Need 1st press advice, what do you suggest?

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have supported several missionaries for years. When they are home on furlough we often go shooting. When they go back and the country they are in allows reloading, I send a reloading "kit" with them. Everything is used, because of import duties. A solid single stage press, usually of the "C" design, dies, scale, Lee hand primer and the Lee set of shell holders for priming and the set for loading, a good dial caliper and a universal loading block. Lee bullet mould and Lee sizer. All of this will fit in a medium tool box (except the press). I have sent equipment to 4 countries. If they are allowed to reload they can import smokeless powder and primers (Black powder is a big no no). Quality and durability is always more important than color! I try hard to keep all sets of dies the same brand so decapping pins and thread patterns are interchangeable. I hope this information will help you decide on which reloading path to follow. Ivan

 

[blujax01]

A good company with a rock solid reputation? Check

A press built like tank with a lifetime guarantee? Check

And it's on sale?

Why wouldn't ya'?

 

[H Richard]

If you're not in a hurry, I would check out estate sales, yard sales, and auctions. You'd be surprised at what gets sold and reloading equipment usually doesn't go for huge amounts. How you shoot and how much may dictate the kind of press you be best served with. If you are into competition, you'll want a progressive and I'd recommend the Dillon 550B. If you are into occasional plinking or hunting you may find the single stage will do you fine. I've been loading over 30 years, and I still use my 1950's Texan 7 hole turret (single stage but with multiple dies set in) for all my load development and all my rifle loading. I use my 550B for 38, 357, 45& 9mm. The MEC 9000 handles the trap and skeet loads.

 

[ironhead7544]

For new people, the Lee Turret is best. You can use it as a single stage at first to learn the process. The turret type is well worth the money as you can put out a good number of rounds easily. Get a manual and study it before buying anything. JMHO. I have been reloading since 1972.

 

[THEWELSHM]

Thank you all for your thoughts here. I have looked at the Dillon RL550B. While I agree to buy once, I have a hard time justifying spending that much right now. I shoot about 1000 rds of .233 and 1000 of .40 S&W a year. I wish it were more, but that's what I've had time for.

If I get the Dillion I know I'll be in for at least $1,000 to get started and then I'll have to buy all the bullets, primers and powder yet. I could buy 4,000 rounds of .223 for that right now which would be 4 years of shooting.

I was thinking I could get into reloading for $300-$400 to get started and it would be worth it to me.

Good idea about watching for a used press. I will certainly do that.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Here you go Hornady Lock Load AP Lnlap | eBay

thewelshm

 

[ageingstudent]

Tons of good threads here with solid discussions on this topic.


http://smith-wessonforum.com/reload...ading-45acp-223-556-worth-me-where-start.html

This forum is an outstanding place to get started. Welcome!

 

[ageingstudent]

Yes & when you shoot it up, you only have a pile of brass. Reloading isn't for everyone, but If you shoot 500rds of anything a month, you are saving quite a lot of $$ over the years.
You certainly can get into reloading for about $400 for one caliber. Get a Lee classic cast turret (LCT), good scale, decent powder measure & some misc tools, right about $400. The LCT is faster than a ss press, cheaper than a progressive. About all most shooters need. A 550b with everything for one caliber, about $800. Twice as much, yes, but also more than twice as fast, if you need the volume. If starting over today, I would go 550b & never blink about the cost. Over 20yrs, the cost is $3.33 a month, less than a gal of gas you use you go buy ammo at Wally every month. The cost of ammo will only continue to go up. Buy your gear today, fix the cost, you'll shoot for 50% less for decades.

I like the way Fred puts this. I was going to start with a single stage a few years ago but realized that I would shoot more when I started reloading. I started loading shotshell for trap and skeet in the early 80's and my usage went up. I am glad I started with a turret for metallic. It has been a perfect fit. RCBS has a turret if you want to go green. My Lee Classic Turret works great. Loading some 500 S&W on it right now.

I just saw a RCBS turret at the local Sportsman's Warehouse for $200. RCBS makes solid stuff I'd guess it's a quality press. Only $50 bucks more for a considerable increase in production capability when you get rolling. Less set up time changing calibers is well worth the extra 50 bucks and your ammo is more consistent between lots since you aren't resetting dies all the time.

 

[Adk Mike]

I use a Rock Chucker . On the bench to my left I have my seating dies and an m die in a Lyman All American. Size and de prime on the single stage.
I use a bench mount priming tool. I load 200 rounds a month. Plenty fast kinda low budget . Works just fine.

 

[SMSgt]

For only 1000 rounds each of rifle and pistol ammo per year, I wouldn't invest in a progressive. I can crank out 100-200 in a session (Usually all the empties I have on hand) in short order on a SS press. Now if you expect to increase that amount to a monthly quota, then that calls for a progressive.

