yesterday I ordered the Lee Deluxe Turret Press Reloading Kit 4 HOLE TURRET KIT, and a Lee Carbide Die .45 ACP, for starters. I reloaded some about 20 years ago, on a friends press, and really don't remember much about it. I also bought Lee "Modern Reloading Second Edi..." book to help.
New to reloading: Which press to buy?
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Skip Sackett
US Veteran
ben,
Go to their website and watch the videos. If I remember correctly there are some just for the turret press. It will really help.
Also, read the front of the manual you bought. Lots of good information in there!
Have fun, be safe.
Go to their website and watch the videos. If I remember correctly there are some just for the turret press. It will really help.
Also, read the front of the manual you bought. Lots of good information in there!
Have fun, be safe.
David LaPell
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I got a great deal on an RCBS Jr. that I found in a shop and had never been used. I load everything from .38 Special to .41 Magnum and .45 Colt. Some say the Jr. isn't good for rifle cases, but it loads up my .257 Roberts ammo without a hitch.
bigt5150
Member
Dillon 550B, it's easy to learn and master. It will load virtually any pistol caliber. It will load a large of amount of ammo in a relatively short time without a bunch of accessories. I've had mine for over 10 years and absolutely love it. Dillon's customer support is also top notch should you need it.
I've had an RCBS Rockchucker for almost forty years, never had a problem with it, but am starting to reload pistol. I researched all the machines and ordered, after trying my friend's machine, a Dillon 550B. I just received it on Friday so haven't had a chance to set it up yet. Pricey, yes, but you get what you pay for and I talked to several people that were disappointed in the Lee Turret Press after buying it.
Bullseye Smith
Member
Dillon 550, you won't be sorry
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scattershot
Member
Yep, second (or third) the Dillon 550. I've had one for about 25 years, and lost count of how many thousands of rounds I have loaded on that thing. No trouble at all with the press.
When they say lifetime warranty, they mean it. I broke a small part on my press just yesterday, and called Dillon. They said they would ship the part right away, at no charge.
After 25 years of trouble free reloading, that was impressive.
When they say lifetime warranty, they mean it. I broke a small part on my press just yesterday, and called Dillon. They said they would ship the part right away, at no charge.
After 25 years of trouble free reloading, that was impressive.
yooperpat
Member
I have been reloading for over 35 years. Recently got a Lee Turret press and am very happy with it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to start reloading.
My only regret with my Dillon is that I did not buy one sooner. A friend bought a Dillon 450 when they first came out and tried to talk me into buying one too. I couldn't see spending $120 on a new press when I had a Lyman turret. A couple years ago I bought a used 450 for $120 and think it's great.
I still use my Lyman turret for small batches and load development. Also occasionally use a single stage press. But the Dillon has been great.
I still use my Lyman turret for small batches and load development. Also occasionally use a single stage press. But the Dillon has been great.
ADash
US Veteran
I started with an RCBS single-stage press, which was good for mass production, but lacked convenience in making small batches of experimental loads with various amounts of powder. The Lee turret press solved that problem, and was low cost, but not good for heavier use, such as rifles. The quality was not that great either.
Then I discovered the Redding 7-hole Turret Press. It has the advantages of both of the 2 previous presses, and superior quality and strength. It is beautifully made, and will last 200 years! Interchangeable turrets are available, which can be switched quickly. It takes standard dies. Redding also makes the best dies. Their equipment is like Snap-On tools and Rolls-Royce cars! Well worth the money!
Al Dash
cbpotel
Member
I come to the discussion a little late. I have had Dillons since the early 1980s. I have gravitated to the 650 because of the production one can achieve if you use the case feeder. I have since bit the bullet and purchased a second 650 in order to have each machine dedicated to a primer size. My hands are very large and changine over primers can be somewhat frustrating.
You will not go wrong purchasing a Dillon Press. If you are a real serious shooter go for the 650, because you'll eventually end up there anyway. Regardless of which model you buy, you'll get great ammo from it. The Dillon no BS guarantee is just that no BS. Though, whatever you buy, get the spare parts kit, that way if something breaks or gets lost, you will have it to replace the broken part avoiding any down time while the part is in transit from Dillon. Dillon dies are also great, they are designed for progressive reloading. You won't regret getting a Dillon. By the way I don't work for Dillon, I'm just a great fan of a great product.
