Scale or new press?

[Colt562]

Well Im looking into upgrading some stuff already and have about 200 bucks to do so. I am either looking into getting a Hornady Digital Powder Measure or the Lee Pro 1000 for 223.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/818489/hornady-lock-n-load-auto-charge-powder-scale-and-dispenser-110-220-volt

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/347040/lee-pro-1000-progressive-press-kit-223-remington

The scale I have right now is a ebay special, 20 bucks, but works very well.

The press I have right now is the Lee Single Stage, breech lock.

I have a feeling reloading 223 on a single stage might be a pain although I previously did not think so, so I was looking at this press. I dont need anything special just something to crank out range rounds for 223, no match rounds....yet.

I have been using the ebay special scale for all of my reloads. I like it so far but I am afraid of its accuracy. Im not using it to load anything match. Just some plinking ammo.

Help me decide.

[patrickstarfish]

I was going to say press. However, a good scale should be the cornerstone of your reloading equipment. Keep it at the same spot where you weight powder charges, to keep your loads consistent. Then go for a progressive press for your 223

[Dark Mod]

If your not making match ammo the old scale will get you where you need to go. Id rather have the ability to produce hundreds of rounds in an evening. Although i hear the lee progressives are finicky, ive never had problems with any of their other equipment.

[Colt562]

If your not making match ammo the old scale will get you where you need to go. Id rather have the ability to produce hundreds of rounds in an evening. Although i hear the lee progressives are finicky, ive never had problems with any of their other equipment.

the only "match" ammo I would be making is 308, I would still do that on a single stage. i think i might go with the press, cranking out some 223 would be great.

[rsrocket1]

Keep the BL Challenger for loading the rifle rounds.
Currently you probably have to:
1. Clean the cases (vibe tumble/US Clean/SS Pin Clean)
2. Lube
3. Deprime/Resize
4. Clean off the lube (off the press)
5. Measure and Trim (off the press)
6. Prime
7. Drop Powder/Seat Bullet

If you prime with a hand primer, the final step is drop powder and seat the bullet.
That can be done with your stand alone powder measure and one die in the single stage press. You take a tupperware bin full of primed cases, drop the powder then seat the bullet. No chance of a missed or double charge.

The only time I really appreciate a progressive press is in pistol rounds or ultralight rifle rounds where I know I don't need to trim the cases, just neck size-deprime/prime/powder/seat.

[Divernhunter]

Get the scale. Save for a better press. I wish I had bougt my scale/despenser sooner and I have 2 beam and another scale. Also have 2 Dillon 650's and 3 single stage presses. I still wish I had bougt the scale/despenser before I did.

[kylemurdoc]

Scale, trickling's a pain.

[Colt562]

Well Im thinking of just getting a cheaper scale, like the Hornady scale for 80 bucks or the RCBS one. Those scales will run about 80 bucks. For 308, the Auto dispenser would be nice to have, but I wont use it for 223 or 9mm or 45acp. I only reload about 20 308's a month. But with the progressive I can just use the nicer scale to get my powder measure up. I was also thinking, because the lee stuff is cheap, getting another Lee perfect powder measure for 223 and 9mm. That way I dont have to switch the measurements between the two.

[Colt562]

Well Im thinking of just getting a cheaper scale, like the Hornady scale for 80 bucks or the RCBS one. Those scales will run about 80 bucks. For 308, the Auto dispenser would be nice to have, but I wont use it for 223 or 9mm or 45acp. I only reload about 20 308's a month. But with the progressive I can just use the nicer scale to get my powder measure up. I was also thinking, because the lee stuff is cheap, getting another Lee perfect powder measure for 223 and 9mm. That way I dont have to switch the measurements between the two.

[rsrocket1]

That way I dont have to switch the measurements between the two.

BAD PRACTICE
If you ever get more than one rifle powder or one pistol powder, you are playing with dynamite (pun intended).

ALWAYS put the powder back into its original container after each loading session and weigh out your drops at the start (some do it every 10 drops).

