Changed my mind, getting a RL550B

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Bynming

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Edited this thread, I no longer plan to reload 9mm with a single stage press. I have a bit of a new question starting on post #19, however!

___ Old post, no longer relevant___
Hey guys, I'm about to go out and buy a set of 9mm dies to start reloading using the single stage press that I use for rifle rounds. It'll be my first time reloading straight wall brass so I'm not too familiar with the process of flaring and crimping. I was looking at Lee's 4 dies set but if I could get away with using 3 dies it would save me quite a bit of time. I remember hearing concerns about seating and crimping at the same time causing issues, and I don't know if there's any truth to that.

So yeah basically my question is, can I get away with buying Lee's or RCBS's 3 die set, or do I really need a 4th dedicated die to crimp? Thanks!

Would appreciate any advice.
 
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For jacketed bullets the jacket is tough enough to avoid any risk while being crimped into position while still being seated. However any cast or plated bullets are not all that resistant to some damage that can occur when being crimped tight while still being seated. So while it means an extra pull of the "slot machine" arm I feel it's worth it if you load the less expensive plated bullets instead of thicker jacketed bullets. And if you use any cast bullets it's simply safer to split up the seating and crimping operations. Otherwise it take some very careful setup to avoid the crimping occurring while still seating and causing some of the lead to be "plowed" up ahead of the casing mouth. It's just way more tolerant to perform the extra pass.

When you do crimp keep in mind that the right amount of crimp is when the flair for the bullet is just taken out. You don't want to actually crimp the mouth tight enough that it bites into the side of the bullet by much at all.
 
I loaded 9mm for years with a RCBS 3 die set with regular sizing die. Moved "up" to Lee 4 die deluxe set a couple years ago. I should add that I only load cast bullets for my pistols. Happy with the up grade. Use a Lee 4 die set in 45 ACP as well.
 
Main thing is to get carbide. In 9mm I find some lube is still required. For other pistol cases, no lube needed.

To lube the 9mms, I put them in a pail, spray some cheap silicon lube on the sides of the bucket, then swirl the brass. Just a bit of lube helps.

As for brand, I prefer Lee. The decapper is almost indestructible.

The seater die also has a taper crimp on it. Crimp enough to take the flare off.

The factory crimp die does not crimp as much as it has a sizing function that will iron out any bulges you may have induced. This guarantees every round will chamber.
 
I've loaded about 4000 9mm, 3000 .357, and a few thousand .45 LC , with my RBCS ,3set carbide dies. Never had any issues because of the dies. I use a slight taper crimp and no lube.( maybe not using lube is going to bite me on the azz, but I don't wanna have to do an extra step:)
And if your going to be doing any large amounts, the single stage is going to get real tiresome , real quick.

I should add, I've only been reloading for only 3 yrs and the answers from some of the more experienced posters here , are solid advice.
As I've taken it from them multiple times.

Gander and BC are two of the guys , whose advice I trust most.
 
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I'll probably not be doing any large volume for the time being, but I'd prefer to start with a single stage anyway to get acquainted with the mechanics of it, and then I'll hopefully be able to transfer the setup into a progressive press when I get around to doing that. Those things are huge though :(
 
Bynming said:
I'll probably not be doing any large volume for the time being, but I'd prefer to start with a single stage anyway to get acquainted with the mechanics of it, and then I'll hopefully be able to transfer the setup into a progressive press when I get around to doing that. Those things are huge though :(
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That was my thoughts as well, when I first started. After doing 500 9mm in a single sitting , I've changed my mind :).
I wonder if a Dillon 550/650 can also be used as a single stage?
 
