What press to choose?

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Jordi09

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I have been shooting for a while and I want to start reloading. I have been looking around for information but I am not still sure about what press to choose.

-I only want to reload 9mm
-I will shoot about 150 rounds per week
-I have 350$ to spent on a press, with some basic equipment to get started
-Single stage, turret press or progressive?

What model do you suggest?
 
The best one you can afford. the bargain presses will do a commendable job, but the better presses are just so much nicer to work with.

bearhunter
 
Jordi09 said:
I have been shooting for a while and I want to start reloading. I have been looking around for information but I am not still sure about what press to choose.

-I only want to reload 9mm
-I will shoot about 150 rounds per week
-I have 350$ to spent on a press, with some basic equipment to get started
-Single stage, turret press or progressive?

What model do you suggest?
Click to expand...

It will depend on your purpose of reloading. Since I have all 3 types you mentioned, a single Lee Reloader single, a Lyman T Mag II turret, & a Lee Load Master progressive. I can make the following suggestions:

If you are reloading...
  • to save money in the long run, obtain decent accuracy and a large quantity of loads in a short time, get a progressive.
  • to obtain better accuracy/recoil control at a slower pace, get either a single (more die changing) or a turret (less die changing).

At your budget of $350, you might consider the Lee Pro 1000 progressive OR the Lyman T Mag II press, along with a powder dispenser, and a decent mechanical scale.

Please note that these are only suggestions. There are other choices by different manufacturers.
 
it should be mentioned that lee also sells refurb/seconds direct out of the factory- these are as good as a new press but have flaws that make them not quite good enuff for primary sales or used ones with new parts to make like new- they represent VERY good value for money -you need to contact lee precision directly to see what's available- and the new turrect is called the classic cast-in your situation,you could get by with the standard turret or a 1000(THE 9MM in factory set-up has NEVER given me any trouble-i've had it at least since 90)but if you see long guns doen the road,get the classic cast b/c of the longer tower- if you get the short version and want to do rifle,you have to take out the auto undex rod which leaves you having to manually rotate the turret- the 1000 won't do rifle rounds period with the exception of.223,so that leaves you with either the loadmaster or the classic cast turret- now the question is low or high volume; low volume =classic cast,high volume loadmaster-and if you do go loadmaster,get a PISTOL VERSION to begin with as the rifle versions lack a feed tower and a few other things -they use a tray with manual feed in rifle-
 
Just my two cents if you are new to reloading, mabey a good idea to start off with a single stage set up until you get comfortable with the ins an outs of reloading. Progressive presses can be a bit frustrating at first if you have never reloaded before. I still like my single stage, i use a ROCK CHUCKER RCBS single stage, they are built like tanks, and can be had used here on the board in the 100-120$ range. i have had LEE single stage press's and broke the lever (handle) links resizing 308 miltary brass, don't have that problem with the RCBS.
 
Jordi if I found myself in your situation I would buy a Lee 4 hole classic Turret Press. It is a basic press, that your can turn out excellent accurate ammo with. The first hole deprimes, the downstroke from the depriming seats the primer, the second hole drops powder into the case, the third seats the bullet and lastly the bullet gets resized with a carbide resizer, so there will be no issues of chambering.
Lee classic auto indexing 4 hole turret press with 4 die set + powder measure for around $200. good to go.
 
Josey Wales nailed it on the head. Learn to walk before running. It's a learning curve. Fu@k ups do happen when reloading. Progressive presses are great when you know what you are going. Presses that I own are RCBS partner & rockchuker, Lyman spartan, CH-H Magnum & a Dillon 550. All are good.
 
Get a Lee 1000 refurb. Should cost delivered around $125 to 150 and comes with everything you will need to make ammo. Get the case collator - big red dish thing that allows you to dump cases into the case feeder tubes.

Keep it clean, well lubed and change the plastic index thingy every 5000rds or when indexing comes impossible.

The seater also does a nice job of taper crimping your ammo. I didn't think it would work but it does. Just chamber check the first few rds to ensure they chamber easily.

Get a tumbler to polish/clean the brass and you are will within your $350 budget - enough to buy your first 1000 rds of components.

If concerned about screwing up, just put one case in the shellholder and load it 'single' stage. Watch each step before proceeding.

When you get more comfy, you load progressively BUT I always look at the powder level before putting in a bullet. Mistakes happen and a double charge WILL fit. That's bad....
Jerry
 
after y'all have been on this board a while,you'll get to know which posters are masters at this sport in one form or another - mystic is one of them-hungry and skulboy are others- you reallyshould take their council-this is the result of many YEARS OF EXPERIENCE-i've been reloading since 1970 and been down the single stage road,evolved into the turret, then went with the lee 1000 and finally the loadmaster as the round i was using needed a 4th hole - i also have the dillon 550 for doing rifle rounds
there's NO WAY i would recommend a single stage now-except if you need an extra station for an die or something- what i DO recommend is usingSINGLE ROUNDS in the progressive until you see HOW IT WORKS.then fill your tubes and have at her- if you do buy a single stage, chances are you'll soon get frustrated with all the screw/unscrew and you'll do one of 2 things- either buy a second single stage ie one for each die ,or sell it and get a turret or progressive/turret-and you'll lose money on the deal- why bother?
 
tigrr said:
Jordi if I found myself in your situation I would buy a Lee 4 hole classic Turret Press. It is a basic press, that your can turn out excellent accurate ammo with. The first hole deprimes, the downstroke from the depriming seats the primer, the second hole drops powder into the case, the third seats the bullet and lastly the bullet gets resized with a carbide resizer, so there will be no issues of chambering.
Lee classic auto indexing 4 hole turret press with 4 die set + powder measure for around $200. good to go.
Click to expand...

I'll second the Lee Classic. I have a Dillon650 progressive as well but the Lee is really all one needs for what you want to do and a lot more.
 
Thank you for all your comments, I am going to buy a Lee Turret Press, it will be enough for my needs and I will be able to learn the basics.
 
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