novalty
Member
Another question for you. How much do you shoot of each caliber per month/year.
Recommendations for a Starter Progressive Press
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KframeRob69
Member
Buy a Lee Turret Press or a Dillon 550.
I agree with the guy above who said no such thing as a starter progressive. One intermediate option would be a Lee Turret Press, which is simple in that it performs one operation per lever pull, so it is a single stage in that regard. It also has a simple manual priming system, which is the Achilles' heel of ALL Lee progressives, and I have owned a Load Master and used a Pro 1000 quite a bit. I now own four Dillons.
If you wanted one press to do it all, get a 550. You still need a single stage press to support the progressive, as others have said, and you should probably teach yourself how to reload on the single stage before you try to perform four operations at once that you are not familiar with, as another forum member said.
Dillon has the best customer service around, you can reach them when you need to, which isn't always true with Lee, and they warranty their machines almost indefinitely, whereas Lee charges you when a $2 plastic arm breaks. I don't intend to Lee bash, though, and I have several of their products - in fact I think everything Lee makes works quite well except their progressives. The turret press will give you about 100-200 rounds an hour with the powder measure and swing priming system, and will cost you about 175, assuming you have a caliper, scale, bullet puller, etc.
Hope this helps. Great member responses, and this is why I like this forum.
-KframeRob
I agree with the guy above who said no such thing as a starter progressive. One intermediate option would be a Lee Turret Press, which is simple in that it performs one operation per lever pull, so it is a single stage in that regard. It also has a simple manual priming system, which is the Achilles' heel of ALL Lee progressives, and I have owned a Load Master and used a Pro 1000 quite a bit. I now own four Dillons.
If you wanted one press to do it all, get a 550. You still need a single stage press to support the progressive, as others have said, and you should probably teach yourself how to reload on the single stage before you try to perform four operations at once that you are not familiar with, as another forum member said.
Dillon has the best customer service around, you can reach them when you need to, which isn't always true with Lee, and they warranty their machines almost indefinitely, whereas Lee charges you when a $2 plastic arm breaks. I don't intend to Lee bash, though, and I have several of their products - in fact I think everything Lee makes works quite well except their progressives. The turret press will give you about 100-200 rounds an hour with the powder measure and swing priming system, and will cost you about 175, assuming you have a caliper, scale, bullet puller, etc.
Hope this helps. Great member responses, and this is why I like this forum.
-KframeRob
WNC Seabee
Member
I was a newbie reloader 4-5 years ago. I ignored all of the advice re: starting with a single stage. I'm glad I did. I went right to a progressive and have been perfectly happy, safe and productive.
To read some posts, one might think reloading is a mix of rocket science and voodoo. In reality, it's quite simple and anyone with a bit of brains and a cautious eye can do it. Just follow published data carefully and go for it.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
To read some posts, one might think reloading is a mix of rocket science and voodoo. In reality, it's quite simple and anyone with a bit of brains and a cautious eye can do it. Just follow published data carefully and go for it.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I thnk the dillon is similar to the lee in that the dies are mounted to a plate you change, so once adjusted they stay that way. Changeover on that and shell plate is 3 minutes maybe.
I shoot 9/38 so use the same primers, nothing to change. YOu'll have to change primer feeders/primers. Time depends on the press you choose.
Case feeder - on the lee the 9 and 38 take different ones, changeover is 3 or 4 minutes. No adjustments needed.
Powder of course needs changed, if not type at least load. This takes me another 4 minutes maybe.
To on a loadmaster changeover is 10-15 minutes. I try to load enough of one caliber than I can go a month or more before needing to change again.
What most around here do is spend the winter loading for the summer. I'll do that this winter also. I know for PPC I need 1200 rounds of 9 to compete plus whatever I want to practice with. If I can make IDPA shoots I could potentially do 12 of them at 150 rds per. Then after PPC there is the Invitational (200 more plus practice) and then we shoot steel plates till the end of october. For 38 practice plus 600ish for competition if all I do is the snubbie class at PPC.
At even a low count of 350/hour from my loadmaster those what, 3500 rounds, will take 10 hours spread over a few snowy saturdays. Changeover won't be a concern really.
I shoot 9/38 so use the same primers, nothing to change. YOu'll have to change primer feeders/primers. Time depends on the press you choose.
