Starting over

[MA5177]

Ok, I used to reload back in the late 80s early 90s. My dad and I were way into shooting and reloading and were pretty good at it.

After I moved a distance away ang got busy with life we kind of got away from guns, but I always owned a few.

Fast forward to NOW, about 5-6 years ago I started to get back into guns and shooting. Now I am thinking about reloading again , but WOW have prices changed LOL. I remember we used to reload for about 3.50/50 or so.

Anyways, can someone who is up on the latest give me some advise?

I would like to get a setup, I dont need 1000 rounds a week but dont want a single stage either. I like the dillon setup as that is what we had back then, what is the best bang for the buck? What do I need to start? What will I need to spend?

Right now I have nothing, I gave or sold it all way back, not even any brass.

I am intrested in loading 9mm,.40..45 and .223 and maybe .38/357

Thanks,Mike

[Fjold]

You're best bet (economy/productivity) is probably one of the turret presses. I have Dillon 450B, 550, Lee and Lyman turret presses and they all work fine but get one like the Dillon 550 or Lee that has interchangeable toolheads to speed up switching between cartridges.

[MA5177]

You're best bet (economy/productivity) is probably one of the turret presses. I have Dillon 450B, 550, Lee and Lyman turret presses and they all work fine but get one like the Dillon 550 or Lee that has interchangeable toolheads to speed up switching between cartridges.

Thanks, what are the advantages/disadvantages of an auto indexing press?

[Fjold]

Thanks, what are the advantages/disadvantages of an auto indexing press?

Higher volume with less time spent but they're a little more finicky to set up and people tend not to watch their reloading steps as closely.

They'll turn out the same quality of ammunition if you are consistent with all your processes.

[bruce381]

other powder, brass, primers look at the dillion site the 550 will do all you want.

And when you get out of it again you can sell the dillion for the current prices they do not depreciate at all.

[stilly]

Ok, I used to reload back in the late 80s early 90s. My dad and I were way into shooting and reloading and were pretty good at it.

After I moved a distance away ang got busy with life we kind of got away from guns, but I always owned a few.

Fast forward to NOW, about 5-6 years ago I started to get back into guns and shooting. Now I am thinking about reloading again , but WOW have prices changed LOL. I remember we used to reload for about 3.50/50 or so.

Anyways, can someone who is up on the latest give me some advise?

I would like to get a setup, I dont need 1000 rounds a week but dont want a single stage either. I like the dillon setup as that is what we had back then, what is the best bang for the buck? What do I need to start? What will I need to spend?

Right now I have nothing, I gave or sold it all way back, not even any brass.

I am intrested in loading 9mm,.40..45 and .223 and maybe .38/357

Thanks,Mike

Good for you for recognizing your deficiency and asking for assistance.

If you do not need a 1000 rounds a week but do not want to process in batches, then I can honestly say to get a Lee Classic Turret.

The 4 hole turret, fully setup with dropper/primer on it is still cheaper than a new barebones Dillon.

You CAN get a dillon, but in order to make it look ANYTHING like the picture then you need to spend $20 for this bin, $40 for this tool head, $20 for this other bin, $15 for this wrench, $49 for this handle, $50 for this stand, etc etc. Before you know it you are into it for $500+ and changing calibers aint as easy as the Lee Classic Turret. You can get a Lee Classic Turret for around $115 and then the powder dropper and primer setup and you are essentially good to go, New turrets cost about $8-$15 each and they allow you to change calibers in about 30 seconds if you are using Lee Dies. AND, I think many folks will agree that if you buy Lee pistol dies, they are some of the best dies you can get for that price. They include shell holders, a dipper, a small batch of load data, and they are usually pretty decent. I just had Lee ship me a custom bullet seater for my new .45 Dardas pills that I plan to make... In my opinion the Lee Classic Turret IS the fastest that you can go before jumping to a progressive. It allows you to make 1 new round about every 15 seconds or faster.

[MA5177]

Good for you for recognizing your deficiency and asking for assistance.

If you do not need a 1000 rounds a week but do not want to process in batches, then I can honestly say to get a Lee Classic Turret.

The 4 hole turret, fully setup with dropper/primer on it is still cheaper than a new barebones Dillon.

You CAN get a dillon, but in order to make it look ANYTHING like the picture then you need to spend $20 for this bin, $40 for this tool head, $20 for this other bin, $15 for this wrench, $49 for this handle, $50 for this stand, etc etc. Before you know it you are into it for $500+ and changing calibers aint as easy as the Lee Classic Turret. You can get a Lee Classic Turret for around $115 and then the powder dropper and primer setup and you are essentially good to go, New turrets cost about $8-$15 each and they allow you to change calibers in about 30 seconds if you are using Lee Dies. AND, I think many folks will agree that if you buy Lee pistol dies, they are some of the best dies you can get for that price. They include shell holders, a dipper, a small batch of load data, and they are usually pretty decent. I just had Lee ship me a custom bullet seater for my new .45 Dardas pills that I plan to make... In my opinion the Lee Classic Turret IS the fastest that you can go before jumping to a progressive. It allows you to make 1 new round about every 15 seconds or faster.

