Choosing reloading press...

[ExtremeX]

Reloading pistol ammo on a single stage will get old real fast. 50 rounds an hour, don't believe anything else. If you have way more time than money and don't mind spending an hour loading 50 rounds then a single stage will work fine.

A Forster would be an absolute waste of money to load pistol on. A press that expensive is best suited to load precision rifle rounds.

Any brand single stage will work fine, even the inexpensive Lee ones. The RCBS is probably the most popular.

A turret is a much better choice for pistol. You could load 3 times as fast for about the same price as a medium priced single stage. The Lee turret is around $100.

solid advise

[omnitravis]

I load pistol and rifle on my 25 year old 3 hole lee turret. Buy extra turrets for $6 and your dies are set up every time.
Shotgun is a different animal entirely and takes a different type of press.

Thanks for answering my question about the shotgun. What would I need for a 12g? Or since I got the dillon 550 will that be able to do 12g?

As always someone is asking about a single stage, and it becomes a progressive topic. OP contact me if you're in SoCal and would like info about a reloading clinic.

Yeha, I kinda hijacked it, I didnt have to make a new thread though. I went ahead and bought the Dillon 550 with a set of .308/30-06 dies.

[orangeusa]

+1

In before all the Lee Classic Turret Lover... Damn, I can see there are more responses to read, I guess I missed that one.

Lee Classic Turret is prolly best for making a lot of pistol ammo. Here is a testimonial, I have ADHD or ADD and I have yet to get bored making ammo on mine... (LoL!) It is just so much fun and FAST, I will be looking at progressive presses for a long time all while making 150+ rounds an hour on my Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret. DO NOT GET THE ALUMINUM one, you want the CLASSIC 4 HOLE...

I know you are a long time reloader, but in my opinion nothing wrong with either the aluminum Turret or the Classic Turret. I got wound up and bought the Classic - and yeah it is cool looking, but they are so similiar in FUNCTION, that I don't see a big difference. Other than the Classic is better at not throwing primers all over the floor. But unlike LEE says - the Classic does poop 1 out of 50 primers on the floor. ("Every primer is caught - guaranteed."). I like LEE products a lot, but sometimes they get caught up in their own rhetoric.

.

[JimWest]

Reconsidering purpose and logic, a turret press would indeed seem best. I've read some concerns about the Lee bushing system, and ram alignment. What's that all about? Does Hornady make a comparable turret?

Priming is a stage in the turret system? Or do you recommend separate primer seating equip.?

Lastly, I hear some systems don't handle flake powders as well as others. Another concern.

Sorry for all the questions. As you can see, the iinternet can be too much of a good thing for the uninitiated.

I checked CalGns for reloading groups but none around the Walnut Creek area that I see.

[orangeusa]

Questions are fine, but it's time to get your feet wet.

Try out a singlestage/turret and then a progressive - neither one is perfect.

I have not heard what you are talking about on the ram or the bushings. I've sized over a thousand rounds in a month, made over 200 rounds. Which is nothing compared to the big boys here. I have little spare time... I made 100 rounds in one evening easily, but after the brass was primed.

I'm shooting larger revolvers and prime separately, just because it's so fast and I can inspect that a primer is inserted properly in OTHER steps...

I dunno.
.

[JagerDog]

used my RCBS RS3 for years. About a year ago I bought a Redding T7 turret press. Very nice being able to keep 2 cal's of dies ready to go. Each operation isn't faster, but set-up and going back/forth between operations are greatly enhanced.

[Bumslie]

Turret is indeed a hybrid between a single stage and progressive. My only concern is the jaring of the turret with the powder measurer on top. As long as you aren't pushing max loads it should be fine, but is something to think about.

[dlouie87]

I have a Dillon 550b and I'm considering a Redding Big boss for a single stage.

[kostner]

the Lee Classic Turret is pretty hard to beat for the casual shooter.

For $125 you will have a press that can do both rifle & pistol and won't break the bank. Leaving you with $$$ for powder & primers.

