Press decision

[trentcwwilson]

Well, 3 and 4 are not useful to me. So 4 would be plenty.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well, I don't shoot enough to warrant a grand+ for a progressive.

Have you looked at a Lee Loadmaster?

They are a good value and come with a case feeder that works pretty nicely. I think they are very suited to someone who is a bit OCD and likes to get things "just right"

What is nice is that their caliber switch overs are as inexpensive as the Hornady ones with the price of extra head units being very comparable to the cost of bushings.

There are also a lot of aftermarket enhancements available

 

[trentcwwilson]

Have you looked at a Lee Loadmaster?

They are a good value and come with a case feeder that works pretty nicely. I think they are very suited to someone who is a bit OCD and likes to get things "just right"

What is nice is that their caliber switch overs are as inexpensive as the Hornady ones with the price of extra head units being very comparable to the cost of bushings.

There are also a lot of aftermarket enhancements available

Now this guy/gal gets me.

 

[Smitty79]

For high volume pistol, consider the data from the USPSA Nationals. 93% use Dillon. I that crowd, a 650 is entry level.

 

[trentcwwilson]

It may but I reload 6 days a week for well over 5 hours each day.

 

[9mmepiphany]

It may but I reload 6 days a week for well over 5 hours each day.

That's way too much time, unless you're loading a lot more rounds than I think we're talking about.

I am running an experiment with nickle .38spl cases and loaded up some rounds last night and this morning.

I set up my Hornady LNL yesterday and loaded a quick 50 rounds. I left it set up, powder measure and primer tubes full and ran off another 100 rounds last night in about 15 mins. Had a spare 10 mins this morning before running some errands and loaded another 100 rounds. So 250 rounds in about 30 mins.

It is still set up in the garage with 200 primers in tubes and I might run out and load them this evening if I get a free 20 mins before bed

 

[trentcwwilson]

Gotta think, still working on a single. So much time for each process.

 

[bullseye308]

I started out on a Lee single stage Reloader press that I still use and once I got to shooting too much to keep up with I went with the Loadmaster and was loading an average of 16k per year for 5 years in 9mm and 357. I replaced one plastic part on it that Lee sent me for free after I told them I broke it. I use the bullet feeder and have one of the kids keep it full and I can load for hours. My press has seen just over 125k rounds and looks like it may do it again real soon. Set up a tool head for every caliber and switching is quick and easy. All the extra money you save over buying a different brand will get you a good supply of consumables to get you started.

 

[John3921]

If I was spending 5 hours a day loading I'd look into a Dillon 1050.

 

[david bachelder]

I can only speak for what I have. I own a Hornady LNL and I have been pleased with it. I never have had Hornady refuse to replace a part that failed. So I guess it's a no BS guarantee too. If you buy the LNL I suggest you buy the Hornady dies. The other brand dies work but they a re just a bit short and the Hornady dies are a bit longer.

I have also has stellar success with RCBS. I have an old RockChucker and when something breaks they fix it with free replacement parts.

I have no experience with Dillon, LEE or any of the others.

We in the reloading hobby are fortunate to have vendors that support our use of their products. Very lucky indeed.

 

[trentcwwilson]

If I was spending 5 hours a day loading I'd look into a Dillon 1050.

At my pay grade and how much I shoot, that's an idiotic statement. People that buy 1050s do it because they have more expendable money than me, they make money reloading/shooting, or they do it to brag.

 

[LiveLife]

I'm young ... time to move up from the single stage ... mainly for reloading handgun, mostly 38/357 and I'll soon be getting into 9mm and 45 acp. Maybe the occasional rifle round, but it'd be for cheap shooting. My match ammo will always come from the single stage.

I don't shoot enough to warrant a grand+ for a progressive.

Have you looked at a Lee Loadmaster?

They are a good value and come with a case feeder that works pretty nicely ... caliber switch overs are ... inexpensive

Now this guy ... gets me.

When I started shooting USPSA matches 20+ years ago as a bachelor with a new job, I couldn't afford the Dillon 1050 either.

While my reloading/shooting mentor taught me to reload on Dillon 550 and Lee Pro 1000, my match pistols could not tell the difference which load came from which press and I ended up buying the Pro 1000 for auto index feature, case feeder option and lower cost. No more buying factory ammo and I started having more fun shooting matches with more accurate match loads that shrank my shot groups by more than 40%!

During our 20+ years of marriage, whenever I drooled over a 1050, my wife would ask me, "But honey, would it load more accurate loads?", and I reluctantly had to pause and tell her "No" as we already did match load comparison tests during match practices where different loads from different presses were compared.

