The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: coltfan3000 on March 22, 2008, 11:05:17 AM
-
Hello,
What kind of reloading setup do you have and recommend? Single stage or progressive press?
Ammo prices have gone through the roof and it is not going to get any better.
I have been looking at the Horandy Progressive press and the Dillon models. What are the pro and cons of
each press?
Thanks
Donald
-
I'm using a single stage Lyman press, but I'm a beginner .
-
I have been using Dillon for years. I met Mike Dillon at an NRA convention where he was showing his early progressive press. People were impressed and I remain so. Customer service and tech support top notch. Have no experience with any other but I am sure others have and will speak highly of them also.
-
I too am a huge Dillon fan, I have 2 550b's, 1 set up for small primer and 1 for large. I like their 100% no BS warranty. They don't usually even ask for the old parts back. ;D
I also started out on and still have an RCBS Rockchucker, that I mainly use for rifle and load developement. Nothing wrong with it, just slow.
I also have a lee, turret press, and for the money, it has it's uses. I bought it before Dillon came on the scene.
For shotgun I still have a MEC sizemaster, it works very well once you figure it out.
One trick I'll share is that I mounted all my presses on 1" thick board about a foot square. Tap the holes that are already drilled in the press bases, and counter sink bolts from the bottom. glue some vinyl or felt on the bottom, and you can C clamp them to just about anything. When not in use, you can store them under a cabinet, as it puts them at a good angle for the powder not to spill, or you can clamp them to a shelf, to reclaim your bench space. 8)
Since I don't load as much as I used to, another tip, I made up white cards with all my powder descriptions on them like ( ww power pistol ) when I fill the powder measure I drop that card in with the powder. Then if it's 2 months since I've been to the press, I still know what powder is in it ;)
-
Another tip I learned the HARD way, If you will be reloading differant bullet weights for the same caliber, or some other variable, , put a little note card with each batch BEFORE or AS you do them I have 4 boxes of .308, 1 is 200 grain Match king, 1 is 180 grain Game King,1 and 1 box each of 150 grn. Hornady and Seirra, I have NO idea which is which as I "as u me d" :( I would remember and mark them when I was done....
-
Single stage or progressive....
First thing to do if you are a newbie is to buy ABC's of Reloading (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FABCs-Reloading%2Fdp%2F0873498518%2F&tag=drtv-reloading-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) or any other book covering the basics of reloading.
For a beginner, it is a good idea to begin with a single stage and use that one to get the basics sorted out (you can use it for rifle cartridges later in addition to a progressive press for pistol cartridges).
I am a Lee Precision guy, not because I consider it to be the best out there or because it is less expensive then Dillon, but simply because I started out with a Lee Turret (http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1206411327.5195=/html/catalog/turretpress.html) back in the late 80s. I found no good reason to change brand after that.
When competition shooting forced me to reload a lot more than I did in the beginning, I upgraded to a progressive Lee Pro 1000 (http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1206411327.5195=/html/catalog/lp1000.html), one with a set up for small pistol and one for large pistol.
I believe I represent most of us.... when you are used to a brand and don't have any problems to report, you stick to it.
Btw... I just came back from the reloading room, levering out 1000 rounds of 38 Special.
-
Anyone use the Lee hand press? I am just starting out and someone told me it was great for beginners.
-
I'd say start with a single stage now and upgrade when you need to and feel ready. I have to agree with the comment that you use what you're comfortable with. I started with a rock chucker 25 years ago and I still use it for precision loads but when I was shooting ipsc I upgraded to the pro 2000 and I've been happy with it. Service is good and no problems with their answering my questions.
-
I will concur with others here; you want a single-stage press to start out with. When you have learned the proper procedures, or shoot enough of one caliber to make it worthwhile, get a progressive.
I actually have four presses, the little Lee, and RCBS, a Lee Turret, and a Dillon XL650. They all have different uses. Only bought the Lee Turrent recently to reload .56-50 Spencer faster. Also have two lube-sizers, one for smokeless bullets and one for blackpowder.
Gosh, this makes me sound like some sort of collector!
;D
Grizzle Bear
-
If you are reloading to save money, warning: You won't save any money! BUT you will be able to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money. I would also note that you can recover the cost of your press fairly quickly. And have lots of fun making different loads for different purposes.
I have had several shotgun and metallic presses over the years. I now have a Lyman Turret Press which I use for rifle and some low volume pistol ammo. For the pistol stuff I reload the most, 357 SIG and .45 ACP, I have a Dillon 650. I like it very much. I can also say that Dillon customer service has been very good. For shotgun I recommend progressive reloaders. One tends to shoot a lot of that stuff at skeet and sporting clays. I have progressive MEC loaders, either 650 or 9000s, for 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410.
In my opionion anything you shoot a lot of you want a progressive press. If you only shoot 200 to 500 rounds a year of a rifle or pistol caliber single stage is fine. If you only shoot 200 to 500 rounds of shotgun ammo, buy it by the case and forget reloading.
I have had good luck with the inexpensive Lee Shotshell loader. And I used an RCBS Rockchucker for years. I sold both of them when I rotated back from Germany to guys in my section. And upgraded when I got back to the states. My first reloader was a Lee Loader for 7 x 57 Mauser. It worked and taught me a lot about reloading.
