[bflobill_69]

Hiya,

Wondering what I should expect to pay to get setup with everything I need to reload/handload... Was planning on doing this a year ago, and I expect now things are gonna be a little more.

My Uncle loves RCBS's progressive loaders, but I seem to hear alot of good things about Dillon Precision these days.

I will mainly be loading handgun loads, for target... wadcutters, BUT I want a loader that will do anything as long as I have the dies.

Is it possible to pick everything up I need for under $1200.00?

New, used?

Thanks in advance,

Bflobill69

[loadedround]

I load on a Dillon 550B and can most definately recommend it. You may consider starting with a single station press and learn the fundamentals on that before going to a progressive press like the Dillon. To answer your question about start up costs, you could buy a Dillon 550B, dies, balance, powder, bullets, primers, manuals and if you desire, a decent single station press to start out with and still have about 200 bucks left over. If you search for used equipment, you could save even more. That's a brief reply I know, but it should give you some idea of the cost. :)

[Randy1911]

I can reccomend the Hornady LnL progressive. It is the same as the Dillon 650 and cheaper to change calibers and IMO simplier to use. It is cheaper than the Dillon also and has the same waranty.

Go to www.youtube.com and seach for reloading and there is a lot of videos on the subject with all different presses so you can compare.

Also go here www.ultimatereloader.com and look at this basic guide to reloading.

[Marlin 45 carbine]

you have good questions but I can say that if you shoot more than around 600 pistol and/or 300 rifle yearly you can save some $$ reloading.

[mallc]

You can have a great reloading setup in any brand for $1200...or a lot less.

Based on the fact that you are asking this particular question, I suggest you visit a few retail shops and get familiar with the features and feel of the different brands and presses within their lines.

Three things to remember; first, cheap price does not necessarily translate to good value. Second, high price does not necessarily mean superior load quality. And three, most reloaders become ardent supporters of whatever brand they own. (We call it the "color war"...;^)

After you choose your "ride", come back and join the fray!

Scott

[paradox998]

For a new reloader, go with a Lee Breech Lock kit at $120. Get some experience and then move up to the premium equipment. Plan on spending another $200 on manuals and dies and away you go.

[Bboomer]

I like blue... a pretty good investment and return on your dollars, should you ever sell. Used ones move fast.

A $1200 kitty ought to be a good start. That would put you in biz with viable equipment but a short fall should you want everything, this hobby is an endless $$ pit (provided that your expectations are not- reloading on a shoe string). You won't save money by reloading but you will be able to shoot more often, for less. Good luck on finding and purchasing readily available equipment......... hopefully the store shelves are starting to become stocked with merchandize once again.

The piece of mind, enjoyment and relaxation that I get from the hobby is priceless. Its a lifestyle, escape and an adventure:)

Good Luck and let us know what you end up with.

[bflobill_69]

Wow TY for all your advice...

I had not considered a single stage press, but for a beginner perhaps it would be best. I will be in Phoenix later this week and will be sure to talk with the folks at Dillon Precision in Scottsdale.

Bflobill69

[Valkman]

As a beginner I bought a whole reloading kit from Brian Enos which included a 550B press and I've always been very happy with it. I went out and bought another 550B on ebay, I like them so much.

I saw a thread somewhere where Enos has a complete starting 550B package for something like $1049 - this would be perfect for you. :)

Edit - Found the link. You won't find a better guy to deal with and his stuff ships straight from Dillon.

http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.ez.550.html

[BullfrogKen]

What Valkman linked to with Brian Enos' packages is a really good set-up to start with. Hard to beat that package. You get nearly all you need, and very little you don't.

I still recommend all first timers start with a single stage. If you reload rifle cartridges, you'll always find yourself still using it even after you get a progressive. Single stages really teach you good reloading habits, and are much more versatile, for much less cost.


I'm not loyal to any one brand for everything. Except for maybe dies. I go to Lee for dies anytime I need another set. If I can't get Lee, like when I needed 9x23 dies, I'll buy Lyman. And I have several Lyman "M" neck sizing dies for cast bullet reloading.

I'm still a curmudgeon when it comes to scales; I haven't gotten an electronic yet. I have a Lyman 1000, and while it serves me well, I prefer something with the dial drums for fine adjustment verses the thin leaf. It's just tough to move and read sometimes. I got it on a deal, but if I had to buy again I'd either go with an RCBS 1010 (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=415607), or electronic. I needed a 1000 grain scale because I cast 45/70's and shotgun slugs. You can get away with something less.


