whats the best reloading press?

[njbmp40]

Hello everyone. I am looking to get into reloading i am looking for a press for pistol ammo. I have been told by a friend to get a dillon square b progressive press, but i had another friend say he hated it because it never loaded right and had alot of weak bullets jam. Is the dillon square b the best choise or is there something bette out there. I'm looking around right now. but looking to spend $500 maybe a little more if would be the better way to go. Thanks!

 

[Snowbandit]

I don't know about Dillon's Square deal but the 550 & 650 are top of the line. After that, but real close, would be Hornady. Weak bullets? Sounds like weak powder charges and that's controlled by the operator.

 

[Smithhound]

If you are new to reloading, and plan on loading for more than one caliber, I would strongly suggest that you not start off with a progressive press.
Start with a basic single stage press. You need to learn the process of reloading before you jump into a complicated machine. There are many concepts that will become clear as you go, concepts that are harder to grasp with a progressive.
I have to state that I have never owned a progressive press, I've been loading since 1980 on an RCBS 'Rockchucker', it has loaded tens of thousands of rounds of pistol and rifle ammo and is still going strong. A single stage will satisfy almost all your reloading needs (unless you are a high volume competion shooter), is more versatile and cheaper than a Dillon.
I've never regretted owning this press, actually I have two now, one I use for belling/expanding and the other for all other steps.
As for model, that is kind of like asking which is the best car, hard to answer. Personally I would stick with an RCBS or Redding press, don't start with a cheap press it is the foundation you'll build on. Get a quality machine, you'll be happier with it longer. Quality never goes down in value, economy never comes up.
Others may disagree on the model of SS, but I think the consensus for a beginning reloader will favor the single stage over the progressive. You can always move to a progressive if you get into the hobby of reloading, but I think that starting out with one will confuse and aggrevate you, especially if you want to change calibers often.
RD

 

[cass]

If you are new to reloading, and plan on loading for more than one caliber, I would strongly suggest that you not start off with a progressive press.
Start with a basic single stage press. You need to learn the process of reloading before you jump into a complicated machine. There are many concepts that will become clear as you go, concepts that are harder to grasp with a progressive.
I have to state that I have never owned a progressive press, I've been loading since 1980 on an RCBS 'Rockchucker', it has loaded tens of thousands of rounds of pistol and rifle ammo and is still going strong. A single stage will satisfy almost all your reloading needs (unless you are a high volume competion shooter), is more versatile and cheaper than a Dillon.
I've never regretted owning this press, actually I have two now, one I use for belling/expanding and the other for all other steps.
As for model, that is kind of like asking which is the best car, hard to answer. Personally I would stick with an RCBS or Redding press, don't start with a cheap press it is the foundation you'll build on. Get a quality machine, you'll be happier with it longer. Quality never goes down in value, economy never comes up.
Others may disagree on the model of SS, but I think the consensus for a beginning reloader will favor the single stage over the progressive. You can always move to a progressive if you get into the hobby of reloading, but I think that starting out with one will confuse and aggrevate you, especially if you want to change calibers often.
RD

I totally agree 100%. Single stage allows you to take your time and learn the process. Last time I looked, RCBS equipment was on ebay at very reasonable prices. Don"t skimp on the dies - they're the heart of your outfit. As a matter of fact, I'm going to dig out all my equipment from storage and start reloading again - there are some bad times ahead, and ammo/components may be too expensive in the very near future.

 

[DRSNINER]

Presses

Single stage is the way to get your feet wet and learn the steps it takes to prouduce good,safe ammo. I persnaly use Lee cabide pistol dies,a single stage breech lock cast press for my rifle ammo and a classic cast turret press for my pistol rounds. Like anything else it comes down to what you feel comfortable using and what fills your needs.

 

[Tennjed]

Get a Lee Classic Turret and learn to reload using it as a single stage. Then just put the indexing rod back in and run it as a turret. You should be able to get about 250 rds an hour down once you get going good with it. That should be engough for most people.

