Reloading addvice?

[458]

So I don't know if I am in posting in the right spot, so I apologize if I am.

So I absolutely know nothing about reloading, but I have been stock piling once fired brass and other supplies for years for that " just in case" scenario, Many friends ask me why I keep buying ammo rather then reloading.

For me it is all about time, with family, 3 businesses, and constant travel, I have no time to sit at a bench and plink out 1 round at a time.

So I was wondering if anyone can recommend something for reloading. I know they make automatic machines, is one machine better then the other? Are auto re-loaders worth the money. Can I buy one machine that will reload multiple handgun calibers such as 380, 9mm, and 45acp

Any advice or suggestions would be awesome. Ideally I want to load a machine, and push start and let it do the work, where it could pump out hundreds of rounds with little effort on my part, are there used machines, or am I wasting my time with something I cant afford.

Thanks

[Eljay]

OK so I absolutely do not recommend doing this but since you asked the question what you would buy would be a Dillon 1050 with a Mr Bulletfeeder and a Mark 7 autoloader.

http://www.markvii-loading.com/Mark-7-1050-X-Autodrive_p_13.html

Total cost is, I dunno, 4 or 5 thousand dollars, something like that.

Caliber changes take maybe a half an hour.

[Yerman]

I would start with the Reloading 101 sticky at the top of this sub-forum. If you really want to start learning about the process, you can always buy a reloading book and start reading. Lyman just released their 50th edition book.

I don't think you will find many people here that won't recommend you start slow with a single stage press.

For progressive reloading, Dillon 1050 is the best followed by the Dillon 650. They are better suited for more experienced reloaders.

Autodrive is for the most advanced reloaders.

My advice, if you don't want to treat reloading as a hobby, just buy complete ammo.

No matter what anyone tells you, reloading is not cheaper than budget ammo. I'll have to reload for years to offset the cost of my investments in reloading equipment.

Rule of thumb, the faster you want to make ammo, the more expensive it will be and the more experience you should have.

[Unretarded]

Reloading is my release/quiet time to shut off the worries and the world for a while and have me time...........

Everything can be done in simple non time consuming stages........you can stop and start at any time.....

Step one is as easy as throwing a few handfulls of brass in the vibrator and letting it clean itself...can be started and stopped at any time.

Step 2 is running the clean brass thru one die on a hand press.......gte it adjusted, spray a little lube on the cases and have at it, stopping and starting at any time.


Continue on with the steps untill you have cases full of primed brass.......at that point, loading the primed brass takes approx under 2 hours to do 100 rounds........I did 100 rounds in approx 1 hour tonight as I am going to the range tomorrow..........then ran them thru the last die, a crimp die in like 15 minutes........I have only done a few thousand rounds soo far, so I am sure the speed and ease will increase.


You can get into it for less than 300 bucks and see if you like it, if you do not, your have the tools and skill just in case like the brass........once you get it down and like it and want to speed up, there are machines that will belch out a 1000 rounds a hour of factorish ammo.

Match ammo would still be loaded on a single stage hand press one at a time anyway.........sounds like you have a few extra bux to toss at it and give it a try.....never hurts to have the hand tools and skill just in case, unless you store it incorrectly the tools last about forever.

[JMP]

OP, the machine you described is the Dillon 1050. Or, if you don't mind pulling the handle for each round, you can save and get the Dillon 650. Those are the best options given your statement that you value your time. Also, you do not need to feel obligated to reload; if you don't have an issue affording enough factory ammo for handgun practice, I wouldn't go through the fuss. With that said, I am assuming that you are looking for handgun loading only as rifle loading tends to be a lot slower and a single-stage press is used for higher precision ammo.

[Eljay]

OP, the machine you described is the Dillon 1050. Or, if you don't mind pulling the handle for each round, you can save and get the Dillon 650.

You have to pull the handle on the 1050 for each round unless you shell out for an autodrive. They also make a Mark 7 autodrive for the 650 for that matter but it's very new, I'm not sure if they're even shipping yet.

[davek8s]

Reloading is a hobby that takes time especially if you're on a budget like I am. I do all of my reloading on a single stage press and there's nothing quick about it.

That being said I have 3 kids and a pretty demanding job that takes up 50-60 hours a week and I still find an hour or 2 a week to make ammo. That's enough time to fill the shooting needs of my family and I to shoot twice a month.

I've been reloading for a little over 4 years now and I'm getting comfortable enough to start looking for a progressive press. I wouldn't recommend anyone start out with a progressive press unless you had someone to mentor you through the process.

So I don't know if I am in posting in the right spot, so I apologize if I am.



So I absolutely know nothing about reloading, but I have been stock piling once fired brass and other supplies for years for that " just in case" scenario, Many friends ask me why I keep buying ammo rather then reloading.



For me it is all about time, with family, 3 businesses, and constant travel, I have no time to sit at a bench and plink out 1 round at a time.