When my match loads from the humble Pro 1000 press shot comparable and better than other loads mostly loaded on Dillon presses, shooters got curious and we went to different shooters' houses with scales and calipers to find out why as we mostly shot the same bullets (Montana Gold) with mixed range brass but different powders. What we found was while some of the presses drifted in powder drops over the 500-1000 round reloading session, my fixed volumetric Pro Auto Disk did not drift even after a 1000+ round reloading session. My mentor did check the powder drop weights from Dillon 550 every so often to check for drifting.

Over the years, my collection of Pro 1000 grew to 4 and I have dedicated set ups for 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP that make it convenient for me to simply walk up to a press, add powder/primers/cases and start reloading. In addition, I also acquired Lee Classic Turret press and C-H 3/4 station "H" type presses.

For our retirement house reloading room, I contemplated between Hornady LNL AP that Walkalong has been using happily and Dillon 650, both 5 station progressive presses. In the end, I chose Dillon 650 with case feeder currently set up for 45ACP for separate seat and crimp operation. Walkalong's son recently wanted a progressive press and after much consideration (I figured LNL AP), decided on the Load-Master and apparently has been using it happily.

When I was shooting matches, I was shooting several thousand rounds a month. For high volume pistol shooting, progressive press is essential. Even though I do not shoot matches now, I could not keep up with my pistol shooting if I used only the Classic Turret press. Just for my recent 9mm carbine load development, loading several hundred rounds with different bullets and powders took couple of hours and it would have taken much much longer on a turret press.

FYI, I prefer to load .223/.300 BLK/.308 loads on C-H single stage press.

Life is short. I think what's more important than press color discussions is having fun shooting.

 

[trentcwwilson]

When I started shooting USPSA matches 20+ years ago as a bachelor with a new job, I couldn't afford the Dillon 1050 either.

While my reloading/shooting mentor taught me to reload on Dillon 550 and Lee Pro 1000, my match pistols could not tell the difference which load came from which press and I ended up buying the Pro 1000 for auto index feature, case feeder option and lower cost. No more buying factory ammo and I started having more fun shooting matches with more accurate match loads that shrank my shot groups by more than 40%!

During our 20+ years of marriage, whenever I drooled over a 1050, my wife would ask me, "But honey, would it load more accurate loads?", and I reluctantly had to pause and tell her "No" as we already did match load comparison tests during match practices where different loads from different presses were compared.

When my match loads from the humble Pro 1000 press shot comparable and better than other loads mostly loaded on Dillon presses, shooters got curious and we went to different shooters' houses with scales and calipers to find out why as we mostly shot the same bullets (Montana Gold) with mixed range brass but different powders. What we found was while some of the presses drifted in powder drops over the 500-1000 round reloading session, my fixed volumetric Pro Auto Disk did not drift even after a 1000+ round reloading session. My mentor did check the powder drop weights from Dillon 550 every so often to check for drifting.

Over the years, my collection of Pro 1000 grew to 4 and I have dedicated set ups for 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP that make it convenient for me to simply walk up to a press, add powder/primers/cases and start reloading. In addition, I also acquired Lee Classic Turret press and C-H 3/4 station "H" type presses.

For our retirement house reloading room, I contemplated between Hornady LNL AP that Walkalong has been using happily and Dillon 650, both 5 station progressive presses. In the end, I chose Dillon 650 with case feeder currently set up for 45ACP for separate seat and crimp operation. Walkalong's son recently wanted a progressive press and after much consideration (I figured LNL AP), decided on the Load-Master and apparently has been using it happily.

When I was shooting matches, I was shooting several thousand rounds a month. For high volume pistol shooting, progressive press is essential. Even though I do not shoot matches now, I could not keep up with my pistol shooting if I used only the Classic Turret press. Just for my recent 9mm carbine load development, loading several hundred rounds with different bullets and powders took couple of hours and it would have taken much much longer on a turret press.

FYI, I prefer to load .223/.300 BLK/.308 loads on C-H single stage press.

Life is short. I think what's more important than press color discussions is having fun shooting.

At the end of the day, that's the one reason we all shoot. We reload so we can be happy for less.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Some people nearly laugh at me for having a load master and a couple have but I've loaded many rounds on mine and I've got the priming system working near flawlessly. Adding its speed at reloading primers in 100 round batches and the newly designed primer tray (thing is really easy and fast) my times are up.

I wont say the Lee loadmaster is better than any progressive but for the right person its a good press capable of filling their needs.

I got mine used. The guy that had it before me was shooting idpa. He went through a lot of rounds on it before i got it.

I've ran a Dillon and a LNL my buddy had before i got a single stage because he lived too far away. Good machines both. Like the Dillon better. Wed spend a few hours every saturday cranking out ammo to take straight out in the back of the house and shoot it all.

Have to say to that there was less issues in loading with them than with the Lee when i first got it.