Brianma65 said:
That was my thoughts as well, when I first started. After doing 500 9mm in a single sitting , I've changed my mind :).
I wonder if a Dillon 550/650 can also be used as a single stage?
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I don't do big batches in one sitting, I just take 200-300 pieces of brass, do one operation in 1-2 hours and then let it sit for a while. I don't get to shoot every week or even every other week for that matter, so I just get some work done when I have some free time. I listen to audiobooks while I work, take the time to visually check every powder drop. After 2-3 weeks those 200-300 pieces of brass are live rounds. Lots of time is "lost" but there's something cathartic about it for me. That being said, I do plan to get annoyed with it and be forced to buy a progressive press down the line. I'm just getting into handguns though, so a progressive press setup is the price of a nice 1911... I'm still a student working 20hrs/wk so needless to say saving up $800-1000 for a Dillion XL650 is not something I'm enthusiastic about.
 
Bynming said:
I don't do big batches in one sitting, I just take 200-300 pieces of brass, do one operation in 1-2 hours and then let it sit for a while. I don't get to shoot every week or even every other week for that matter, so I just get some work done when I have some free time. I listen to audiobooks while I work, take the time to visually check every powder drop. After 2-3 weeks those 200-300 pieces of brass are live rounds. Lots of time is "lost" but there's something cathartic about it for me. That being said, I do plan to get annoyed with it and be forced to buy a progressive press down the line. I'm just getting into handguns though, so a progressive press setup is the price of a nice 1911... I'm still a student working 20hrs/wk so needless to say saving up $800-1000 for a Dillion XL650 is not something I'm enthusiastic about.
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I understand , I still don't have a progressive. Every time I get the funds together, something else comes up, bullits, powder, primers ,etc. Nothing wrong with a single stage.
And everybody has there personnel favorite.
Ganderite sugested a Lee, he's one of the most knowledgable reloaders on this site, so you can't go wrong with his advice.
 
I started with a single stage. It isn't all that bad. Size a bucket of brass. You can probably prime as part of that operation, on the press. Then flare the bucket of brass.

These operations are fairly quickly done.

Mount a powder thrower beside you, independent of the press. Drop a powder charge, put the case in press and seat the bullet.

You don't have to do all the steps in the same day.

I use a progressive (550 or 650 with case feeder) but size buckets of brass as a separate operation. Then I prime buckets of brass with a Lee Autoprime. I don't size or prime as part of the progressive process.
 
For rifle I will buy RCBS, Redding, Hornady but when it comes to pistol dies Dillon Precision makes the best for any brand of reloading press. When I first got into pistol reloading I would always buy RCBS like everything else but when I started using the Dillon pistol dies all the adjusting and tinkering and swear words went away. just try them and you will know what I am talking about. Dillon has probably the best customer service that I have every come across. I have a 550B Press and load everything from .22PPC to .378WBY, .450 Ackley, Etc. I remember back in the nineties I had a problem with one of my power charge bars and I phoned Dillon Precision in Scottsdale Arizona. All I needed was the tiny charger bar and within 48 hours I had UPS at my door in Edmonton with a complete powder assembly including the powder container, dispenser assembly, two charger bars, and it was all free of charge. Yeah I am hooked. I have tool heads with dies already adjusted and set for multiple calibre's. I can go from loading .223 to .300 Win mag in about 60 seconds and all my dies (full length sizer and bullet seater) are ready to go. Got to love it.
 
Alright then, lots to think about. I appreciate all of your input! I do think that when I do end up picking up a progressive there's a good chance it'll be a Dillon. Until then it seems like I should go with Lee's dies since Dillon's pistol dies don't seem to be able to flare the case mouth without a Dillon press.
 
I don't know if people will see this but I'd rather not make a new thread for this. I ended up going for the Dillon RL550B after a particularly fun day of shooting with my new CZ. My problem is that I do my reloading at my parent's place because my place is tiny and there's literally no space at all for a work bench.

This is the bench, forgive the off center press:
TbLIX16.jpg


Unfortunately I can't drill holes in my father's workbench so I have to clamp my press on it so that it can be removed easily when needed. With this single stage, it flexes a little bit more than I'd like when I have to torque it down. The overhang is a bit short. Any suggestions on how to make the best of this? Any way to have a more stable setup for the RL550B without altering the workbench?
 
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Use the Strong Mount with the Dillon 550 and bolt it to a 2' length of 2x12. The 2x12 can then be clamped to the bench.
 
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