Reload newbie

[soklok]

After doing some reading on the subject. I would like to try reloading my own brass. my question is what is a good entry level press, tumbler, etc.. for .45 and .9mm ammo. I have looked at the different types of equipment and have seen prices from 300 to 1000 for a press alone. I would like some guidance from my fellow calguners.

Thanks

[XDRoX]

If you want to load 50 rounds an hour buy any brand single stage press.
If you want to load 250 rounds an hour buy a Lee Classic Turret.
If you want to load over 500 rounds an hour buy a Dillon 550, 650, or Hornady LNL.

[Enfield47]

How many rounds are you planning on making at a time? Depending on your response I would recommend a turret or a progressive press since you are doing pistol rounds. However, I've read on here that progressives can be much harder to learn on because so much is happening at one time.

Probably the best thing to do is sign up for one of the reloading classes and you can try different presses out to see which one you like. You also get the hands on experience of reloading with guidance from experienced reloaders. It's definitely something you should do.

[Ghost_Maker]

step 1.. buy a (several) reloading manual and read chapter 1 and 2... they are usually titled press selection..

[Malthusian]

you will need to decide which is more important to you:

your time or your money

If you have allot of time and want to fully understand the fundamentals, get a single stage

If like me, you do not have an entire day to spend reloading, get a progressive. Once you are comfortable with the various aspects, you can reload a few hundred rounds in a couple of hours

Any progressive can be use as a single stage, or load one round at a time around the stations until you become proficient

A progressive you will grow into. A single stage you will grow out of

But a single stage will be used to augment the progressive that you will invariably buy, should you determine reloading is for you and you become afflicted with reloading disease. To which there is no known cure

[Ghost_Maker]

I also suggest into looking into a local reloading club in your area.. I know Socal has a huge deal going and they are a cornucopia of 411... they have meetings 1x a month if not more... clinics.. and just a bunch of other stuff n junk that will answer any and all of ya ?s

[bbo]

hornady lnl

never had any experience reloading bought the Hornady lnl its been great never had the need to upgrade only thing I have done differently is to deprime all brass first with the Lee decapper because the resize and deprime die would hang up sometimes

[XDRoX]

never had any experience reloading bought the Hornady lnl its been great never had the need to upgrade only thing I have done differently is to deprime all brass first with the Lee decapper because the resize and deprime die would hang up sometimes

Do you have the single stage or the progressive?
If you have the progressive and you're having to deprime off press that's awful. You need to fix that problem.

[Wrangler John]

After doing some reading on the subject. I would like to try reloading my own brass. my question is what is a good entry level press, tumbler, etc.. for .45 and .9mm ammo. I have looked at the different types of equipment and have seen prices from 300 to 1000 for a press alone. I would like some guidance from my fellow calguners.

Thanks

Any of the major manufacturers starting kits are more than suitable for your needs. I started with an original Lee Loader for 16 gauge shot shells in 1960, then used their kit for .44 Magnum when it was introduced. Then I graduated to RCBS, still use their equipment, but Redding and Hornady, an ancient Lyman turret press and current Lee equipment are also in the inventory. My suggestion for beginners is to start with a single stage press, or a manual turret to avoid dies swaps, a quality powder measure that drops both handgun and rifle charges, a balance beam scale, and for a tumbler look at the Lyman Turbo Twin http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/10436 I use these and they work as well as units costing twice as much. Additional tools include a die set and shell holder if the kit doesn't include them, a primer pocket cleaner, dial caliper, additional loading blocks and a powder funnel kit that covers everything from .17 to .45 calibers..

Economy Kit: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...productId/7542

From Hornady, a kit with everything: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/23675

Lyman offering: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/10575

RCBS: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/25140

Redding: http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/14706

These are just representative kits. A search of the net will show other brands and prices. There's something out there for everyone.

[CK_32]

Buy a kit!

Buying a kit is kinda expensive but what they come with in the long run saves you about $200 to $500 if you were to buy all the equipment separately.


I got the RCBS $600 kit but paid $850 for it at my local shop. Rookie mistake so shop around. Bought a caliper and dies and I was set. Over time I've gotten a trimmer other dies and a few other parts for small stuff or upgrade but the starter kit was definitely to the way to go.

As for as the RCBS press and kit go I've been fully happy with too. Been loading for about 4 wars now with no issues. Research each kit for what you want to do tho. Some have a part another one and vice versa so get the kit that has the surf you want and fits your loading best.

Also know there are progressive and single stage kits and higher and lower end kits. I went mid range cause it had what I needed but didn't have the auto pouring and measuring charge master 5000 and all that which was nice but out of my $$range and wasn't needed for my use.

GL its a great added hobby

[krwada]

Three years ago, when I 1st started ... I had the very same question. I went out and purchased the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit. It works like a charm and RCBS tech support is incredible!

From what I can see, any of the kits from any of the name brand manufacturers will work fine. I just happened to pick RCBS.

[soklok]

Thanks to all I was looking at the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit. 119.00 at midwayusa that way don't spend too much cash on something I might not be good at. I 'll also look into the reload meets.

[the86d]

I have a Dillon XL 650 and reload 9mm and 5.56, but I would like to get an RCBS single-stage for non-bulk/blasting calibers of: 308 (after I buy the rifle), and 45Colt (after I buy the pistol).

So sometimes it works backwards as far as "migrating TO a progressive" as the dies, plate, and accessories for each caliber runs you about $~299 (just checked via Brian Enos's site w/ Carbide dies for 45Colt), on AVG, per caliber for the 650 with dies, caliber conversion kit, case-feed plate, quick-change and stand for toolhead...

[Dsal_13]

Take all these guys advice! They are very helpful.. I made the mistake and i was like oh i am just gonna load 50 rds... not the case.. and now i have to buy a progressive press... grrr

[Clever]

RCBS SINGLE STAGE PRESS
RCBS CHARGEMASTER 1500
RCBS PREP CENTER 110 V
THUMBLERS TUMBLER
REDDING DIES
IN ALL MY YEARS
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE PRODUCTS LISTED ABOVE..