Does this fit my needs?

[solive]

First thanks for all of the great info, I have read all of the stickies at the top of this forum.

Now I have never reloaded so I have tryed to read everything I can, I have been researching for about a month. I shoot 223. and 9mm .
I shoot about 600-700 rounds a month, (400=9mm, 300=223.).
I would also like to start making 250 each month on top of what I shoot to stockpile of each cal. I have put this package together on midway-

Lee Anniversary reloading kit
Lee 223. Dies
Lee 9mm dies
Lyman shell trays

Do you think this will suit my needs for now? Should I add anything else? I plan to try out reloading and find out what I like so I can upgrade later on.
But with the amount of rounds I shoot do you think I should go ahead and get the Pro 1000?

Also Just to make sure I need small pistol primers for 9mm , and small rifle primers for 223. is this correct?

 

[db_tanker]

correct on the primers.

but brother, you might be working more on that single stage press than on your trigger.

instead of a single stage, to make things a bit easier, I would suggest getting a turret press first off. Progressives aren't exactly made for someone starting out, especially the Lee equipment. A turret press can allow you to set up your dies, and you can run the cases through in sequence...in essence a poor mans progressive...

find a good turret press on Ebay mebbe, go with those dies, and get the other various goodies you will need...

I reload quite a bit, but I don't reload for my 9mm...its cheaper and easier for me to just buy a brick or two of ammo and be on my way...223 is ALMOST that way, but then I only shoot 223 in a single shot pistol. I can get better accuracy with my home-rolled than with a factory round.

 

[Sunray]

Don't forget the shell holders.
Loading quicker with a single stage press requires a manufacturing technique. Have two bins on either side of the press. One with unprocessed brass, the other for processed. Use both hands. Case goes into the shell holder with one hand, do the operation and out into the empty bin with the other. Process all your cases with one die, then switch dies and swap the bins. I've found that priming can be done the same way, but put the primed cases into a tray. Charge 'em and through the seating die they go.
Remember that the bottom of the die should just kiss the shell holder when it's all the way up. Then you adjust the depriming rod to pop out the old primer when it's al lthe way up. Then adjust the seating rod to whatever your OAL will be.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I suggest you get a Lee Classic Cast turret press

Based on your reloading needs, I'd get a Lee Classic Cast turret press. It'll do the .223 and almost any other cartridge. It's fast enough for you at 200-300 rounds per hour so you won't spend all your time reloading on the single stage.

I suggest you go ahead and get the kit, because often, you'll find you can use a single stage for various tasks and that one is perfectly fine as a backup.

But based on your quantities, you need a Lee turret press and the Classic version is hard to beat. Be sure to get the safety prime combo and a Pro auto disk measure with riser to go with it.

Dave

 

[Run&Shoot]

Read some of the related threads and sticky for lists of starting out equipment. Here is my take of what you should add:

* Dial calipers. I have Dillon, but any of them are good from RCBS, Lyman, Hornady, etc.

* A second and third reloading manual such as Speer #13 or Lyman's, or one of the powder manufacturers (many are free online) from Accurate, Hodgdon, Vihtavoury, Winchester, Alliant. Also, the large paperbakc ABCs of Reloading. Basically, I would try to have one manual from the equipment manufacturer (Lee), one from the bullet maker (Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook for lead, or Speer, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra for their bullets), and one from your shoice of powders. Information is your best insurance.

* Second shell holders for the your cartridges. For each cartridge I like to leave one shell holder for use in the primer tool and one for the press.

* Be sure to have at least one extra loading block. For each loading step you want to take the shells out of one block, run it through the die, and then place them in a new loading block. this way you will never get cartridges mixed up an miss or double the powder. You can even revese their orientation at each step. Upside down before charging to ensure they are empty. For instance: upside down before depriming/sizing, right side up before case expanding, upside down before charging, right side up before seating and crimping.

* Lee recommends you have a check weight for you scale as well.

* You need something to put the finished ammo in. The plastic ammo boxes are good for holding small amount of ammo and for small test batches. You probably only need 2 for each cartridge. An ammo box and freezer bags are good for bulk ammo.

* Later on you'll want to get a tumbler. For the .223 you may need to eventually get case trimmer stuff and a case deburring tool.

 

[Lupinus]

depends on how much time you want to spend reloading and how anal you want to be.

If you want to have it as an extension of your hobby to load ammo that is very closely controled, and you enjoy the act of reloading, the single stage will do you fine.

If you want to pump the rounds out as fast as you can and this is just a way to save money and other reasons like that, go for a turret press.

A progressive will be the fastist but really should wait untill two things happen- You get some reloading experience, and make sure you really like it and don't mind because progessives run a decent penny. So if fast is what you really want go with a turret for now cause it will be faster then the single but not to complex for someone just starting.

But if the single works for you the Lee kit there will be a very good choice as it will give you pretty much everything you need but the dies