Case feeder - on the lee the 9 and 38 take different ones, changeover is 3 or 4 minutes. No adjustments needed.
Powder of course needs changed, if not type at least load. This takes me another 4 minutes maybe.
To on a loadmaster changeover is 10-15 minutes. I try to load enough of one caliber than I can go a month or more before needing to change again.
What most around here do is spend the winter loading for the summer. I'll do that this winter also. I know for PPC I need 1200 rounds of 9 to compete plus whatever I want to practice with. If I can make IDPA shoots I could potentially do 12 of them at 150 rds per. Then after PPC there is the Invitational (200 more plus practice) and then we shoot steel plates till the end of october. For 38 practice plus 600ish for competition if all I do is the snubbie class at PPC.
At even a low count of 350/hour from my loadmaster those what, 3500 rounds, will take 10 hours spread over a few snowy saturdays. Changeover won't be a concern really.
jal910s
Member
If you want to do 2 presses, go with the dillon square deal B. each one will come with the dies pre-set at no extra charge. minimal setup and BAM! your up and running. best deal I can think of.
Never thought of it per yr etc. but per match is about 150/250 max 500 depending on how many outs and how many missed etc. and ow many classes I'm in. Also figureiCORE.
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Another question is since I'm in a very dusty place the garage isn't going to work so i was thinking of using one of the spare bedrooms to reload.
Is that a bad idea?
I did think about a small 8x8 corner room in the garage w/a small A/C unit but then cost of that etc.
The house would be easier but I do want to keep the roof on
Is that a bad idea?
I did think about a small 8x8 corner room in the garage w/a small A/C unit but then cost of that etc.
The house would be easier but I do want to keep the roof on
Thanks for the info today Dave, nice meeting you, and glad you won in the Revolver shoot today.
venomballistics
Member
never had a problem loading in house. you might want to store your primers well away from the powder stock, but otherwise the stuff is next to impossible to get to explode. They wouldn't let us buy it so easily if it were that much fun.Another question is since I'm in a very dusty place the garage isn't going to work so i was thinking of using one of the spare bedrooms to reload.
Is that a bad idea?
I did think about a small 8x8 corner room in the garage w/a small A/C unit but then cost of that etc.
The house would be easier but I do want to keep the roof on
all357mag
Member
Dillon RL550B! 'NUFF said!
If you go the turret press route, you don't need two presses. Just two turret heads (one per caliber).
Argonnakid
Member
As to the OP. I would have to say go with the Lee 4-hole turret. As several others have said, It is best to get your feet wet first before diving in. And IMO, the 4-hole turret is cost effective way to go. You can use it as a single stage or as an auto indexing. It does need a little tweaking now and then, show me a machine that doesn't. And the caliber changes on it are simple(buy extra turrets,$10), pull turret off, put on new turret(10sec.). That system also allows you to keep your dies set to where they need to be. It works well for me. As far as reloading in the house? You need a solidly built bench to mount any press to. And if the room has carpet in it, are you willing to remove it?, Spilt powder, dropped primers, and the such don't do well with a vacuum. I would think that you could tackle the dust problem with a painters tarp over your equipment when not in use. Just my 2 cents.
Reload 9mm, .380, .357, .223rem
Reload 9mm, .380, .357, .223rem
Having read Richard Lee's MODERN RELOADING I have a better understanding of the philosophy behind the Lee product line. Lee's whole premise is that most reloading gear is over-priced, over-engineered and over-built. He takes an existing design and strips it bare until it no longer functions then puts a nickel back into it. If it'll hold together it goes to market. For some consumers this is quite acceptable and they have an affinity for the quirks and nuances of the Lee products. I also think that these are the majority of the folks who say that one needs to first learn the single stage press as the progressive is fraught with peril.
Coincidence? I think not!
You want my advice? First choose the type of machine you desire - single stage, turret or progressive. They ALL have their strong and weak points.
Now choose a price point and see what is offered. In my mind there are three names to consider and Lee ain't one of them.
RCBS, Hornady and Dillon.
If you don't mind buying used there are some great deals to be had as (with any hobby) a lot of folks take up reloading and find it isn't for them.
Reloading in a spare room is ideal. Constant temperature and humidity is your friend. You may want to invest in an inexpensive area rug because it can be a little messy.
