Will this press let me reload .44 magnum ammo?
- Thread starter speros
- Start date
One of the non progressive Lee three position turret presses would allow you to set up all the dies one time and leave them alone. You still do each operation separately but it has the advantage that you set up the dies one time only. Additional 3 position turret plates are easy to find and cheap. So you can get a few extra for each set of dies. And the cost for such a press is often not a lot more expensive than what you showed in your link.
I've got one of these old manual indexing presses and I'm using it to reload .500S&W Magnums. I don't have the need to load anything else on it at the moment but I got three extra plates off Ebay for $15 total "just in case". The press will do for any of the handgun and most of the shorter rifle sizes.
I've got one of these old manual indexing presses and I'm using it to reload .500S&W Magnums. I don't have the need to load anything else on it at the moment but I got three extra plates off Ebay for $15 total "just in case". The press will do for any of the handgun and most of the shorter rifle sizes.
Lee "O" Frame Press "Kit"
I have personally loaded over 10,000 [that is not a typo...
] rounds of ammo on the same Lee "O" press kit just like the one you are looking at in that E-Bay ad. I have used that press to load pistol ctgs from .32ACP up to .455 Colt/Webley/Eley, including 9mm, 10mm, .40 S&W, .38 ACP/Super, .38 Spl , .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .45ACP, .45 Auto Rim & .44 Mag along the way. I also used it to load rifle ammo from 6.5x55mm up to and including .45-70 Govt with the usual like .264 Win Mag, .270, .30-30, .308, .30-06, 7mm-08 & .300 Win Mag as well.
While it likely is not the "best" press you can buy, for the money, it will be more than adequate to crank out good quality ammo that you will enjoy shooting.
NAA.
I have personally loaded over 10,000 [that is not a typo...
] rounds of ammo on the same Lee "O" press kit just like the one you are looking at in that E-Bay ad. I have used that press to load pistol ctgs from .32ACP up to .455 Colt/Webley/Eley, including 9mm, 10mm, .40 S&W, .38 ACP/Super, .38 Spl , .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .45ACP, .45 Auto Rim & .44 Mag along the way. I also used it to load rifle ammo from 6.5x55mm up to and including .45-70 Govt with the usual like .264 Win Mag, .270, .30-30, .308, .30-06, 7mm-08 & .300 Win Mag as well. While it likely is not the "best" press you can buy, for the money, it will be more than adequate to crank out good quality ammo that you will enjoy shooting.
NAA.
I have personally loaded over 10,000 [that is not a typo...
While it likely is not the "best" press you can buy, for the money, it will be more than adequate to crank out good quality ammo that you will enjoy shooting.
NAA.
Wow! You have stamina.
I can't say I'm a volume shooter (unless I'm closer to my range) but when I go, I may fire 200-250rds of 9mm per visit and would pass out if I had to reload with single stage. lol... Smelting WW and casting bullets takes enough time already.
Never used a reloading press in my life. Went straight for a Dillon 650. No complaints. Reloaded 5.5k of 9mm since Sept without any real problems worth mentioning.
Get a press that is appropriate for the amount of shooting you intend to do so that reloading doesn't become overly time consuming. A single stage might be all you need if you don't shoot a lot.
Personally, I would consider pistol reloading with a single stage to be monotonously slow; I would consider a 4 hole Lee turret press to be a bare minimum. I do all my rifle and pistol reloading with my Dillon 550 and it is the only press I have owned. There is no need to start out with a single stage press. If you're learning to use a progressive, you can do one round at a time until you get the hang of it.
Personally, I would consider pistol reloading with a single stage to be monotonously slow; I would consider a 4 hole Lee turret press to be a bare minimum. I do all my rifle and pistol reloading with my Dillon 550 and it is the only press I have owned. There is no need to start out with a single stage press. If you're learning to use a progressive, you can do one round at a time until you get the hang of it.
Yes, I agree. If OP plans to shoot a lot (firing handguns esp), go progressive right off the bat. It's going to be a pain too weighing and dispensing powder for that single stage.
Personally, I would consider pistol reloading with a single stage too slow. Rifle, different story... unless it's a semi. Plus, I read that single stage yields the best accuracy and consistency.
I may end up buying a decent single stage for rifle when I want accuracy. But I need to buy a decent precision rifle first.