You will not go wrong purchasing a Dillon Press. If you are a real serious shooter go for the 650, because you'll eventually end up there anyway. Regardless of which model you buy, you'll get great ammo from it. The Dillon no BS guarantee is just that no BS. Though, whatever you buy, get the spare parts kit, that way if something breaks or gets lost, you will have it to replace the broken part avoiding any down time while the part is in transit from Dillon. Dillon dies are also great, they are designed for progressive reloading. You won't regret getting a Dillon. By the way I don't work for Dillon, I'm just a great fan of a great product.
Another vote for the Lee turret press, specifically, the Lee Classic Cast Turret. This press was introduced about three years ago, and it's head and shoulders above the old Lee turret presses. I've had mine for a couple of years now. I like it so much, I sold off a bunch of other presses, including a Forster Coax, because I was constantly using the Lee and neglecting the others.
If you can only get one press, and you want inexpensive caliber changes, the ability to easily do single stage rifle or reasonably fast auto-indexed pistol...the press is amazing. I can crank out 250 38 specials in an hour, and then 30 seconds later, with nearly zero conversion effort, start loading .308 Winchester (or 30-30 or 7.62x39 or 7.5x55 etc.) on the same press. It's literally that fast.
My reloading bench is far less cluttered since going to a one press solution, and no matter what caliber I plan to load on a given evening, setup is absolutely minimal. It takes more time to get bullets out of a box and pour powder into the measure hopper than it does to change calibers. And the ammo comes out good.
If you can only get one press, and you want inexpensive caliber changes, the ability to easily do single stage rifle or reasonably fast auto-indexed pistol...the press is amazing. I can crank out 250 38 specials in an hour, and then 30 seconds later, with nearly zero conversion effort, start loading .308 Winchester (or 30-30 or 7.62x39 or 7.5x55 etc.) on the same press. It's literally that fast.
My reloading bench is far less cluttered since going to a one press solution, and no matter what caliber I plan to load on a given evening, setup is absolutely minimal. It takes more time to get bullets out of a box and pour powder into the measure hopper than it does to change calibers. And the ammo comes out good.
pinkymingeo
Member
With turrets you can choose the Lee or Redding. Manual progressives Dillon 550 or RCBS 2000. Auto-indexing progressives Dillon SDB and 650, or Hornady LnL AP. I went from a Lee Turret to the LnL. Didn't consider the 550/2000 because I believe a manual progressive is an accident waiting to happen. Each to his own, that's just the way I see it. I'd recommend the Lee or Hornady to anybody. Both are excellent. The only reason I got rid of the turret was that my shooting volume had increased dramatically, and I was tired of pulling the handle 4 times for each completed round. The LnL spits out 100rds per approx. seven minutes of handle pulling, and that's the way I like it.
Amici
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I have 2 Dillon 550 presses; I use the second for .45 ACP exclusively. The other does all my small primer loads.
That said, I was THIS close to buying an LnL and got the second Dillon because it was unused, with strong mount, dies, primer flipper, a pound of powder and even primers (in baggies!
) for $225.
Had I not stumbled upon that steal of a deal, I'd have probably ordered a new LnL. With the new model, which allows the use of other dies w/o hitting that ejector wire, and the continued 1,000 free bullet offer, the LnL is a great value.
That said, I was THIS close to buying an LnL and got the second Dillon because it was unused, with strong mount, dies, primer flipper, a pound of powder and even primers (in baggies!
Had I not stumbled upon that steal of a deal, I'd have probably ordered a new LnL. With the new model, which allows the use of other dies w/o hitting that ejector wire, and the continued 1,000 free bullet offer, the LnL is a great value.
Littledragon777
Member
I have a Dillon 550b which I really like. I also have a RCBS rockchucker which I do my work up loads on. I would eventually like to get the Dillon 650 or another 550b to have one press dedicated to large primers and the other for samll primers.
jrplourde
Member
The simple press is the only way to start and as you say always there for small quantities of test loads. I have two Lee progressives that are useless for such and I am looking close to replacing them with a 550.
I will say however that the manual indexing of the 550 is near as simple as a turret press so it's not a bad alternative.
bob
Bullseye Smith
Member
I have the 550 and the 650 both, the 650 is high out put, but the 550 is fun to run. The 650 has all the bells and stuff and i can load over a 1000 38 special in a hours time. The 550 will get around 500 per hour, but most of the time I run around 350 an hour (got to pet the dog in between strocks). The 550 is great if you like to load once a month, the 650 is for loading one month per year
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Dillon 550 is the way to go and their tech deparment can walk you through any problems you might incounter.
Cheers,
Gungle Geroge
Cheers,
Gungle Geroge