Either way I'm happy and if i ever buy a Dillon or LNL, i still have plenty of use for the Loadmaster.

 

[wbstx11]

My 2 cents: If I had to do it again I would by the Dillon in a heartbeat - just seems like everyone who has one loves it. I have a Lee Load-master, and it is the one actual regret of choices I've made on reloading. There's been some good advice here - I concur with think about your process. I always de-prime and run thru the vibrator before I load, and I always hand prime (but largely because of the press I have - *&^%$!) I don't need 5 or 6 stations. For me. powder dispensing would be a very important issue in selection.

 

[LiveLife]

Life is short. I think what's more important than press color discussions is having fun shooting.

At the end of the day, that's the one reason we all shoot. We reload so we can be happy for less.

I'm young ... time to move up from the single stage ... mainly for reloading handgun, mostly 38/357 and I'll soon be getting into 9mm and 45 acp. Maybe the occasional rifle round, but it'd be for cheap shooting. My match ammo will always come from the single stage.

I don't shoot enough to warrant a grand+ for a progressive.

Consider this.

Over the past 20+ years, I have reloaded over 400,000+ rounds just for pistol calibers and including rifle calibers along with various reloading equipment, total cost spent is around $60,000 and this reloading cost doesn't include money spent on firearms or shooting accessories.

So over time, cost of reloading press becomes less significant.

Knowing what I know now, if I were to do it all over again, I would have started with Dillon 550/650 with case feeder for pistol calibers along with O-ring single stage and Lee Classic Turret presses for rifle calibers. But regardless of progressive press used, I would resize and hand prime all match loads separately to reduce shell plate tilt/deflection for more consistent OAL.

But I absolutely do not regret having started with Pro 1000 for pistol/short rifle calibers as bulk of 400,000+ rounds were loaded on Pro 1000 presses, including my match loads. In fact, while I do my initial load development on C-H single stage press, all of my sub 2" 25 yard accuracy test loads were loaded on Pro 1000 - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9924922#post9924922

Furthermore, bullseye match shooting requires consistent match loads far beyond what is acceptable to average reloaders and THR member ljnowell placed first place in his bullseye league using match loads loaded on Pro 1000 - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10077964#post10077964

And many would agree that while the color of press is important, if the consistency of finished rounds would not vary much, what is more important is being able to shoot more for practice as there is little substitution for trigger time to improve your match score.

 

[Sam1911]

It may but I reload 6 days a week for well over 5 hours each day

If I was spending 5 hours a day loading I'd look into a Dillon 1050

At my pay grade and how much I shoot, that's an idiotic statement. People that buy 1050s do it because they have more expendable money than me, they make money reloading/shooting, or they do it to brag.

Perhaps a 1050 is a bit of an overstatement, but if you're really putting in THIRTY HOURS of reloading time per week, something needs to change -- at least if you plan to keep it up. That's 10 hours short of a full time job! You're just making ammo, after all. Not even spending that time SHOOTING -- which is, after all, the point of the exercise. Reloading is a great hobby, but not THAT great a hobby that you should spend nearly as much time on it as you do making a living!

Even at only 100 rds. per hour that's 3,000 rounds a week! If you're shooting that much, that much time at the bench is unsustainable. With even a 550 or a 650 you'd have 12,000-15,000 rounds done in one week!

If you aren't shooting that much but still spending 30 hours reloading in order to do so, the cost of the gear you'll need to free up probably 20-25 of those lost hours will be exceeded by the cost of the components you're burning through very quickly!

 

[trentcwwilson]

Perhaps a 1050 is a bit of an overstatement, but if you're really putting in THIRTY HOURS of reloading time per week, something needs to change -- at least if you plan to keep it up. That's 10 hours short of a full time job! You're just making ammo, after all. Not even spending that time SHOOTING -- which is, after all, the point of the exercise. Reloading is a great hobby, but not THAT great a hobby that you should spend nearly as much time on it as you do making a living!

Even at only 100 rds. per hour that's 3,000 rounds a week! If you're shooting that much, that much time at the bench is unsustainable. With even a 550 or a 650 you'd have 12,000-15,000 rounds done in one week!

If you aren't shooting that much but still spending 30 hours reloading in order to do so, the cost of the gear you'll need to free up probably 20-25 of those lost hours will be exceeded by the cost of the components you're burning through very quickly!

Like cleaning my guns, I'm very picky. Last night alone I spent my time just going through brass. I know it's not the best use of my time, but I enjoy reloading. I've gotten to the point I do most of my powder measuring by hand because the powder drop tolerance of +/-.1 grains is too much for some of my powders, mainly Tite Group.

 

[Sam1911]

Oh.

