First press for new reloader

[Discogodfather]

it really depends on your volume,
if you are reloading more than 1000 rounds/month, a progressive setup will pay for itself in about a year or so

Sounds like OP is interested in precision loading, not just "reloading". The Dillion/ progressive press types are about economy and that's all good, but precision is another ballgame.

If you want to shoot bulk on the cheap the progressive setup is the way to go, just start there- I agree. It's more complex but there is no way you are going to start with a single stage press and load thousands of rounds without pulling your hair out. No one has that kind of time.

If you want to experiment and see if it's for you, get a feel for what it means to precision load, then buying a decent single stage press with one of those kits with a scale, thrower, and a trimmer is the way to go. The truth is many guys do this and realize it's not for them- it's too much time and effort and they would rather shoot more. It's easier to step away from a smaller investment.

[mmlook]

Sounds like OP is interested in precision loading, not just "reloading". The Dillion/ progressive press types are about economy and that's all good, but precision is another ballgame.

If you want to shoot bulk on the cheap the progressive setup is the way to go, just start there- I agree. It's more complex but there is no way you are going to start with a single stage press and load thousands of rounds without pulling your hair out. No one has that kind of time.

If you want to experiment and see if it's for you, get a feel for what it means to precision load, then buying a decent single stage press with one of those kits with a scale, thrower, and a trimmer is the way to go. The truth is many guys do this and realize it's not for them- it's too much time and effort and they would rather shoot more. It's easier to step away from a smaller investment.

all true

that's why I'm asking

It's a weird mix of calibers he's trying to reload for, especially if we're talking precision loads.

9mm and 223 sound more like a multi gun person.


edit:
sorry just reread the first post.

Main purpose: Plinking

Original statement stands,
if you're shooting more than 1000 rounds/month
look at a Dillon XL650.

to put it into perspective, I started with a Dillon SDB, just bought an XL 650 and a Lee single stage.

Nothing scary about a progressive, if that what suites your needs.
For plinking or handgun loads, the setup is exactly the same as a single stage.
you just have to setup all 4-6 stations before you start, that's all.
if you buy spare tool heads, you'll likely set it up, and never touch it for a year

[Animal.]

As a hand loader with 35 years of experience, The one suggestion I can make is definitely a single stage press to start and prefect your hand loading skills on along with, and this is ONLY if you are very seriously about starting and staying with hand loading, is buy as high of quality equipment with a very good reputation and customer service as you can afford up front. This will save you from getting Ok equipment now but getting to where your skill level and precision of hand loads is hindered by it, and having to go out latter and by better more precise equipment to replace it.
Buy once, Cry once.

ALSO, if there is someone near you willing to give you hands on learning that has a VERY GOOD understanding of what it takes to load metallic cartridges, let them watch over your shoulder as they walk you through your first couple hundred rounds of both straight wall pistol and bottle neck rifle cartridges until you get comfortable enough to load them on your own.
Good luck and I hope you find it as a rewarding of a hobby as I have
[ATTACH]732416[/ATTACH]

Thats a nice set up you got there. Hopefully I can find someone nearby to atleast show me a few things. If not im sure I can figure it out rather quick. Or atleast I hope so.

[Animal.]

So something like what this dudes selling would npt be bad? https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1412905

[Animal.]

how many rounds of 9mm do you plan to reload a month?
more than 500/month?

you plan to load to factory specs? +P? +P+? minor PF?
if factory, buy it by the case when it's on sale.
anything else, maybe reload.

I am hoping to do around 1200-2000 223/556 and it is reasonable savings 1000 9mm a month.

[rsrocket1]

If you are shooting that many rounds a month, you will get really tired with a single stage press and a turret will eventually get on your nerves after a few hundred rounds. IF you become serious about reloading, a progressive will be your ultimate objective. For now, getting into the game at a reasonable price is a good idea.

I bought an LnL AP and also a used Lee Breechlock Challenger press kit to start with. After a month of single stage loading, it was pretty easy to transition to the AP and I still use the single stage press a lot for rifle rounds.

With rifle rounds, because you often need to remove primer crimps, check and trim for length. This interrupts a progressive or even turret operation. By the time you prime the case, all you need to do is drop the powder and seat the bullet so a SS press is enough.

For handgun rounds, 1 pull of the handle for one cartridge is the only way to go so the progressive is really handy. 10-15 minutes for 100 rounds is very achievable even at a relaxed pace which includes reloading the primer tube.

Good luck with your new adventure. For advice, you'll get everything thrown at you, but when you choose, this is a good place to come for people who can help you with your reloading questions and problems.

[ThEnder]

For the amount of rounds you are looking to make a single stage will get old very quickly. I know a lot of people here and elsewhere say you have to start with a single stage but I disagree.

Like the OP, I wanted to produce rifle and pistol rounds in fairly reasonable quantities. As a result, I went with the RL550 as my first press and it’s been a great choice so far. Because it’s progressive, it’s capable of a relatively high output, but with manual indexing it’s easy to slowly load one cartridge at a time while you are learning the fundamentals. Dillon’s high quality and great support were also very helpful as a beginner because I didn’t need to worry about tinkering with my equipment, I could focus on making sure I was making high quality, safe ammunition.

