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Folks,
Having been on this forum for maybe a year or so, I've noticed a healthy case of "brand loyalty", especially when it concerns reloading presses. Ford/Chevy/Dodge, you know. I've seen it not just on this forum, but several others, and sometimes it gets to the point of insults and acidity, and I sometimes wonder why it gets there. Looking at past posts, it was that way long before I joined up here, too.
I will state up front: I use pretty much all Lee Precision's gear, except for my scale (that's an RCBS unit). Why? Because it works for my reloading needs and is friendly to my budget. Does that mean I'm against other gear or would put it down? NO. To me, reloading gear are simply tools to enable me to shoot more. I've used presses from several manufacturers, including RCBS and Dillon. I have nothing against either and indeed like them. Haven't tried a Hornady LnL series yet, but I've heard they're good stuff, too.
However....
When newbies to reloading come around and ask "how should I get started?", it seems that, on this forum especially, only one brand of press is considered any good. I'm going to pick on the Dillon advocates here a bit, because it seems especially prevalent among them (sorry, guys, but it's true). Dillon presses are fine presses; this cannot be disputed. But since Dillon presses are, to my knowledge, all progressives, is it really a good idea to be recommending anybody's progressive to someone who's a newbie to reloading? Can't that wait until later, after they get some experience?
I've generally recommended inexpensive single-stages before to newbies, not because I "don't like Dillon", but rather for two reasons:
1.) safety, i. e. so they learn their fundamentals down pat, and
2.) so they can see if they actually like the hobby of reloading while keeping initial cash layout low. I believe there's a lot of merit in that.
I also suggest that after that single-stage experience, then sure, go progressive if their shooting needs call for it. And maybe their shooting needs--and their mechanical aptitude--actually call for a good turret press instead of a progressive. My cameralady, "Miss B.H.C.", is one of those; she doesn't do multiple vectors very well, so a turret's better for her.
Some of the responses to that seem like they think I'm "insulting the Holy Blue" somehow, when I actually didn't. Again, to me, reloading tools are just that--tools--not deities.
My view is that if the shooter discovers he does like reloading and does want to purchase additional gear--say, a progressive press--then GREAT! WONDERFUL!! How could I possibly be against anybody liking reloading and wanting more gear?
We need all the reloading companies--Dillon, Forster, Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Redding--because they're making it possible for us to do this hobby.
Your thoughts on all this?
- T
Having been on this forum for maybe a year or so, I've noticed a healthy case of "brand loyalty", especially when it concerns reloading presses. Ford/Chevy/Dodge, you know. I've seen it not just on this forum, but several others, and sometimes it gets to the point of insults and acidity, and I sometimes wonder why it gets there. Looking at past posts, it was that way long before I joined up here, too.
I will state up front: I use pretty much all Lee Precision's gear, except for my scale (that's an RCBS unit). Why? Because it works for my reloading needs and is friendly to my budget. Does that mean I'm against other gear or would put it down? NO. To me, reloading gear are simply tools to enable me to shoot more. I've used presses from several manufacturers, including RCBS and Dillon. I have nothing against either and indeed like them. Haven't tried a Hornady LnL series yet, but I've heard they're good stuff, too.
However....
When newbies to reloading come around and ask "how should I get started?", it seems that, on this forum especially, only one brand of press is considered any good. I'm going to pick on the Dillon advocates here a bit, because it seems especially prevalent among them (sorry, guys, but it's true). Dillon presses are fine presses; this cannot be disputed. But since Dillon presses are, to my knowledge, all progressives, is it really a good idea to be recommending anybody's progressive to someone who's a newbie to reloading? Can't that wait until later, after they get some experience?
I've generally recommended inexpensive single-stages before to newbies, not because I "don't like Dillon", but rather for two reasons:
1.) safety, i. e. so they learn their fundamentals down pat, and
2.) so they can see if they actually like the hobby of reloading while keeping initial cash layout low. I believe there's a lot of merit in that.
I also suggest that after that single-stage experience, then sure, go progressive if their shooting needs call for it. And maybe their shooting needs--and their mechanical aptitude--actually call for a good turret press instead of a progressive. My cameralady, "Miss B.H.C.", is one of those; she doesn't do multiple vectors very well, so a turret's better for her.
Some of the responses to that seem like they think I'm "insulting the Holy Blue" somehow, when I actually didn't. Again, to me, reloading tools are just that--tools--not deities.
My view is that if the shooter discovers he does like reloading and does want to purchase additional gear--say, a progressive press--then GREAT! WONDERFUL!! How could I possibly be against anybody liking reloading and wanting more gear?
We need all the reloading companies--Dillon, Forster, Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Redding--because they're making it possible for us to do this hobby.Your thoughts on all this?
- T
. Which is fine why not be a proponent of what's worked for you. Sometimes it seems you go a little overboard, almost a crusade against all the dillon love. But they're just doing what you're doing being proponents of what worked for them.
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