Reloading Greenhorn

[stphnman20]

If "ar15barrels" were here, he'd tell you to buy Lee presses and dies, and that all other brands were crap. He'd say that Lee was the one true path to precision handloads. He's a big, big Lee fan-boi.

That's what he'd say, I'm pretty sure of it.

I bet you he is reading this right now and cringing his buttole..

[xrMike]

I bet you he is reading this right now and cringing his buttole..

Heh-heh-heh...

[Cowboy T]

Actually, I'm a big Lee fan, too, because their stuff works well and fits into my budget.

Just finished filming a video series on their Classic Turret Press. Should have it posted by the end of this week, hopefully sooner.

[RaymondMillbrae]

The Dillon 650 is sweet.

For not too much more, you can have toolheads set-up for each caliber.

Click on the tutorial below my signature where I show the basics for .223 reloading. (RELOADING .223 VIDEO).

By the way, WHY did Randall get ostracized?!

Enquiring minds wouold like to know.

In Christ: Raymond

[RaymondMillbrae]

If "ar15barrels" were here, he'd tell you to buy Lee presses and dies, and that all other brands were crap. He'd say that Lee was the one true path to precision handloads. He's a big, big Lee fan-boi.

That's what he'd say, I'm pretty sure of it.

Bet he read this...and threw-up in his mouth before swallowing it.

In Christ: Raymond

[LGB Loader]

Hey All,
On another forum I frequent, there was a particular feller who claimed his progressive made rifle ammo had better concentricity than even ammo made with the latest and greatest single with comp dies. I won't say the color of the press. While I prefer Wilson straight dies for my bench rest hardware ( I am in no way, a hard core full blown bench rest shooter, either), I prefer my single stage for all rifle ammo with the exception of 223 REM plink n blast ammo. My buddy does his M1A ammo on a 650 as well and when he shoots, he has acceptable results. Again, I would make some blasting ammo at his house for my m1a in this manner as well.
But I don't think it would be as accurate as my single stage and top shelf dies. Maybe it would but there's the preference right there.
I guess it depends on what you are trying to do and what your expectations are.

Let us remember, these presses are only tools and most times you can use different tools in most cases to get the same result. (most times...)

LGB

[xrMike]

By the way, WHY did Randall get ostracized?!

Don't know what happened, but he got banned again. Not sure if it's a temp or perma-ban. It was not the first time and probably not his last either, heheh...

It's a little less interesting (and educational) arond here without him, imo.

[zeke2517]

So I am gathering that i need a dillon turret right?
is it easy to change from one caliber to another?

[Lead Waster]

Zeke, "Lee turret"

The Lee turret is a compromise between single stage and progressive.

If I were to "do it all over again" I think I'd get that Lee turret.

For me, the slow part is handling the cases.

Single stage (you process cases in a batch)
pick up case, put in press, pull lever ... repeat for every case
pick up case, insert primer ... repeat for every case
change dies
pick up case, put in press, pull lever ... repeat for every case
pick up case, add powder (unless powder in the last step with a powder dropper mounted on the die)... repeat for every case
change die, pickup case, put bullet on case, put in press, pull handle, repeat for every case
(optional if crimping seperately)
change die, pickup case, put in press, pull lever ... repeat for every case

Turret (You process a single round at a time)
Pickup case, put in press, pull lever, (push lever to insert primer?), pull lever (powder drops here), put bullet on case, pull lever, (optional) pull lever, remove completed case ... repeat for every case

Progressive (like a factory line you process a part of each case every pull)
Pickup case, put in press, pull lever, push lever, put bullet on case (unless auto-fed), repeat for every case.
Then pull lever a few more times to finish last case. After the first 3 pulls, a finished round falls out of the press everytime you pull the lever.

If you don't think you need a progressive, I'd still go with a turret over a single stage.

[sequoia_nomad]

So I am gathering that i need a dillon turret right?
is it easy to change from one caliber to another?

To change calibers with a turret, you will need to remove all the dies and put in the set for the next caliber you wish to load. There will be between 2 and 4, depending on what you are loading. With a single stage you have to change one die at a time anyway, so it's pretty simple. I really think that with 5 guys using it, a single stage would be your safest, albeit slower bet.

