Newbie wants to start reloading

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

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From what my online research has indicated, Dillon and Lee appear to be the reloader brands to get. Dillon is expensive, but tends to have all the bells and whistles, Lee seems much less expensive, albeit more basic. The Lee carbide dies seem to be amongst the best as well.

Go to You Tube and search "reloading", you will see excellent home made videos on using Lee presses.

My question is: For someone who is unwilling to invest $1000+ for a fully loaded Dillon 550 or 650, would a basic Lee 1000 that Gunnar sells for $260 get the job done. Also, if I enjoy relaoding, can I add the bells and whistles to the Lee down the road?

Thanks
Gene
 
To answer your question, yes.

I'm sure someone who has a Lee 1000 will jump in and give you the low down on the machine. I run a Loadmaster myself so I can't give details. There are quite a few guys here that use the 1000 and seem happy with it.

Lee is a decent option for just starting reloading. As you pointed out getting a Dillon set up right off sets you back big money before you even decide if reloading is for you. Try looking up Lee vs. Dillon on TFL, THR, or GlockTalk and you will get some idea of what you have to sacrifice when you save that money and go with Lee. Lets just say you might have to have some mechanical inclination to make a Lee work.;)

If you want a cheap way to start consider a turret like the Lee Classic Cast. Redesigned lately and stronger than ever, yet not mechanically complex like a progressive could be for a noob. If or when you want to increase speed or capacity and you know you want to keep reloading, you can get a 1000, Loadmaster, LnL, or Dillion. The old turret will still be handy to decap or doing small runs of ammo.

You won't be cranking out hundreds of rounds per hour on a turret press but it is easier to learn to reload on being one stage at a time.

Good luck in your choice.
 
The idea behind reloading is all about saving money, and ejoying it as a pass time. You will find what you will be happy with as far as Lee vs Dillon etc. Don't count out the LnL by Hornady, great press I hear. I use a Lee turret press for now...that is all the money I could afford at the time, and I am happy with it so far! I load 9mm and .223 for IPSC I find it is not as fast as Dillon or the Lee 1000, but I can make enough to keep me shooting for now, and the whole thing cost me just over $300.00 with dies,powder bullets, primmers etc. I walked in the door and mounted the press, set up the dies, and I was off to the races! Cheers!
 
I used to reload my own ammunition for my 30-30 Marlin and did so for some 40 years. I sarted out with single Herters press and the dies for the 30-30. I molded my own bullets and the whole 9 yards. I only used my Rifle for target practice and Practice I did. I put over 1000 rounds of leaded bullets through that gun and with pretty parn good accuarcy. I ened up selling off my reloader and decided to start buying boxes of ammo instead. The price of reloading was getting expensive. I did go back to reloading for my 30-30, but this time I just went out and bought a Lee Loader (you know the one cheapy set without the press) and reloaded my shells again this time using Jacketed bullets. I do feel that it was still cheaper than buying ammo at the store. I have just recently sold my 30-30 and have purchased a 9mm Firecat and a .40 Cal. Llama. Then price I paid for the ammo, I don't think I could reload any cheaper. So, I will just buy it at the store. I would say that unless you go through a large amount of ammo or are reloading the larger Calibers that it would not be worth reloading.
 
Before you invest ++$, get a basic setup and see if it's for you..in terms of time spent, +/- money saved, and quality of product that you turn out.
It's hard to justify any time/money saving reloading small quantities of 9MM..
It's easy to justify if shooting LARGE volumes on a regular basis, owning and
'feeding' something rare or where factory ammo is expensive or hard to come by.
I currently have two Dillon 550's..one for large and one for small primers..
Just purchased an RCBS turret press for those calibres for which fewer rounds are required...
Start small and basic...you can always move up if it's appropriate.
I can't stress how important it is to obtain and read several manuals, as well as enlisting the assistance of someone familiar with the reloading process until you have some experience...it's rewarding but perilous for the 'newbie'.
 
I have the basic Lee Anniversay Press. Cheap and reliable.
I have loaded 1800 x .40 S&W and a couple hundred 300 Win Mag. Works great, didn't cost a fortune. Suggest you don't spend a fortune starting off.
 
Doesn't anyone use RCBS anymore?
My first press was (and still is) a single stage RCBS unit that I got used through a free ad newspaper.
Later I got a new Dillon 550, but I still use the RCBS often.
 
I've stopped recommending RCBS......New reloaders ask for advise...so I recommend RCBS because mine has lasted since 1964......they buy cheap Lee potmetal stuff, then you see them looking for Lee parts a short time later. RCBS, Redding,Lyman, Hornady, Dillon, all recommended. I only use Lee products when strength/durability/accuracy are not important.
 
tootall said:
Doesn't anyone use RCBS anymore?
My first press was (and still is) a single stage RCBS unit that I got used through a free ad newspaper.
Later I got a new Dillon 550, but I still use the RCBS often.
Click to expand...


I use a Rockchucker for rifle.

But I also have a 550 for pistol.;)
 
I'm a noob at reloading myself and picked up a used RCBS partner press with everything else for around $300, including a few extras that aren't necessary.
While the Lee set is pretty good, the RCBS components are heavier duty. Get someone who knows what they're doing to help you as well.
 
Costs of Reloading

tcobljh said:
I would say that unless you go through a large amount of ammo or are reloading the larger Calibers that it would not be worth reloading.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you're in Iowa. Up here, unless you're lucky enough to live next door to a big-barn outlet, you'd be shocked what we Canadians have to pay for bog-standard 9mm ammo. Personally I find it worthwhile to reload 9mm.
 
I used to reload a lot, then I started buying a ton of surplus military ammo from the US back in the mid 90's.
I refer to that time as the golden days of surplus ammo. Usually, I was getting .303 and 8x57mm for US$100 per 1000. No way could I reload for that price.
Now that the US state dept has stopped private exports, I am back into reloading.
Also, reloading always did pay for big sporting calibres, like 7 RemMag.
 
I usually recommend that a beginner start out with a normal turret press due to price. They can always upgrade to another make & type of press for the turret has gone through the wrong doings & such during the first yrs.

Most seem to go for the Lee three or four die turret due to enitial cost & then progress onto something better like a Dillon 550 yet some hang onto their Lee & continue to shoot a lot & churn out some good reloads.

One chap bought a Lee 3 die turret (obtrained from a passed away ex-member---includes scale, inertia bullet remover & other goodies), phoned them about the 3 die & for something like $20 or $25.00 he will have the four die head. So once ready & bolted down I will come over to help him get started & have made him some dummie loads he can check back on.
 
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