Presses and dies...noobie question.

[jr_roosa]

I had such a good response from my last question, here are two more. Maybe the first one is a little dumb:

In general are dies and presses interchangeable between brands, or are they like camera lenses where once you buy into a brand you're married to it?

Number two is more specific:

Background: Per my last post, I'll be picking up my dad's old gear in a month or two, but it's in his basement, he's in Florida for the winter, and I don't think he remembers what brand(s) it is, but I'll ask. I'm thinking about getting a Lee Hand Press a decapping die, and a tumbler (pretty sure he doesn't have one)so that I can get some used brass deprimed and cleaned up. Once he's back home, I might have him mail out the .45ACP dies and enough minor gear so I can get started with the hand press while I wait for a trip home for the rest of the stuff.

So, should I just be patient and shoot factory ammo and save up brass until I get all the right gear, or would a hand press be a useful complement to a single-stage press? Would it just become a paperweight once I get a single-stage press?

As you can see, I'm getting kindof excited about reloading! I downloaded the NRMA bench plans...maybe I'll just work on my woodworking skills instead. I need a good workbench anyway.

Thanks again.

-J.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Build yourself a nice bench and wait for the reloading equipment. A Lee hand press is very slow and won't really turn out much ammo especially if you want to make handgun ammo.

Save up your Brass and get your bench ready.
Of course that's just my opinion...

 

[SASS#23149]

In genereal,dies and presses are interchangable...except Dillon's square deal b.Special dies.


I'd alos say wait for the press,the hand press will be a paperwight.

 

[Virginian]

After you get the press it will become a paperweight. I would wait until I saw everything that you're getting before getting anything. Otherwise you will surely duplicate something.

 

[lee n. field]

In general are dies and presses interchangeable between brands, or are they like camera lenses where once you buy into a brand you're married to it?

In general yes. The only current exceptions (Lyman 410 hand tool, Dillon Square Deal)are relatively rare.

 

[dave from mesa]

Agree with all the rest.
If you are going to shoot 45 wait till you have a press.
BTW I made the NRMA bench. You're gonna love it. Have a Dillon 550 & 1050 on it and still have room for a single stage (if I need it) and RCBS powder measure.
Good luck

 

[jr_roosa]

OK.

This is going to be a thread I show my wife because it keeps me from me BUYING MORE NEW STUFF. I don't get many of those.

I'll sit on my hands and not pick up any goodies.

Dave: The bench just looks like a solid work bench. I might make 2, one just as a solid work table (without the cabinet), the other as a reloading bench.

Thanks everybody.

-J.