HELP: is this a good deal for a biginer ??

and if i get the press and the scale and i allready have a good caliper except from bullet brass powder and dies what else should i need ??
 
is this a good deal for a biginer or should i just go for a new one
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You can get a brand new one with all of the parts for $520 plus another $60 for the .45 conversion. So you are looking at $440 + shipping for a used one in "good" condition minus many parts that you will have to get from Dillon (granted for free) versus a brand spanking new one for $580.

If you aren't shooting .45 then the conversion it comes with is useless (as it is right now anyways without the locator buttons). Personally I wouldn't pay any more than $300 bucks for a used machine in "good" condition that is missing a bunch of parts.
 
esquif said:
thanks where can it be had for 520 $
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I bought mine from Murray Gardner, he has it listed on his website for $512 for the press itself.
http://www.mdgardner.com/reloading.htm

The Shooting Edge in Calgary also carries them and had them in stock last time I was in a few weeks ago. I believe they have a similar price, but I can't find it on their website.
http://www.theshootingedge.com/

Smoking Gun FX has them listed on their website for $520
http://www.smokinggunfx.com/

There are some stores in Ontario that also sell them, I imagine they are also a similar price (for example, check out Elwood Epps http://www.ellwoodepps.com/)

I wouldn't hesitate to put an offer on the used machine, I just think the price is way way too high for something that is in good condition and missing a ton of parts. Like I said, I wouldn't pay more than $300 bucks because for a bit more than he is asking you can get everything brand new from a dealer. Besides, if you buy from a dealer and buy everything else you need from them you have a better chance of negotiating a deal.
 
i bought every thing i will need in the EE forum to reload.....most of the items i bought were the rcbs products......including all the manuals and brass and bullets and dies.....total cost to me was under $400 :D .....and yes im happier then a pig in #### with all :D :D :D
 
Sort of a complicated setup to begin with. If you really shoot a lot and load pistol bullets it may be good for you but otherwise I think it a bit much. A simple single stage press is probably better for most of us. Fancy progressive presses are best left to experienced reloaders who reload hundreds of shells and don't need to learn and do things one step at a time. I think the RCBS Rockchuckers have an option to upgrade them to turret or progressive presses. This would alllow you to start simple but upgrade later if you want to. Whatever press you buy make sure it takes standard 7/8 by 14 dies and standard shell holders.(Some of the old ones such as a Lyman Tru-Line Jr. require a different die thread size.) Hard to go wrong with RCBS!
 
This may end up sounding like a rant, so don't take this personal or anything, it isn't :D It's just that this is what made me needlessly worry about purchasing a press for a year before I finally decided I'd jump in (and boy am I glad I did).

Sort of a complicated setup to begin with. If you really shoot a lot and load pistol bullets it may be good for you but otherwise I think it a bit much.
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I'm not sure what is so complicated about a progressive press, I had never even see a press before I bought my Dillon 550, and they are definitely NOT complicated at all. Follow the instructions on setting it up, read a book on reloading, and go to it. Every single person I have talked to who bought a single stage first ended up regretting it and bought a progressive. Granted they all shoot pistol, so if you do too, don't waste your time and money on a single stage.

Fancy progressive presses are best left to experienced reloaders who reload hundreds of shells and don't need to learn and do things one step at a time.
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That's just not true at all. Like I said, follow the instructions, research reloading, read a book (or read five like I did) and go to it. All of this talk from guys saying they are complicated is a bunch of nonsense. I listened to that and put off buying a press for a year before I finally decided I was a smart enough guy to figure it out. A monkey could reload ammo, it isn't that hard. Potentially dangerous if you don't follow instructions and safety precautions, absolutely, so make sure you do.

I have loaded several thousand rounds this year alone (I got my press in January) and couldn't be happier. I follow the instructions, I follow the safety guidelines, I stay within safe loading parameters, and my loads are awesome. It's like anything else in life, if you want to know how to do it, learn, but don't be afraid or think something is too complicated unless you're talking brain surgery or rocket science.
 
I concede that it may not be too complicated if it's what you enjoy and want. But I'll bet most of us load 200 or less rounds per year. I'm not sure if such an expensive press is justified until you know you will be loading more than that. I must be old fashioned but when I think beginner I think Lee loader or Lee hand press. The guys who were really INTO it had presses that clamp to a table. I guess the main thing is to get what we will enjoy!
 
gpoole said:
I concede that it may not be too complicated if it's what you enjoy and want. But I'll bet most of us load 200 or less rounds per year. I'm not sure if such an expensive press is justified until you know you will be loading more than that. I must be old fashioned but when I think beginner I think Lee loader or Lee hand press. The guys who were really INTO it had presses that clamp to a table. I guess the main thing is to get what we will enjoy!
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want to guess again? i try to go every week and do 100 on 44 alone, and about double that on 9- 200 is only like 4 boxes of pistol- and most of us have more than 1 rifle, at least a couple of pistols- and i'm not near into it as some on this board- i say start with the a progressive, esp the dillon 550 and that way, you're not stuck with a bunch of obsolete equipment- i gave away my single stage rcbs and my manual powder measure- non longer needed them wheni got my dillon- besides, since the 550 has no auto index, it's really a manual multistation rather than a true progressive- a true progressive rotates the shellplate to the next station with the pull of the lever- you use a starwheel independent of the lever to advance on the 550
 
But I'll bet most of us load 200 or less rounds per year.
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Wow, that's less then 4 rounds a week :shock:
Over the last few years, I have been shooting an average of 100rds/week... of 38spl. When I add up the fun shoot with the 45, the PPC match with the 9mm, that's about 10,000 rds of CF a year.

I guess been single, no kids, no cars and a GF that's also a pistol shooter helps me getting to the range more often. :wink:

Mike.
 
esquif said:
and if i get the press and the scale and i allready have a good caliper except from bullet brass powder and dies what else should i need ??
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Buy a reloading manual (Speer, Hornady, Lyman etc). Get a current version, some powder formulations have changed over the years.

Full of lots of information including "how to" sections on reloading. Also a good place to check on minimum or maximum loadings (don't rely on information obtained from the web or from forums without cross checking in the manual).
 
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