-
I started with a Lee 1000 progressive and it took me a day or two to get it where I needed it. I also have the lee shot loader. They both work fine for the price.
I think single stage might have been a better way to start for me. But, that's because I'm not as sharp as the most folks!
-
I have a Dillon 550b. I am exceedingly pleased with it.
I started reloading a few years ago. My mistake was that I did not start earlier. When I decided to start I asked a lot of people what they thought. Most told me to go for a progressive. The one that tipped it for me was the guy who was going on about how great his single stage was, a Lee. I asked him how many rounds he usually loaded. He said that one time he got ambitious and loaded up a whole year's worth, 300 rnds.
300nrds! I go through that in a weekend. I bought the Dillon that week.
Here's the caveat. A buddy of mine got one a few weeks before I did. We went to the range one day, and he had box of loose ammo. Turns out he had run out of powder and not noticed. Somewhere in that box were 20 - 50 rnds without powder. Made for an interesting day!
Which ever way you go, pay attention to what you are doing!
BTW, you won't save money, but you get to shoot more. I have been tracking my reload costs vs buying factory. I have paid for my reloader four times over.
-
Hello:
I appreciate all of the replies on this subject. I was leaning toward a Dillion to start with. For pistol I was thinking
about a square deal package in .45 acp for the Para I won in the giveaway. I am still waiting on the pistol from the
factory to ship to my dealer. I will post pictures when I get it.
Donald Coltfan
-
Hello:
I appreciate all of the replies on this subject. I was leaning toward a Dillion to start with. For pistol I was thinking
about a square deal package in .45 acp for the Para I won in the giveaway. I am still waiting on the pistol from the
factory to ship to my dealer. I will post pictures when I get it.
Donald Coltfan
Well you're gonna have LOTS of brass with that 1000 rounds!
-
I understand coltfan has come to a decision, but figured I'd throw my thoughts in anyway:
My first reloader was a Mec Jr. in 12 ga., and from there I went to a Mec 9000. When it came time for handgun reloading I decided I didn't need the learning stage of a single stage and went right to the progressive Dillon 650. It has been great. However, I am now going to set up a single stage for working up loads. You can do the small runs (12 rounds) for testing, but it takes some thinking all the start up and finish up steps with empty spaces on the press. So, as I expand my calibers I am setting up a single stage press as well.
My thinking is to go with the best you can afford. Just like any other tool quality is never money wasted. I know guys that buy the cheaper/lighter tools, and they are a good value for the number of rounds they last for. However, I'm willing to spend more for a tool I won't wear out and thus not have to deal with changing tolerances some day down the road before replacing parts or the whole press.
-
The square deal is a good little pistol setup, parts do wear out quicker, and Dillon is happy to replace them, I would lean more toward a 550 - 650. The 650 does take a little more learning curve to get started. As slickrob mentioned, you can get carried away on a progressive and forget to feed it. Dillon does sell a powder and primer monitor that beeps whenever you start running low. Make sure you get the video from Dillon, I believe it's free with a press purchase and will help you out quick. When I started reloading, no one I knew did it. Believe me, I did a bunch of stuff wrong or the hardest way. Met a guy at my local public range, who lived pretty close, and we had loading parties, We all had single stage presses then, and We would put 3 presses to work and a lee auto prime and load 600,700 rounds in one night with 4 guys doing separate operations. Your square deal or a 550 will do that with just you in 2 hours, 3 if your just taking it easy.
Best of luck.
-
If your only going to reload just 45 acp, you can't beat the dillon square deal.
-
I was't sure about Dillion or anyone else for that matter. Saying one thing (warrantys) and backing it up is another. So I made a choice and went with DILLION and their 650 and have not looked back. Great people to deal with. And no BS warranty is just that. They will even take time to figure out your problem even if its not related to thier press. When I go into the basement its the first thing I look at and when I leave its the last thing I look at It will be money well spent. Its just that simple :) :)
-
Anyone use the Lee hand press? I am just starting out and someone told me it was great for beginners.
Do not even think about it . Its a PITA. Go the Dillion if you have the experience for progressive . But if you have never relaoded before have some one there that has so that they can watch over you to make sure that there are no bad mistakes . Seen what happens when new people just get started and bad things happen and I mean BAAAD!! I am not trying to scare you just make you aware. STAY SAFE.
-
I've been using a Lyman single stage press and it worked OK. But I was loading for a 300 Win Mag and a bolt action .308. Those are gone now and I have an AK and am going to start reloading for my .45. The lyman will work OK for getting started, working out loads etc, but I will need to upgrade to a progressive set up before long as what it takes me All day to load on the Lyman these guys are doing in an hour. I hope that helps with your decision.
LISTEN TO G-MAN, ALWAYS THINK SAFETY, YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH POWDER AND PRIMERS TOGETHER, YOU WILL BE FIRING THESE ROUNDS, SQUIBS AND OVER CHARGED CASES CAN HURT YOU BADLY.
One thing to try is using a bulkier powder, that way a double charge will overflow the case and be IMMEDIATELY noticeable
-
G-MAN? ;D
-
G-MAN? ;D
I was trying to make it fit on one line, but then I had more to say, ;D
-
Whep thought you went hip hop on me!
-
Whep thought you went hip hop on me!
NOT LIKELY
-
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;DHaHaHaHaHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!