Looking for 1st reloading press

[Blowncar]

Looking to get started on reloading. Looking at getting a progressive press as I'd like to do a bunch at once whenever I sit down. I have RCBS dies for 35 Whelen and will be getting additional dies to load 41mag, 44spec, 44 mag and 45 auto. I see Lee progressive 1000's going for about $225 to start. I don't need to cheap out but I doubt I need the most expensive unit either. What would be good options?

thanks

 

[mosquito]

Dillon 550! Forget the Lee Pro 1000. Very very finicky and the Dillon you will have for life. I have 2 Dillon 1050's and a 550. I still load the most calibers on my 550.

G

 

[max]

It is very hard to beat the Dillon.

 

[monroe]

I'll go against the trend and say get a good single stage first as a beginner. It will likely be easier to understand, execute, and troubleshoot each step of the process on a single stage. YMMV

 

[BobS761]

Really, get a cheap single stage and a Dillion.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[M&PUSER]

You can't beat a Hornady LNL AP Press. If you can, try other presses your friends may have. After trying my brother's Dillon and the Hornady, I decided I liked the feel of the Hornady much better. Most auto progressive presses accept other manufacturers dies. I use a combination of Lee and Redding dies.

 

[LostintheOzone]

If you are reloading more than 200 rounds a week just buy a progressive press and be done with it. Several hundred rounds a week can be handled just fine with a $150 single stage like a Lee Classic Cast. I shoot about 100 rounds a week and don't have any need for a progressive press. If you are set on a progressive a $600 press seems like a lot of money without having any reloading experience. If it were me I would opt for something less expensive.

 

[Twoboxer]

OP you mention 4 pistol and 1 rifle caliber, but you don't mention volume. Here's the rub: Unless you are doing >=1k batches, using a progressive and rotating 5 caliber changes is going to cause setup/changeover time to kill you.

You can cut down changeover time by purchasing redundant equipment and leaving it set up . . . the exact parts vary depending on which progressive press you buy . . . but the added cost will then be significant.

The main progressives recommended are the Dillon 550 (4-hole, manual index), and the Dillon 650 and Hornady LnL AP (5-hole, auto index presses). There's not much talk about the Lee and RCBS progressive presses . . . take that for what it's worth.

So if you are doing small batches (couple 100), lots of changeovers, have limited time, and have some budget concerns . . . a turret press like the Lee is probably the best overall choice. Extra turrets are really cheap leaving your dies set up; the press can be used as a turret or a single stage.

If rifle precision drives you, then consider a good single stage, see how things develop, and jump into the more expensive progressives once you are sure they (and reloading) are right for you.

 

[Moonman]

Blowncar.

You could supply a little more info such as # of rounds in each caliber per week/month.

Really everyone NEEDS a SINGLE STAGE PRESS at some point.

Some start out with one, some have a PROGRESSIVE and a S.S. to start with, others purchase a SINGLE STAGE KIT.


The S.S. Kit offers a batch of the manufacturers equipment in a package deal.

The problem with a KIT IMHO is that you end up with some items that are not the best or things you end up replacing.

You'll NEED, Reloading Manuals, 6" Calipers a MICROMETER is also nice (YouTube/Google for how to read one),

Scale either a Beam/Balance or a Digital. (You should purchase a set of CHECK WEIGHTS also to verify the scale),


Solid Bench to work/reload on, Powder Measure, possibly a TRICKLE MEASURE also, Dies, Powder, Cases, Projectiles,

Different Primers (Rifle, Pistol, Small, Large, Magnum, or even all of them).

Lots to purchase, lots to READ/READ/READ.


ABC's of Reloading is good, The Lyman and Speer manual along with the Hornady one will keep you busy for a bit.


Get yourself some SAFETY GLASSES as Primers are EXPLOSIVE!


It helps if you can find a MENTOR for your initial reloading experiences.

The NRA even has INSTRUCTORS that hold classes in reloading, but you may have to travel a ways to one.

Sometimes places like Cabela's offer classes.


GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, and keep it by the DOORWAY and NOT THE BENCH.


If an accident were to occur, get out, you can grab the extinguisher at the doorway to fight a fire.

If the extinguisher were by the bench it may not have been in the best location to reach it.


Keep your bench area clean, wash your hands or wear Nitrile/Latex gloves.

For revolvers you can check the reloaded cartridge with a cartridge gage, for semi-autos

TAKE THE BARREL OUT OF YOURS, and learn how to do "THE PLUNK TEST."

It's probably best to learn to load handguns first, rifle loading is more difficult AND DANGEROUS in my opinion compared to handguns.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I started on a used Lyman spartan single stage. With multiple calibers you get experience adjusting your dies every time you change, and that's a good thing.
If I was starting out again I'd buy a Lee classic turret. It can be ran as a single stage to learn on and then a turret to speed things up. You may find it's all you need if your loading 500 rounds or so a month.

