Maximumbob54
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If by "design" they mean rip off existing gear and copy it in China then yes, they are "designing" some stuff I guess.
Which Press?
- Thread starter Kanewpadle
- Start date
IMHO: Start simple. A used single stage press from the gun show (or forum member) is a great place to really learn what reloading is about. Get a Lyman or RCBS powder measure (don't chintz here), a balance scale and some new or used dies. This stuff don't wear out. If you get a single stage press (mine is probably 60 years old) it will stay with you forever even when you upgrade. I'm a big believer in carbide dies so you can skip the whole lube process. ...and a reloading manual--new or used. A loading block is helpful for batch loading on a single stage. When you get really comfortable then go with the progressive. I'm a big Dillon fan(550B). It was a gift from my wife 24 years ago. It served me well during my insane years of full-auto shooting and is currently cranking out 45acp to support my 625 addition.
Just an old geezer here. Good luck and enjoy.
PS. For years I cleaned my brass in the sink with dish detergent. You just have to let it dry well before reloading.
Just an old geezer here. Good luck and enjoy.
PS. For years I cleaned my brass in the sink with dish detergent. You just have to let it dry well before reloading.
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I've never reloaded before. Got my Square Deal B on June 18th. Came ready to load 9mm. Got a Lyman manual, ask questions, watched videos and went to work. Loaded 2k 9mm then got some .40 dies and another toolhead. Have loaded 2k .40 with no problems. Very easy to change and adjust dies. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it seems very easy to use. If I decide to load rifle ammo I will get a single stage press. When I go to the range to shoot my pistol I like to shoot at least 300 rounds so the volume the Square Deal gives me is very good. I've shot 2k of my reloads with no problems so for. So for what it's worth even a dummie can use this setup.
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It's nearly impossible for a progressive press to throw a random heavy load. Sometimes the powder will settle overnight and be 0.5 grains heavy on the first throw, but it settles down by the third, for as long as you go. Double throws occur when you deviate from the correct procedure, due to carelessness or distraction. Always turn the table immediately after the stroke. If you stop for any reason (e.g., to pick up spilled components or answer your phone), run the table out before proceeding.
Light throws might occur due to bridging or voids, especially with thin flakes like Unique. I have not found that to be a problem, even when the hopper is nearly empty. I watch carefully if the hopper gets below 1/3rd, just in case. The hopper gets shaken enough in normal operation to eliminate voids. I stand slightly to the left so I can observe the powder in the case after each drop.
Light throws might occur due to bridging or voids, especially with thin flakes like Unique. I have not found that to be a problem, even when the hopper is nearly empty. I watch carefully if the hopper gets below 1/3rd, just in case. The hopper gets shaken enough in normal operation to eliminate voids. I stand slightly to the left so I can observe the powder in the case after each drop.
Squarebutt
Member
Now that everyone else has had his turn at trying to confuse you, let me toss you one more curve ball, the Hornady Lock and Load system. In both the progressive and single stage Hornady presses, the hole for the die is actually threaded oversize to accept large .50 and similar dies. Then they provide two bushings, one that simply reduces the thread size to the 7/8-14 standard die thread, and the other, which allows you to quickly twist-lock different dies into place. The dies are each threaded into their own twist-lock collars, so they don't need to be adjusted more than once. It's very quick to change calibers. And the newer Rockchuckers and one or more of the Redding single-stage presses can accept the LnL system.
It's a slick setup. I wish it had been available when I started, but I'm happy with my 550 and a couple of old single-stage presses. Almost all my reloading gear was purchased secondhand.
It's a slick setup. I wish it had been available when I started, but I'm happy with my 550 and a couple of old single-stage presses. Almost all my reloading gear was purchased secondhand.
fredj338
Member
Well exactly. I have broken it down for people dozens of times. Most of us, maybe 95%, just do not "need" any progressive. Few of us are so busy as to need a machine that does 400-800rds/hr. Some type of turret press will suffice for the vast majority. A simple prgressive sans case feeder, like a 550. is likely to be fine for even the busiest shooter.
Sure, I have a 650 because I do/can, not because I need it. My 550 has served me well for more than 25yrs. I rarely shoot more than 400rds in any one weekend, that is a whopping hours worth of reloading on a 550. The problem is too many are giving opinions about gear that only they have used. So really, how much do you know aobut presses if you have only used one? How much do you know about reloading if you have only loadd one caliber?
