The Wiry Irishman
Member
I'd been wanting to get into reloading for quite some time, and this February I finally had the cash put together to get this:
A beefy homemade bench, a Dillon 650, some accessories, a Lyman 1200 tumbler, a manual, and some components. The press payed for itself in two or threee months, and several-fold since. Today I loaded my 10,000th round. Since February I've done :
2000 .380
2000 .44 Magnum
6000 .45 ACP.
I've only shot about 7,000 of my reloads so far, but as of now I still have:
10 fingers
2 eyes
0 damaged guns
I've also have yet to have a squib or any sort of failure to fire. However, early on I hadn't quite masted the muscle memory of the press and did produce several "extra safe" rounds with no primer. I caught all of those before they went into guns, of course. I've also loaded three or four upside down primers, but I think that's more random chance than something I can control.
My only complaints about the press is the support for the case magazine tube and the ball handle. If you buy the Dillon case feeder, then tube is held securely from both top and bottom. If, like me, you do not yet have the case feeder, then the only support the tube has comes from a flimsy plastic arm with a great deal of play in it. This can cause the tube to tilt and the cases to bind up inside it. Not a big deal, but can be bothersome. I augmented the support with a bunch of duct tape, which greatly reduces the feed problems. You also really need the roller handle if you're going to be reloading in any quantity. I've taken to lubing the ball with CLP or Ballistol or wearing a glove if I'm going to be reloading more than 2 or 3 hundred in one sitting, and I'll still end up with blisters from it.
I also wish I had a bigger tumbler. Sometimes the little 1200 can't quite keep up with my reloading pace. It was dirt cheap and it runs like a champ, so maybe I'll just get a second one.
I have to say my favorite part reloading is being able to triple my centerfire shooting volume without increasing my budget.
A beefy homemade bench, a Dillon 650, some accessories, a Lyman 1200 tumbler, a manual, and some components. The press payed for itself in two or threee months, and several-fold since. Today I loaded my 10,000th round. Since February I've done :
2000 .380
2000 .44 Magnum
6000 .45 ACP.
I've only shot about 7,000 of my reloads so far, but as of now I still have:
10 fingers
2 eyes
0 damaged guns
I've also have yet to have a squib or any sort of failure to fire. However, early on I hadn't quite masted the muscle memory of the press and did produce several "extra safe" rounds with no primer. I caught all of those before they went into guns, of course. I've also loaded three or four upside down primers, but I think that's more random chance than something I can control.
My only complaints about the press is the support for the case magazine tube and the ball handle. If you buy the Dillon case feeder, then tube is held securely from both top and bottom. If, like me, you do not yet have the case feeder, then the only support the tube has comes from a flimsy plastic arm with a great deal of play in it. This can cause the tube to tilt and the cases to bind up inside it. Not a big deal, but can be bothersome. I augmented the support with a bunch of duct tape, which greatly reduces the feed problems. You also really need the roller handle if you're going to be reloading in any quantity. I've taken to lubing the ball with CLP or Ballistol or wearing a glove if I'm going to be reloading more than 2 or 3 hundred in one sitting, and I'll still end up with blisters from it.
I also wish I had a bigger tumbler. Sometimes the little 1200 can't quite keep up with my reloading pace. It was dirt cheap and it runs like a champ, so maybe I'll just get a second one.
I have to say my favorite part reloading is being able to triple my centerfire shooting volume without increasing my budget.