[GeoffLinder]

Late to the game here, but I strongly suggest you get a Rock Chucker supreme kit to start. When you have your feet wet and you want some speed step up to a Dillon 550 or 650. You will be glad you have a single stage system even when you move up to a progressive. JMHO

[XDRoX]

Reconsidering purpose and logic, a turret press would indeed seem best. I've read some concerns about the Lee bushing system, and ram alignment. What's that all about? Does Hornady make a comparable turret?

Priming is a stage in the turret system? Or do you recommend separate primer seating equip.?

Lastly, I hear some systems don't handle flake powders as well as others. Another concern.

Sorry for all the questions. As you can see, the iinternet can be too much of a good thing for the uninitiated.

I checked CalGns for reloading groups but none around the Walnut Creek area that I see.

The bushing system is fine.

Nobody makes a comparable turret.

It's a complete waste of time to prime off the press unless you own a press that can't prime reliably. But so far no one in this thread has suggested a press that can't prime well.

If you're considering the Lee turret it has one of the best powder measures available. It throws more powders more accurately than most other brands.

Dillon makes nicer presses. Just like BMW makes nicer cars. Don't listen to anybody that says different. Most people don't need to drive a BMW and most people don't need to load on a Dillon. It is what it is.

[asm_]

Just to throw something your way for further consideration.

Since you mentioned 40SW, if you decide to go with the progress, you will definitely still need a single stage press or turret press to debulged the 40 brass you may come across from old Glock. Believe me, there are plenty of brass I have picked up from range that are bulged.

Now, back to your original question about which press...

If you only want to load pistol rounds for plinking, and you are limited on budget, go with turret press. I'll go with the cast iron (classic) version. The price difference is minimal. I think it was only $30 difference.

Now, if you really want to crank out pistol ammo fast, get a true progressive such as Hornady LNL AP or Dillon 650. Skip the Dillon 550. It's a good press, but it's not a true auto progressive press. On a 550, you have to move the shell plate manually much the same way you have to rotate tool head manually on a Lee Turret. In my opinion, if my left hand need to do more than setting bullet on the brass, I may as well go with Lee Turret press and save a few hundred dollars.

Now comparing Hornady AP to Dillon 650. The two presses have similar features. You'll save couple hundred dollars at initial purchase price if you go with Hornady. On going cost of ownership is also cheaper with Hornady. If I remember correctly, it costs about $300 to set up a new caliber on a Dillon while $210 will get you going on a Hornady. This is including shell plate, die, primer feeder, brass feeder, etc... On the other hand, Dillon's reputation alone will ensure better resale value, if you ever decide to sell your setup.

Hope this helps.

B

[sdkevin]

They make one with aluminum and I hear it can bust loading larger rifle rounds.

Couldn't be wronger.

Two LM's, 90% rifle loads, not even a flex in the arm.

[XDRoX]

On a 550, you have to move the shell plate manually much the same way you have to rotate tool head manually on a Lee Turret.

B

Not correct. You do have to manually index a 550, but you do not have to manually index a Lee Turret. They're auto indexing presses. Unless you're speaking about when you're trying to load a cartridge with an overall length of 2.313" on the regular turret or a cartridge with an overall length of 3.313" on the classic turret. But you weren't.

But anyway, the OP will be loading pistol, so either Lee turret will be an auto indexing press.

OP, there's a lot a misinformation in this thread. More opinion than fact. Lots of guys feel the need to recommend presses or not recommend presses they've never owned more tried. Listen to the guys with experience. Like me

I've loaded on every press available except the RCBS progressive. I've owned Lee, Lyman, RCBS, Redding, and Dillon presses. Like most things in life you get what you pay for. Pay more get more. Except with one little exception. Lee's Classic Turret. It's the hidden gem of reloading. For the price nothing else compares. It's extremely easy to set up and use. The auto indexing can be disengaged for a single stage like loading experience. It is robust. It'll last a lifetime and then more. It'll load 100-150 rounds an hour.

[noplay6978]

depends on how much you shoot.
up to 200 rnds a mo. - single stage
200-800~ rnds a turret press
800+ consider a progressive
I have have a turret press and load 600+ rounds a mo. It just depends on how much time you want to spend hunkered over your press.
I take my time, clean and resize my brass, clean the primer pockets, prime by hand and listen to Eric clapton as I reload. I have gone past my curfew more than once.