Bought ammo components before reloading press...

[liber]

You've got a nice hoard doing, but no way to load any of it...

Don't be such a fool, get yourself a single stage out of the Private Reloading Sales, inside this forum.

From what you've said of how valuable your time is, that pretty much would tell you that the Dillon will be of great value in that area. You have enough of an investment in other reloading components, just go get a Dillon 550b and be done with it.

EDIT: Hey OP did you see this? http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ht=dillon+550b

[MarikinaMan]

Finally decided on a single stage. Everything is incoming.

Now I just have to get a new workbench.

[Whiterabbit]

Well, I'm late to the party.

I agree with your plan. Plan to get both presses, but starting with the T-7 in this case IMO is a great choice.

Since you know what bullet the gun likes, great! good idea to buy in bulk.

Since primers go scarce, good idea to sit on a few. 5k is good, 10k is better. Depends on your shooting volume. 10k for me is alot. I buy 5k at a time and it works well. For others here, that wouldn't even qualify as "a good start". Know your needs.

Powder is my real input. There's risk here. Your gun may not like the powder you choose for the bullet it likes. That's a very real risk for spending lots of money for something you can't use. The mitigation is if the powder you chose is popular, then you can trade it later for what you want when the election SHTF. If it's obscure or common, you may be hosed unless your gun just happens to like it.

So be careful there. Powder is likely to be available 2 years from now, even if it is a "wait and jump on it when you can" situation.

If your choice is popular (H4350, H110, varget, etc) go ahead and buy a bunch to prepare, including 1 or 2 1lb cans. Then you can sell the unopened 8lb jugs if the powder doesn't work for you when you finally get started reloading.

[Whiterabbit]

This deserves its own post, it will help you 1000% when you get started reloading:

When you get around to your bench and press mounting, take some time here. Don;t just lag bolt it to the table and call it good. Run the press up and down. It should not move AT ALL. If it does, stop and go to Home Depot. Get some concrete anchors, L-brackets, rent a concrete drill if you have to, bolt the table to the wall studs, add a stabilization plate under the bench, etc etc etc etc.

Whatever you need to make that press not move at all under cycling. I promise you the expense and effort will make your job so much easier as you get going learning reloading. Many potential issues simply vaporize up front.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Finally decided on a single stage. Everything is incoming.

Now I just have to get a new workbench.

If you like DIY - http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/w...below20xl.html

That's my current bench.

Get a Giraud trimmer and an RCBS Chargemaster since those will save you time.

[MarikinaMan]

Saw these benches on Craigslist for a hundo. There's two in there. Considering man hours, I think they were cheap. The owner was 6'4" and I'm 5'6", save for cutting down the legs a bit, they're good to go.

4x4 legs, 1 inch MDF top, 72 long and 60 long, ones 50 the other 80-100 pounds. Ain't wobblin for sho.



Save for case lube, I've got everything.

[MarikinaMan]

Benches installed. Just need to clean up the shelving, put new ones in, and wait for the brown truck.

[liber]

Looks good, lots of space and looks like it will be a comfortable setup!

[opos]

Just a comment...when a loader is new it is tempting to just load everything in sight...load, load, load!...might consider that "reloads" have little to no value to anyone else. Most of us will not shoot someone elses reloads and the value is only for breaking down the ammo and salvaging whatever components are available.

If someone new dives in and loads up eight jillion loads and then needs to liquidate for some reason (health, boredom, loss of interest, legal stuff, etc) they are going to take a bath on money spent...if the loading is kept to a reasonable amount (especially early on) and something happens the components in the boxes or bottles has the same or a higher value than when bought (especially if there is a shortage).

I build a reasonable back stop supply after doing all my load development and then only load to replace what I shoot and keep the components all fresh and sealed..

Just thought I'd pass that along...that is why something like a high speed progressive can be a trap for a new person...if it can load 1000 rounds an evening the chances are that's what someone might try and do...about 3 days and all the components are loaded and the value of what it took to load the inventory drops to the value of reloads...zippo.

[liber]

If someone new dives in and loads up eight jillion loads and then needs to liquidate for some reason (health, boredom, loss of interest, legal stuff, etc) they are going to take a bath on money spent...if the loading is kept to a reasonable amount (especially early on) and something happens the components in the boxes or bottles has the same or a higher value than when bought (especially if there is a shortage).

Sure, but at the same time if someone is shooting 500 rounds a month, the time it takes to reload 500 rounds on a single stage will cost you in time over the long haul.

The fact is that no 2 people are exactly the same and some need more ammo than others. In that regard it's hard to generalize.

[hambam105]

A clean work area is a safe work area.
Get a big-butt-box and deep six all that other stuff somewhere other than in your work area.
Then take a pressure washer and hose down that entire work area. Don't worry about upsetting your resident spiders, they will be back. And inside the garage will dry-out a lot faster than you think.
Get some good lighting in their.
Get a decent size fire extinguisher & place it in the appropriate area.
Take the junk you haven't used in awhile to the Salvation side-walk give away Store.
And call your County Hazardous Waste Drop Off Center for instructions and an appointment.