 

[Huskerguy]

I started and still have an old Pacific (Hornady) I picked up at an auction many years ago. I also have a Hornady LNL AP. When I finally get some spare time I can turn out some serious rounds on the AP but I intentionally limit it to most of my handgun calibers.

I still like the single stage and would recommend a SS to anyone starting out. I am a mechanical person and the SS has been good to me but making that step to the progressive is different. There is a lot more to watch and keep track of. I still work all my loads up on the SS and so far do my 223 on there as well. Don't let the production numbers of a progressive impress or scare you, you can turn out a bunch of rounds with a SS. Can't tell you how many hours I sat in the living room on the floor priming pistol cartridges with my lee hand primer. I have brass in just about every stage of being ready.

As a side note, I do some occasional brass diving at my local indoor range and some of the fully reloaded stuff that gets tossed in there really scares me. Some are fully loaded and I can see the primer strike but it didn't go off. It scares me to see some REALLY long pistol loads that I frankly don't see how they fit in the magazine and a crimp so hard and tight it wen through the plating. Then there are some with the bullet jammed so far down it has to develop some high pressures.

Good luck

 

[fredj338]

Get a true progressive press (Dillon 650 or Hornady AP) if you're going through a butt load of ammo. Otherwise a good SS or turret (Lee best buy in both) should keep you shooting for minimum bucks. I still use my original SS press (CoAx) regularly. A Lee Classic Cast handles the big rifle ammo (50BMG). A Hornady AP keeps my 25-20 Marlin fed when the Dillon 550B couldn't deal with the fragile (and scarce) little bottleneck cases. Buy the right press for your needs. Hopefully, you won't learn the hard way that a particular piece of gear is a waste of money.

What's a true progressive?

 

[Bkreutz]

What's a true progressive?

 

[ageingstudent]

Bkreutz...for the win...

 

[15Krounds]

I really appreciate all the input. I'm sure I'll be shooting more once I start reloading. When I started loading shotshells, I shot a lot more! Might just wait until tax return time to get the progressive. I do believe in buying once.

I plan on watching for a used set up in the meantime. A friend of mine as mentioned above, found a whole used setup with the bench for $150.

 

[old&slow]

First question I usually ask is,,, how many rounds to you plan on shooting a year ? If it's a couple hundred a year ? A single stage is fine. A couple hundred a week ? You may want to look at a progressive.

Mechanical ability, time, money, space are also factors.

I started with a Lyman Spartan C ,, then up graded to a RCBS Rock Chucker ( which I still have and use ) and then to a Dillon 550 ( now have two).. Pistols and .223 on the Dillons,, other rifles on the RCBS.

I've been happy with both brands.

Since I haven't had or used the other brands / models. I can't speak for them, but they are probably good products also.

 

[Clovishound]

I understand the mentality of buying once. I would say, however that a turret or a single stage will get you into reloading quicker, and will also have the advantage of giving you the experience to be in a better position to know what you will want.

The other thing is that most folks that started on a SS still have and use the SS for a variety of purposes. They are inexpensive enough to write off with a year or two of use.

 

[15Krounds]

Where is the best place to source a Dillion RL550B? Can anyone tell me exactly what I'll need to order in addition to load .223 and .40 S&W?

I'd like to get an exact cost.

Also, I have a friend I might be able to go in schnooks with on it to split the cost.

 

[THEWELSHM]

Hornady Lock Load AP Lnlap | eBay

thewelshm

 

[pew222]

Im about to do the same. After reading and checking prices, going to spend the money up front and go with the Dillon 550. Just dont see the worth of starting with a rockchucker knowing ill upgrade when the 550 can also be used as a ss press. Just going to take it slow and work my way up to the progressive multi loading. Used 550s can be found so that im not spending $1k. Only problem is finding powder. Looks like ill be starting with 4227 bc its all I can find consistently right now.

 

[fredj338]

Where is the best place to source a Dillion RL550B? Can anyone tell me exactly what I'll need to order in addition to load .223 and .40 S&W?

I'd like to get an exact cost.

Also, I have a friend I might be able to go in schnooks with on it to split the cost.

Brian enos, free shipping, yes shipping matters. Dillon's are rarely seen on sale. You get one caliber conv with a 550. So you need the other caliber. An addl tool head & powder thru die. A good scale, the Dillon Beam is just that. Calipers, I like ss dial for cost & accuracy. For 223 in an ar, a case gage is helpful.
Then you need dies for both calibers. Dillon are great, but cheaper Lee work fine or any manuf dies will work. At some pt you need to trim rifle brass & at some point you may want to clean your brass other tHan washing them in soapy water.