Press Advice ?

[CZSteve]

Considering getting into reloading & wondering what press to get.
Will probably load approx 600-800 rnds per month of single caliber (.40sw).
By nature I am mechanically inclined and love to tinker.
Price is a factor.

Comparing Lee Turret kit, Lee Progressive 1000, and Hornady LNL (w/ Hornady @ the high end of $)

Any recomendations on recipes for .40sw?

Any suggestions or comments appreciated.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Sisco]

I've used a Lee turrent for years now, loaded several thousand rounds and find it adequate for my needs.
No experience with the Lee progressive or the Hornady.

 

[jjmorgan64]

I like the hornady Presses a lot, Also use my Lee turret quite often with no complaints.

I suggest you see the want to buy thread just below this one
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4965 and let Pistolsmith know you are interested in his projector if renaissance doesn't buy it from him, this is an excelent heavy duty press.

 

[WESHOOT2]

BUT BE CAREFUL

Any not-from-Glock case (prefer R-P); CCI500; Rainier 180g TCJ-FP; 6.0g Alliant Power Pistol; OAL 1.125-1.135", based on your gun; LEE Carbide Factory Crimp die.

Goes 890-930fps based on specific launch platform.
Well-tested.

I'd like to remind all to WEAR SAFETY GLASSES.
And think "When in doubt throw it out".
Yeah.

 

[sixgun_symphony]

I use the Lee Turrent press and it works fine.

 

[Shoney]

On friends machines, I've loaded 10's of thousand on a 550, many thousands on a 650, but got the Hornady Lock-N-Load Progressive. I love it.

For absolutely oustanding performance both in velocity and accuracy in the 40 Strong & Whoofdaa, work up loads of 180 gr Montana Gold with H. Longshot powder; and 200 gr Montana Gold with VihtaVouri N105 powder. Each exceeds 1100fps, which is 10mm performance at less pressure, recoil, and muzzel flip.

Shoney

 

[Loach]

Another vote for the Lee Turret.

Check ebay, I found a great deal on someone's entire setup. Got a RCBS 5-10 scale, RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure, Lee Turret Press, Case Prep Tools, RCBS bench priming tool, dies for 9mm and 44Mag, Hornady load books, some brass and more all for a little more than $100.

 

[IRock]

HORNADY

 

[SASS#23149]

not-from-glock........meaning of???

WESHOOT2......or anyone
Please expand upon the not-from-glock comment,for my education and others.I had heard that some pistols have unsupported chambers and makes the cases a bit unsafe to reload.Am I remmebering correctly? If so,why are thousands of .40 cases for sale on ebay? would't a reloader be risking a problem if he didin't know the lineage of his brass?
Thanks a lot.

 

[45auto]

Not on your list, but the Dillion SDB might be an option if you are only going to load one caliber or just pistol calibers. Fast loader if that's of any value to you.
Good luck

 

[Zak Smith]

If you want to only do pistol calibers on this particular press, I second the Dillon Square-Deal-B. I have one set up for 9x19 ($274 delivered, with dies), have loaded thousands of rounds. It's great. They advertise 500-600 rounds per hour and this is definitely possible.

I've had no major problems so far, and when I screwed up the shell-plate, they mailed me another one for free. You can't beat Dillon's customer service and warranty.

I think a second set of dies is about $50-60, and the rest of the stuff you need to "quick-change" the caliber (another powder measure, and toolhead) runs about about $50-60.

For pistol calibers, I think this is the way to go.

-z

 

[trapguy]

Another vote for the dillon square deal b, i have had mine since xmas and loaded 7k on it without the first problem, not even a missed primer.

 

[Arub]

I just recently started. Bought a Lee 4 turret off the net used. Set it up with a Lee 4 die set for .357 magnum. Use it as a single stage, for now, works like a charm. Love not having to reset dies for each operation like on a true single stage. Have not used it as a progressive, but have cycled it several times and it seems to work well. Have a spare plate. Plan on setting it up for the .40S&W next.

I decap and size 200 rounds at a time, flare and charge next, then seat, and finally crimp. The big time consumer for me is the charging. At the moment, I weigh the powder for each charge. Will eventually add a powder measure.

Also just inherited a single stage Rock Chucker which may not be suitable for your needs. That sucker is built like a tank. Works very well, but you have to switch dies for each operation or caliber change, which is a pain.

 

[Freedom in theSkies]

My vote is for the Lee 1000
I cn load about 200 rounds per hour on mine at a leisurely pace, and still verify powder content in each case. I don't have the auto bullet feed option, but I don't think I'd miss it...

 

[Archie]

I wore out a Lee Turret press. It took about 15 years.... I replaced it with a Dillon XL 650, because I got a good tax refund at the right time.

I'm sure the Hornady product is good. Most everything else they do is servicable. I'm not so sure about the Lee Auto machine. Lee has great ideas, but uses too much plastic.

Dillon is a brick. I've got the 650 and an AT500 for rifle ammo and load development. They both work well.

What ever you do, don't settle for cheap.

There are so many 40S&W cases for sale on Ebay and all over creation is simple. Many departments have switched to 40; must use factory brass in qualification and training; and cannot reload.

 

[WESHOOT2]

IME

40 S&W Glock-fired cases usually exhibit excessive measurements; they all blowed out
This can occur with other brands, too.

Large chambers sized for ultra-reliable feed and chambering allow 'bulging' and 'swelling'.
Weakens the case in ways we don't like.

I don't care what's selling on eBay, unless it says "New".

(I've examined a few cases in this caliber, and maybe some others, too.)

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Vote for the CH4D 4 position "H" press

It is a Lifetime press with no parts to wear out, can use any of your rifle or pistol dies and moving one round at a time you can load at least 250 rounds per hour. It will load everything but 50 Caliber GI but they have a press for that. They dont advertise much but I sold hundreds of them with no complaints in the 1970s. They are the best step up from a single stage press and you will find uses for it as I do even though I have 9 star reloaders. It loads all of my rifle calibers. It is the best intermediate press for the money.

 

[Kingcreek]

Once upon a time, I thought I would only load .45acp and bought a Dillon Square deal when they first came out, later upgraded it to a SDB. Later yet bought a 550 for everything else.
My SDB loaded over 40k rounds when I started to have some small parts failures. One day while on the phone with Dillon they noticed my purchase date and told me I had one of the first ones out the door and wanted to know how many rounds I had loaded. They asked me to ship the press to them for evaluation and refurb on thier nickel. Got it back 6 days later- like new. Still using it.