Reloading recommendations for a newbie

[Kruzr]

IMO, you are wasting your time starting with a single stage press unless you are only going to load match rifle ammo. There is no problem learning with a progressive press. You can use it like a single stage if you want to go to the trouble. I'd take a good look at the Dillon 550. You may also want to read what Brian Enos has to say about the different Dillon presses here:

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html#which

[wheelgunner]

I purchased the same RCBS Master Kit to start reloading. I also have a Dillon XL650.

I use my RCBS for making hunting rounds, match rounds and especially for load "development". Before I got my Dillon XL650 I loaded thousands of rounds with my RCBS. Progressives can be tricky, cost more, shell holders can be pricey. Once set up their great. You can crank out alot of rounds in a relatively short period of time. To start off with you can't go wrong with single stage and you will learn alot! And the learning will never end.

Calipers is a must, midway has a good inexpensive stainless steel calipers. For rifle reloading I recomend also purchasing a case length trimmer. Spray case lube (pump or aerosol), pads are messy but some like it. An additional wood reloading block/tray is nice to have (caliber specific). Eventually a vibratory case cleaner. I would also start reloading with pistol cartridge like 45ACP. Bullets are easier to handle.

Reloading is another hobby! Lot of satisfaction in assembling your own ammo. If you decide to start contact me and I'll come by and help you out. Friend helped me out and was there to answer questions. Directions that come with dies can be very confusing for newbie.

[BigAL]

If you decide to buy a Dillon, I also recommend you buy from Brian Enos. He sells cheaper than Dillon's website and the stuff still gets shipped out direct from Dillon's warehouse (he can do this b/c he's got some special deal worked out with them). His customer service is top notch too.

[wheelgunner]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BigAL:
If you decide to buy a Dillon, I also recommend you buy from Brian Enos. He sells cheaper than Dillon's website... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oooo Oooo, Ya gots a linky???

I would like to get a auto case feeder for my 650.

[art_e@hotmail.com]

Here's the link:

Enos/Dillon

[imported_DULLYJAY]

I got my gear from Brian also. Like Al said his servise in great. You can order on line, but I think it is better to give him a call. He saved me $$ & made sure I had what I needed. He under charge me by 200bucks, so I gave him a call to let him know. Few days later some case lube & primer tray show up at my door .

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/home.html

[bear]

Best deal is a Lyman turret.

Has all the advantages of a single stage and most of the advantages of a progressive.

Costs about $110 or so. Each turret has six stations; and if you get an extra turret, you set up the dies once and you can change calibers in sixty seconds or less. I have 3 turrets and reload 5 calibers (so far.)

Very heavy duty, much stronger than Lee, much cheaper than Dillon, and counting the primer-tube loading required by Dillon, is almost as fast. WAY faster when you need to do load development on several different calibers at the same time. (I'm pretty much always doing load development. I rarely need to load more than 300 rounds of the same thing, before changing it up.)

[Rikarin]

mmm Matt Burket says Dillon, Brian Enos says Dillon and I was thinking either 550 or 650 and there's Lyman better than Dillon?

I have no idea about reloader but I liked the price! I am pretty sure load 9mm only for now and what is good thing in layman's term why Layman is good other than price and faster? Why Dillon is so popular and pushed by those people?


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bear:
Best deal is a Lyman turret.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Technical Ted]

RCBS and Dillon have great warranties. Lifetime. If something breaks, they replace it. Doesn't matter if you're the original owner or how old the product is.

I've called RCBS for parts to worn, older, dies and they have sent them to me for free. A friend got his father's used Dillon Square Deal and Dillon replaced missing parts for free.

No idea how Lyman would handle situations like those.

Remember that you get what you pay for.

[imported_DULLYJAY]

What Ted said about the Dillon. Dillons are easy to resale too.

[Rikarin]

oh, I see. I heard about Dillon's excelent care. But $500 is ouch! But then, I am shooting almost 3000 rounds month. I heard its not price difference in 9mm. Do you guys happened to know how much 9mm will cost with lets say VV 320 with 147gr JHP whatever bullets, with my collected brass . Seems like this is the popular combo for cometition.

[BigAL]

I got a friend who bought a used Dillon Square Deal but it was missing some parts. He shipped it to Dillon and they refurbed it and fixed it up with all the parts it needed, free of charge.

[BigAL]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rika:
oh, I see. I heard about Dillon's excelent care. But $500 is ouch! But then, I am shooting almost 3000 rounds month. I heard its not price difference in 9mm. Do you guys happened to know how much 9mm will cost with lets say VV 320 with 147gr JHP whatever bullets, with my collected brass . Seems like this is the popular combo for cometition. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I load a lot of 9mm on my 650. 147 grain lead round nosed I get for $26/1000. I buy Hodgdons HS-6 8 lbs at a time for about $100 or so and Winchester small pistol primers 5K at a time. The key really is getting bullets cheap and not getting stuck with hazmat shipping charges on powder or primers, otherwise you may find the savings on 9mm really isn't that much. IIRC i'm making ammo for slightly less than half what WWB value paks cost at wally world. Though a lot of people don't like shooting cast lead it really is the cheapest way to go for plinking.

If you keep up at 3K rounds a month, you'll make back the money on the press in no time. In fact if you shoot that much I would recommend the 650 with casefeed.

[imported_1911_sfca]

I have never hand-loaded, but would like to check it out. Does someone have a progressive set-up in or near San Francisco and I could come watch you reload?

Even better, drop by the San Francisco Self Defense Coalition meeting on Friday, and we can talk about it there..

[wheelgunner]

Damn Dully, you da honest man!

DV_8, thanks for the link.

Progresive is cool, however I still think it is best to start learning with a single stage. Alot of adjustments to make on a progressive and shell holder change.