So you're thinking about getting into reloading...

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Thanks for a great thread! I stumbled onto this a year ago, which made me start thinking about expanding my shooting hobby to reloading. My first loader was a Lee Classic Progressive, which has it's limitations, but lit the fire. I started exploring other press's and decided on a Dillon. I was lucky enough to stumble onto a used 550B for a fair price. I'm now set up for 3 calibers with the wife and I shooting at least every other week. Haven't figured out all this $$$ were now saving, but for sure, we are now firing 5 or 600 rounds at a time, which = more fun!
 
For those who may not have read this thread yet, and for others that like to refer to it from time to time.
Sticky please!
 
I've never seen any advantage in buying used, progressives. People want too much for them and they get bid up way too high on auction sites. You would pretty much have to spend all your time watching CraigsList ready to pounce, since any good deals get snapped up fast, or scour estate sales. Either way it's a huge investment in time and requires luck to find what you want. Plus in a rural area or small town, there's probably not much locally.

With a used progressive you're a) probably not getting one setup the way you want (caliber, etc) and b) unless buying from someone you know and trust, there's no telling what the previous owner screwed up and what parts might be missing. Getting it all restored & setup properly is not a job for a beginner and more time than I want to spend when for a little more money I can get it complete and spend my time reloading instead of tinkering.

In fairness, I have heard you can just about find a Dillon press frame in a junk yard and they'll restore & replace everything free. RCBS also stellar customer service, in my experience.

I guess you could add me to the instant gratification crowd. No, I actually did shop used and came up empty before buying a Hornady AP.

A used single-stage, on the other hand, is likely a great value, especially if purchased from an individual. They have a minimum of moving parts and you'd have to be, uh, pretty special to screw one up.
 
Agree jt, you might save $100 buying a used 550 or 650. In the mean time you've spent far more than that buying expensive factory ammo. I just dont see the deal potential. Now of I was buying a 2nd press,waiting around gif a deal might make sense.
 
Kudos to you, Novalty.
Thank you for taking the time to compile such an exhaustive listing for everyone to benefit by. Very informative.
I was going to print it out, but it would be 10 pages. I do not know how to bookmark something here, although I must agree with everyone else that it goes without saying it should be made a sticky. This is something you refer back to multiple times.
Great work, well done. Thanks again.
Trigger9
 
Well it's a new year, so I figured it was about time that I update the post a little. I've added a review of the RCBS Summit Press, as well as, a link to some videos from the Ultimate Reloader on the new RCBS ProChucker presses that were introduced at last year's Shot Show.

So far the only new reloading press to be shown at the upcoming Shot Show for 2016 is Hornady's new single stage press called the "Iron Press."
 

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