So I was wondering if anyone can recommend something for reloading. I know they make automatic machines, is one machine better then the other? Are auto re-loaders worth the money. Can I buy one machine that will reload multiple handgun calibers such as 380, 9mm, and 45acp



Any advice or suggestions would be awesome. Ideally I want to load a machine, and push start and let it do the work, where it could pump out hundreds of rounds with little effort on my part, are there used machines, or am I wasting my time with something I cant afford.



Thanks

[mike.h]

Word of caution, reloading is time consuming. I reload, but I'm also retired. For pistol rounds I started with and am still using the Lee Classic Turret. Economical and a little faster then the single stage.

If money is no object, by all means get a Dillion.

[iMigraine]

OP, I found your automatic reloading machine.

http://www.camdexloader.com/2100Pistol.aspx

I hear it's rather cheap at $30k too.

[milotrain]

Reloading is either a hobby or a chore. Automated systems require a deep knowledge of the process which you will only have after years of reloading on single stage or progressive machines.

Just buy ammo.

Regarding automated systems, I know black hills spends a boatload of time tuning their camdex machines to make sure they are producing good ammo. I also know of at least one case of a boatload of ammo made on a camdex that just won't shoot (could be powder drop problems, could be other things). I would much rather autodrive a 1050 for anything but very large commercial organizations. Even small commercial groups use 1050s with autodrives over the camdex/ammoman machines.

[TMB 1]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit

http://www.dillonprecision.com/rl-550b_8_1_23594.html

[Divernhunter]

My ADVISE(not addvise) would be to not reload given your circumstances and to correct your spelling

[Lead Waster]

OK so I absolutely do not recommend doing this but since you asked the question what you would buy would be a Dillon 1050 with a Mr Bulletfeeder and a Mark 7 autoloader.

http://www.markvii-loading.com/Mark-7-1050-X-Autodrive_p_13.html

Total cost is, I dunno, 4 or 5 thousand dollars, something like that.

Caliber changes take maybe a half an hour.

I loaded with a 550b for 20 years before stepping up to a 1050 with bullet feeder. For similar reasons ... time taken away from family and/or need for a lot of bullets for an upcoming match and limited time between kids and work.

You can change calibers on a 1050 pretty easily if you are mechanically inclined and understand the machine. I bought a used 1050 set up for 223, and converted it to 9mm while also setting it up, and it wasn't hard BUT again, I've been reloading for 20 years and know my 550b inside out.

Convenience = money spent. If you keep toolheads (almost $200 each) loaded with dies for each caliber and you are practiced at swapping out toolheads and shell plates, you can swap a 1050 to a new caliber in less than 10 minutes. On a 550, it takes maybe 2 minutes or enough time to unscrew one hex bolt to swap out the shell plate and swap in a $20 toolhead with pre-set dies.

As someone who knows nothing of reloading, a 1050 with bullet feeder and a mark 7 is probably a good way to lose an eye and blow up your gun.

1050's come from the factory set up for the caliber you want, but you still have to understand a the basics of reloading or you might double charge or load up squib rounds.

I would recommend starting slower than "pushing a button and ammo comes out" .... that's what internet sales are for ... push the "buy now" button and ammo shows up at your door in a few days.

If you are serious, then get a 1050 with a bullet feeder, but don't turn on the casefeeder and load a single round through all stages until you get what's going on. Make up 10 rounds and include them in your next range trip. Skip the Mk 7 until you are a pro... all you have to do with a bullet fed 1050 is pull the handle and keep an eye on the powder station and it takes 6 minutes to crank out 100 rounds.

My advice.

[Lead Waster]

I would start with the Reloading 101 sticky at the top of this sub-forum. If you really want to start learning about the process, you can always buy a reloading book and start reading. Lyman just released their 50th edition book.

I don't think you will find many people here that won't recommend you start slow with a single stage press.

For progressive reloading, Dillon 1050 is the best followed by the Dillon 650. They are better suited for more experienced reloaders.

Autodrive is for the most advanced reloaders.

My advice, if you don't want to treat reloading as a hobby, just buy complete ammo.

No matter what anyone tells you, reloading is not cheaper than budget ammo. I'll have to reload for years to offset the cost of my investments in reloading equipment.

Rule of thumb, the faster you want to make ammo, the more expensive it will be and the more experience you should have.

I would have to reload forever to recoup my equipment costs.
But I would say that the 550b is an excellent press as well.

In the OP's case, if he doesn't want to spend on the 1050, then definitely get the 650 AND casefeeder AND bullet feeder. There is no point to a 650 if there is no casefeeder, if you want the most economical and flexible, then the 550b for sure. The 550b with casefeeder is OK, but opt for a 650 if you want the casefeeder.

[Turo]

My ADVISE(not addvise) would be to not reload given your circumstances and to correct your spelling

And my ADVICE would be to know your own grammar before you try and correct others' spelling.