New to reloading, is $1795 a good price to start?

[Gasitman]

I just got off the phone with a guy from dillon and he gave me a quote of $1795 for a xl 650, and various other items to reload, 45 auto, .223, and 10mm. Included a case feeder, etc. I was hoping to get into this for around $1k. Am I dreaming or what should I do? I really do not want a single stage kit, as most people that I have talked to at the gun range say I will eventually get a progressive anyways.

 

[Walkalong]

I got started with a single stage kit for $99. I went to a Lee Turret, and then to a Hornady Projector.

I would be hard pressed to buy all that for $1800 to start something I don't know I will continue.

Dillon makes great stuff, but can be very pricey to buy all that to start, as you found out.

 

[Balrog]

I have a Dillon XL 650, and it is a great press, but I started with a Lee Classic Turret. The Lee classic turret is much cheaper, is well made, and turns out good ammo. If you end up not liking reloading you are not out that much money. If you end up liking reloading, then yes you will probably want a progressive one day, but you will still likely use the Lee for your low volume calibers.

 

[qajaq59]

Let me suggest that you start by buying "The ABCs of Loading" and a Lyman loading manual before you spend a dime on equipment. Then try to locate a loader near you and sit down for a calm chat. You may find that going full bore all at once is right for you? But then again, you may decide to start small and work up. A lot of that decision may be how much you intend to shoot. But either way those two books should answer a LOT of your questions. And the guys in here will help as well.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Let me suggest that you start by buying "The ABCs of Loading" and a Lyman loading manual before you spend a dime on equipment. Then try to locate a loader near you and sit down for a calm chat. You may find that going full bore all at once is right for you? But then again, you may decide to start small and work up. A lot of that decision may be how much you intend to shoot. But either way those two books should answer a LOT of your questions. And the guys in here will help as well.

This makes the most sense.
This, I agree with.
I also started with a single-stage press.
I went to progressive but still prefer to load single-stage in batches - I don't even know if I could use my Progressive without reading all the setup instructions again and getting re-used to it all!

 

[Gryffydd]

If I were you I'd start out with a nice single stage kit until you've loaded for a while and gotten te basics down. Then you can get your big progressive. The nice thing is that you'll always have a use for that single stage, and you'd likely end up buying one anyway.

For the progressive I'd look long and hard at the Hornady LnL AP. It can be had with case feeder and all accessories for well under $1k.

 

[Gasitman]

I was looking at the LNL from hornady. Maybe I will just go with that for now. Will I have to buy different dies later for a progressive or can I use what I already have?

 

[1KPerDay]

Have a look at this thread... I was gung-ho a while back and nearly had my order sent... it was going to be about $500-700 depending on how much crap I thought I REALLY needed. This is based on a Lee Classic Turret press.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=514924



I think, however, that for ME, going progressive out of the box is going to be the way to go. Yes, it's going to be pricey.

 

[DIV03]

Dillon Reloading Products call Brian Enos
http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html

 

[moxie]

Ditto on those who recommend buying a cheap, little, single-stage setup to get the basics down and give you a chance to see whether you really like it. One of the Lees or the RCBS Partner press (which is terrific), a decent powder measure, a hand primer like the Lee Autoprime, an intro scale and a few other doo-dads like a dial caliper and a few load books (Lyman and Speer) and you're ready to go for well less than $500.

 

[Jeff H]

Will I have to buy different dies later for a progressive or can I use what I already have?

All standard dies are interchangeable in all presses I know of except the Dillon SDB

 

[MarcusT]

If you really want a progressive to start I think you should go with the 550 its much easier to use and get used to reloading on and you can use it like a turret until you get the hang of it. There is just way to much going on at once on a 650 to be the press you learn on. I started on a 550 and now have a 550 and a 650 but if I would have started on the 650 I would have gone crazy trying to learn how to reload and how the machine works.

 

[Jon_Snow]

Don't discount the single stage as being for beginners only. I started on a Hornady porgressive and I recently picked up a Lee breachlock single stage. I still use the Hornady for 45 auto and 204 Ruger, but I do my 308 match grade work on the Lee. I did this because I was using my progressive like a single stage. If you want precision rifle ammo you will have to de-prime and size on the press, then trim all your cases off the press. Then you'll have to charge off the press if you want to weigh each charge. Finally it's back to the press for seating and crimping. Anytime you have to take cases off the press mid-cycle you're losing the efficiency of a progressive. Keep that in mind when deciding if your equipment will match your shooting habits.

