How much time to reload 1000 rounds?

[rfwobbly]

The Lee "Classic Cast Turret" is what I call a semi-progressive. You gain a serious time advantage on straight-wall pistol cartridges because you aren't handling each cartridge but once. BUT, unlike a true progressive, you are working on only 1 cartridge at a time. So there 3 or 4 op lever pulls to complete a single cartridge (depending on how many dies are in your die set).

The draw backs then are then that to complete 1000 rounds on a Lee CC Turret there will be 3000-4000 lever pulls. Whereas with a true progressive press, multiple cartridges are being worked on, so 1000 op lever pulls = 1000 finished rounds.

So (Yes) while you won't be handling as much brass, you will be be getting those those cortisone shots in your shoulder and gobbling ibuprofen like candy. And you'll also be wanting to buy the "ergo op lever" from In-Line Fabrication in your first week.

Your photo after one month...




Brother, there's simply no easy or cheap way to do what you want.

Hope this helps!

 

[HiPhi]

I think I need to order one of these:

Ammo press

 

[Zeke/PA]

IMHO, producing quality reloads should be the important factor in reloading.
To put a dollar value on your time?
As another poster stated, you'd be better off buying factory stuff.

 

[rfwobbly]

People complain A LOT about the price of advanced, high volume reloading presses. If you look only at the material cost of manufacture, then 'yes', the cost to make a (say for instance) Dillon 650 is only marginally more than the cost of a (say for instance) Lee Pro-1000. But that's not the way they are priced. Nothing is priced that way. If that were true, then a Mercedes would cost the same as a Chevy !!

No sir, you are going to pay for the additional utility, whether it is real or perceived.

However, there IS payback. Just the same as you would rather be in the Mercedes if you were in a bad car crash, buying a volume output reloading machine also has its advantages. Real advantages. If you REALLY intend to load 1000 rounds per week, then a high-end Dillon 650 or 1050 reloading machine will be completely paid for in less than one year.

If you really intend to shoot 1000 rounds per week, then rest assured you will be paying someone. Now you only have to decide if you are going to pay WalMart (for new ammo), Georgia Arms (for reloads), or Dillon (to reload your own).

Hopefully this conversation gives you a new way of looking at the issue.


Hope this helps!

 

[RandyP]

Has the OP mentioned yet how many rounds per week/month they expect to actually shoot? I thought it was just an exercise to determine how long to reload 1K of rifle ammo?

I remain a big Lee Classic Turret fan as it meets MY reasonable ammo needs perfectly as well as offering more than sufficient speed for my hobby needs. It also IMHO is a great compromise between single and progressive reloading.

 

[griff383]

Where are you at? I have offered assistance to plenty of "strangers" and have actually gotten to be good friends with some of them. Perhaps someone local to you would be able to help get you set up and show you the ropes.

I agree doing it all in one shot is a pain in the rump. When I notice I only have 100 or so rounds left of a given caliber I start the prep process. It takes a week or so depending on my time availability to prep 1000 rifle cases. Once those are ready to go it doesnt take long to finish them up and have loaded ammo.

 

[HiPhi]

Thanks guys! I normally shoot a few hundred a month, but have gone through 1000 in a weekend a couple times recently. And I like to keep a good stock of ammo loaded and on hand at all times.

I'm in Royal Oak (Metro Detroit) MI.

 

[rfwobbly]

I remain a big Lee Classic Turret fan as it meets MY reasonable ammo needs perfectly as well as offering more than sufficient speed for my hobby needs. It also IMHO is a great compromise between single and progressive reloading.

I thoroughly agree. The Lee CC Turret is a fabulous press and an excellent value in that output volume niche.

My point was that reloading presses (no matter what brand) are best considered from a volume output, rather than simply a purchase price point of view. This since all of them will completely pay for themselves in less than 1 year if properly utilized.

I like to use automobiles to explain the utility angle, but it only works up to a certain point. Unfortunately, automobiles don't pay for themselves by simply driving, whereas reloading presses really DO pay for themselves by simply doing their primary job.


I believe we do those interested in our wonderful hobby a great dis-service because we don't stress the cost savings enough. True, most people that reload simply end up shooting more, but that's only possible in the first place due to the inherent cost savings of reloading. So the payback is very real and tangible.

Best of luck HiPhi, no matter what your final decision.