1. It's safer. If you ever mix/forget/neglect you might wind up with a stuck bullet or blow up your gun.

2. With nitroglycerin in double based powders, you may melt the plastic hopper (particularly the Lee red plastic hopper). With the soft plastic Hornady hopper, even an hour or so will discolor the hopper. Some pistol powders like Clays have low/no NG content and don't mess up the plastic. Bullseye is very aggressive on the plastic.

The Lee PPM is so easy to adjust and record (for a ballpark setting to start with), that you shouldn't bother with more than one.

[Colt562]

BAD PRACTICE
If you ever get more than one rifle powder or one pistol powder, you are playing with dynamite (pun intended).

ALWAYS put the powder back into its original container after each loading session and weigh out your drops at the start (some do it every 10 drops).

1. It's safer. If you ever mix/forget/neglect you might wind up with a stuck bullet or blow up your gun.

2. With nitroglycerin in double based powders, you may melt the plastic hopper (particularly the Lee red plastic hopper). With the soft plastic Hornady hopper, even an hour or so will discolor the hopper. Some pistol powders like Clays have low/no NG content and don't mess up the plastic. Bullseye is very aggressive on the plastic.

The Lee PPM is so easy to adjust and record (for a ballpark setting to start with), that you shouldn't bother with more than one.

I would always dump the powder back into the original container. I was going to label them so they dont get mixed. All i load right now is 9mm, 223, and 308. 308 I trickle out so I dont need one for that. 223 Im testing loads for right now, and trickling each is a pain. I personally do not like having to adjust the powder measure each time, kind of a pain to get right back into the swing of things.

[ExtremeX]

a good scale should be the cornerstone of your reloading equipment. Keep it at the same spot where you weight powder charges, to keep your loads consistent. Then go for a progressive press for your 223

This ^^

[Colt562]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/340674/hornady-lock-n-load-bench-scale-electronic-powder-scale

I was also looking at this scale, seems good for the price, small, convienent, and I will be able to get that a lee perfect powder measure for 110 bucks, I dont think I am going to get the press for now,

[noylj]

I have the RCBS ChargeMaster, but don't consider any more accurate than a good powder measure and I have never seen any proof that powder measure charges are less accurate than weighed charges.
Likewise, I don't consider a progressive as that applicable to rifle rounds. However, if I did, I would not look at a progressive less than the Hornady L-N-L as it is only useful if it primes easily on the press and I haven't read that the Lee's are all that easy.
If you really need hundreds of .223 ammo for a trip to the range, then you should not be looking at less than the Hornady or Dillon.
I really like my 1050 for .223 as station 3 swages the primer pocket for military cases, but it isn't a $200 press.
If you are looking to buy a toy, then which would you enjoy more. If not, consider what your needs really are and you may want to invest $200 in primers, bullets, and powder.

[Colt562]

I have the RCBS ChargeMaster, but don't consider any more accurate than a good powder measure and I have never seen any proof that powder measure charges are less accurate than weighed charges.
Likewise, I don't consider a progressive as that applicable to rifle rounds. However, if I did, I would not look at a progressive less than the Hornady L-N-L as it is only useful if it primes easily on the press and I haven't read that the Lee's are all that easy.
If you really need hundreds of .223 ammo for a trip to the range, then you should not be looking at less than the Hornady or Dillon.
I really like my 1050 for .223 as station 3 swages the primer pocket for military cases, but it isn't a $200 press.
If you are looking to buy a toy, then which would you enjoy more. If not, consider what your needs really are and you may want to invest $200 in primers, bullets, and powder.

I dont have that kind of money for a dillon right now, Im only 19 and live at home so space is also a issue. Im thinking I am going to get the lee perfect powder measure and the hornady bench scale for 80 bucks. It seems to me that having those two is most important to me. i dont really plan on shooting hundreds and hundreds of 223 rounds per range trip. Thanks for putting it like that.