 

[warnerwh]

For the money I don't think anything touches the Lee Classic Turret. It's not as nice as a Dillon but for a 100.00 you can load a considerable amount of quality ammo. I'd say that the quality of your ammo is as good as any press based on groups have fired such as .75" or lessat 100 yards for the 30-06 or 1.25" at 25 yards from the Dan Wesson .357. In both cases using inexpensive bulk bullets.
You should use it as a single stage until everything is very clear to what is going on. I had a XL650 before I got married and it's a nice press but the Lee Classic Turret I use now pretty much does anything I'm likely to want it to do just not as fast. You don't want the standard turret press that is similar from Lee.

 

[Fourbits]

Another vote for the Lee Classic Turret!

 

[Brock K]

I like most here suggest start with a single stage or turret press.. I own 2 single stages, 1 turret and 1 progressive.. I also use every one of them.. Sure dillion is outstanding equipment but IMO not worth all the money. I own the LNL progressive from Hornady and love it.. There is a deffinate learning curve when learning how to load to begin with but to jump into a progressive feet first IMO is not the way to go they are a learning process all there own.. However if your dead set on starting with a progressive then I personnaly would go with the hornady...

Keep in mind also that if you plan on loading any kind of rifles cartridges with extruded powders they dont work so well in progressive presses and you will end up buying a single stage or turret press anyways..

 

[oneounceload]

I started on a single stage and still use it (I sold my progressives a while back, including a 650). I load all my metallic on an itty-bitty RCBS Jr. press. Pistol is done in batches - resize/deprime in one step, flare and reprime in the second, load powder/seat bullet/crimp in the third. Since my loading blocks are 50-count, I load 50 at a time. Using a turret means you turn it a lot and do one complete round at a time, whereas batching them does partial processing on a bunch of them

Progressives are faster, but can present problems of their own. Their major downfall, no matter shotshell or metallic, seems to be in the primer arena - no primer, flipped primer, sideways, etc., which then cause other problems if you're cranking away and not paying total attention.

Where a progressive shines is when you have one load for one cartridge and you get everything set for it and you run and gun. If you're doing load development, and therefore loading in small batches to find one that works, a single stage or turret actually work better.

 

[davidwwilkins]

First post here. I have a Lee turrett press, and it sits on the shelf. I have reloaded for about 25 years, and at the end of the day, I prefer loading single stage. It's a great way to relax and listen to music or watch the race while doing something with my hands. Get a nice RCBS single stage beginner kit. It does everything you need and costs less than $300. Take the remaining $1500 and get one REALLY NICE gun. Or several NICE guns.


DW

 

[jpdavis423]

If you've got the $1795 go for it. I reloaded on a single stage for about an hour and then got on the phone to Dillon. I bought the 650, case feeder, strong mount, bullet tray and tools. It was a lot of money, but it was one time and I've never regretted it. A very good friend of mine started on a 650 and has never had a problem.
One thing that's good about starting on a single stage is that it really makes you appreciate a progressive.

Jeff










4

 

[Plas62]

I would recommend the Hornady LNL AP. This was the first press I purchased and have been very happy with. Also Hornady Customer Service has been top notch for me. You should be able to get setup for all 3 calibers for $1k and then spend the remainder on powder, primers, etc.

 

[Leaky Waders]

I started with a RCBS Rockchucker supreme kit - it came with the press, scale, speer #13 manual, funnels, trays, powder dispenser, and I think the dies (I'm pretty sure a set of dies came with the kit).

The only thing i've added is a tumbler, lots of manuals, more dies and components.

I reload mainly 45 long colt.

For shotgun I have a mec jr.

I like the single stage...it's kind of like fly tying for your gun.

 

[sonier]

If you plan to shoooot a lot go for the overpriced dillon, id look into a RCBS or Hornady progressive before a dillon. ive reloaded few thousand rounds on my old rockchucker, this keeps me from wasting a lot of ammo cause theres mroe down time after shooting making ammo.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Ditto oneounclload. That's what I have done for over 45-4 years, good old single stage.
RCBS Jr.

 

[Gasitman]

I just got off the phone with someone from Natchez, I think I am going to go with the hornandy progressive, hold up on the case loader for now. Trying to go with something for under $1000, which I may just end up with.

 

[Rxster]

Use the extra money to buy components. Put in a good supply early and keep it up. Some places like powder valley will combine orders so you only pay 1 hazmat fee.
Good luck.