Thanks for the advise, does it use standard dies? How much will a Dillon be all set up for 3 calibers? and the lee?

[Pete1979]

Dillon customer service is second to none, good product and lifetime support. They have sent me new parts at no charge on several occasions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stilly]

Thanks for the advise, does it use standard dies? How much will a Dillon be all set up for 3 calibers? and the lee?

Just about every single stage/turret/progressive press uses the same dies. There are exceptions, the Square Deal by dillon being one, they use weird dies that do not look like normal dies and I am not sure if you can put other dies on the SD presses.

But about every Lee that I know of uses the same standard size die, right along with RCBS and Lyman and Redding and Forster. Oh and Dillon.

If you get a progressive though based on what I have seen and read, I will recommend that you get Dillon dies. Dillon makes their dies sloppy like so there is play and looseness in them and you apparently can use that slop when loading up a progressive because you are lining up 5 or so cases at once so a little give here and there in the way the dies move is wanted.

Single stage and turrets are a and you want nice tight dies (okay I admit, I just wanted to use a ). I can not tell you how much the Dillon setup is going to be, Have you ever subscribed to their blue press? You should do that. I do not know how I got it but it is a very informational Dillon catalog each month with some mildly mediocre hot chick (they are hot if you are in prison...) on the cover and about all or the majority of their products and others that they sell inside it. They also seem to feature a centerfold or two on various guns, usually old or vintage or weird guns. They have a great history and run down and talk all about it. It is very good reading material if you are on the toilet. I can honestly tell you that when I look over and start to grab for it, I know it is only a few more seconds before I am done... I kid nobody on that. It is better than wheat bran and it is small and light so it is easy to hold and read...

But no seriously, I do not know what a Dillon costs but it WILL be a lot more expensive. Expect a fully decked out Dillon 550 to cost about 3-5 times as much as a fully decked out Lee Turret or Classic Cast. Caliber changes will add a lot more. Dillon dies will run you $64+ each where Lee dies will run you $28 each. The Lee Turret spare top runs about $12 where the Dillon needs a die change PLUS maybe a shell plate change and some other parts.

Dillon customer service is lacking compared to RCBS and Lee, but they are apparently better than Hornady. From several of the last threads I read on anything Dillon their NO BS warranty is kinda a load of BS if you think you will get those overpriced parts for free. Not that RCBS will give you free major parts but I have not heard ANYTHING negative about the service level at RCBS and lately several people have had issues with their Lee products but Lee has taken care of them as well. I went to Dillons site and asked a question about getting another seater for an older style die in 9mm and they got back to me after 3 days and told me that I should have had one... so anyways, RCBS would have sent me a new plug without even asking anything.
People will tell you that you can send your Dillon press in to Dillon and they will clean it up and make it work right again. Apparently that is not always the case and they will charge you $$ for doing that. So looks like the buy once cry once might be a lie too... You might need to cry twice or more depending on what you do.

But I am the wrong guy to compare Dillon to others because I let me biases project the truth about their presses. Dillon may be able to make a lot of ammo fast, but they suck around the corners and for making small batches of ammo in varying calibers it is a PITA. Lee classic turret on the other hand may not be nearly as fast as a Dillon progressive, but you get to see each step, it is NOT crowded, it is simple, it is inexpensive and it just WORKS. Changing calibers is a piece of cake with the Lee. Takes about 1-2 minutes. Get a fresh turret and twist and drop it in, screw in the dies, adjust each one, change out the shell holder (maybe) and you are off and running again.

So anyways, there ya have it.

[Germz]

Hornady LnL AP

[RR.44]

Turret presses are good to go if you're not looking to mass produce ammo.

Lyman's T-Mag and the Redding T7 are fine turrets.

Good luck with whatever you decide to buy, I'm sure you'll have a blast (no pun intended) with either of the brands and models suggested by others.

[nokarma]

Wow I am not sure where to start on this one.
Lets take it from the top.

Just about every single stage/turret/progressive press uses the same dies. There are exceptions, the Square Deal by dillon being one, they use weird dies that do not look like normal dies and I am not sure if you can put other dies on the SD presses.

This point is true the square deal is a smaller press that uses non standard dies.

But about every Lee that I know of uses the same standard size die, right along with RCBS and Lyman and Redding and Forster. Oh and Dillon.

If you get a progressive though based on what I have seen and read, I will recommend that you get Dillon dies. Dillon makes their dies sloppy like so there is play and looseness in them and you apparently can use that slop when loading up a progressive because you are lining up 5 or so cases at once so a little give here and there in the way the dies move is wanted.