I have an RCBS powder measure. It's OK, another deal. If I had to do over, I'd get a Lyman #55 (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=703838).


Presses? Dillon is the hands down favorite for progressives. Nearly everyone I know who shoots in any volume, and everyone I know who shoots handgun competitively either uses a Dillon, or is saving up to buy one. That package Brian Enos put together would serve just fine.

Single stage? Lee. The Classic Cast (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=317831) just kicks @ss. I've got its predecessor, the Challenger, and even their little apartment dweller piece the Hand Press (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=624416) I've had that little press for 15 years and still use it all the time. It's great for just sitting in front of the t.v. depriming, or even taking it to the range for load development. It's by far the most useful press for me. I usually set it up for a Lee Factory Crimp Die in whatever I'm reloading at the moment, and it's my final step. But it will reload even 45/70's, as that's what I used when it's all I had. I couldn't tell you how many tens of thousands of times its cycled brass. I love that little thing. Buy the complete kit, and you've got a good quality lube (which you need for full-length rifle resizing) and a nice little powder funnel, too.


Priming? If you get that Dillon kit, priming will be part of the operation. If you get a single stage, some have the priming attachment. I don't use it. I'm all over the Lee Hand Priming tool (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=807875). It's the most comfortable of the hand priming tools, and you can feel it seat with your thumb. That and the complete set of shellholders (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=566058) will prime nearly any metallic cartridge you shoot.

You'll need a set of calipers. The Enos' kit includes one, or you can go to any hardware store for those.


You'll need a manual or two as well. Most sets of Lee dies come with a nice little sheet of powder recipes, and a diagram of overall lengths. You can get by with just that, but its just not quite versatile enough. Manuals are put out by both powder and bullet manufacturers. I own ones put out by both. The real trick with manuals is you'll either start collecting a bunch of 'em, or you'll learn to live with some limitations.

Powder manufacturers list an assortment of bullet makes, but only have recipes in their powder line. If you like a certain powder line and intend to use different bullets, go with it. Different bullet shapes and designs, even in the same family of weight, can call for different powder weights. The drawback - if you can't find the powder you want in stock, which is a big deal these days, you'll have to make a decision. Get what is in stock and go find the recipe, or keep looking for your powder. Your Accurate Arms book won't have loads for Hodgdon powder in it.

Bullet manufacturers do the same thing, on the flip side. Big variety in powder, but only their brand of bullets. The drawback - say you want to try out Sierra's match bullets for tight groups at the range and get their book. Sierra does great when it comes to match bullets, but they're behind the game on varmint bullets.

The third option is to get a book from say Lyman or Lee, and they'll have a variety of both bullets and powders for every caliber. They aren't updated nearly as frequently though. I'd just start with Lee's book (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=484416), as it explains reloading pretty darn well, and has plenty enough load data to get you started. Then decide what you want to shoot most often, go page through the manuals at a retail store, and just see what manual you feel most comfortable with. If you stick with it long enough you'll wind up owning a dozen of 'em anyway like the rest of us.


Good luck. Hope that helped.

[Shoney]

WOW!!!
People are getting the cart before the horse. The first question should have been, "What are your shooting habbits? How many rounds of which cartridges do you shoot per week/month/year?" Tell us your needs.

In order to consider a progressive, you need to be shooting in the ball park of 1000 rounds a month every month or so, and shoot a high percent of pistol and/or semi-auto rifle rounds . If you are shooting primarily rifle, and demand weighing each powder charge, then a turret press will function better than most progressives. There are much less expensive alternatives, and there are other factors to consider when buying a press.

I own both a 550 Dillon and a Hornady LNL AP, and have loaded extensively on a buddies 650 Dillon. The LNL is a better, more inovative and less expensive press than either of the dillons. After loading extensively on my LNL, my buddy sheepishly told me he had sold his 650 and purchased the LNL.

[SASS#23149]

The folks at Dillon are the best !
however..
I've had their 550b mounted WITHOUT their strong mounts for years,and it's just a gimmick,imho,IF you build a tall ,sturdy bench.The roller handle is also NOT a must-have to me.
Speaking of their 550b,you could staret with that one and just run 1 round thru at a time for,say, 200 rounds to get the feel of what does what,and THEN and only then,load it up and go 'progressive'.
your budget is enough to do a lot,have fun !

[remingtondude58]

You could get a LEE loadmaster for a lot less, but you will most likely have many more problems.

[lgbloader]

Get the press you want and learn it.


LGB