[knucklehead0202]

look, if you're a high-volume shooter, a progressive MIGHT make sense. bear in mind, if you're new to this, they're expensive and complicated. i've reloaded since i was a kid and now of course do it on my own. i reload weird old military surplus calibers on a single-stage LEE press. i use LEE dies. if i make 40 rounds of every weird old caliber i have, i'm already money ahead. i also only get out to shoot about 2-3 times a year, so i'm not exactly burning through the ammo. the Dillon is a great press, but if you're just starting out, i wouldn't recommend going with something of that caliber.

[Cowboy T]

look, if you're a high-volume shooter, a progressive MIGHT make sense. bear in mind, if you're new to this, they're expensive and complicated. i've reloaded since i was a kid and now of course do it on my own. i reload weird old military surplus calibers on a single-stage LEE press. i use LEE dies. if i make 40 rounds of every weird old caliber i have, i'm already money ahead. i also only get out to shoot about 2-3 times a year, so i'm not exactly burning through the ammo. the Dillon is a great press, but if you're just starting out, i wouldn't recommend going with something of that caliber.

+1, especially for a "reloading greenhorn". I'd still recommend an inexpensive single-stage Lee press to start out with. See if you like reloading first. Then, if you like it, and after some experience, consider going progressive, but not right off the bat.

[maxxrange]

I might as well toss my hat in this ring. I have been handloading since the mid 70's. Started out on a buddy's rockchucker. Thought I knew everything and had a S&W snub nosed .38 special. If I seated the bullet out I could stuff in .357 loads of Unique into the 38 special case. Cool. While shooting one handloaded batch something pinched my hand and I saw something bounce off the partition wall at the indoor range.

The ejector rod went bye-bye, never to be seen again, ditto for one of the S&W escutcheons on the left wood grip panel. It also split the grip which was what pinched my palm.

I bought a bullet puller the next afternoon.

I also bought a used Lyman Spartan single stage press. I used that for several decades until I won a Lyman Orange Crusher and a Redding powder measure one match season. Moved on up to a Dillon 550B and loaded the snot out of .38 special, .357 mag, .45 acp, .38 super, 9 mm and 10 mm. Sold the Dillon for more than I paid for it and the dies. Sold the Spartan single stage for more than I paid and it is still cranking out ammo.

I use the Lyman Orange Crusher and a Lee hand loader. I also have a half dozen Lee loadalls that are so old, the scoops are made of aluminum and the handles are red stained wood. They work well *except* for cartridges that for autoloading rifles. They require a ton of force to size down.

I use my Lee hand loader alot. Last week I was loading some 30 carbine. Some of the brass had the case mouth expanded too much to grip the bullet. Boom, I pulled out the hand loader, sized the brass with no lube because it had powder in it, then moved it to the bench press and seated the bullet. No muss, no fuss. I also use it to size .38 special. Carbide dies, nickle brass, Lee hand loader = no sizing lube. Sit on the couch and watch TV and size brass all evening long. Especially during commercials.

Now, Dillion. Great presses which turn out a lot of ammo real fast. IF you buy all the bells and whistles. You will spend a lot of time at first setting up, and fiddling with the dies and associated bs. Its not fun.

I actually like reloading. I enjoy it. I like a single stage. If you are in a hurry you will do it wrong. Nothing is worse than 500 rounds of ammo that you wish you had seated deeper, or higher. Or wish you had used one more grain/one less grain of powder.

The main purpose of reloading is twofold. Saving money. That aint happening if you buy a Dillon. Not for a few years. Lee is the way to save money and turn out accurate ammo tailored to your firearm.

And accuracy. Factory ammo is made fast (on progressive machines) to fit every firearm that has ever been made that fires that particular caliber. It is not very accurate when you compare it to consistantly produced handloads.

Serious Benchrest guys using a progressive? hmmm?. Are they winning state/national matches? Or club matches? Fill me in.

[RaymondMillbrae]

John Whidden reloads on an XL650.

CLICK HERE

In Christ: Raymond



QUESTION: Will this system really load ammo good enough for 1000 yard shooting?

ANSWER: Absolutely. I have been loading all of my competitive ammo, for practice and matches, on a 650 with a floating die toolhead since 2003. The ammo that I will be taking to the World Palma Team Championships and World Long Range Individual Championships will be loaded on this machine. You have my personal guarantee that this will load the best ammo your dies can produce. If you’re not 100% satisfied, send it back for a full refund.

John Whidden