There is nothing sloppy about Dillon dies they have a flared opening to help with shell alignment.

Single stage and turrets are a and you want nice tight dies (okay I admit, I just wanted to use a ). I can not tell you how much the Dillon setup is going to be, Have you ever subscribed to their blue press? You should do that. I do not know how I got it but it is a very informational Dillon catalog each month with some mildly mediocre hot chick (they are hot if you are in prison...) on the cover and about all or the majority of their products and others that they sell inside it. They also seem to feature a centerfold or two on various guns, usually old or vintage or weird guns. They have a great history and run down and talk all about it. It is very good reading material if you are on the toilet. I can honestly tell you that when I look over and start to grab for it, I know it is only a few more seconds before I am done... I kid nobody on that. It is better than wheat bran and it is small and light so it is easy to hold and read...

But no seriously, I do not know what a Dillon costs but it WILL be a lot more expensive. Expect a fully decked out Dillon 550 to cost about 3-5 times as much as a fully decked out Lee Turret or Classic Cast. Caliber changes will add a lot more. Dillon dies will run you $64+ each where Lee dies will run you $28 each. The Lee Turret spare top runs about $12 where the Dillon needs a die change PLUS maybe a shell plate change and some other parts.

Yep Dillon cost a little bit more.

Dillon customer service is lacking compared to RCBS and Lee, but they are apparently better than Hornady. From several of the last threads I read on anything Dillon their NO BS warranty is kinda a load of BS if you think you will get those overpriced parts for free.

UMMMMMMM BULL****. Dillon will bend-over backwards to help you over the phone and will send you any part you need for any press but the 1050.
They have sent me so many parts that I did not even need for free that it is not funny. I will call about a part that I have worn out and they will send me a bunch of other parts just to have on hand and all of them for free. I stock spare parts for my 3 Dillon presses and call for free replacements when i use a part. If you reload a lot you will wear out parts on any press.

Not that RCBS will give you free major parts but I have not heard ANYTHING negative about the service level at RCBS and lately several people have had issues with their Lee products but Lee has taken care of them as well. I went to Dillons site and asked a question about getting another seater for an older style die in 9mm and they got back to me after 3 days and told me that I should have had one... so anyways, RCBS would have sent me a new plug without even asking anything.

So they told you that your dies should have come with the seater and you had a problem with this?

People will tell you that you can send your Dillon press in to Dillon and they will clean it up and make it work right again. Apparently that is not always the case and they will charge you $$ for doing that. So looks like the buy once cry once might be a lie too... You might need to cry twice or more depending on what you do.

After buying my second XL650 I noticed that the new press was much smother then my 20 year old press and I contacted Dillon about sending my old press in for a tuneup and wanted to know that the cost would be. they told me to send in the press and they would get back to me. I sent the press and 2 weeks latter I got back my press and it was 80% new parts on it and it cost me nothing. They even replaced the case feeder with a brand new unit.

But I am the wrong guy to compare Dillon to others because I let me biases project the truth about their presses. Dillon may be able to make a lot of ammo fast, but they suck around the corners and for making small batches of ammo in varying calibers it is a PITA. Lee classic turret on the other hand may not be nearly as fast as a Dillon progressive, but you get to see each step, it is NOT crowded, it is simple, it is inexpensive and it just WORKS. Changing calibers is a piece of cake with the Lee. Takes about 1-2 minutes. Get a fresh turret and twist and drop it in, screw in the dies, adjust each one, change out the shell holder (maybe) and you are off and running again.

So anyways, there ya have it.

[emptybottle151]

Lee Precision Classic Turret Press $111.99
Lee Precision 4-Hole Turret $12.99
Lee Precision 4-Die set (Pistol)
Lee Precision Pacesetter (Rifle)
Lee Precision Rifle Charging Die (Rifle) $12.99
Lee Precision Auto Disk Riser (Rifle) $9.99
Lee Precision Turret Press Safety Prime $40.00
Lee Precision Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure $33.59
Lee Precision Case Cutter, Locking Stud (Rifle) $12.19
Lee Precision Chamfer $3.99
Lee Precision Gauge/Holder (Rifle)
Lee Precision Powder Funnel $8.11
Lyman 49th Edition Reloading Manual $18.79
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Scale $29.48
Frankford Arsenal Impact Bullet Puller $11.99
Digital Calibers
Case Lube
Tumbler and Media

Amazon 5/27/15

[phdo]

Hornady LnL AP

+1

If you're reloading for the hobby then my advice is getting a single stage to keep cost down. If you want to make batches to blast at the range then I would vote for the LnL AP.

[jeff1776]

for a single stage Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press Kit is a good value and the press is very nice. I have one of these, a Forster coax, and a lee progressive. I do ALOT of reloading in the hornady! As for a Progressive press- I've tried most of the namebrand ones and Dillon is second to none IMHO