I need help with my .45 ACP reloading setup

[Tomekeuro85]

My friend and I just bought ourselves some .45 acp's. I got a sig and he got a springfield. I currently own an RCBS rockchucker single stage, and I am looking to get another simple inexpensive press so that I can work one press with one aspect of the reloading, and he can work the other press with other stuff, therefore reducing the amount of time we need to make bullets for our trips to the range.

Can anyone suggest a really inexpensive press that would be useful for the less stressful tasks to the unit? And also, could you suggest which tasks of the handgun reloading process would be less stressful?

We want to do this so we don't have to buy a super expensive progressive press. or any progressive press because this will be much cheaper regardless.

Thanks very much.

 

[distra]

Having just purchased my own Dillon 550B and set it up for .45ACP, I would recomend trying to pool resources to get a progressive Dillon, RCBS, or Lee. You will save time and since you are already loading you probably have all the accessories, scale, calipers, etc. Just my opinion, but with my progressive I can load ~250 rds/hr. Couple hours a week and I've got enough for a month worth of shooting. Good luck.

 

[dracphelan]

I use a Lee Hand press with good production output.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=410804

You may also want to look at the new Lee Classic Cast Press:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=814175

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I second the Lee handpress. I use one for loading at the range and at one time had a loading kit in a tool box that I took with me to Michigan when I spent a century there from 1995 to 1996.

You can do almost anything with the Lee handpress that you can do with a bench mounted press. And if you load enough with it, you'll wind up with pecs that will make Arnold Schwarzenegger jealous.

 

[yodar]

Simple reloading press

I started loading 45 with the herters press in the 60's. Did good

Decades later after a deevorce from an anti-gun Irish shrew I started again with the Lee turret.

EXCELLENT starting press for the multi caliber reloader with a toolhead for each caliber and an autodisc powdermeasure.

SLICK! and it treated me well for years till it kept having to be readjusted to hold my now more well defined dimensional specs.

I got a Dillon RL-550B and never looked back. I really think the average reloader will be perfectly happy with the lee turret. It ran me about $75 bux with dies ,scales, powdermeasure, OTD

Now I want a Dillon SQUARE deal dedicated to .45 and my other press for my rifle calibers

Yodar

 

[JDGray]

+1 for the Lee turret. I also use my Lee single stage for sizing/deprime only. I'll size a bunch of cases and prime, then when I reload, all my brass is ready to go. Never cared for the depriming set-up on the turret. The new cast turret would have been nice, the primers can be dirrected, somewhere, instead of in the press or on the floor.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Any small press will do for 45acp. There just isn`t much force required to size, deprime seat, ect with small pistol cases. The bigger presses come in when one starts sizeing magnum cases or case forming/bullet swagging. I`d look at a cheap Lee or one of the hand presses.

 

[Brian Williams]

Dillion's Square Deal B is a great press, I got mine used for $125. Watch ebay.

 

[Smokey Joe]

What press

Tomekeuro85--For the setup you describe it would seem that a cheap Lee Challenger would fill the bill. This is an inexpensive bench-mounted press. And the 2 of you working side-by-side is a nice idea.

Another way to go would be to haunt the auctions, e-bay etc, and buy used. Mebbe you could obtain a higher quality press for cheaper this way.

However, if you & yr friend are shooting a lot, like you are in a bullseye league or some such, I agree with other posters that the way to go would be to pool yr resources and get a progressive. The Dillon Square Deal B is about the least expensive, with one caveat: It uses proprietary dies, so you can't switch the dies to another press, nor use "regular" dies with the SDB. Almost any other press you might buy uses "standard" interchangeable dies.

E-bay is a good source for used progressives, too, although you may find the one you buy, short some essential tiny part. But that's part of the fun of getting a press set up and running.

Well, there you are. Good luck whatever you choose, and keep us posted. As always, the journey is part of the destination.

 

[Run&Shoot]

It depends on the quantity of ammo you are talking about. I personally have used only a Lee Challenger press (what is it now about $30?) to do all of my reloading. I can do a couple of hunred rounds in one session. It should be plenty if you are using it for sharng the workload. Pistol brass does not take much effort to size with carbide dies.

The Lee Hand Press or Classic Turret could also work well depending on you budget and expected quantity of reloading.

I think I would use the Rockchucker for decapping/sizing step. I use an RCBS hand primer separate from the press. Then over to the Challenger for expanding the case mouth. Next, over to the powder measure for filling. Then to the RockChucker for seating and crimping.

One of you could do had priming and using the Challenger for case mouth expanding, maybe even powder filling.

The other could use the Rockchucker for decapping/sizing and bullet seating and crimping. I would suggest NOT sharing the powder filling duty as that should be done by only one person for continuity and less chance for error.

 

[yodar]

JD Gray

Yeah ! I always kept a paper grocery bag on the deck under the press to catch the primers.

Up north I would heat them on a cookie sheet and pitch them on an Icy sidewalk to keep us from slipping!

You'd think Richard Lee would have developed a primer catcher like Mike Dillon since the auto-actuated powder measure was Lee's baby!



Yodar