Which setup would you choose?

I voted Hornady for the progressive press which would be for handgun only. I would still keep my 3 Lee presses (the aluminum o frame, the cast iron o frame and the classic cast turret) for doing all my depriming and rifle reloads.

Assuming that I lost all my equipment but I keep the experience and knowledge I now have. Not assuming that I'm starting from scratch with no knowledge whatsoever.

I would start with a Dillon 1050, and save some money by getting a single stage from Lee. That combo will allow me to do all my rifle and pistol at the quantities I need right now.

Later, I would pick up RCBS, Lyman, Lee, Redding, Forster, Hornady and Lyman equipment until I'm up to speed on what I own right now (not necessarily in that order).

By the way, I appreciate you offering to pay for all this. You're a fine gentleman. You seriously didn't mean for me to pay for it all, did you?

If I were starting over I'd go with a Dillon 650.

I currently have:
1. Lee Challenger Breech Lock
2. Lee 4-hole Turret
3. Lee Pro 1000
4. Dillion 550B (the newest one - bought 2nd hand)

About the only thing on the Dillon that I'm not thrilled with is the priming setup.
I'd prefer a system that didn't depend on gravity. It works 95% of the time, but that 5% makes a mess with the powder.

Add Redding and other high quality tools and this "poll" will be somewhat more valid. As it is it's just another "monkey see-monkey do" excercise.

Blue holds True..

As said before "May as well start out with what you're going to end up with"-I believe this holds true here=Dillon's in the lead...Bill..

Hondo 60 said:

If I were starting over I'd go with a Dillon 650.

I currently have:
1. Lee Challenger Breech Lock
2. Lee 4-hole Turret
3. Lee Pro 1000
4. Dillion 550B (the newest one - bought 2nd hand)

About the only thing on the Dillon that I'm not thrilled with is the priming setup.
I'd prefer a system that didn't depend on gravity. It works 95% of the time, but that 5% makes a mess with the powder.

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Hondo-do NOT turn the shell plate if you do not feel the primer seat?? I run a coat hanger down the primer magazine for slight weight+as a primer level indicator. Works well..Bill.

I have 5 presses (I think) and my favorite is a toss-up between C&H and Forster (neither is on your list)

Yup, they still make the C-H press. I like my C-H press, but for the $282 price tag, I would save up and buy a Hornady LNL AP.

I started with Lee and after my second Lee press I finally bit the bullet and bought a Dillon. Been very pleased with it.

That's not the C&H press that I have. Mine is the H-style press; they still make that one too (the "444"), but the new ones have four stations and mine only has three.

I would say that the Dillon folks enjoy the excellent customer service which is often needed for the myriad of moving parts on all the blue gear. I went with Hornady for the simplicity of a quality machine AND ecxellent CS. Plus, there's a funny voice message when you call.

For me it's a Lee classic turret. The classic turret meets my needs fine. If I needed to upgrade to a progressive I don't know what I would go with.

I would say that the Dillon folks enjoy the excellent customer service which is often needed for the myriad of moving parts on all the blue gear.

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Obviously, you don't have a Dillon. I've never replaced anything on my 650. Neither of my LNL APs arrived with all their parts. Needless to say, Hornady shipped them right out but...

Hondo...could elaborate on your dislike of the priming system on the Dillon 550B. Just curious.

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Well, I've spilled powder at 4 grains a pop, because it didn't seat a primer.
And it's very difficult to tell if a primer is in the little cup or not.

I've also had the little plastic "stop" pop out & spill 50 new primers all over the floor.
I've found that if I don't tighten the knurled knob on top they drop better (99%),
than if you hand tighten (even slightly).

I'd just rather have a more reliable system for primers than a gravity fed system.

Redding.

RC Hornillion would be the alternate.

i would have to vote a mix of most. i certainly have made some mistakes along the way, but who hasn't? i do not know about dillons stuff, so i can not coment on that. but the others all have their strong and weak points, and they vary by person and application. i am not a volume reloader, so i would not really use a caliber specific dillon set up. i have owned a few presses, and i would not trade my lee classic cast for any of the others, with the possible exception of the Forester co-ax press. i have not actually put my hands on one, but they really do intrigue me. i own hornady, rcbs, lee and lyman dies. and each of them have things i do, and do not like. powder measures, well, i want an electric one, but i do not think they have been around long enough to get all the bugs worked out yet. so i will just fumble along using a regular measure, and trickle in the last bits of powder for now.