Plus you can save engough $$ over the Dillon to go by a new gun

 

[wantmoresmiths]

How many rounds do you currently shoot in the course of a month, and do you plan on shooting any type of competition? The progressive press is great if you are shooting large quantities of ammunition, but a single stage press is a good start for the casual shooter. Remember you will need more than just the press. You will need a good scale, primer flip tray, powder funnel, calipers, and a few loading manuals just to name a few items. RCBS offers a starter kit which includes most of these items. for about $350. If you go with the Hornady Lock-N-Load, just the press will run you about $450, and you will still need to buy a scale and calipers. If money is not a huge issue, and you are shooting enough to justify the cost of a progressive, you can always buy the progressive press and use it as a single stage until you get the hang of the reloading process.

If you choose to go the progressive route, you can't go wrong with either the Dillon or Hornady. I currently use the Hornady, but have thought about buying a Dillon to keep set up for .45's. Keep in mind that the Hornady offers auto indexing, meaning that it automatically advances the cartridge to the next station with each pull of the handle. This feature helps to eliminate the possibility of a double charge of powder. I believe you need to step up to the Dillon 650 before you get auto indexing from Dillon. I seem to recall that the lesser Dillon presses need to be indexed by hand. If you forget to index the press, you could throw a double charge of powder. So be sure you are comparing apples to apples when you compare price. The other advantage the Hornady offers is the ease of caliber changes. I load 9mm, .38 special, 40 S&W, .45ACP, .41 Magnum, and .44 Magnum. The Hornady is a better fit for me since I change calibers fairly often. One last point, is the famous Dillon "No BS warranty". For some reason Hornady doesn't make a big deal regarding their warranty, but they are every bit as good as Dillon in this department. Any time I needed a replacement part, it was always sent out that day or the next, and always sent at no charge. The customer service people have always been very courteous and helpful. Oh and by the way, almost every time I needed a replacement part, the broken part was my own fault.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I agree with a single stage press & carbide dies. Rest of the things come naturally, scale, powder measure, micrometer, case trimmer,etc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Get a Lee Classic Turret and learn to reload using it as a single stage. Then just put the indexing rod back in and run it as a turret. You should be able to get about 250 rds an hour down once you get going good with it. That should be enough for most people.

Plus you can save enough $$ over the Dillon to go by a new gun

I agree, a Lee Classic Turret Press is the best of both worlds. Remember, I said "Classic", not "Deluxe" press. For a few dollars more the Classic press is well worth the money and so is the Pro Auto-Disk powder measure over the standard powder measure.

You will be very happy with that turret press. With handgun ammo I can safely load between 180 to 200 rounds per hour with it and it can easily be used for rifle rounds without the auto-index rod installed. The price is right too, look HERE. For $212 including the Pro Auto-Disk upgrade you get most of what you need including a set of dies of your caliber choice. Add a scale, load manual (or two or three) and set of calipers with a tumbler and you're fairly well set up.

 

[rck281]

I would NOT recommend the RCBS Rockchecker Supreme and others that have been enlarged to handle the newer magnum rifle cartridges. They require a very long stroke for handgun ammo. Unless you're going to load large rifle cartridges look for a smaller press or one of the Dillon progressives.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

Buy the most versatile single stage press to start with. You can load handgun and nearly any rifle cartridge you would want down the road. Redding Ultra Mag “The largest and strongest press available for the toughest reloading chores…” -- HANDLOADER Magazine, No. 148

 

[Titegroups]

How much ammo do you use? What type of shooting do you do? $500 in a dillion won't buy you much. The cost of the machine itself is just a start as with any machine tool. Search some threads for more info.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Personally, I see nothing wrong with using a progressive to start off with. There are some minimum requirements though that eliminate it form being the first choice for everyone.

How mechanically adept are you? That is the first thing that needs to be answered. How do you learn new things best? Can you read manuals and work things out or do you get frustrated and give up on stuff? Is there anyone in your area that can help you in person should you get into trouble?

If you find yourself answering no to more than one of those things, get a simple press to start with. Learn the process. What is the first step, second, third and fourth and fifth and........Go slow and learn.

That would mean that it would be better to get a single stage press or a Lee Classic Cast Turret press. I lean very heavily on the latter, here is why: It can be used very simply as a single stage but it will hold all of the dies in one tool head and after you get it set up and running right with your components, it will stay set up. Not only that, they are less expensive.

