Need Advice ''Deal or No Deal''

[Titan6]

I have been thinking about getting into reloading for a while. A friend is now getting out of reloading (He can no longer shoot sadly due to heart problems). He has offered to sell me the whole shebang.

He has:
- About 25 books and manuals
- A Dillon 650 series reloader
- Rock chucker
- Manual brass cleaner with medium seperator
- About 20 dies (many are nib sealed unused mixture of titanum and carbon steel dies)
- About 50 pounds of bullets of all types, brands and calibers with a number of primers
- powder measure and a few other tools such as a case trimmer
- maybe a couple of things I left out but you get the idea.

He wants $1000 cash. Should I buy? Offer less? Walk away?

I should add about half the dies and bullets are in sizes I do not use or intend to buy. Any advice would help...

 

[xring44]

Too many things we don't know, for instance, does the XL650 have the caliber conversions you intend to load for? Does the XL650 have electric case feed? 50# of bullets that you won't use is scrap metal, jacketed bullets are worth substancially more than cast bullets, generally. If you have no experience loading ammo, a XL650 might be a little intimidating........but what the heck, its only money!

 

[Titan6]

The bullets are all jacketed. Mostly Nosler with a dozen other types thrown in. He has the converters I think. There are 9 of the 13 calibers I shoot. (missing .223, .303, .40 SW, .30-30). I do not really need the .30-30 anyway...

Many dies I do not need or want...

I just do not know enough about it.

 

[mc223]

First thought is pass if you dont think you could at least trade off the stuff you would not be able to use. The price is probably at least relatively close if all was new and useable.

 

[layusn1]

I would say pass and get yourself a Lee Turret, Loadmaster, or Pro 1000 first. That way you don't have too much invested and you can decide if loading is for you. If you decide to upgrade later you can sell it to another newcomer. You could also go oldschool and get a single stage to start with because it will always have a place on your bench and start for around $100. That is a lot of money to invest, especially if you won't use half of it. I suppose honestly, if you can get one, the Hornady Lock n Load is the smart money. You get a well reviewed press and the free 1,000 bullets puts you about at the price of the Lee progressive. His deal probably isn't going out the door tomorrow so reaserch all of the presses and evaluate your needs. Spell them out to us and several people can chime in with recommendations. I know you can pick up the Dillons on ebay for half the price of the package deal if you are sold on the Dillon name. Take a bit to look around, I'm betting you will be glad you did...unless the guy is going to take payments while you sell off the stuff you don't want.

 

[Idano]

Titan6,

I think $1,000 is more then a fair price for what you listed. You certainly won't get hurt buying it because if you decide you don't like reloading you will get your money out of it. It is god to see that there is a Rock Chucker there to learn the basics on and then a top notch progressive to move up to once you have the process down. If the deal was presented to me I definitely would jump at it, deals like that doesn't come around every day.

 

[armoredman]

Plus, you can sell whatever you don't need to us!

Start small, learn your way up to progressive. Reloading is VERY unforgiving of inattention and carelessness.

 

[Titan6]

If I can I will go back tomorrow and make a full list of the tools and dies. He is actively trying to sell but has no buyer yet.

 

[Canuck-IL]

I just do not know enough about it.

Then how is anyone here supposed to know more about it?

Duh!

Offer $900 *IF* you have the energy to sell here or e-bay the stuff you don't need.
/B

 

[SASS#23149]

re: DUH

I read it as not knowing much about reloading in general.

let's be nice,k?

 

[dmftoy1]

If he has 9 caliber conversions with it then I'd say it's a pretty good deal. (especially if he has the case feeder). If you're comfortable with Ebay you can easily sell off anything you don't want and that would drop your investiment. Just my .02. It'd be a nice setup to start with and you could use the rockchucker until you had all the basics down.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[sansone]

depends on how many guns you will be reloading for, and how many rounds per week you'll be shooting. you can buy a lee starter kit for 1 caliber under $100 NIB

 

[SASS#23149]

the calibe conversions for Dillons' sell very fast if priced just a tad below retail.
that machine will put out tons of ammo quickly...or slowly.It only goes as fast as yu want it to,which is good in the beginning.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds a good deal price-wise, if IF you can either use all that stuff, trade or resell it.

 

[Archie]

If I were in driving distance, I'd buy it right now.

 

[earplug]

Buy it, I'm sure for the price of Dinner or whatever your friend would help you set up and operate the press.
The reloading manuals are great to have.
The stuff you don't need sell.

 

[dcloco]

Buy it, peddle ONLY the components that you will NEVER reload to lessen your initial investment.

THAT is a good deal.

50 pounds of bullets = 350,000 grains of bullets....or 6363 55 grain FMJ 223 rounds (over $500 in bullets) or....2083 168 grain 30 caliber rounds (over $400 in bullets).

Put it to you another way...if you DON'T buy it....send him my way...I will pay shipping too.