Good luck with your research and getting started. If you’re in the Bay Area I’m happy to show you my setup.

[Animal.]

So the dillon is pretty easy to operate? I am mechanically inclined so I can figure it out for sure. I just dont wont to have to mess with to much moving parts especially if they need fine tuning for when I am first learning. If its not to difficult though I am willing to deal with some challeneges atleast for the first few months while I learn. I would rather be better off in the long run.

[petree_777]

I would also recommend a Dillon 550. You can do rifle and pistol calibers on it. It is what I started with and have now moved to a Dillon 650 for mass quantity’s and a single stage for all my precision rounds. Dillon warranty is lifetime and there customer support is great. If your in the Orange County area you can see Brian at oc reload and he is a wealth of knowledge. He has a Dillon machine set up there and will show you how to operate it. Also his prices are as good as anyone’s. They are the same price as on dillons website.

[bohoki]

i started out with an rcbs jr-2 it is robust and allows priming on the press i really do not see much benefit to having a turret as i do them in batches of 100 and it takes me less than 30 seconds to swap out a die

the lee dies are great i have the 9mm ones that come in the red tube and the .223 rgb that come in the green rectangle i needed to buy a shellholder for .223 but you need many other things for 223

like the possum hollow trimmer and power adapter i boutht the lyman debur tool (it fits in the power adapter),and a hornady small primer pocket reamer

i also only buy small rifle primers my 9mms seem to touch them off ok

i like the lee perfect powder measure and have a jewelry scale that does grains i got off ebay to set it


i reload these calibers

9mm
45acp
.223
.308
.30 carbine

i mounted my press to some 3/4 plywood and clamp it to a sturdy stool or picnic bench outside for the 30 calibers that take a bit more force


i do not shoot enough in my mind to justify a progressive

[ThEnder]

So the dillon is pretty easy to operate? I am mechanically inclined so I can figure it out for sure. I just dont wont to have to mess with to much moving parts especially if they need fine tuning for when I am first learning. If its not to difficult though I am willing to deal with some challeneges atleast for the first few months while I learn. I would rather be better off in the long run.

I can only speak from my experience but I found the initial setup very straightforward. Dillon’s own documentation is great, and there are a ton of YouTube videos for setting up the 550 for various calibers that I also found very helpful. Everything on the press works as advertised and without any messing around.

I’m positive there are other great options out there but I’m extremely happy with the 550 as a first press and would definitely recommend.

Edit: If you do decide to go the progressive route, Brian Enos has great documentation on the different Dillon’s and recommended configurations. I would personally recommend getting the string mount, bullet tray, and empty case bin as they position all the components in the right place for efficient operation.

[TheReluctantCraftstronaut]

Looking to buy a reloading kit. This will be my first setup. Just ordered Lymans manual and plan to read that before I make a purchase in the next week or two. I am planning on starting out with reloading mainly 223/556 and 9mm. Possibly some 30-06.. This will mainly be for plinking for the time being until I have a better understanding before I attempt what I think are called precision loads?? I was hoping to maybe get some suggestions on a decent stater set up. I am currently looking into the classic lee turret press kit. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks.

If you're in or near Orange County, go see Brian at OC Reload. Wealth of knowledge.

For bulk loading, a progressive press is fastest, but also the most complicated from the perspective of you keeping track of quality control.

In the middle would be a turret press, where you manually index the turret to the die/stage you want to use.

Dead last is a single stage press where to change dies/stages you need to take out a die and install the next one before proceeding.

In regards to accuracy, the exact opposite is true. Single stage is considered the best because the more simple mechanism tends to facilitate more consistent loading.

I want to do the same as you in the long run, so I wanted some speed, but still have a press that pushes a single casing directly into the die for more even force distribution during resizing for precision loading. To do that, I wanted the classic turret press, but realized that I am most likely going to reload in big batches, doing one step at a time... just because that's how I am. So I plan to stick with a single stage and batch load to get started. I have the Lyman reloading manual, which is great, but I also have one from Lee which came with a single stage press. Might want to consider that, if they still do that.

Concerning kits, I think you'll end up wasting money. I never found a kit that had the press I wanted, the powder measure I wanted, the scale I wanted... etc. So the kit ends up being comprised of several tools you'll never use because you want to go a different rout on powder measurement. I would source components individually so you only spend money once.

[kcstott]

Stay away from LEE
Buy RCBS
Get a Rock Chucker, a uniflow, a beam scale, a hand primer, get a Lyman case trimmer, dies and shell holders. Buy two shell holders for each caliber so you don’t have to swap the one in the hand primer.
Do that and be done. Add dies and shell holders as needed

[rm1911]

I started with a Lee single stage kit and it severed me well.

[Animal.]

Definately lot of good info guys thanks. Greater response than I expected which is awesome. At the same time made me have more questions to think about. Luckily I have the Lymans reloading manual coming tomorrow. At the moment I am thinking along these lines.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T9YKW60/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HDL9P0K/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TEZH6A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Lyman universal case trimmer and Lyman case prep multi tool and frankford arsenal tumbler.

Still plan on reading Lymans manual before make purchases next week or the following week.