New reloader looking for press advice - 9mm handgun

ambishooter said:
I also use this Lee Classic Cast 4-hole Turret Press Kit for 9mm. 150-200 rds per hr and can also be used as single stage press without the indexing bar. Great starter press as I eventually planning to upgrade to a progressive press, double the output.
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I agree with Ambishooter. A Lee turret press is the best way to start reloading for handgun ammo. The Lee Classic Cast Press Kit is excellant value for your money & can be used as a single stage to learn on.
You can make alot of ammo on it for a small investment. It'll also make rifle ammo if you choose to do so later.
Regards, Henry
Budget Shooter Supply.
 
I'm gonna put a plug in for Henry here. His advice is good, and the Lee Classic Turret is great starter if you plan on bulk pistol and rifle in the future. However, I'm going to go out different than everyone else and suggest the Lee Loadmaster press if you really are just loading 9mm for now. Henry has them on for 299.00, you pick the appropriate calibre and it comes with everything for that calibre, dies in. I have one, I'm good for 4 to 5 hundred an hour. Sure, it's not a blue machine, but the blue on Henrys site is 695 and you havent got dies or anything calibre specific yet... This leaves you with 200 bucks to buy a few other things, like a tumbler for cleaning brass (You just clean primer in, and then load it through the press, it deprimes, reprimes, powders and flares, seats bullet and crimps if you want). It comes with a Lee Autodisc and they work really well I've found. Better than my Hornady powder dropper, as it cuts flake pistol powder pretty badly. Overall, I really like it for the price, its a very big beefy press with everything to start. If you gi this way, also get the case collator. Very handy.

And another plug for Henry, just get his 9mm bulk once fired brass. 60 bucks or so for 1000 deprimed brass.
 
Armored Metal said:
Maybe my situation can help you understand why a progressive press is not within my budget:
Married
2 young kids
A mortgage
City taxes
School taxes
One car
A dog
.....and a hamster.

To add to all this, the growing cost of groceries ans gas.

I'm in my forties. I've been shooting since I was 12. I LOVE shooting. I think of shooting sooo many times in a day. I used to compete but have had to put it on stand-by until the kids are a little older.

One year ago I started reloading. All I could afford was a single stage press and a modest ammount of components. Guess what? I discovered a new passion and now can't stop thinking about reloading all the time. For now, I don't get to shoot as much as I'de like but that's OK, because my priorities have changed. I'll get to shoot more often in a few years and even tough I'de love to get a Dillon...I just can't for now....it's not in my budget.

And yes, a single stage is slow for loading pistol rounds but I reload by the batch method and it's my Zen moment once the kids are in bed :)
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Yep I totally understand your predicament:
Married
2 young kids (8 & 10)
A mortgage
City taxes
School taxes
Two cars, a land rover and an old Jeep
Two rotten dogs
.....and no hamster.

I used to compete in three disciplines (IPSC, IDPA, and Service Rifle) and have taken a step back from all of it for a while until the kids are older and I have more time to spend at it.
Progressive presses are the single best investment in the shooting sports one can make. It saves money, it allows one to have a familiarity and understanding of ammunition like no other equipment (a single stage will allow for this as well, but the difference is in the efficiency of actually producing ammunition).
It is the best kept secret of the shooting sports - those that hand load get it.
I'd say if you are crunched for cash, sell a gun, or save your ammo budget for a year and get into it sooner than later.
 
beltfed said:
Yep I totally understand your predicament:
Marriedhttp://m.youtube.com/?reload=7&rdm=11x87n196#/watch?v=3DL7Skfr25g
2 young kids (8 & 10)
A mortgage
City taxes
School taxes
Two cars, a land rover and an old Jeep
Two rotten dogs
.....and no hamster.

I used to compete in three disciplines (IPSC, IDPA, and Service Rifle) and have taken a step back from all of it for a while until the kids are older and I have more time to spend at it.
Progressive presses are the single best investment in the shooting sports one can make. It saves money, it allows one to have a familiarity and understanding of ammunition like no other equipment (a single stage will allow for this as well, but the difference is in the efficiency of actually producing ammunition).
It is the best kept secret of the shooting sports - those that hand load get it.
I'd say if you are crunched for cash, sell a gun, or save your ammo budget for a year and get into it sooner than later.
Click to expand...

I'm happy to see that you understand my situation since you already went trough it yourself. I did my initial post because I get frustrated with guys who tell me right off the bat that a single stage is crap and to just buy a Dillon.....like I got a grand to spend at will on myself!? I had to keep my mouth shut with the last one who acted like that with me, because I just felt like saying: " Of course you can afford to spend at will! You're not married! You have no kids! And your Mama doesn't charge you rent! ". But I stayed polite.

Sorry....just venting.

Anyway. My plan is to invest in a Lee classic turret press in a couple if years. From all the Youtube videos I've watched, I think I'll be well served with that. I'll just have to save money because selling a gun is not an option. I've already trimmed down the herd and I only kept what I actually shoot.

And don't get a hamster! My wife hates "The Rat" as she calls it and I'm stuck washing the cage!

:)
 
I'm married with two little kids (2 and3), a mortgage, and a truck payment too, so I also understand that money can be tight. I cut back on other things to afford to buy guns and reloading stuff. Luckily my kids like spending time with me in the shop while reloading and working on my race car, but a progressive would be nice to allow me to get more ammo loaded I the limited amount of free time I do have. Just as an example, I used to buy lunch a lunch almost every day at work, now I pack a lunch every day and don't waste that $100-$150 every week. Same with buying coffee, I got a cheap espresso machine and I can make way better than Tim hortons or Starbucks at home for cheap. I do make pretty good money, but I know people that make more than me, have debt to the max, and can't afford an extra $100 that is unexpected.

I recently started going to the local IPSC practices most weeks and am shooting about 150-200 rounds of 45 most weeks, and I think a progressive press would be worth it for me, especially if my wife starts shooting more too.

Kristian
 
what are the advantages of the lee classic over the lee loadmaster over the dillon.
Just getting into pistol shooting now.
I have a rcbs ss press for my rifle cartriges (.308 & .223) Was thinking of just getting a 9mm die set for now.
collecting brass for now ill probably be going through 200-400 rounds a month.
will the die set from a SS work on all the progressive presses?
 
Thank you Henry... as an added input, you will not miss a step in a Turret, even double-safe with a progressive provided you do the full-stroke every time you pull the lever. No need to visually check the powder drop as long as you do random weight check every 20-30 rds (3-4 rds for every 100 rds). Whereas using a single stage, you need a loading tray, remove the powder-loaded casing from the press to the tray until you are ready to seat bullet. Tedious, workable but not recommended if you have too many interruptions or you are not paying attention. This is a recipe for disaster. With Turret or Progressive, one full stroke to the next step till you finish a round.

However, Henry's "Lee Loadmaster Press" seems to be a better value now. When I got my Turret 3 yrs ago, Lee Loadmaster Press cost a lot more. Not anymore! The only slight disadvantage is the set-up. Lee Classic Turret Press is almost no brainer. Win-win for both.







Henry Nierychlo said:
I agree with Ambishooter. A Lee turret press is the best way to start reloading for handgun ammo. The Lee Classic Cast Press Kit is excellant value for your money & can be used as a single stage to learn on.
You can make alot of ammo on it for a small investment. It'll also make rifle ammo if you choose to do so later.
Regards, Henry
Budget Shooter Supply.
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