Benches & Work Areas

 

[novalty]

Smokindog, you should pm Handejector some of those thread links to have him add to the "Notable Thread Index" at the top of the forum. That way we can direct to one location in future.

 

[NMPinNYC]

Kempf's Gun Shop for a setup has potential for you, takes the work out of choosing equipment. Here's a link, if permissible: https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&vmcchk=1&Itemid=41

If not, find Kempf's gun shop online and check out their complete kits. If I were doing it again, I would be buying the stuff they have chosen in their setups.

 

[fredj338]

I am a progressive guy, but really, the Lee Classic Turret is a good press for the $$. Run it properly, you can get 150-175rds / hr. most of us don't need more than that. If you do decide to go progressive, look no further than dillon. I say that owning a 550 & a 650, & loading quite a bit on the comparably priced LNL. The Lee progressives should be avoided, unless you like to tinker as much as reload.