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Asking which press, here or on any reloading forum, is like asking whether you should marry a barmaid or a kindergarten teacher. Personally, I do not think it matters what press you get for your first one, as long as it is a quality press. Also, there is no one press that is "best" for everyone. I really like my single stage Rockchucker, and I think it is a good press for me, at my stage of experience, and for what I want to do. Which is not volume production. But it's not the best press for everyone. Get a quality piece of equipment, and work on precision, measure everything, and be clean and consistent. if the worst thing that happens is that you end up with an extra single stage press, it's not a crisis. It's a good thing. And it will give you the experience to make the decision that is right for you for a bigger investment later.
As an aside, I like the Rockchucker, but I don't think it is that different from other single stage cast iron presses - Lee and Lyman both make a similar press. I like the cast iron single stage press. It will last a lifetime. And I am limited only by my own patience and experience.
People debate .308 vs .30-06, Remington 700 vs Winchester 70, Ruger vs S&W, and .40 vs .45. They are all good. Choices are wonderful. But it's really a blond vs brunette thing. Something else is gonna kill you, but not the caliber.
As an aside, I like the Rockchucker, but I don't think it is that different from other single stage cast iron presses - Lee and Lyman both make a similar press. I like the cast iron single stage press. It will last a lifetime. And I am limited only by my own patience and experience.
People debate .308 vs .30-06, Remington 700 vs Winchester 70, Ruger vs S&W, and .40 vs .45. They are all good. Choices are wonderful. But it's really a blond vs brunette thing. Something else is gonna kill you, but not the caliber.
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OP
Bkreutz
US Veteran
OP
fredj338
Member
Yes, that should handle your 50BMG needs quite well.
Nothing wrong with having more press than needed. One never now where their reloading will take them.
jayman9207
Member
I guess I will chime in and give my $.02. I started off with a Lee Challenger single stage press. It taught me the ropes and the basics but I quickly wanted a turret / progressive press. It did not take long before I did not enjoy having to spend the extra time installing, tweaking, and fine tuning each die for the particular components I was using on each particular load. I convinced myself I was only ever going to reload pistol ammo so I bought a Dillon Square Deal B. Excellent press, easy to use, and it takes about two to three loading sessions to become completely comfortable with. Tweaking and fine tuning your loads is very easy to do and can be done in 5-15 minutes depending on what all you are changing (i.e. powder charge, bullet seating depth, crimp). Once you are familiar with the press you can easily load 300-400 rounds per hour. It is a great press. And then I bought a rifle and built another one.......
After going back and forth between the Dillon 550 and 650 presses I went and bought the RL500B and I am so very happy with it! I really wish I would have bought the 550 first but you know what they say.....hindsight is always 20-20. I only have it setup for .223/5.56 currently because I can use the SDB press to load my pistol ammo still. It is a little bit more complicated to setup than the SDB but my experience from the Lee and SDB presses helped and it really is not that bad. It is very easy to tweak and fine tune once you have everything setup and also very easy to use. Yes it is true that you can use the 550 as a "turret" style press but what I have been doing is using the first stage like a single stage. I have been resizing, depriming, and then putting the brass aside. I will do a bunch at a time and then carefully inspect, check in a case gauge (trim when necessary), and scrape primer pockets of each one. It changes up the actual reloading steps a little when I am reloading but not that much. I highly recommend the RL550B press.
After going back and forth between the Dillon 550 and 650 presses I went and bought the RL500B and I am so very happy with it! I really wish I would have bought the 550 first but you know what they say.....hindsight is always 20-20. I only have it setup for .223/5.56 currently because I can use the SDB press to load my pistol ammo still. It is a little bit more complicated to setup than the SDB but my experience from the Lee and SDB presses helped and it really is not that bad. It is very easy to tweak and fine tune once you have everything setup and also very easy to use. Yes it is true that you can use the 550 as a "turret" style press but what I have been doing is using the first stage like a single stage. I have been resizing, depriming, and then putting the brass aside. I will do a bunch at a time and then carefully inspect, check in a case gauge (trim when necessary), and scrape primer pockets of each one. It changes up the actual reloading steps a little when I am reloading but not that much. I highly recommend the RL550B press.
Babalooie
US Veteran
Dillon 550B with Lee carbide dies.
