quality reloader ?

[bollero]

I wanted to find out what you guys and gals recommend for reloading .
i want a quality re-loader..but there so many brands out there..

i wanna reload..

308, 9mm, 45acp, 50bmg, 223. 7.62x54

I am a new to reloading..

[Chief-7700]

I own a Dillon XL-650. The machine does what it was designed to do load quality ammunition in large quantities.

[Divernhunter]

I load all those and more. I suggest a RCBS Rockchucker kit or a Hornady kit. Add a hand primer and shell holders as well as a vib brass cleaner(walnut media) and a $20 set of electronic calipers(do not need expensive ones). I have RCBS/Hornady/REdding and Lyman dies I like. "I" dislike Lee dies but they make a good hand primer(just lube it). Get Carbide type dies for all straight walled brass(your pistols) and you will not have to lube the brass. This will do all but the 50bmg. Do yourself a favor and buy the Hornady 50bmg kit. You will want to get a 50bmg case trimmer(I use a Forster) and an inside/outside champher tool. You will need a 50bmg reloading block and powder funnel. Hornady makes a great powder measure/dump for the 50bmg that is worth buying. I have an RCBS powder stand and it works with all measures I have.

PM me if you need any specific items help.

[jwest]

https://www.dillonprecision.com

.50 BMG kindof stands out in your list. Components for that will run you an order of magnitude more than for the others in your list - but guess you know that.

Kindof hard to do wrong with big 'blue' -> Dillon.

A piece of advice - start with .223 and work your way up. Do not start with .50 BMG.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Dillon XL650.

In Christ: Raymond

[Cowboy T]

It's amazing all the Dillon fanbois come out whenever someone asks this kind of question. It's good stuff, yes, but you need a second mortgage to afford a proper setup, especially for all the cartridges you'll be shooting!

I would suggest three presses for your needs.

• 9mm, 45acp: Lee Pro 1000
• 308, 223, 7.62x54R: Lee Classic Turret
• 50 BMG: RCBS RockChucker

This will not only get you a very good setup, but you will save a ton of money vs. buying just one complete Dillon setup. I also reload your same rifle rounds, and for that purpose, there really isn't a better tool, all-around, than the $95 Lee Classic Turret. For your handgun rounds, I've done tens of thousands of rounds on Lee Pro 1000's. You can get set up for both 9mm and .45 ACP on that press for about $250. That includes both die sets, the extra turret, and extra complete shell plate holder.

For .50 BMG, you've got several good choices. RCBS, Lee, and Hornady all make .50 BMG kits. I haven't reloaded the .50 BMG round, because I don't own such a rifle. But I have used a Rockchucker and a Lee Classic Cast single-stage. Both are excellent presses. Haven't tried a Hornady single-stage, but I know their LnL AP (a progressive) is a good press, so I know they make good gear. The Rockchucker is known for its particularly great strength, as it was originally designed as a bullet swager and is still used for that purpose.

I do happen to like Lee dies. They're good stuff, and they've made tens of thousands of very good ammo for me. Gotta tell you a little dirty secret. I know of plenty of even Dillon fanbois that use Lee dies on their hugely expensive blue gear. They don't like to admit this, of course, but they do it.

- T

[Chief-7700]

Dillon vs Lee the never ending discussion.
Cowboy Lee works for you and Dillon works for me.

[WILDMAN442]

I Like my Lee Challenger. I dont reload much but it gets the job done.

If i was reloading in high quantity I would probably have an XL650...

Justin

[CSACANNONEER]

50BMG is a different animal. If you want to come up my way, I can show you what I use for loading 50s as well as a Dillon 550, a 650, a ammo master progressive, a few single stage presses, a few shot shell presses and a Lee hand press. FYI, the press is going to be about 1/3 to 1/5 of your total bill before you load a round. So, get the one that fits your needs best and don't worry too much about the cost.

[Cowboy T]

Dillon vs Lee the never ending discussion.
Cowboy Lee works for you and Dillon works for me.

Agreed, Chief. :-) Perhaps a little clarification is in order here.

There's nothing wrong with Dillon gear. While very expensive, it is undeniably fine gear. But the OP is just getting started with reloading, and I initially missed that, too. We want him to make sure, without huge expenditure, that he likes the hobby first before he goes and drops all sorts of coin. For that, I'd recommend he go with an inexpensive single-stage. The Challenger press that Wildman442 suggested is good for him to get started and get his good habits.

