Shooting buddy wants to start reloading and needs advice.

[Peter M. Eick]

I throw this to you all for advice.

My shooting buddy wants to reload. The costs have gotten to him. He has stated he does not want to experiment and is not doing this for fun, just to cut his costs so he can shoot more. He wants to reload the following:

223, 5.7x28, 30-06, 38, 357mag, 9mm, 40s&w, 10mm, 45acp.

He wants a progressive that can do it all.
He wants one load for one bullet for each caliber (I said I can help him there)
He wants a case feeder if possible.
He wants it reasonably idiot proof.
He wants it to work to make just one load per caliber and nothing else.

I see it as a dillon 650, hornady LNL or RCBS Pro2000. As a die hard pro2000 user I think I am highly biased toward it so I figured I would ask your opinions.

 

[Otto]

If he wants it now, get the Dillon. Hornady is dragging their feet on just about everything.

 

[RustyFN]

I see it as a dillon 650, hornady LNL or RCBS Pro2000.

I think all of those presses would be good as long as the case feeder will do rifle brass. Have him get what you like. A lot of people that start reloading that don't like it and are just trying to save money don't stay with it very long.
Rusty

 

[jjohnson]

Dillon 550B

I left my RCBS single stage for a Dillon 550B a decade ago and have loaded around 100 Thousand rounds since then. And I'm doing it without a case feeder. As much handling as reloaded casings take in the first place, I've never seen much advantage with a case feeder - but then, I've never HAD one. What I can tell you is that the Dillon is very, very well designed, pretty handy, certainly well built, and backed by a REAL "no-BS" warranty.

I can run up a batch of a thousand or more of whatever pretty danged quick.
If your buddy is feeling the money tighten up in his shooting budget, you can save a little on getting "just" a 550B. You'll both pick up savings on Hazmat and quantity orders of other stuff.

Good luck to you both.

 

[Cascades]

Dillon's 550B is likely the best choice, considering he is beginning.
If he is serious, have him contact Brian Enos. Brian will set him up with exactly what he needs to load those calibers. If he doesn't consult with Enos, he will likely duplicate some of the accessories he purchases; thus, losing money! Brian will fix him up with the correct shell plates, powder funnels, etc.

Your friend can talk with Brian, regarding which press might best fit his loading preferences. Contact information is on: http://www.brianenos.com/. I'd wager now that the 550B will be the winner.

Among the cartridges I load on my 550B are six from the list you've provided. The press does a great job meeting my needs for the 17+ I load for.

The sticker price might be a bit shocking. The extra powder dies, funnels, shell plates, tool heads add up. BUT--it is worth it. I prefer to be able to have my dies for each caliber set up in a tool head. That way, I don't have to monkey with them each time I want to load for that caliber.

If he choses a different press than the Dillon, he will still have to purchase the accessories.

 

[lgbloader]

I would have to agree, The Dillon 550B is a great little press. My favorite progressive for sure. However, I am a big fan of the single stage and would buy a Lee Classic cast to go along side it.

LGB

 

[whatnickname]

Dillon 550...No doubt about it

While you can spend more money on the Dillon 650 and 1050 the caliber change over hardware is quite a bit more expensive and the 650 and 1050 machines with all the bells and whistles are considerably more complicated. As good as the Dillon is (and it's darn good) reloading is an inherently dirty business. All that grit (powder and primer residue) sooner or later is going to result in something hanging up. The bane to the existence of just about every progressive reloading press on the planet is the primer feed system. Generally once they stop feeding primers your work or cleaning task is cut out for you. With a machine that automatically indexes you're one step closer to accidentally double charging a case with powder while you're in the process of figuring out why your primers aren't feeding and yes, I know they make powder check systems. The point is that the Dillon 550B is more manual in operation and less likely to get a beginning reloader into trouble. And I agree with the others posters here. Once I set my 550B up I can run off a 1000 rounds in pratically no time. This said I will also have to tell you that I find the business of reloading most enjoyable. My focus is on turning out the best possible quality ammunition not so much on high production rates. I say the best way to go for a beginner is the 550B. If you want to spend extra money on something, spend an extra couple hundred bucks on that nifty little machine Dillon makes that automatically charges your primer drop tubes with primers. Loading the darn primers into the drop tubes manually is darn tedious and time consuming and about as exciting as watching paint dry!

 

[Shoney]

Peter:

Because of the way you asked the question, everyone will answer like you. People recommend the press they are using, because they are brand loyal, and would like to believe they made the better choice. They cannot be objective.

You should ask for answers from people who have loaded extensively on all three pressed. There would probably be no answers. However, there are a few people who have loaded on at least two of the progressives, who will give fairly unbiased answers.

I own a 550, an LNL AP, and have loaded several thousands of rounds on a buddies 650. The LNL is the superior machine.

After many loading sessions on my LNL, my buddy sold his 650 and got the LNL.

 

[BADUNAME27]

Dillon.

Dillon.

Dillon.

 

[qajaq59]

If he is going to load ONLY to save money, I'm not sure he's going to be a happy camper. But I guess he'll find out soon enough.

 

[jfh]

Well, I may be reading the (T) leaves here--i.e., inferring issues--but I see a couple of subjects to consider.

1. Your friend seems focussed on result, not on the experience. With this in mind, he seems to be a Dillon buyer--and probably a 650. Personally, were I buying now I would probably look hard at the LnL over the 650, but that's my own bias....

2. More importantly, he needs to get enough knowledge to use a progressive, not to mention to learn safe reloading procedures.

So, with this in mind, IMO a second press needs to be added--and I suggest the Lee Classic Cast Turret--which will function just fine as a SS, as a turret, and as an auto-indexing turret to prep him for 'the progressive experience.'

I imagine you are helping him learn, Peter, so maybe this issue is already resolved--but he could do worse to get off and running with the LCCT first.

Jim H.

 

[RandyP]

I reckon he could always buy a commercial reloading machine that just needs someone to keep filling the component containers?

"IF" your friend really isn't interested at all in reloading as a fun 'hobby' he may simply not enjoy the experience at all? I am a TOTAL reloading rookie. I bought a Lee Anniv single stage kit, immediately just upgraded to their very robust Classic 4-hole turret, got their very inexpensive spare turrets ($10) for each of the three calibers I reload .380/9mm/.45ACP and I "think" I am still am not out of pocket what a high end Dillon would have cost me.

I am truly enjoying this hobby. The money for me was well spent, the learning is as enjoyable as the handle cranking. If I were impatient and only, interested in output, I might get buyer's remorse rather quickly and feel it worse based on how much $$$ I had invested into learning I don't like reloading.

One option....have your buddy buy the highest priced Dillon gear you can find and give it to YOU to reload his ammo for him?

 

[Cascades]

My preference is based on asking questions and researching prior to purchasing the press.

I read the discussions regarding the merits and failings of various presses until I became saturated with the repetition of brand and model characteristics. I talked with press owners.

I am not a 550B fan merely because I load on one. I recommend them because I've researched the presses and found this type to fit my needs, and I am of the opinion it will satisfy the reloading preferences of the "Shooting Buddy."

Yes, a progressive with auto indexing may prove to be a headache and a safety problem for the beginning reloader.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks for all of the advice.

He and I will work on my Pro2000 so I can show him the ropes and we will work up loads for him to run.

He is a scientist just like me, but he is doing this out of motivation, not out of scientific interest. Thus the goal is production.

 

[mallc]

Production = 650XL

Proof is in the piles of ammo that pour out the chute. For getting the job done,the Dillon 650 can't be beat. Yes, it costs more; but it works better with FAR less tinkering than other machines. Cheap price does not equal value.

Scott