Thinking of buying a press - few reloading questions!

thenerdboy said:
Why not start with a used single stage and see if reloading is something you'll be interested in? I guess a turret press wouldn't be a bad option, either.

Will you load a bit cheaper on a per round basis? Sure (well, maybe). Will you spend less money overall? It depends on what you load, the quality you want to load and how much you shoot (more than before). Do you have time to invest in both doing the loading and developing the loads?

So much of this conversation depends on what your goals are and I think you may find that your goals change once you start reloading. It may begin with aspirations of saving money but before long, you might find that you're only interested in components that have "match" or "benchrest" on the box. IMO, it would also take a long time to see the return on a progressive setup unless you shoot a lot and you're not really loading for accuracy (I'm guessing you're in it to the tune of $1000 by the time the press is setup with dies, accessories and your first batch of components). YMMV.
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Excellent advice. And most guys with a Major Progressive tend to have a SS press as well for small jobs anyway.

I have, BTW, an Excel programme which will give you cost per round, payoff time, etc. PM me with your email address if you want it.
 
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davide montini said:
Cry once and buy a Dillon ..... depending on how much you want to pump out.. the 550(b)...the xl650 which I have ...great machine. Or the 1050 ... you tube is your best friend look at all the videos compare them ..... and this is my recommend stay away from lee... just garbage
The only thing I have from lee is a single stage press and dies
Try to find someone in your neck of the woods and try it if possible
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Buy a Dillon and cry once. That's my opinion. As a rifle shooter a very expensive high volume progressive press is the last thing that you need.

Frankly, you don't even need a turret press.

But, the iron-base Lee Turret certainly isn't garbage, although the Dillon elitists will assure you that if it isn't Dillon blue it's crap.

Your best bet is a Lee Classic Cast iron press with the removable screw-in bushing (not the quick-change insert version). With this you can load any round including large diameter cartridges like .577 Snider, and it will probably last you a lifetime.

Rifle reloading doesn't require speed. A hundred rounds can be run through a press in a short enough time.
 
Any lee PRESS should serve you well. You didn't really state the type of shooting you do and the accuracy you are after. If cost savings on ammo is your goal, be prepared to spend that saved money on equipment and components because its a real rabbit hole you head down.

I opted for the rock chucker kit. It was around $400 at the time and I still use all the stuff I got in the kit. I have since added 2 Dillon presses to the bench but am thankful to have started on a single stage. It is my most used press without a doubt.

I haven't used LEE equipment other than dies, but from what I have seen and read, I think the RCBS equipment that come with the press is a bit higher quality.
 
You don't need a progressive with the information that you gave us. A single stage will do you just fine. And yes you can save money loading 9 mm no matter how you reload it. I have a RCBS Rock Chucker an a Hornady LnL. I bought the progressive because I shoot a tonne of pistol and 500 rounds an hour makes sense.
 
Rock Chucker, Hornady Progressive ( Bass Pro had the best prices ) and then Dillon 1050 if you feel like going crazy. The Hornady is significantly less money than a comparable Dillon 650 and infinitely less complicated. Mine was purchased in the early 90's and still going strong with only a couple replacement parts free from Hornady. Did I mention, you should get a Rock Chucker. It will last a lifetime and is simple and superb.
 
MustangFrank said:
Rock Chucker, Hornady Progressive ( Bass Pro had the best prices ) and then Dillon 1050 if you feel like going crazy. The Hornady is significantly less money than a comparable Dillon 650 and infinitely less complicated. Mine was purchased in the early 90's and still going strong with only a couple replacement parts free from Hornady. Did I mention, you should get a Rock Chucker. It will last a lifetime and is simple and superb.
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Rock Chucker or Lee Classic Cast are both just fine. My only criticism of the Lee is the tubular steel handle. But most users report that this is a non-issue unless you are into heavy-duty case forming.

My second press is an RCBS JR3 that is 44 years old.
Just a single linkage and no compound leverage.
Resizes anything up to .30-06 class cases with ease.
Took it apart and cleaned it up only once.
No looseness at all.
It will outlive me.
 
gIVEN THE RIFLE CALIBERS YOU LAID FOR, A SINGLE STAGE PRESS IS JUST FINE AND AN EXCELLENT WAY TO LEARN HOW TO LOAD.

You size a pail of brass, prime that pail of brass (maybe at the same times as a you size) change the die, and seat bullets in the trays of charged cases. Changing the die over takes about 30 seconds. The first time you do it you find the correct setting and then lock it in, so the next time it is just a case of screwing the die into place.

I have a Dillon 650 and a 550, but most of my rifle ammo is loaded on a single stage or a turret used as a single stage.
 
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