Ammo Reloading Press.

[desertjosh]

Im in a similar boat as you OP. I chose the Hornady LNL classic kit. I can always get a progressive once I learn the ropes. You will always need a good single stage ive been told. I cant wait for xmas!

[Whiterabbit]

I am looking into buying an Ammo Reloading Press kit. I am new to ammo reloading and have no clue about how to do it. Is there any recommendations for a decent reloading kit for around 200-300 dollars? Also, is there a guide here on the forums on how to reload my ammo? I will be reloading .45 ACP ammo and possibly .270 win depending on how much I feel like shooting my Savage Arms Rifle.

$300 in your pocket, hit craigstlist. You can get someone's "im getting out of reloading" kit and still have enough left over for dies and consumables etc. 300 door to door can get you through your first 50 rounds.

[elsolo]

How much ammo is the big question.
If you shoot much pistol at all, you will want to reload thousands of rounds a month. You will need a progressive, recommend a Dillon.
For rifle, I do all mine on a single stage anyhow. I am not a high volume rifle shooter, like a 3-gun shooter is.

Regarding cost of the press: Just buy a Dillon for any volume reloading. It will retain it's value so well, you will really only "pay" at most 20% depreciation if buying new and selling it years later. Buy used and sell used, it costs you nothing to own a quality tool that has fully depreciated, the price to buy one is more like a security deposit. That $1000 "security deposit" will be recouped in savings in a couple months of owning a Dillon.

[reg290]

I'm gonna give some love to the Lee 50th anniversary kit.

I was in the same boat as the OP. Wanted to get into reloading but didn't have big money to spend.

I bought the Lee kit, watched about 1000 hours of videos on youtube regarding reloading on the Lee press and felt good about the choice I made. Nobody is ever gonna tell me that Lee can't hold its own against Dillon, RCBS or Hornady in making quality ammo.

After about 2 years of loading thousands of rounds of .40 and .223 and hundreds of rounds of .308 and .50ae, I felt the time was right and my knowledge of reloading was good enough to buy a Hornady LNL AP press.

I absolutely love both my presses and wouldn't change a thing. I load .308 and .50ae on my Lee single stage and .40, .45acp, .223 and .30carbine on my AP.

For the price, you'll get more bang for your buck with the Lee kit and have money left over for dies and components.

http://www.brownells.com/reloading/reloading-kits/lee-50th-anniversary-challenger-kit-sku100010149-54177-103485.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shopzilla-_-Lee%2050th%20Anniversary%20Kit&gdftrk=gdfV21820_a_7c187_a_7c7313_a_7c100010149_d_100010149_d_22194

[brooTool]

Thanks guys, yeah I think I am going to get a single stage or if I can find a decent used progressive I snag one. I really dont need to pump out thousands of rounds but would be nice to do a couple hundred pistol rounds the night before I go to the range

[ExtremeX]

Thanks guys, yeah I think I am going to get a single stage or if I can find a decent used progressive I snag one. I really dont need to pump out thousands of rounds but would be nice to do a couple hundred pistol rounds the night before I go to the range

Get the single stage anyways... and keep an eye out for a good deal on a progressive.

I started with a progressive and bought a single stage press anyways. They are great for precision rifle loading and provide additional utility on the reloading bench.

I know everyone had a budget, but buy the best you can afford.

[alfred1222]

Thanks guys, yeah I think I am going to get a single stage or if I can find a decent used progressive I snag one. I really dont need to pump out thousands of rounds but would be nice to do a couple hundred pistol rounds the night before I go to the range

You can do a few hundred a night with a single stage, its isnt that hard. On a hornady single stage, you can size/deprime/prime on one operation. change the die and expand. Then they go into your reloading block, where you charge them all. from there, you transfer them back to the press to seat and crimp the round in another operation. if you take 4 loading blocks, you can get 400 rounds done a night, and fairly quick. This is pistol though, rifle takes more time, as it should

[Whiterabbit]

You can do a few hundred a night with a single stage, its isnt that hard. On a hornady single stage, you can size/deprime/prime on one operation. change the die and expand. Then they go into your reloading block, where you charge them all. from there, you transfer them back to the press to seat and crimp the round in another operation. if you take 4 loading blocks, you can get 400 rounds done a night, and fairly quick. This is pistol though, rifle takes more time, as it should

If you use a LEE powder through expander die, you remove some steps there.

size/deprime/prime for operation 1
expand and charge in one shot for op 2
seat the bullet and crimp at the same time for op3

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personally, that wouldn't work in my house. I prefer to store primed brass rather than any other form (like fired and dirty, for example). So I'll take it to "ready for powder and bullet" and put it in a bin. loading a couple hundred rounds for a range trip can take less than an hour from that stage. But it takes a while to get there.

[alfred1222]

Very good point, i never trusted powder through expander dies, but ive heard great things about the Lee system.

[morrcarr67]

Very good point, i never trusted powder through expander dies, but ive heard great things about the Lee system.

I have one on my Lee set up and when I'm loading toward the top end I check about every 20-25 rounds. When I'm loading mid-range target loads I check about every 75 rounds. I've never had a problem with mine and I've had it for 27 years.

[XDRoX]

Reloading presses are a lot like cars. Any will get the job done. Some will get you there faster, some slower. Some will be more fun to load on, some not so fun. Some will will be more reliable, some less reliable. Some will be more comfortable, some less.

I didn't read all the replies, but if it hasn't been said yet strongly consider the Lee Classic Turret press. It's capable of loading 150 rounds an hour easily and built like a tank. It will last a lifetime and not break the bank at around $100.

I've owned pretty much all the different brands. I load on a Dillon and yes it's nice but it's not a necessity, it's a luxury. There is nothing wrong with the Lee Classic Turret, it's a superb press.

The only problem with going with a single stage press is they are very slow. Trust me, it will get old real fast loading 50 rounds an hour for pistol ammo. Not that a single stage is a waste, every experienced reloader should have at least one on his bench. But for pistol ammo it's slow.

[alfred1222]

I have one on my Lee set up and when I'm loading toward the top end I check about every 20-25 rounds. When I'm loading mid-range target loads I check about every 75 rounds. I've never had a problem with mine and I've had it for 27 years.

Can't beat that by much. I load my pistol on a hornady LNL, so it's size/derpime, then expand, then charge, the bullet feeder die, then seat/crimp. All my large rifle is done on a single stage with a freaking trickler and a scale

[brooTool]

yeah I did some more research and I will get a single stage, I do not want to rush anything and I still have to read the whole reloading book I bought. Furthermore, I don't really need to be able to load thousands of rounds because I only shoot about 200-400 when I go to the range. Another plus I can make some super special rifle rounds and take as much time as I need to perfect them I really do appreciate every one who replied to this thread. I read and researched every ones post and it took a long time. your time and knowledge has not been overlooked.

[Che762x39]

Thanks, I will look into these. currently watching the reloading process. looks a little tedious but I have to to spend and need to save money because ammo is over priced in my opinion. By the time I buy ammo, pay to use the range, gas, food, etc, I am flat broke. This will be a great investment. Thanks for the info

I have been reloading 30+ years. I have seen people start the hobby and quit because tedious gets to them. Do shoot daily or weekly? You could check for used equipment, watch YouTube and buy a reloading manual and read it cover to cover, then read it again.

Eventually making bullets will be as much fun as shooting them