Now, the fact they are less expensive should tell you something. They are NOT the machine that the Dillons are. The Dillon press is the best there is on the market right now. As has been stated, the Hornady LNL is a good one too. After that presses in current production and quality falls off drastically. Stay away from the Lee progressive presses unless you have a death wish. (Just kidding) They take a lot of tinkering with to make work right.

If you don't learn the process properly, all a progressive will do is allow you to make bad ammo faster.

I have 3 Square Deal presses and 2 XL650's too. Make the evaluation on my aforementioned criteria though and you should do well.

 

[elfego baca]

I started out with a single stage press long long ago.

About 25 years ago i purchased a Dillon 550B.

I would suggest starting with a Dillon 550B - it is very versatile!

With the proper dies and shellplates it will handle most any handgun or rifle cartridge.

 

[papajohn428]

Get a Lee Classic Turret and learn to reload using it as a single stage. Then just put the indexing rod back in and run it as a turret.

Jed, ya stole my thunder.

Thirty years after I started reloading, I'm still using my 3-hole Lee Turret press, and it's still cranking out ammo that shoots better than I do. And I practice a LOT. I've tried a couple of progressives, just didn't see them as a step up, just a slightly different way of loading ammo.

If I was getting started now, knowing what I know, I'd get the 4-hole Lee Classic Turret press and a half-ton of bullets and go have me a time.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I fully second, third, or forth (whatever the count is up to at this point) the Lee Classic four hole turret press.

The only other one I would look at is the Dillon BL 550 that will do the same thing for more money, but has the bonus of being buildable into the RL 550B down the road.

And before you buy anything, buy and read two or three times the "ABC's of Reloading" now in its 9th edition. And read it over again. And again.

And again.

 

[novalty]

Another one to make your head spin. The CH-4D 444-X Pistol Champ.

 

[fredj338]

I fully second, third, or forth (whatever the count is up to at this point) the Lee Classic four hole turret press.

The only other one I would look at is the Dillon BL 550 that will do the same thing for more money, but has the bonus of being buildable into the RL 550B down the road.

And before you buy anything, buy and read two or three times the "ABC's of Reloading" now in its 9th edition. And read it over again. And again.

And again.

Well kind of. A turret press still require 4 pulls of the handle to make one round, the 550B is a manual indexing progressive that produces 1 round everytime you pull the handle, that would make it at least twice as fast as any turret.
I like the LCT, most reloaders really do NOT need a progressive of any kind. At an easy 200rds/hr, the turret keeps up with most shooters. If you shoot 200rds a week, easily done on a LCT. If you go much beyond that & have limited time, then a progressive by Hornady, RCBS or DIllon will certainly save you time but at a cost.
My only rub w/ the SDB back when I bought my first 550, was it used Dillon only dies & I already had 4-5 dies set. So A 550 was what I ended up with & it is a great progressive to learn because it easily loads one round at a time or 4 at a time. It will also accept any dies set, so if you decide to load something later, like rifle rounds or the 357sig, it can be done on the 550B, not a SDB. If you are only going to load pistol, the SDB is a solid progressive that will last you years. If your friend was making bad ammo on one, he needs to look in the mirror.

 

[357 guy]

RCBS Rock Chucker. Period.

 

[Frank46]

I started out reloading on a rcbs rockchucker this was the only press I owned at the time. Rifle or pistol all were done on that press. When I started fooling around with cast bullets the mean green rockchucker was still there. However when I started shooting steel plate matches I also started with the rockchucker, but it seemed like almost forever to turn out 300 rds for the match. On the advice of some fellow shooters
i bought the dillon 550 for my 45. Instead of spending 3-4 hours getting 300 rounds ready It was more like 1.5 hours. Hey I'm not as fast as everyone. So about once a year I take it apart clean and lube and away I go. The single stage is slow, but mistakes are easily spotted and corrected. I prime separately before the cases go into the dillon. I use that time to better inspect cases and any that are messed up get binned. Now the rockchucker has been replaced by the lee classic cast and still is used for cast bullet loading and rifle cartridges. Frank