Have fun and be safe.
Coincidence? I think not!
You want my advice? First choose the type of machine you desire - single stage, turret or progressive. They ALL have their strong and weak points.
Now choose a price point and see what is offered. In my mind there are three names to consider and Lee ain't one of them.
RCBS, Hornady and Dillon.
If you don't mind buying used there are some great deals to be had as (with any hobby) a lot of folks take up reloading and find it isn't for them.
Reloading in a spare room is ideal. Constant temperature and humidity is your friend. You may want to invest in an inexpensive area rug because it can be a little messy.
Have fun and be safe.
novalty
Member
This will be a big deciding factor in the press you choose as single stage may be difficult to keep up with volume. Not saying it can't be done, but depending on your amount of spare time you have to devote to loading. If I were in your situation the 2 presses I'd look into would be a Lee 4-Hole turret, and a Dillon 450. They would be in the $350 range you mentioned.
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I have the Dillon RL1050, 550B, a Square Deal, and an RCBS Rock Chucker. All the Dillon's are great for me, but I rarely use the 1050 anymore, which is set up for .223 Remington. I used the machine when I was reloading for a gun shop and it loaded 1,000's of .223 ammo for customers and me.
I have not used Hornady presses or Lee's for that matter, so won't comment on them. I will say though that for progressive loaders, I'll stay with Dillon.
I have not used Hornady presses or Lee's for that matter, so won't comment on them. I will say though that for progressive loaders, I'll stay with Dillon.
jimkim
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If you can live with 200-250rounds and hour the Lee Classic Turret might be the one for you. I hadn't mentioned it because you didn't ask, but this thread seems to have evolved/degraded.
I still recommend grabbing that 450 on eBay for $220.00. I don't think you will find an equal or better progressive press for that price, and you can easily upgrade it to a 550 when you get the money.
I still recommend grabbing that 450 on eBay for $220.00. I don't think you will find an equal or better progressive press for that price, and you can easily upgrade it to a 550 when you get the money.
fredj338
Member
IMO, if the object is to load lots of ammo in the shortest time with the least amount of trouble, you can't even put a Lee into the discussion. The only good thing about the Lee is cost, but if you are into reloading for the long haul, say 20yrs, the best Dillon is only setting you back a Starbucks once a month. So for $5/m, I am not going to buy a machine that gets me 150rds/hr when I can have one that does 700 easily.
Having said that, most shooters don't need a progressive of any kind. A Lee turret, better machine than their progressives IMO, will get you 150rds/hr (you won't get over 200 from scratch) relatively trouble free. Few reloaders shoot more than that a week. For those that do, then a Hornady LNL, Dillon 550B are upto the task getting 400rds/hr easily w/ little trouble. Both are far better machines than any Lee & for not much more $$. Hate reloading, sell the Dillon off for about what you paid, nothing lost & the time saved during reloading, priceless.
BTW, Lee prints that krap in their book to convince you that you don't really need good equip. What else is he going to say? I learned along time ago, better tools make any job easier to do & most of the time, you do get what you pay for.
Having said that, most shooters don't need a progressive of any kind. A Lee turret, better machine than their progressives IMO, will get you 150rds/hr (you won't get over 200 from scratch) relatively trouble free. Few reloaders shoot more than that a week. For those that do, then a Hornady LNL, Dillon 550B are upto the task getting 400rds/hr easily w/ little trouble. Both are far better machines than any Lee & for not much more $$. Hate reloading, sell the Dillon off for about what you paid, nothing lost & the time saved during reloading, priceless.
BTW, Lee prints that krap in their book to convince you that you don't really need good equip. What else is he going to say? I learned along time ago, better tools make any job easier to do & most of the time, you do get what you pay for.
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jimkim
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I load 200 rounds every other day. It takes me roughly 45 minutes from start to finish. I use my Lee Classic Turret press. The Dillon and RCBS are set up for other things and the LCT is just so much quicker to set up and get going, I rarely use them anymore. Before anyone asks, no they aren't for sale.
Real Guns - Lee Classic Turret, It's Not Just For Kids
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Real Guns - Lee Classic Turret, It's Not Just For Kids
Real Guns - Lee Classic Turret, Thoughtful Enhancements
Real Guns - Lee Classic Turret Part III
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