How much time to reload 1000 rounds?

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For bottleneck, I usually only do one step per day.(day one-re size, day two-prime, etc).

Thats all I got-
 
mstreddy said:
ljnowell -- is that 300 rifle cases per hour? Or pistol? OP is asking about rifle - 223.
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I know that. He is asking is it possible to load 1000 rounds in three hours. I'm telling him that my inexpensive Lee can pull it off so I would certainly expect a Dillon to do the same.

I would hope the OP knows about prepping riffle brass. If using prepped brass the Dillon better be able to pull that off.
 
ljnowell - my apologies - I was taking the premise as a whole. Yes, his question 1 is just that -- load (assuming prepped brass) 1000 rounds in 3 hours.
you are correct -- assuming a Dillon 650 w/ case prep already done - he should be able to complete the loading steps in the 3 hour window.
 
I can do 100 rounds in an evening. That is 100 well done rounds. assuming they are already tumbled clean. So 10 evenings for me.

Lube - DePrime - Size
Wipe off lube
Hand Prime with RCBS hand primer
Trim & chamfer with Giraud power trimmer
Fill all rounds with powder
Check all rounds filled with powder to the same level
Seat the bullets
Vibe tumble clean
Document and Case them up

You can't do accurate rifle cartridges as fast as pistol, there is so much more involved.
 
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Sit back, enjoy the process. If you are new ,learn as much as you can slowly. Throw away your time study.
 
While it will drive cost up, you can buy 1000 .223 brass from a place like East Coast Arsenal, in the "commercial sales of reloading components" forum here for 99.99. They are cleaned, swaged, and resized already....expensive for sure but would speed things up for you.

For me, its not a time thing. Clean and deprime a bunch one day. Swage them another time. Then size and prime when more time is available. I like to store brass like that...then when reloading day comes, cut loose.

Russellc
 
mstreddy said:
ljnowell - my apologies - I was taking the premise as a whole. Yes, his question 1 is just that -- load (assuming prepped brass) 1000 rounds in 3 hours.
you are correct -- assuming a Dillon 650 w/ case prep already done - he should be able to complete the loading steps in the 3 hour window.
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No apologies are needed. The Dillon machines are very nice. I would hazard a guess that most users never reach the potential of the machine.
 
Id disagree. Id say most who invest in Dillon machines use them to their full potential safely, else they wouldn't buy them.

Why bother investing the time if all you're willing to do is churn out average quality ammunition?

Take your time, do it the right way and make quality ammunition for the time you have invested. Right now I believe you're thinking about this the wrong way. If a volume of blasting ammunition is all you want go buy wolf and call it a day.
 
If you plan on doing a bunch I would look at Worlds Finest Trimmer (II) from Little Crow gun works. I have the original model which only does one caliber .223 in my case, but it makes trimming much faster. I don't even measure first before using it. Pop the case in and if it is to long it gets trimmed.

http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html

This makes trimming much faster.
A trick I use for keeping track of brass I have already removed the primer crip from is to color the bottom with a big Sharpie marker. That way when they end up in the pile at the range I can easly tell which ones are mine.

Brass prep for rifle rounds, and checking for thinning at the base probably takes me a little longer than acually loading the round.

I like to hand prime with a Lee tool for the feel.
Once I have them ready to go I can probably do 150 an hour on my Lee turrent. Never timed myself as I am not in a hurry.

I believe reloading is definitely a case of haste make waste.
(or worse)
 
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Looks like most of us with a single stage press load rifle in batches. I lube and size, then overnight in the tumbler. I rarely shoot more than a couple of hundred of one caliber any one day, so they get sized all at once. when they get clean, they get trimmed in one batch, then deburred and chamfered. I hand prime while watching the Kardashians or whatever with my bride. You can prime 200 in about 15 minutes. I load as needed or as I have time. You can load 200 rifle in an hour or so once they are prepped. I usually have several batches in different stages all the time. Just note the stage on a sticky and toss it in the baggie, whatever you are using to separate brass. As everyone has said, don't try to calculate your time, if your are willing, you can make better ammo for your needs, either cheaper, more accurate or more of exactly what you want from it.
 
Comrade Mike said:
Id disagree. Id say most who invest in Dillon machines use them to their full potential safely, else they wouldn't buy them.

Why bother investing the time if all you're willing to do is churn out average quality ammunition?

Take your time, do it the right way and make quality ammunition for the time you have invested. Right now I believe you're thinking about this the wrong way. If a volume of blasting ammunition is all you want go buy wolf and call it a day.
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That's not what was said or meant. Running the machine at speed does not degrade the quality of the ammunition in any way, shape, or form.

I think you had your feelings hurt by my statement that was in no way denigrating to any Dillon owner. I stand by what I said too, the owners of most any progressive press never reach the full potential.

Edit: mike, when I reread my post I felt it could have been interpreted in a way I didn't mean, the feelings hurt comment was not intended to be inflaming, condescending, or insulting. It was just the words that rolled out. What I meant was it seems as though I offended you, I didn't mean too.
 