Also, don't cheap out on the scale either. I hate my RDCS RC-130 scale. Touch it even slightly the wrong way, it's goes out of wack and I would never know so I compare it with my cheap $30 digital scale and that goes out of wack too. I may have to weigh powder a 6-10 times before I'm confident that I tuned the powder dispenser correctly.
Wow! You have stamina.
I can't say I'm a volume shooter (unless I'm closer to my range) but when I go, I may fire 200-250rds of 9mm per visit and would pass out if I had to reload with single stage. lol... Smelting WW and casting bullets takes enough time already.
Never used a reloading press in my life. Went straight for a Dillon 650. No complaints. Reloaded 5.5k of 9mm since Sept without any real problems worth mentioning.
There is no question that Dillon is the way to go for high volume, good quality "roll your own" ammo. I'm thinking that one is in my future for volume handgun ctgs...........
NAA.
There is no question that Dillon is the way to go for high volume, good quality "roll your own" ammo. I'm thinking that one is in my future for volume handgun ctgs...........
NAA.
Oh yeah! You might never look at your single stage again for handgun reloads. You'll keep it for rifle reloads only.
Only Dillon complaint is cost (even switching calibers). I still don't have dies and accessories for reloading 223 yet. I can just buy the dies and start right now, but I'm going to cry when I need to switch back to 9mm. I want to change calibers quickly. But speed comes at a price. Arrggh...
I'm still have lots of fun with 9mm, so 223 can still take the back seat.
just be sure and get the 4 HOLE if you do revolver as you'll NEED that FACTORY CRIMP DIE- it resizes everything back to FACTORY DIMENSIONS- so you don't get some brass not fitting into some chambers- i've had that happen in 44 mag- and get it as part of the set and save a few bucks
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Agree/\
If a Turret Press is good enough for your production requirement (150-200) per hour, go for the Lee Classic Cast Turret. It does come with the 4-hole turret.
Best turret for the money and should last a long long time. Get a dozen spare Square Ratchets with it as that seems to be the only weak part.
Yes speros, that press will do, particularly since you no doubt don't plan to shoot IPSC with your 44 mag.
However, if this E-bay deal is what is motivating you at the moment, you might wind up less satisfied than you should be,, even if the price doesn't change. A press is just a press, at the end of the day, and there will be far more to consider than snatching up a cheap one on E-bay.
IMHO you'll be better prepared to set yourself up after reading "THE ABC's of Reloading", which you can get from Amazon.ca for about 20 bucks.
You can get excellent advice on CGN once you understand your needs and can identify your requirements clearly. Until then, you're gonna get a lot of confusing contradiction from brand cheerleaders trying to convince you that they didn't make a mistake. This group might even include yours truly .
Seriously, I'd get the book. It could easily save you more than its cost just by helping you avoid mistakes.
However, if this E-bay deal is what is motivating you at the moment, you might wind up less satisfied than you should be,, even if the price doesn't change
. A press is just a press, at the end of the day, and there will be far more to consider than snatching up a cheap one on E-bay.IMHO you'll be better prepared to set yourself up after reading "THE ABC's of Reloading", which you can get from Amazon.ca for about 20 bucks.
You can get excellent advice on CGN once you understand your needs and can identify your requirements clearly. Until then, you're gonna get a lot of confusing contradiction from brand cheerleaders trying to convince you that they didn't make a mistake
. This group might even include yours truly .Seriously, I'd get the book. It could easily save you more than its cost just by helping you avoid mistakes.
I concur, get what your budget say's to get.
I have 5 press's. Lee, Reloader,pro1000 without the auto index, Loadmaster.
I also have a brand spanking new Lee classic cast and a Rockcrusher the last 2 have been sitting in their original box's for 5 year's now.
My main is the 1000, the Loadmaster I bought for 45 Win Mag only.The Lee reloader cause it's so light and simple.
I couldn't make up my mind on what big single stage to get so I bought them both,and have used neither.
I have 5 press's. Lee, Reloader,pro1000 without the auto index, Loadmaster.
I also have a brand spanking new Lee classic cast and a Rockcrusher the last 2 have been sitting in their original box's for 5 year's now.
My main is the 1000, the Loadmaster I bought for 45 Win Mag only.The Lee reloader cause it's so light and simple.
I couldn't make up my mind on what big single stage to get so I bought them both,and have used neither.
