Lee 1000 vs LNL. VS??????

[jkcerda]

Thinking of getting into reloading. From .45 to .223/5.56. What will not break the bank?thinking of the LNL. But would the 1000 be good enough? Am I overlooking something else? Lee loadmasters? Thanks

[BigBronco]

I can only speak for the LnL. I have not used a Lee 1,000. What I do recommend is if you are just getting into reloading, and those are the presses you are considering then learn / start on a single station press. Learn to walk before you try to run. The single station press will still be a valuable tool years after you get a progressive.

Oh in before the just buy a Dillon cool aide drinkers.

[jkcerda]

Been using a mec650 to load shot shells. Pistol and rifle are next. Progressive is what I want and Dillon is no where near my budget

[shoebox56]

Ya, start with a Single Stage and take it slow. Even when you move on to Progressive, you'll still use that Single Stage for load development, rifles, decapping, etc.

[BigBronco]

Been using a mec650 to load shot shells. Pistol and rigid are next. Progressive is what I want and Dillon is no where near my budget

I would point out that most Mec shot shell presses with the exception of the powder bushing come out of the box with the dies set up and ready to load. This is so not the case with metallic progressive presses.

Get what you will. I would suggest you buy a model with five die stations and run a RCBS lock out die. It could save you digits. As a very experienced NRA metallic reloading instructor, I stand by my original response. Remember most if not all Jet pilots learned to fly in a Cessna.

P.S. Your OP said nothing about you having shot shell experience.

Thinking of getting into reloading.

[Divernhunter]

^^^ What he said. Also you will always have a use for a single stage press.

I have been reloading since the early 1960's and have a Dillon 650 and 3 single stage presses that all get used.

"Pistol and RIGID are next"---How do you load for a Rigid??

Shotshell and rifle/pistol reloading are very different. I would suggest you get the Lyman #49 Reloading manual and read it. It will be a great help to you.

Since you already have made up your mind and do not want a Dillon get the Hornady.

[Spyder]

I run a Lee 1000 and have done a whole lot of .40 on it. It's great, for what it is, if you understand it's limitations. I can load ammo faster than I can load that ammo in to magazines, but it can be a pain in the butt to get it set up to run smooth.

I will get a Dillon 650 at some point in the future, a buddy has the Hornady and it's pretty awesome.

[John Browning]

You will be smart to buy an RCBS Rockchucker kit first and use that. It comes with a lot of small things that you'll have to buy with the LNL anyway. Once you're happy with your single stage reloads, buy the LNL.

[jkcerda]

I hope there is a reloading clinic that I can attend before I buy. Thank fit the help. The MEC came already set up. I was hoping the lee would be as easy

[Germz]

get a single stage. learn to love/hate it, that way you can appreciate the processes involved with reloading. when you have a firm grasp on each step, graduate to progressive.

me personally, i like hornady products now. I started with LEE (and i still use their bullet molds) but the press quality was just not there for me.

[jkcerda]

get a single stage. learn to love/hate it, that way you can appreciate the processes involved with reloading. when you have a firm grasp on each step, graduate to progressive.

me personally, i like hornady products now. I started with LEE (and i still use their bullet molds) but the press quality was just not there for me.

Is there a decent starter kit out there? Looking to load 3-4 k rounds per year

[BigBronco]

At 4K per year you are talking less than 350 rounds per month. A single station will do you just fine.
Unfortunately there is no perfect kit, as most kits do not come with the dies or shell holders. Some company's make certain things better than others. Loading tools are just that tools some folks have a lust for Snap-On grade tools and some realize that Harbor Freight gets the job done most of the time for less $$$ Heck you could start a debate on hand priming tools alone. Wait that just happened.


Remember that just about any makers dies will work in most any press with a slight exception of Lee dies in other makers progressive presses. This is due to thread/body length however there are tricks to make them work. You can sometimes do better looking for deals on used equipment, good quality tools will out last our lifetime it taken care of. I have dies made by almost every manufacturer even some that have long gone out of business (Lachmiller, Texan, Hollywood and eagle). They still get the job done. In some case I even mix die brands on a progressive as I may favor one makers resizing die over another.


I am running a work shop the 18th of this month in Anaheim also Ventura is scheduling one for February, Contact Capybara about that one. I need to get on the ball to get one organized for the I.E.

If you intend to eventually go with the LnL Ap, this kit in the cal guns market place would be a good start. Heck he would probably take $325 for it.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1023075

Finally do your home work. There is a tendency for users of one brand to swear it is the only one to get. For example the just get a Dillon crowd. Dillon makes world class gear however it is not for everyone, just ask a bench rest shooter what he uses. Most likely a Forster Coax or an Arbor press. Yep a single stage. Hell I think with the right dies I could load on my drill press.

[mjmagee67]

I know people hate to see/hear Dillon BUT, I fought Dillon for a few years loading on other machines, thinking "ah Dillon can't be that good". About a year ago a took a big gulp of the Kool-Aid. Dillon it the best Progressive on the market, best running, best made, best customer service, it just plain kicks butt. I got the 550 because I can convert between 9mm, 38 Super, and 40 S&W in less than 5 minutes and load 500+ an hour. I got my press at Brian Enos and did his "as it should be" upgrades. I will never look back.

I still use a single stage for bolt gun ammo and my Lee Classic for pistol calibers I just don't shoot too often like 45ACP, 38 SPC, & 357.

Suck it up spend the money and you won't have to ask anymore what if, what's better, which one question?

[shoebox56]

Is there a decent starter kit out there? Looking to load 3-4 k rounds per year

"RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Single Stage Press Kit" is a little pricey but pretty decent kit. Has an excellent magnet dampening scale and well regarded powder measure. You can start right away with this kit whether pistol or precision rifle & don't have to really upgrade anything.

Otherwise, you can get a Lee Challenger kit & optionally upgrade pieces later. I still know people using these quite successfully.

[jkcerda]

How much are you guys reloading .45 for and where are you getting your components? Thanks