Once he learns how to reload and has those good habits down pat, then he can start branching out to turrets or even progressives. And that single-stage will continue to prove handy. Even though I load almost entirely progressively now, I still use my single-stage for certain things, e. g. load development and cast boolit sizing.

@Bolero: I suggest you consider starting with the round that you shoot the most of. Stick to that round and get good at it. Make 1,000 cartridges of just that round. Then, start branching out to your other cartridges, one at a time. Trust me, you'll get there, and I say that from experience.

- T

[Waldog]

If you are just starting our buy a single stage press. Any of the "Kits" are a good starting point. If you want a progressive press, read this:

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf

[Bongos]

this is a good read

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=360070

he did not take my advise but that is the way the ball bouces...
I suggest a forster single stage, a Redding T-7 is another great choice. I personally have a Rockchucker. THe ing is, for rifle, it's a lot more work in the brass prep, for pistol a progressive is where you will likely end up owning. If you shoot Rifles only, than single stage is the way to go.

[Divernhunter]

FYI---The rockchucker will not do 50bmg. The RCBS and the Hornady 50bmg press is almost the same. The RCBS has a small problem with the spent primer slot. The RCBS KIT also has a trim die that is a waste of money. The Hornady has a floating bullet seater plug which I like better than the fixed one in the RCBS. The Hornady set-up also has their quick change die set-up.

Unless you will shoot alot of pistol ammo(more than 500-1000) rounds each week there is no need for a progressive set-up. Get a single stage or the Hornady pregressive if you feel a real need. The Dillon stuff is very, very good but not really needed. Batch prep and load your brass and you can load big volumes with a single stage.

One last thing---Get the Lyman reloading manual. It is excellent and has lots of info as well as data. IF you will load Barnes bullets be sure to get their manual as data for Barnes bullets is completely different than any other type of bullets. I also suggest the tipped triple shock bullets as they will open faster(but not too much) and drive them as fast as you can.

[Divernhunter]

PS---What 50 and optics do you have on it. I have an AR50 and a Viper. They both have Nightforce NXS 5.5X22X56 NP-R2 scopes. They both have custom alumiun hard cases.

[Lead Waster]

It's amazing all the Dillon fanbois come out whenever someone asks this kind of question. It's good stuff, yes, but you need a second mortgage to afford a proper setup, especially for all the cartridges you'll be shooting!

I would suggest three presses for your needs.

• 9mm, 45acp: Lee Pro 1000
• 308, 223, 7.62x54R: Lee Classic Turret
• 50 BMG: RCBS RockChucker

This will not only get you a very good setup, but you will save a ton of money vs. buying just one complete Dillon setup. I also reload your same rifle rounds, and for that purpose, there really isn't a better tool, all-around, than the $95 Lee Classic Turret. For your handgun rounds, I've done tens of thousands of rounds on Lee Pro 1000's. You can get set up for both 9mm and .45 ACP on that press for about $250. That includes both die sets, the extra turret, and extra complete shell plate holder.

For .50 BMG, you've got several good choices. RCBS, Lee, and Hornady all make .50 BMG kits. I haven't reloaded the .50 BMG round, because I don't own such a rifle. But I have used a Rockchucker and a Lee Classic Cast single-stage. Both are excellent presses. Haven't tried a Hornady single-stage, but I know their LnL AP (a progressive) is a good press, so I know they make good gear. The Rockchucker is known for its particularly great strength, as it was originally designed as a bullet swager and is still used for that purpose.

I do happen to like Lee dies. They're good stuff, and they've made tens of thousands of very good ammo for me. Gotta tell you a little dirty secret. I know of plenty of even Dillon fanbois that use Lee dies on their hugely expensive blue gear. They don't like to admit this, of course, but they do it.

- T

Those Lee dies are all we can afford after buying the blue machine and the caliber conversion kits. Oh, did anyone mention that yet? With progressives, you often need to buy different shellplates for different calibers. With a single stage, you just need the proper dies and a $5 shell holder, or get the Lee shellholder set.

I think when it comes to reloading presses, they are all pretty good.
I've mentioned before that I have a Rockchucker and a 550b but at the volume I shoot I think the Lee Classic Turret is all I really would have needed. However, my money is spent and my reloading equipment is "grandfathered in" to my marriage (as is my motorcycle!) so it's the stuff I'll use and it's all good stuff (It's amazing the stuff you can buy when you're single!)