Reloading Press Question

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"...just started my Masters degree in addition to working full time..." Geezuz! And you find time to reload.

Yeah, I dont have any kids yet, so that helps. I do find reloading fun, its just a time crunch issue.

Thanks for all of the replies. I may just go all out and get that cool Dillion 650XL. We'll see how the budget goes because I also have to get a 9mm 1911 to go with the press. Imagine all the explaining I had to do to pull that one lol.
 
LGB, that last comment is very interesting.

Isn't it un-American to believe that a smaller cheaper press might have some advantages over bigger more expensive ones? ;-)

Could you tell us what tasks you would prefer doing on the turret rather than on your 550b and two XL650s? Can a smaller simpler press be faster in some circumstances?

Thx.
 
I found the Lee Deluxe Turret kit at Widener's for $91.00. So I ordered it I have been using a single stage press. I am waiting for the big brown truck to pull up anytime. So i am ready to get it set up and working. I like the single stage press for rifle reloading. But not for large amounts of pistol reloading.

When the brown truck DOES show up, send that deluxe back, then get the classic. If you don't, you'll come on here with a post like "how do I keep those @#*^+ primers from flying everywhere EXCEPT where they're supposed to land"? Another gripe will be; why can't I use the safety prime on my deluxe?
 
Marc 257 wrote:

"Get some extra primer pickup tubes and you can take your time and still easily load 300rds/hr. "

I don't think anyone should have to endure the primitive, repetitive motor skill of loading promer tubes when that operation can be performed by a bench-top machine; and while that machine is is runnung, the press is producing ammunition.
 
I think I would rather have the Dillon 550. It reloads just about all ammo where the Square Deal only loads pistol if I remember. It doesn't take standard reloading dies and it's not that much cheaper than a 550. You can grow with a 550. Just my opinion for what it's worth. I have a 550 and 650 and I still like that 550 the best.
 
PPP - Primers, powder, projectiles...forget the brass. Probably because I load so much on a 650 with a casefeed.
 
Lee turret is the way to go, I use it to load volumes of .40 and .223, I use the lee auto prime, I like the way it feels priming by hand, and the lee auto disk powder dispenser. Then for precision .308 I do the same except weigh each powder load by hand. I also have turrets set up for 6.5X55 and 7.62 X54 its so easy to change calibers I don`t plan on buying any other press.
 
Look on EBay for used Dillon reloading equipment. Should be able to get your Square DealB in 9mm for a reduced price. I saw several a few hours ago. I own a SDB; I load 9mm and 38 Spl on it. I can load about 400 per hour. I would buy it again in a heartbeat; I also agonized over buying a Dillon before I made my purchase a year ago. I don't regret the purchase for one minute; it has been an exceptional machine. Check out the forums at Dillon and Brian Enos for user help too. the folks at Dillon are especially helpful and friendly. The SDB is a small compact machine that puts out large volumes of ammo in a very reliable manner.
 
I really do think I am sold on the square deal B. I really only load pistol in bulk, and it comes set up from the factory ready to go. I looked and ebay has some great deals. Thanks
 
LGB, that last comment is very interesting.

Isn't it un-American to believe that a smaller cheaper press might have some advantages over bigger more expensive ones? ;-)

Could you tell us what tasks you would prefer doing on the turret rather than on your 550b and two XL650s? Can a smaller simpler press be faster in some circumstances?

Thx.

Hey twofifty,

Un-American... Hmmm... I'm not sure. I really don't think it has any advantages over my blue presses. I just like the thing.
As far as smaller and cheaper goes... A good press is a good press is a good press.
I go over my surfing buddies' house and mess around with his for a bit and wish I had one for the motorhome, you know what I mean?
I can load circles around him if I am using my 550 and even faster if I'm loading 9mm or 45acp (the two 650's are dedicated to those two calibers).
Me & Mrs. LGB used to shoot tons but times have changed a bit and I don't shoot near the amount I used to.

It is my honest opinion that most folks (not all) could easily get by with a good single stage and a Lee Classic Turret.

That said, I love my tools and I am glad that I am blessed (I sincerely thank THE MAN UPSTAIRS) financially to have "The Cave" that I have with all the presses, components, and various gadgets that I sometimes take for granted, not to mention my nice collection in the safe. Only in America...

Bottom line, I guess I could really get by without all my presses except one, my old faithful single stage.

Now, does that sound Un-American?

Cheers...

LGB
 
Un-American? No, not at all.
Your earlier posts showed that you believe in matching the tool to the task, rather than going for the big show. I was pulling some legs, just not yours.

Cheers.
 
You said you also load 308 but do so on single stage for accuracy. I would certainly look hard at the Dillon 550 and get set up for the 308 also. I load 223 and 308 on mine and get well under MOA accuracy using 335 and BLC-2 powder. Puts a smile on my face to load at so much faster rate with those rifle rounds.
 
I had been using a RCBS Rock Chucker single stage press. Since I shoot autoloaders, a single stage just didn't seem time effective. Since I did hand-priming, and since I practice tripple-taps, I could shoot them about two or three times as fast as I could load them. At Christmas I bought a Dillon 550 progressive press, and I have been thrilled with the result. The 550 is a four-stage press. Stage one is the sizing/decaping die, and the Dillon primes the case at the top of the upstroke. While I don't get exactly the same feel as I did when I primed by hand, since the priming occurs at the top of the stroke, I have developed a "feel" for the primer, and can I can tell if the case doesn't get primed properly. Stage two is and expander-die/powder measure in one die, stage three is the bullet seating die, and I have a Lee Factory Crimp die at stage four. With each pull I am preparing four cases at the same time.

The 550 has an optional case feeder which I didn't buy. I you decided to load additional calibers later on, changing the 550 is quick and easy. I have purchased a separate toolhead and powder measure for each caliber I load. I purchased a caliber conversion kit and a quick change assembly (which includes the powder measure) for about $150 for each additional caliber, and I can go from .45 cal to 9mm in about 10 minutes. Once the setup is complete, I can comfortably load about 250+ rounds per hour- faster than I can shoot them, and I have only been using the press for about a month. If I tried, I could probably load even faster, but I am willing to sacrifice some speed for safety and accuracy. If I had another couple hundred dollars, I suppose I could add the shell feeder, but I am satisfied with what I have right now.

Once piece of advice- if you go with a progressive, try to purchase the set-up video. I paid $20 for the Dillon RL 550 B setup video, and it was worth much more. I thought that setting up a progressive reloader would be complicated, but I watched the video once, then played it as I was setting up the press, and I had no problems at all.

I am glad I went with the progressive over the turret press. With the turret you are still only working on one case per pull, while with the four-stage progressive you are prepping four with each pull, and each pull completes another round. I still occasionally grin when I hear the "clink" of another round hitting the tray.

-Rick
 
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I think I will get the video now that you suggest it. Thank for the heads up Rick and welcome to THR.
 
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