top 3 reloading kit below $400

[inda_bebe]

im gonna start getting into reloading my own .223 and .40 ammo. i was going toward the dillon 550, but im basically just shooting for fun and plinking. not really into precision or anything, or not at the moment.

can someone direct me to any cheaper kits. ive read that hornedy makes some good ones, but i just dont know which ones.

im just a student with less than minumum wage, but i cant let that get in the way of my own hobbies.


how is this, any one tried or heard of it?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=618843&t=11082005

[rkt88edmo]

If you wait you can pick up a used 550 for around 300ish with some accessories. And then you will have all the press you need, just about forever unless you decide to get a 650 or 1050.

[ar15barrels]

Rather than cheaping out and buying a lesser press, put that $400 in a jar and keep saving.
If you go cheaper now and stick to reloading for a few years, you probably WILL end up getting the Dillon eventually.
Buy it right from the start and you save the loss of resale value on the lesser press and the hassles (inherent to lesser presses) that will eventually drive you to the dillon.

If you are not sure that reloading is for YOU, I recommend finding a friend that will let you use his gear in the beginning.
This will be invaluable experience to help you decide to start reloading or not.

I started with a 550.
Now I have a 450, 3 550's, 2 650's and 2 1050's and a half a dozen single stage presses.

If you REALLY want to do it right, start with a 650.

[C.G.]

Rather than cheaping out and buying a lesser press, put that $400 in a jar and keep saving.
If you go cheaper now and stick to reloading for a few years, you probably WILL end up getting the Dillon eventually.
Buy it right from the start and you save the loss of resale value on the lesser press and the hassles (inherent to lesser presses) that will eventually drive you to the dillon.

If you are not sure that reloading is for YOU, I recommend finding a friend that will let you use his gear in the beginning.
This will be invaluable experience to help you decide to start reloading or not.

I started with a 550.
Now I have a 450, 3 550's, 2 650's and 2 1050's and a half a dozen single stage presses.

If you REALLY want to do it right, start with a 650.

Randall, you admit that you have a half a dozen single stage presses. I started out on a Rockchucker single stage and at this point I still don't know diddly, but do not regret starting out on a single stage. Made a few mistakes and I am glad that they were on the single stage. As I am getting more comfortable with reloading, yes, I may get a Dillon at some point mainly for my pistol calibers and maybe .223 and .308 gas guns.

Having said that I have not tried the Lee presses, so I can't speak from experience, but have several Lee dies that I wish I hadn't bought.

[mecam]

Get the Lee Anniversary single stage kit and get an RCBS digital scale. All can be had for less than $300. I've reloaded over 2500 rounds of 223s with it and works perfectly fine. The low cost Lee drill trimmer works excellent that comes with the kit. Just have a cordless drill that can stand on it's batteries and you can trim, chamf, deburr 100 brass for every 45 minutes.

[PistolPete75]

+1 dillion 550 is real good for mass production, and is a very versatile machine to use.

i would only use a single stage press for precision loads.

if you want a single stage get the forestor or rcbs chuckmaster supreme

[50ae]

I think starting out with a used Dillon 550 or 450 is a perfect way to go. The 450 is upgradeable and will serve you well as will the 550. Being that you are a student the warranty will save you money in the long run and you'll never regret buying a Dillon. Sure, you may not be a precission shooter right now but you will be eventually so you might as well start out with quality equipment.

[ar15barrels]

Randall, you admit that you have a half a dozen single stage presses. I started out on a Rockchucker single stage and at this point I still don't know diddly, but do not regret starting out on a single stage.

I read the Lyman book and then a friend got me started.
We loaded 10 rounds of 223 from beginning to end on a rockchucker.
Then we loaded 100 rounds of 9mm on a Dillon 450 and 100 rounds of 12ga on a Mec.

I could see instantly that there was no need for me to start with the single stage.
I personally was completely comfortable on the progressive from day 1.

Now, I loaded exclusively pistol cartridges for the first couple years.

The single stage preses came much later for specific tasks like sizing a half a dozen cases without having to swap 550 toolheads, trying to prove if a single stage was more precise than a dillon (I could not prove this to myself), experimenting with various crazy ideas that did not warrant setting up the dillon press for just 10 rounds, taking to the range for load development etc...

Even though I own half a dozen single stage presses, I can't honestly recall loading more than a few hundred rounds on them total in 10 years.
It's usually 10-20 rounds tops when I need to test fire a barrel in a non-standard chambering.

I have bought a few lee dies as well.
That's why I have formed my opinion about them from MY experience.
I won't be buying any more if I can avoid it.

[proraptor]

my lee press and sizing die work just fine for me...I would buy them again

[Prc329]

Maybe this will help.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=60848&

[PLINK]

I bought my 550 on ebay back in the day for $375 shipped and it came with .45 ACP dies/ shell plate. I added all of the extras. Prior to buying the press CG'er Wulf let me load some on his 550 press. The rest is history. Now I reload .45 ACP and .40 S&W. I will say that I am not even remotely interested in buying another progressive press at this time. I am completely satisfied with the 550.

[C.G.]

Maybe this will help.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=60848&

The only thing I would add to that that this place is a little cheaper than Midway:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357

[metalhead357]

Maybe THIS is the place to ask....

Of all the manufacturers....which DIES are interchanageable? Any? All? I mean can RCBS dies be used on a Dillon? On a Lee?

[50ae]

Pretty much all the dies are interchangeable except the Dillon Square Deal B's. I find Lee dies to be some of the best in the business for what I do.

[metalhead357]

Thanx 50~ Had always wondered and never got around to asking until now.