I have a RCBS (87466 - PARTNER PRESS RELOADING KIT) now & just took the dive into Lee with the Pro 1000 & add ons. I bought new expanding dies with powder through to go with my RCBS dies, shell plates for all my calibers, charge bar, case feeders, turrets, turret cases, & primer attachment(I really think this should be included with the press).

I also bought some of there rifle dies to use on my RCBS press.

I really hope I like lee or I'm out $375.

I guess if I were starting over completely from scratch, I might get a Dillon SDB (.38/357 and 9mm toolheads) *and* a Forster CoAx press for everything else.

And Lee dies for everything except the Dillon (the SDB takes non-standard dies)

And a C&H powder measure, and a Dillon Super-Swage.

I chose Hornady LNL EZject progressive a couple years back. I also have an RCBS Rockchucker single stage that was my first press. RCBS is what my local retailer had and the Hornady came with a 1000 free bullets. I love that LNL bushing set, that tipped the scale too as I put one in my single stage before purchasing the progressive. Time savings alone from bushing kit makes it all worth it to me. Sure, it's a hobby and I don't real keep track of my time, but I do know how much time I used to spend setting up my dies to the last thousandth.

I actually DID completely repopulate my bench this July/August

In 35 years I outgrew some gear and overbought elsewhere. So, this summer I cleaned house. I retired my entire loading bench (except the RockChucker, the RCBS 10-10 scale and a few die sets).

I picked the best that money could buy that suited my needs and style. My bench is mostly red now. Lee Classic Turret, Lee dies, Lee Safety Prime (I prime on-press). I don't like red Kool-Aid, but the Lee Turret is the only turret that rotates the dies automatically.

Read the story here:

http://rugerforum.net/reloading/293...ver-outgrow-novice-handloader.html#post308019
or, if the link does not work, paste this into you web browser
rugerforum.net/reloading/29385-budget-beginning-bench-you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html#post308019

It is entitled: Budget Beginning Bench you will never outgrow.

This "absolute minimum reloading setup" is chosen to facilitate
1) low-cost entry and
2) little or no waste trading in or retiring the starter equipment.

I examined my loading/shooting habits (mostly handgun; 5 calibers, about 100-400 rounds per loading session and fewer than 5,000 rounds a year. I stow my gear in toolboxes when not in use.)

Informed by my experience reconstituting my loading bench, I compiled a list of the barest essentials that would allow a novice loader to load well and which would still be gratifying in 30 years. (Again, considering my ammunition needs.)

I think it makes an ideal shopping list for the loader just starting out.

So, the "kit" developed in stages:

Initial, minimal:
Press, scale, dies, a way to measure powder and a work surface are all you need, really. Everything else just makes it easier or faster. $150, but all the equipment is first-class (though missing many pieces some consider essential, they are enough to allow you to produce a cartridge safely). No scrimping on the quality, but you are measuring powder with the (one) scoop Lee includes with their die set and handling primers with your fingers.

Then add items in the order of the priority you assign.
powder scale
full set of Lee Scoops/Dippers; Still in lieu of a scale and powder dispenser.
primer feeding
powder dispenser
a proper bench (to replace the coffee table)
Bullet puller; 20 years, I never used one. But when you need one, you need it.
Calipers; I had none for 30 years. Now that I do, I find uses.
Tumbler; Never had one. Got one now. My brass is prettier. Shoots the same.
Loading blocks
Powder Trickler

Lost Sheep

I've never replaced anything on my 650.

Click to expand...

I have. While cleaning, I screwed up the return spring, lost the ball bearing under the shellplate and, after only 300,000 or so rounds, the nylon tab on one of the measures cracked.

I like my lock-n-load press and use it the most since most of my dies are set up for quick change. HAve not used my RL550B much yet.

Well I can't participate in the poll either, but it's because there's no "almost all of the above" option. I generally don't like single brand kits because IMHO no single brand has an absolute lock on making the best of everything (or more correctly, what suits me best). I've got at least two different reds, two greens, an orange, and who knows what else on the bench now. If I had to do it over, I'd do the mix 'n match again.

Blue would be the only color not represented on my bench, since I have little interest in going progressive (unless I really increase my range time by a factor of 20 or more). Oh wait a minute - I got a blue media separator for case cleaning, so I suppose an "all the above" option would've worked....