reloading set up advice

To feed these things affordably you pretty much have to become skilled at online shopping; whether you reload or buy ammo.
Honestly if your good at bulk purchase shopping you will save around +/- $50.00/1000 on the 9mm by reloading (assuming you have the brass, tooling and place no value on tumbling media), poorly purchased components can eliminate this savings, or poorly purchased ammo will increase savings...
If you reload you can tailor make your ammo which will work better, its a great hobby and on other cartridges you can definitely save cash, or at least make ammo you can’t buy but on a 9mm what’s your time worth...your not saving much IMO.
However I still do it...
 
Some of the black Friday sales have 9mm at some of the best prices in years. Don't be afraid to order online from some of the reputable dealers here.
 
BAAC said:
I started with a single stage, and still prefer it for most rifle rounds. (I have 2 single stage and one progressive.)

Don't buy the Lee Load Master progressive. It's a piece of crap.
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Yeah. They’re tricky if you have limited mechanical skills.
Mine run flawlessly. 1000 rounds of 9mm or 45acp in a couple of hours.
 
bertn said:
It sounds like you will get a rifle at some point so I'd say get a good single stage.
This will get you used to all the steps of the reloading process and when you shoot a lot of pistol ammo you will likely add a progressive press.

If you do get into higher volume reloading you will likely not be happy with a turret press so I would skip the turret unless perhaps a great deal comes along.

Nothing wrong with buying used. All my presses were used and if you buy hornady, rcbs or Dillon it's still backed by great warranty.
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Agreed like a Forster if you really like making accurate rounds
 
BigRobb said:
Yeah. They’re tricky if you have limited mechanical skills.
Mine run flawlessly. 1000 rounds of 9mm or 45acp in a couple of hours.
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Less about the 'limited mechanical skills'... Probably more like 'limited patience.' I have been known to express... er, 'profanity-laced disappointment' in some tools.

Just adding context. The first Lee LM I got showed up in (literal) pieces. It had shattered on delivery. That's mostly on Amazon not Lee, granted.

But the second one also has had several parts break on it. I can coax and convince the thing to work and still use it, but... That's good design? From the priming system to the powder measure to the station advance, it's cheaply designed. (It's an inexpensive press - I get it.)

Maybe I got two lemons, but I've never had problems with any of my other equipment. My next press will be a Dillon.
 
silverfoxdj said:
Well said I still use my single stage unit even though I have a Dillon 650
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Ditto.

Buy a used single stage like a rockchucker. For load development a single stage can't be beat. Or for loading rifle that you don't shoot allot. A dillon 550 is not hard to master at all. Check out some you-tube videos. After a couple sessions reloading pistol you'll understand the benefits of a progressive. Sure reloading can be relaxing. But reloading pistol can be brain numbing. A dillon 550 is warranted after 500 rounds a month, a 650 after 500 rounds a weekend.

Some people collect lots of guns. Some spend their time and $$ at the range.
 
Look at gun shows for used presses and bring a friend who reloads who is not blindly brand particular.
Just look for good condition, working order, well taken care of and smooth.

Try to avoid anything that is so obsolete that you can't get parts for it, or is propitiatory and uses non standard dies.
I have at least one each of single stage, turret and progressive types.
All see some use.

Once you get going on your learning curve , then you are ready for a new machine, if you still think you need it.
 
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