Noob advice - dillon press?
- Thread starter Bananatole
- Start date
About six minutes on a 550 with bullet tray and empty case bin.
Whether or not 7.62x39mm is worth your while to reload depends on what you want to do. If all you want is cheap blasting ammo, surplus is as cheap as it gets. If you want something more than this, such as hunting ammo, it might be worth your while.
9mm runs 260 delivered for canadian bdx bought by a local distributor, 7.62 x 39 surplus is 222 delivered from trade ex. The cost factor was me taking this off topic.
As to your original question. You need a press, dies, components, a scale, a chamfer tool, and case lubricant for rifle rounds. If you buy a dillon you will not need an additional powder drop, funnel , and priming tool.
I would suggest you get a reloading manual.
If you are loading large quantities of ammo a progressive is more expensive and more convenient. A single stage press or turret press is alot cheaper, but you are limited to producing about a hundred rounds per hour. Both systems can produce quality reloaded ammunition.
As to your original question. You need a press, dies, components, a scale, a chamfer tool, and case lubricant for rifle rounds. If you buy a dillon you will not need an additional powder drop, funnel , and priming tool.
I would suggest you get a reloading manual.
If you are loading large quantities of ammo a progressive is more expensive and more convenient. A single stage press or turret press is alot cheaper, but you are limited to producing about a hundred rounds per hour. Both systems can produce quality reloaded ammunition.
I realize surplus is cheap, I have 2100 rounds in my lockbox. But the "hunting" rounds are 20+ a box. I'd really like to use my sks as a deer gun, just for fun.
My main concern is .308 , I'd like to make match load for cheaper than 15 for 20. I've been accumulating brass so might as well. I've decided to get te dillon press this summer. Time do do some research. Plus I want a 357 or 44.
Also I like this type of stuff, it's going to be rewarding to me, so that's worth it alone.
You can use your surplus to make hunting rounds by pulling the bullets and replacing the projectile with a hunting round. Brass for 7.62x39 is difficult and expensive to source.
To give you an idea on pricing to load match grade 308. Look at sierra palma match 155 grain bullets, varget powder, benchrest primers and lapua brass.
Also you should consider foster benchrest dies to minimize runout, a powder trickler and a very high quality scale.
Well, at a fairly leisurely pace, I seem to be able to load about 400/hour on my 550. So from a cost savings perspective, that looks like about 32 saved and I guess I could say that for every hour I spend loading 9mm, it works out to around 30 dollars in savings.
With the amount that I currently shoot, I would guess that I am saving about 90-120 dollars a month in terms of cost for 9mm. Projected over a year, thats in the area of 1200 bucks, which is nothing to sneeze at I think. I could probably load even cheaper if I hunted for deals a bit more. YMMV.
Of course, I do think that I shoot more now that I reload, because it is more affordable. So in the long run I am not sure that it really "saves" money, so much as it lets me shoot more with the same money spent.
Also, when reloading you can find a perfect combination of projectile/oal/powder/powder weight/primer for your specific gun, thereby making the best possible ammo for your gun. That is worthwhile too.
How many BDX 9mm do you get for 260 bux? I recently bought some zeros and they were about 110/thousand. AIM projectiles are similar in price. Not sure how good/bad BDX are (never used them). Of course, I try to buy projectiles in bulk and I will drive to pick them up. If you are paying to have them mailed, the weight can make it expensive...
I use rcbs bullet collect puller and lee seating die. I shoot plenty of bullets this way at indoor range.
If your getting a press invest in a puller, you will need it for the mistakes that you will make
260 per thousand tax in delivered. Your paying 110 and you are willing to drive.
so
projectiles 110$
primers 40$
powder 28$
casings 30$
total is 208$ per thousand not including gas money
now you could say that you reuse the casings, or you could say that the guy who buys a case of rounds could sell the empties so the casings are basically a wash.
I do load for 9mm on a dillon. I have 1000s of primers, bullets, casings, and lbs of powder. If I did not have these components on hand and a dillon 550b then I would consider buying the rounds in bulk.
the dillon 550b is a great press,for sure,but...
It is not a good FIRST press if you don,t have a skilled reloader beside you to help set it up.
It is expensive for caliber conversions and a tolal pain to change calibers and primer sizes
(Small to large primer swap)
To change calibers you drain powder measure unless you have 1 for èach caliber.
To change shellplates it requires taking the press partially apart.
Dies are easy to change as long as you have extra die holders.
Get a lee classic cast turret to start,trust me--a dream to chànge calibers,the only caviat is
It won,t auto powder measure with the double disk kit for .308...
It is not a good FIRST press if you don,t have a skilled reloader beside you to help set it up.
It is expensive for caliber conversions and a tolal pain to change calibers and primer sizes
(Small to large primer swap)
To change calibers you drain powder measure unless you have 1 for èach caliber.
To change shellplates it requires taking the press partially apart.
Dies are easy to change as long as you have extra die holders.
Get a lee classic cast turret to start,trust me--a dream to chànge calibers,the only caviat is
It won,t auto powder measure with the double disk kit for .308...
I got the 550 as a first press. I haven't had any issues, and I had nobody to show me how to use it in person. I just read some reloading books, read up on the forums, and asked questions of experienced reloaders. Made a few no-primer/no-powder rounds to start and see how things worked. Started loading super slow (maybe 50/hr) so that I could watch everything that was happening and really see how the machine works. I'm much quicker with it now...
I have heard that many folks are happy with the classic cast LEE turret, and I am sure that it is a great piece of gear. I am happy to have gone with the 550 as I can make ammo a bit quicker than I believe I could make it on a turret.
You are right about caliber changes being expensive. If you end up buying a toolhead/powder measure and dies for each calibre, it can get costy. If you do have these items though, it really isn't too hard to change calibers. I think I can do that in about ten minutes. The shell plate is easy to change. I also find that it is not hard to change primer sizes.
At the end of the day, make your choice and have some fun. I actually enjoy reloading and I am happy I got into the hobby.
I don't think you would go wrong with a Dillon 550 or with a LEE turret. What you have to ask yourself is how much shooting you plan on doing and how much time you truly want to spend reloading, then buy the appropriate machine.
I have heard that many folks are happy with the classic cast LEE turret, and I am sure that it is a great piece of gear. I am happy to have gone with the 550 as I can make ammo a bit quicker than I believe I could make it on a turret.
You are right about caliber changes being expensive. If you end up buying a toolhead/powder measure and dies for each calibre, it can get costy. If you do have these items though, it really isn't too hard to change calibers. I think I can do that in about ten minutes. The shell plate is easy to change. I also find that it is not hard to change primer sizes.
At the end of the day, make your choice and have some fun. I actually enjoy reloading and I am happy I got into the hobby.
I don't think you would go wrong with a Dillon 550 or with a LEE turret. What you have to ask yourself is how much shooting you plan on doing and how much time you truly want to spend reloading, then buy the appropriate machine.
that is a very worth it.
$12/50 reloaded, $28/50 inc tax for factory.
Some can get it even cheaper than this.
Don't spew crap like that! I learned on a 550b without someone holding my hand. It's not rocket science. And this may come as a complete surprise: not everyone is concerned with how much money they spend on reloading equipment, especially when it comes to quality.