Ok. I've used a lot of titegroup and never felt the need to be that picky about it but I'm shooting matches, not benchrest or bullseye so the progressive is more accurate than I need.

 

[jmorris]

I'm just getting tired of working for a week to shoot my ammo on the weekend.

I have or have had most of the progressives that you can buy today..

1. How many rounds a week are we talking about?
2. How long do you want to spend loading them?
3. How often are you going to be switching calibers?
4. What is your mechanical ability?
5. Are you willing to spend more for a press you don't have to mess with as much or would saving a few hundred bucks be worth messing with a press that needs more attention than others?

 

[Morrey]

Oddly enough, I never sit down and try to figure my cost per round by reloading. My equipment and supplies are part of my hobby, part of my enjoyment, part of the passion I have for shooting custom rounds with absolute precision accuracy.

I have used Dillon presses for 30 years. No, I didn't start with one, but I have two now. I cant say enough good things about them.

Thinking about the fact you spend 30 hours a week reloading. I can believe that. But I doubt you spend 30 hours a week pulling a handle on a press cranking out rounds. Maybe some time analyzing targets from the range deciding which powder is best. Working up loads and checking ballistic charts. Putting brass in the tumbler and sorting it out. Heading to the reloading room and hiding out until the wife finishes the dishes and you can come out safely..lol. I bet a large group of us spend a great deal of time in the entire process...but not simply pulling the handle so to speak.

 

[LiveLife]

I think there are shooters who reload and reloaders who shoot.

For shooters who reload, reloading is a hobby or arduous necessity as they enjoy shooting more.

For reloaders who shoot, reloading is a passion and shooting is the "quick unloading" step of the reloading process so we could reload more.

So ask yourself, "Do you enjoy shooting or reloading more?"

 

[trentcwwilson]

I think there are shooters who reload and reloaders who shoot.

For shooters who reload, reloading is a hobby or arduous necessity as they enjoy shooting more.

For reloaders who shoot, reloading is a passion and shooting is the "quick unloading" step of the reloading process so we could reload more.

So ask yourself, "Do you enjoy shooting or reloading more?"

I enjoy both equally. Guess I'll have a long talk with myself(happens more often than it should) when I get home to decide one or the other.

Oddly enough, I never sit down and try to figure my cost per round by reloading. My equipment and supplies are part of my hobby, part of my enjoyment, part of the passion I have for shooting custom rounds with absolute precision accuracy.

I have used Dillon presses for 30 years. No, I didn't start with one, but I have two now. I cant say enough good things about them.

Thinking about the fact you spend 30 hours a week reloading. I can believe that. But I doubt you spend 30 hours a week pulling a handle on a press cranking out rounds. Maybe some time analyzing targets from the range deciding which powder is best. Working up loads and checking ballistic charts. Putting brass in the tumbler and sorting it out. Heading to the reloading room and hiding out until the wife finishes the dishes and you can come out safely..lol. I bet a large group of us spend a great deal of time in the entire process...but not simply pulling the handle so to speak.

This^. I enjoy the tinkering side of it. At one time, I was actually using an exacto knife to cut up trail boss so my grains went into the hundredths rather than tenths. Talk about consistent ammo. And I do look at every little detail. No, once I find a load, it'll take me no time to pump them out.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I have or have had most of the progressives that you can buy today. How many rounds a week are we talking about? How long do you want to spend loading them? What is your mechanical ability? Are you willing to spend more for a press you don't have to mess with as much or would saving a few hundred bucks be worth messing with a press that needs more attention than others?

That's a good question in a nutshell. A progressive will mass produce many of rounds and as already pointed out will save lots of time. One is more cantankerous than the others and that affects production. But it cost more time or money either way. A sacrifice seems to be the answer. I'm not saying nothing that hasn't been said already but if you can swing the cash more than time, gear up. If not, Tinker a little.

Like cleaning my guns, I'm very picky. Last night alone I spent my time just going through brass. I know it's not the best use of my time, but I enjoy reloading. I've gotten to the point I do most of my powder measuring by hand because the powder drop tolerance of +/-.1 grains is too much for some of my powders, mainly Tite Group.

That is a whole other ball of wax. A different powder may be a good solution. Something as accurate with the right power level, meters well and is forgiving enough for +/- .1 gr.

I do understand the OCD effect of reloading for matches and I feel your pain. Seems like something needs to go however, whether its money, time, powder choice or a combo IMHO. Hope you find what your looking for.

 

[Morrey]

I think there are shooters who reload and reloaders who shoot.

For shooters who reload, reloading is a hobby or arduous necessity as they enjoy shooting more.

For reloaders who shoot, reloading is a passion and shooting is the "quick unloading" step of the reloading process so we could reload more.

So ask yourself, "Do you enjoy shooting or reloading more?"

Darn good point!