Question for experienced reloaders

[mmesa005]

A lot to consider, for example, there are 3 and 4 Die Sets. Do you want to seat and crimp in one step or 2? If you use carbide dies then you don't have to lube the brass before reszing.
Another important consideration is the load data. The amount and type of powder, the weight of the projectiles, primers, brass (new or previously fired).

Any one step of the reloading process not done correctly can lead to problems. What I found most important was to take the time to understand each step of the process and how it contributes to the end product which is a working piece of ammunition. Once you are comfortable with the steps you can load with any type of press. If you don't take the time to understand each step of the process then how fast you make bullets may not only lead to a lot of wasted product but also the potential for a bad day at the range

[russt]

Go single stage or lee classic turret and take out the auto index rod. Learn the process before you start multitasking.

[Hallx7]

I learned on a Lee Classic Turret and recommend it highly. You can operate it as a single stage to learn but still have the ability to crank out 150-180 rounds an hour once you are comfortable with the process.

[glock7]

Lee turret press for me. I like that I can "supervise" each operation. Works for me.

[rm1911]

Reloading is a passion as well. It's a chance to get more in tune with the firearm. Factory ammo is fine and all that but when you start fine tuning what your gun likes and all that it gets to be more than saving a few bucks. Yes there's money to be saved. At least there was when components were cheap and available. Now it's a tougher time.

I guess in some ways I'm lucky in that I got into this shooting thing many many years ago. Hell I remember the original Roberti-Roos BS and well let's just say I was lucky I had a friend who moved to Texas (I actually did. No joke) who was able to keep a few things of mine free. So I saw the writing on the wall. A loooooooooong time ago. I knew I'd never see them again but I knew they were liberated. That was enough I guess.

And even though I reloaded to shoot more, more accurately, and more cheaply, I knew that in time I'd need to reload for other reasons as well and I think I guessed right.

I started on a single stage. I started on '06 and 38/357. Both are fine on single stage. You don't shoot enough to really need faster. But got a progressive press (dillon square deal) for the 9 and 45. Too much to try to load on single stage.

So you will probably need both. Over time you'll end up accumulating things. Especially components. If care is taken they will store for long time. It's more now that you kinda know you'll be able to shoot. It's harder to find stuff but I'll say that if your diligent things pop up. Keep looking.

Whatever you buy go with quality. Plan to keep it for many years. It will last longer than you will for sure. Consider it kind of an insurance policy.

I didn't have the luxury though of having a large community to help. Whatever you do don't go at it alone. Find others that will help. You'll find plenty who will.

[fugami]

WOW! Thanks all. Less than 24 hours & a boatload of info. As to some of the questions; Currently I'm wanting to reload pistol ammo, to start but eventaully to move into rifle as well. My current calibers are 38/357,40 s&w,45acp(pistol) & 308, 223(rifle) also 12ga (which I know will be a whole different set up) & 22lr (which I understand is a whole different story). I can shoot as much as I want, have my own pistol range on my property(please no haters) & friend/neighbor with rifle range on his. So for me limits are time(40+work week) & $(ammo prices & cost of life) Have not been shooting much lately & miss it, which is how I got here. I would rate my mechanical skills as good & am not unfamilar with slide from "hobby" into "passion/obsession/addiction"(started riding motorcycles ended up building a couple). Learned from here that I should take my time & now going to educate self about "turrets" (thanks for the suggestions)as a 3rd option to my original question. Would like to get to a place of self sufficency, ability to make myself a couple hundred rounds or more a month. So thanks again guys. I really like this site.

[MrElectric03]

Not an experienced reloader here but just starting myself. I bought a dillon xl650 and am starting with .40 s&w. while waiting for my 650 I bought a used rcbs rock chucker on ebay. After reading I found for .40 you need to run it through a full length resize die in case it's "glocked". Aside from that I plan on getting into long range .308 shooting. IMO you need a single stage with your progressive, but I wouldn't run out and buy a new one. I picked mine up for $75 on ebay and have seen them in the classified section here for about the same but you need to jump on them.

[Wrangler John]

The progressive press is not the way to start. They require discipline the new handloader does not possess.

I loaded competition handgun and varmint hunting rifle ammunition on a RCBS Rockchucker press for 40 years before ever contemplating buying a progressive. The progressive presses I have are seldom used, and then only to produce annual batches of varmint and hangun ammo.

Other advice is to purchase high quality equipment, My RCBS Rockchucker is still functioning quite well, and is now being used exclusively for hydraulic forming of improved and wildcat cases. I now use a Redding T-7 Turret press for most reloading and the RCBS Pro-2000 Auto Progressive for batch runs. The RCBS progressive allows the use of CCI strip primers either prepackaged or filled with my choice of primers. This system has proven to be the most reliable and safest priming system in my experience. Indeed, in most instances, I size and deprime on the Redding press, clean primer pockets and tumble, then prime by hand with an RCBS hand priming tool using the priming strips, and load on the progressive. Make up your process, it's completely up to you.

Handloading is a separate hobby, something that produces a useable product, and very rewarding in itself.

[J-cat]

Single-stage is more sensitive.

More sensitive means greater precision.

Greater precision means better accuracy.

More important, greater precision means greater safety.

[Zenja]

Hoping to get some experienced opinions. Starting reloading, primerly to replenish target ammo & reduce marketplace expense, but also hobby. I understand that there is going to an expense. Took 101 class, bought Lyman #49 ,reading it. Talked to guys I am aquainted with who have been doing it for in at least a couple cases decades. Hearing two different opinions. 1. Start with single stage press & really get to know the process, successes & mistakes & then move up to a progressive. 2. Don't waste time & money on single stage, get right into progressive, learn what you have to learn because your going end up at a progressive anyway. Sooner you start the sooner you get there! Nobody giving me these opinions is selling me anything. Thought I'd see if I could learn anything on here that might help me decide. Also been told "Don't pay attention to info on the internet" by several, but I like most of what I read on this site. Would appreciate any sharing of opinions, advice, agreement, disagreement on these two points of view. Thanks.

You can't go wrong with a single stage,
if you get a progressive later you can still use the single stage
for specific tasks,
start with one caliber at a time,
follow the load book precisely,
don't substitute components,
get your recipes (loads) from an established company,
Hornady, Speer, etc.,
no distractions while reloading,
label everything clearly,
best to use new components at first (rather than fired brass),
best to work with an old pro if you can,
you wont have any problems if you follow the
load data and instructions,
and your firearm is in good condition,
you will meet an unexpected problem sometimes,
the forums are a good place to ask questions for this,
or your favorite gun store/repairman,
once you learn your caliber its easy to
try another caliber, each one has its own ideosyncracies,
once you work up an accurate load you'll never go back!