 

[jwrowland77]

believe we do those interested in our wonderful hobby a great dis-service because we don't stress the cost savings enough. True, most people that reload simply end up shooting more, but that's only possible in the first place due to the inherent cost savings of reloading. So the payback is very real and tangible.

Best of luck HiPhi, no matter what your final decision.

You actually save money? I don't know about you, but I haven't saved a dime. Lol. I shoot about 5x more, but I definitely haven't seen any savings. If anything, I spend more on shooting and components, but I've also taken up match shooting. Side effect of reloading. Lol

Now, had I stayed at my same level of shooting, I would have seen some savings, but that wasn't the case. Lol

 

[jmorris]

I don't think the Dillon 550 will handle the longer rifle rounds, such as 30-06.

The 550 will load any length round that I can think of that doesn't use a 50 BMG case. 30-06 is no problem at all.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Aside from the questions about time, many of the OP's questions are answered in reloading manuals.
A good thread Which manuals?
Another source is the Reloading Library of Wisdom

 

[Arkansas Paul]

but I can only get 100 rounds ready in a hour start to finish, then that's $10 an hour. Not a great rate for my free time really.

If I thought of reloading in terms of dollars and hours I would sell my equipment and buy my ammo.

Reloading for most of us is a hobby. To a few of us, it is a means to an end.

To those that do it for the cost per round savings, yes I guess you would want to crunch the numbers and see if it is worth it to you.

For we that love to do it we don't worry about such. It is our hobby. I don't get paid when I watch football, make love to my wife or go hiking but I love to do those things so I do them for free.

 

[ljnowell]

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.

The discussion is about time required to load ammo. The majority of press owners will never achieve the rate of production that heir machine is capable of.

If you find that "woefully inaccurate," good for you. The purpose of a progressive machine is to make ammo more rapidly than a single stage or turret.

 

[cfullgraf]

You actually save money? I don't know about you, but I haven't saved a dime.

Yes, you do save money reloading. Your cost per round is less than store bought.

Now, what you do with the savings is a different matter.

Two options are you could shoot more or take the significant other out to dinner. These are just two of the many possibilities for use of the savings.

 

[jwrowland77]

Yes, you do save money reloading. Your cost per round is less than store bought.



Now, what you do with the savings is a different matter.



Two options are you could shoot more or take the significant other out to dinner. These are just two of the many possibilities for use of the savings.

Oh I know. My .308 match loads run me about .56 per round. A lot cheaper and high savings compared to factory. Lol. I just shoot A LOT more now. Lol.

I might try that taking the spouse out to dinner thing. Lol

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I probably spend 5x the money on ammo now than I did before reloading. lol

But per round it is "cheaper".

 

[dickttx]

Setting a goal of 1000 rounds in three hours is NOT where you want start out as a new reloader.

 

[ljnowell]

Setting a goal of 1000 rounds in three hours is NOT where you want start out as a new reloader.

That's probably the best most accurate post in this thread.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ That's the truth if I ever heard it.

 

[mizer67]

On prepped brass, with filled primer tubes, case feeder and powder hopper, 1,000 rounds in an hour of rifle is doable on a bullet fed + case fed 1050 or 650, but it's pushing it simply because it takes a short while for the small necked .223 cartridge to fill with powder.

It's possible to do 1,200 an hour of pistol without working too hard given the same scenario, as long as you have a bullet feeder and lube your cases.

 

[HiPhi]

Thanks again everyone. I think I'm going to give it a go, and see how I like it. I've been reading a bit, and will continue to do so. I'm sure you'll see some questions from me here on the forum soon enough.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Bring em on friend. We all had tons of questions when we were starting out and I for one still have them on occasion. This forum proved extremely valuable to me when getting started.

 

[ljnowell]

Bring em on friend. We all had tons of questions when we were starting out and I for one still have them on occasion. This forum proved extremely valuable to me when getting started.

That's a fact. I've learned a ton here!

 

[HiPhi]

You guys have all been really friendly and helpful so far. Thanks!

 

[Harry1969]

Since you're new to reloading you should absolutely start off with a single stage press and forget about 300 rounds in an hour until you get the basics down. I've been reloading for 28 years and I still use a single stage press. I make between 25-50 rounds per session and over the years have accumulated all the ammo I need. By the way I live Downriver, if you need any help with reloading PM me.