 

[Clovishound]

+1 on starting with a Lee Classic turret. I have one, and love it. I can remove the indexing shaft and use it in single mode. Only takes a few seconds to remove or reinstall the shaft. In continuous it acts a little like a progressive. The big difference is you are still only doing one operation at a pull. You can concentrate on what it happening with that pull. Once you get some experience reloading, you will likely be in a better position to decide what you want.

The turret can be had for around $100 online. You will probably find a use for it after you move to a progressive.

 

[federali]

Apprentice Period?

I generally hesitate to recommend a progressive press to anyone who has no reloading experience. With a progressive, multiple things are happening simultaneously and you must understand what can go wrong at each stage that can get you into trouble. With a progressive, you must learn everything at once.

Ideally, if you have a friend who has a progressive, ask him to assist you in properly setting up each station of the press. You must also have a foolproof method of insuring against a double charge, which can happen if you become pre-occupied with a problem at another station and forget to realize that that second pump of the handle without advancing the shells resulted in a double charge being thrown.

And, welcome to the reloading fraternity.

 

[JBnTx]

Forget the single stage press and go directly to the Dillon 550B.

For the beginning reloader, the Dillon 550B can be used as a single stage press until he's comfortable with the reloading process. Then he can gradually move into the progressive capabilities of the Dillon 550B.

The amount of rounds loaded at one time is irrelevant. The 550B can load one round or 300 rounds. The reloading process can be started or stopped at any point. I sometimes resize and prime, then come back at a later time and finish loading.

The Dillon 550B is the best press for a beginner.

 

[dla]

I'll go against the trend and say get a good single stage first as a beginner. It will likely be easier to understand, execute, and troubleshoot each step of the process on a single stage. YMMV

Oh gag! Why do you cave men come out everytime a noob wants advise on a press?

 

[old tanker]

I was given a Lee 1000 progressive years ago. It is finicky but does work. It only does pistol cartridges, but changing over to another caliber is not too onerous unless you change primer sizes as well. I also have a Dillon Square Deal. It also only does pistol ammo, but it is a lot more reliable and less prone to problems. Unlike the Lee, which uses standard dies, the Square Deal uses proprietary dies. My solution has been to keep the Lee set up for .38 special and the Dillon for .45 ACP.

I still use the old Lyman Spar-T turret press I started with a half century ago for most everything else.

 

[novalty]

Oh gag! Why do you cave men come out everytime a noob wants advise on a press?

Don't think that was quite necessary. Everyone's situation is different. I started on a single stage, and could keep up with my shooting demands and learn what loads worked well in my guns with my RCBS RCII, I have now added a Dillon 550 to my bench, but I don't go bad mouthing any other press.

Blowncar, what is your budget looking like to get set up for reloading, and how much do you shoot and how frequently do you shoot those calibers currently?

 

[brucev]

Looking to get started on reloading. Looking at getting a progressive press as I'd like to do a bunch at once whenever I sit down. I have RCBS dies for 35 Whelen and will be getting additional dies to load 41mag, 44spec, 44 mag and 45 auto. I see Lee progressive 1000's going for about $225 to start. I don't need to cheap out but I doubt I need the most expensive unit either. What would be good options?

thanks

Very pleased with Hornady Lock-N-Load Automatic Press. Solid, extremely well made. Excellent directions. Not at all hard to set up. Runs well. Easy to change calibers. Also at this time Hornady offers a nice bullet rebate. When my wife gave me my LnL for Christmas, along w/ dies, etc., ended up qualifying for 700 .30 cal. bullets, which in my area would run at least $27/box... nice!

 

[blujax01]

This reminds me of my - "Tired of messing with a gas string trimmer, which battery operated trimmer do you recommend" - thread I put up in the lounge. Over half of the responses were telling me how I "needed" to use the gas trimmer and gave tips on tuning it.

The OP's question is not which type of press to buy, rather that he has decided on a progressive and wants to know which one others recommend.

Everything in me screams DO NOT BUY THE LEE.

Beyond that, they're all good.

My personal preference is the Dillon XL650.

Out.

 

[Rule3]

This reminds me of my - "Tired of messing with a gas string trimmer, which battery operated trimmer do you recommend" - thread I put up in the lounge. Over half of the responses were telling me how I "needed" to use the gas trimmer and gave tips on tuning it.

The OP's question is not which type of press to buy, rather that he has decided on a progressive and wants to know which one others recommend.

Everything in me screams DO NOT BUY THE LEE.

Beyond that, they're all good.

My personal preference is the Dillon XL650.

Out.

String trimmers, you mean Dillon does not make one?

Kinda reminds me of every thread on what press to buy should always be a Dillon. Always buy the best, most expensive no matter what.

Buying a string trimmer? then you should always buy the best, get a Stihl. If you must settle get and Echo,

So what's the difference?

For the OP, No do not get the LEE progressive.

 

[RussellD]

Forster Coax for Rifle Rounds
Dillon 550 for pistol
Low volume everything compromise is Redding T7 turret

If you have to pick just one....Go with the Dillon and you will thank us later.