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Reloading is SOOOOOO much more than making ammo on the cheap. It is relaxation, it is enjoyment, it is (for me) therapy. I sit behind a computer 5-6 hours a day, deal with idiots for the remainder of my workday, and quite often come home from work with a great deal of pent up rage. An hour or two on the bench clears that just like fishing or shooting. So rather than put my issues off on my wife, or pay a therapist to listen I build ammo. I have been known to build and tear down the same ammo in the same day for no real reason other than to blow off steam.
 
WestKentucky said:
Reloading is SOOOOOO much more than making ammo on the cheap. It is relaxation, it is enjoyment, it is (for me) therapy. I sit behind a computer 5-6 hours a day, deal with idiots for the remainder of my workday, and quite often come home from work with a great deal of pent up rage. An hour or two on the bench clears that just like fishing or shooting. So rather than put my issues off on my wife, or pay a therapist to listen I build ammo. I have been known to build and tear down the same ammo in the same day for no real reason other than to blow off steam.
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Reloading is quite therapeutic. I love it.
 
For what its worth it takes me about 1hr - 1hr 15min to prep and load 100rds of 223, 308, or 300blk. First I size then prep. Prep involves trimming each case, deburring, chamfer, flashhole deburring(only needed to do once), military crimp removing(only once again), primer pocket cleaning. I use an RCBS trim mate and a lyman trimmer with my power drill. then I prime and load with hornady lock n load progressive using the powder drop. Pistol rounds I can do in 100/20min. None of that includes set up time, on the lnl it only takes 5-10min to change calibers. Also that does not include time for cleaning the brass(I use a tumbler overnight while I sleep) or time for inspecting each case. I don't think I could do 1000 223's in one sitting, my process would take me close to 12hrs.
 
ljnowell said:
That's not what was said or meant. Running the machine at speed does not degrade the quality of the ammunition in any way, shape, or form.

I think you had your feelings hurt by my statement that was in no way denigrating to any Dillon owner. I stand by what I said too, the owners of most any progressive press never reach the full potential.

Edit: mike, when I reread my post I felt it could have been interpreted in a way I didn't mean, the feelings hurt comment was not intended to be inflaming, condescending, or insulting. It was just the words that rolled out. What I meant was it seems as though I offended you, I didn't mean too.
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What would you define then as the "full potential" of a progressive reloading machine then? You didn't offend me I just found what you said to be woefully inaccurate when considering my definition of using a machine to its full potential.
 
HiPhi,

Like most of us, you re going through a process of deciding if you will/should reload. I started reloading when I got into prairie dog shooting and wanted to save some money and emphasize accuracy. I learned from my brother. It became apparent, after working with my brother for awhile that he emphasizes thrift, which meant he was content with a hand operated trimmer (could trim while watching TV) and I bought a power trimmer because it is faster and saves wear and tear on my fingers. The point here is that your reloading operation will evolve according to your individual preferences. And, you will not spend less money. Reloading enables me to shoot more, but I still spend a fair amount on ammo products. The added bonus is improved accuracy with carefully crafted loads. Finally, most importantly, I really enjoy it.
 
Thanks everyone. Seems like getting started with commercial brass might be easier, and then transition into prepping my own rifle cases.
 
I'd be reloading rifle ammo, mostly .223, .300 BLK, and .30-06 Garand. It seems like I should be able to run 1000 rounds through a Dillon 550 in about 3 hours (2 hours operating the press and an hour of setup and tear down.)
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I don't think the Dillon 550 will handle the longer rifle rounds, such as 30-06. You'd want to get the Dillon 650 so that (as JMorris showed in the photo above) you'll have the ability to trim in-press. Having the motorized Dillon case trimmer mounted in your press will cut your loading time in half by reducing the cartridge handling.

When I load 223 on my 550, I have to: 1) run the whole batch through to size. Then 2) trim each case on the bench. Then 3) run each case back through to prime, powder and load. That's touching each case 3 times. Don't be fooled. It's the manual labor of picking up each cartridge case that eats up your time.


Hope this helps. ;)
 
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rfwobbly said:
I don't think the Dillon 550 will handle the longer rifle rounds, such as 30-06. You'd want to get the Dillon 650 so that (as JMorris showed in the photo above) you'll have the ability to trim in-press. Having the motorized Dillon case trimmer mounted in your press will cut your loading time in half by reducing the cartridge handling.

When I load 223 on my 550, I have to: 1) run the whole batch through to size. Then 2) trim each case on the bench. Then 3) run each case back through to prime, powder and load. That's touching each case 3 times. Don't be fooled. It's the manual labor of picking up each cartridge case that eats up your time.


Hope this helps. ;)
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"Helps." Yeah, that's it .... :)

I think I'm going to order a Lee Classic Cast Press, and move up to something bigger later.
 
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