reloading press

[sportsman]

want to start reloading what is the best brand and where to buy want to load riffle and handgun

[ar15barrels]

This is like saying that you want to start driving and need a car, or you want to start drinking and need to know a good wine.

We need more details to give a detailed answer.
What cartridges?
How many a month on average?
Would you rather buy cheap tools that you will later replace, or good tools right from the start?

[sportsman]

realoading press

want somethig thats good and will last want to load 357 , 9mm, 38, 45, 223 like to shoot alot

[Gisray]

Dillon 550

go to brian enos web site for info

[ar15barrels]

want somethig thats good and will last want to load 357 , 9mm, 38, 45, 223 like to shoot alot

If you want to do it right, here's the list for 45, 223 and 308...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=1595163&postcount=59

Adjustments will be necessary to add the other pistol cartridges and remove 308.

[scr83jp]

I started with an RCBS JR dies for 38(they'll load 357)& small base 30-06 rcbs dies plus a scale , primer flipper & powder funnel.As I needed items I bought them forster case trimmer sold it and purchased an LE Wilson trimmer which I still have .I went to an RL450 in the 1980's which I upgraded to a RL550B in 2000.

[J-cat]

want to start reloading what is the best brand and where to buy want to load riffle and handgun

Get a CH 4 station press.

[CGT80]

I second the dillon 550. A 650 may be better ( I have not used one), but the 550 is pretty easy and fast to change to other calibers and you can crank out aprox. 400 rounds of pistol per hour. I load 38 spl, 40, 45, 223, 243, 30-06 on my 550.

[Offroader]

I jumped into reloading with both feet and bought a used Dillon XL650. What I didn't know is what the total cost was going to be to get started. The way you are talking you probably want a progressive press. If I had to do it over again I would break down what is needed by assemblies or functions. Those would be case preparation, press and then I woud consider each caliber you want to reload as an assembly. Then take a look at least 2 to 3 different press manufacturers. Start pricing what you will need for each assembly or function. Also price what it is going to cost for bullet components for each caliber. I started out with $1000 and quickly spent another $1500 to $2000.

[huckberry668]

Press wise, Dillon 550 for progressive and Forster Co-Ax for single stage. to load at the range for load development I use a Lee Hand Press.

I've seen/had/used others but no other progressive beats Dillon for handgun ammo for accuracy, quality & speed.

no single stage beats Co-Ax for low bullet run-out, easy caliber change, sizing consistancy, high leverage, center positioned handle (so after resizing 100s of rounds you won't have a kink in one arm... you'll have it in both ). I'm using it to load all my handgun rounds now. It is too short for 50BMG if that's in your future.

I recommend doing it right from the beginning. Start cheap is a waste of $ and many years later you'll end up saying 'if I had known...' like I did and your old equipment won't worth much to sell.

Die wise, Forster Ultra for full length rifle. Lee Neck Sizer if you want to neck size only (for bolt guns). any brand will do for pistols but use Lee Factory Crimp dies as a separate process.

I'm leaving a lot of other stuff out...

[Jonathan Doe]

Dillon 550

I agree. I loaded both handgun and rifle rounds on this machine in the past.

[Mstnpete]

Dillon 550B for the win! I've had mine since 1993 and is still going strong.

4 station progressive loader
Station 1) resize/deprime/prime
Station 2) powder drop/flare
Station 3) seat
Station 4) crimp
The RL550B is able to load rifle as well as pistol cartridges The RL550B uses standard 7/8 by 14 thread per inch dies, as long as they deprime in the size die Manually indexed shellplate Manually fed cases and bullets Capable of loading 400 to 600 rounds per hour Lifetime "No-B.S." Warranty

[ar15barrels]

All you guys that are recommending a 550 REALLY need to try a 650.

I started with a 550.
It's a great press.
I have 3 of them now.
But, I also have 650's and 1050's too.

Knowing what I know now, I would start with a 650 and THAT is why I recommend the 650.
Auto index, powder check station and a casefeeder are HUGE benefits.
The only reason I keep my 550's is for low volume loading of only a few hundred cartridges at a time.
I have tooled up the 650's and 1050's for anything that I load in volume.

[Mstnpete]

For beginner I think the 550b is perfect for him.
I understand if he will be a competition shooter, than it is advisable to get into
more expensive models. I shoot competitively from IPSC to 3 Gun. I load 300 rounds per week and the 550 has been perfect. I enjoy taking my time.
And I can load 450 rounds in an hour. Most of my friends that own 650's load about 1000 rounds per hour. But all of them started with a 550.

Just my 2 cents.

[CSACANNONEER]

I will recommend a 550 over a 650 for your first progressive press. I find the 550 is a lot easier to change calibers with and there are a lot more different caliber conversions for the 550. I even have an old .25acp conversion kit for a 450 that works on a 550! The 650 is faster to load with but takes a lot longer to change set ups. I would also recommend getting a single stage press to compliment any progressive press that you get. If you decide not to drink blue cool-aid, I've got a RCBS Ammo Master Progressive Press that I'll be selling in a few weeks. Of course, I'm keeping my 550, 650 and all my single stage presses though.