Which setup to buy????

[lou3100]

[What Just Happened?]

Personally, I would go for the Dillon. Just so you can cut down on the amount of time you spend at the press each month. But with either, you'll notice that your amount of shooting will go up drastically.

[Waldog]

As a new reloader, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you go with the Lyman single stage outfit. There is a lot going on a progressive press and if you are new, it is MUCH easier to learn the correct steps on a single stage press.

After, you have mastered the single stage and want to move up to a progressive press, you will still go back to the single stage for MANY, MANY, things. As an example; I feel it is much EASIER to work up loads on a single stage press. By "working up", I mean small batches of cartridges (5-10) with different powder charges to find what shoot best in YOUR gun. Working up loads on a progressive press is a real pain. However, once you find out what loads you like you can switch to the progressive press and really sail!! 200-600 rounds output per hour!!

Buy the Lyman starter set-up, You won't regret it!!!

[Ugly Dwarf]

As an example; I feel it is much EASIER to work up loads on a single stage press.

I've heard this said by a number of people here, but I don't understand it. I've never had a problem working up loads on a Dillon 550. Dial in all the dies, then load 10 at a time at each powder charge.

If you only want to load three charge weights, only feed in 30 primers. If you don't know how many you want to load, only feed 10 (or whatever size tests you run) primers at a time.

Assuming you would be loading on the 550 for your ammo once you found your load of choice, I don't see why you can't do your work ups on it too.

On the other hand, I sure won't argue your points that learning each stage on a single stage is good practice and that even with a progressive, you'll still find uses for your single stage.

Sorry if this seems like a thread jack, but just wondering if you could elaborate on why the Lyman would be better for that?

To the OP,

After starting on a Lee single stage (it worked just fine, albeit slowly), I loaded on my brother's 550 for years. I was taken enough with it, that I bought my own 550 this year so I could load in my own garage.

I think you'll find most people here are Dillon fans. The guys who only use single stage are either on a budget, are VERY particular about the spec's on the ammo they load or don't shoot that much ammo. For loading 500 rounds a month, I would want a progressive.

[ar15barrels]

It's no problem to use the Dillon 550 as a turret press.
You can setup each die in it's position and cycle one case through each position.
This is just like using a single stage press, but you have the advantage of later using the press in a fully progressive fashion.
I started on a 550 and I loaded a couple hundred rounds this way before going fully progressive.

Just because you have a ferrari, that does not mean that you are going to hit 160mph on the way home from the dealership.
Baby steps apply no matter what press you start with.

To the OP, think about doing 50 rounds per hour as a normal production rate on a single stage press.
Think about doing 300 rounds per hour on a 550 as a slow progressive loading rate.

Figure out how many hours you want to spend per month to load those 500 rounds and use that to base your decision on.

And if you happen to be in the greater LA area, I give free new-reloader orientations using anything from a single stage press to a full blown Dillon 1050.

[lou3100]

Thanks for all your help guys! It seems like it kmight be a good idea to get the Dillon but use at a turret. AR15 barrels thanks for the offer where are you located? I'm in the Antelope Valley 55 miles north of Downtown

[Ugly Dwarf]

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[ar15barrels]

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Nah, that's only HALF of them.
I have 8 dillon presses in total.

[ar15barrels]

AR15 barrels thanks for the offer where are you located?

About 10 miles west of downtown.