Never again will i buy factory ammo!

hunter64 said:
Can't believe no one has said to drink the Blue Cool-aid yet, guess they will be along shortly.
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The only Dillon product I have are blue-plastic ammo boxes... at $4 a pop and holding 50 or 100 pistol rounds each, why not? They come in real handy when reloading. :D

Other than that, I think the less expensive stuff does the job just as well. Not that Dillon isn't a quality brand, which it is... just somewhat overpriced, IMHO.


:Slavex: :NAA: (<-- Look at that! new emoticons! And they have the nicknames of mods! :D)
 
762mm said:
the only dillon product i have are blue-plastic ammo boxes... At $4 a pop and holding 50 or 100 pistol rounds each, why not? They come in real handy when reloading. :d

other than that, i think the less expensive stuff does the job just as well. Not that dillon isn't a quality brand, which it is... Just somewhat overpriced, imho.
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incomiiinnnnggggg!!!!!!
 
Nah, stuff only gets so good, then after that, you pay for the one that spends the most to get you to know them most. If the Lee works great, (and they do) just stick with that. If you plan on shooting thousands of rounds of reloads, maybe look at some type of turret/progressive loader, but , if you are like me, and want mainly hunting ammo, with the ability to shoot as much as you can afford at the range, then just get Challenger kit, and read the books. If, down the road, you become some type of reloading Guru, then who says you cant sell or trade up to a higher yield press system.
 
A friend and I went halfers on a dillon 650. We pumped out our first 495 rounds of .45 ACP tonight. Following the instructions and double checking the quantities we had it setup and pumped that ammo out in about 3 hours. The case feeder was damaged in shipping, so we didn't get to use it... I understand why the case feeder is a must.
 
I 100% agree I started reloading appr 30 years ago bought an RCBS Rochchucker Master Kit and I am still using it today I have probably loaded 50,000 rounds with it now and it is still as good as new.

Here are a couple tips...

For case/brass lube I recommend Hornady One Shot spray lube just stand your cases up in a tray shake the can to mix and spray let stand for a few minutes and your cases are ready to run thru your resizing die you do not even have to clean off the cases afterwards I do though only lube I have never had to worry about getting dents in the shoulder of the brass because to much lube was used.

Cleaning lube from cases put cases in plastic bucket spray laquer thinner onto them blow dry with compressed are especially the priomer pocket cleans out most of the primer crud. (use gloves)

Last step for loading 45-70's will be to crimp your cases I use RCBS die sets but only use Lee Factory Crimp dies for crimps they are super easy to use and will give you the best/most consistant crimp available, do not over crimp for top velocity jacketed bullet loads use a max crimp of 1 1/4 turn down adjustment cast can handle a heavier crimp = max 1 3/4 turn down but you will be just as happy with 1 1/4 turn adjustment.

Gun powder for the 45-70 = H322 yes I know others will recommend this or that powder and I have used almost everyone of them myself but there is one powder that is better than all the rest = H322 get it use it and tell anyone that suggests you use something else thanks but no thanks... :D

Never touch your primers with your fingers unless all oils have been removed from them nothing screws up reloading ammo more than having dead primers due to oil from your fingers and you will not know you screwed up until you try to fire the round.

Hope that helps and if when you are finally set up for reloading you would like some info on my H322 data that I use with 300gr to 550gr bullets pm me and I will share...

:)
 
I have been using a Lee breech lock press kit for quite a while and really like the quick change bushings, but I think I'm going to get the turret press because it's so much easier to switch calibers.
I've ended up buying about ten extra bushings for my breech lock anyway so I might as well switch to turrets.
Also I would have to agree that the Lee perfect powder measure does not throw consistent charges with some powders (win 231 for example) but with the 45-70 powders you want to use it should be OK.
And lastly, those Factory Crimp dies are awesome for straight walled cartridges with cast bullets, they post size the whole case so you don't have to worry about over expanding the neck, they also allow crimp adjustment without screwing with bullet seating which aids in consistency. I highly recommend them for 45-70. Problem is you'd be short one turret on a turret press.
 
diananike said:
And lastly, those Factory Crimp dies are awesome for straight walled cartridges with cast bullets, they post size the whole case so you don't have to worry about over expanding the neck, they also allow crimp adjustment without screwing with bullet seating which aids in consistency. I highly recommend them for 45-70.
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Be careful in using the factory crimp die on cast bullets, if it is set to crimp to hard it will size the cast bullet down and you will be scratching your head wondering why you are getting lead in your barrel and your accuracy is suddenly gone to pot.
 
diananike said:
And lastly, those Factory Crimp dies are awesome for straight walled cartridges with cast bullets, they post size the whole case so you don't have to worry about over expanding the neck, they also allow crimp adjustment without screwing with bullet seating which aids in consistency. I highly recommend them for 45-70. Problem is you'd be short one turret on a turret press.
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Get the 4-hole Lee Classic Cast Turret. The 4th hole is for the FCD.
 
Go green young man, redding or RCB, if you can break RCBS they will replace foc!
edited to add, use imperial die sizing wax, it comes off in the tumbler so no ill effects.
 
Thanks for all of the great replies, it helped making the decision on what to buy much easier. I have decided to go with the Lee breech lock kit, it seems the most cost effective way to go at this point. At this point i dont think i need a turret press as i don't see my self shooting enough to justify it.


JaysonCraig said:
you should have bought guns in normal NATO caliber, and then bought the ammo in mass amounts. But you are on the right track with the reloading. I couldn't take a stand and tell myself no more shooting until i can reload, though.
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I didn't buy a gun in a nato caliber because i needed a gun that could come fishing with me, small and compact enough that its not a huge burden to carry and would put down a grizzly bear if needed. That's why i bought a marlin guide gun.But after shooting a few rounds through it i was hooked!and a .308 does not have enough knock down power for what i wanted.

Camp Cook said:
I 100% agree I started reloading appr 30 years ago bought an RCBS Rochchucker Master Kit and I am still using it today I have probably loaded 50,000 rounds with it now and it is still as good as new.

Here are a couple tips...

For case/brass lube I recommend Hornady One Shot spray lube just stand your cases up in a tray shake the can to mix and spray let stand for a few minutes and your cases are ready to run thru your resizing die you do not even have to clean off the cases afterwards I do though only lube I have never had to worry about getting dents in the shoulder of the brass because to much lube was used.

Cleaning lube from cases put cases in plastic bucket spray laquer thinner onto them blow dry with compressed are especially the priomer pocket cleans out most of the primer crud. (use gloves)

Last step for loading 45-70's will be to crimp your cases I use RCBS die sets but only use Lee Factory Crimp dies for crimps they are super easy to use and will give you the best/most consistant crimp available, do not over crimp for top velocity jacketed bullet loads use a max crimp of 1 1/4 turn down adjustment cast can handle a heavier crimp = max 1 3/4 turn down but you will be just as happy with 1 1/4 turn adjustment.

Gun powder for the 45-70 = H322 yes I know others will recommend this or that powder and I have used almost everyone of them myself but there is one powder that is better than all the rest = H322 get it use it and tell anyone that suggests you use something else thanks but no thanks... :D

Never touch your primers with your fingers unless all oils have been removed from them nothing screws up reloading ammo more than having dead primers due to oil from your fingers and you will not know you screwed up until you try to fire the round.

Hope that helps and if when you are finally set up for reloading you would like some info on my H322 data that I use with 300gr to 550gr bullets pm me and I will share...

:)
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Thanks for the tips and i will be PMing you for some info when i get all set up!
 
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