Switching calibers to make reloading easier: Thoughts?

[wanderinwalker]

I found back when I was loading .44 Magnum and some .45 ACP, they were substantially easier to work with than 9mm. And even now, .38 Special cases are easier to manage than the stubby little 9mms. Not that it stops me from loading and shooting oodles of Parabellum rounds...

But may I ask, how can one afford to switch to a new pistol and caliber and not be able to upgrade the reloading equipment? I'm not trying to be snide either; in the last 2-3 years I've considered trying out some kind of .40 S&W pistol in place of my 9mms, but every time I look at adding another caliber to the reloading bench, it makes more sense to stay with 9mm to utilize what I already have. As was said, you can mount a single-stage press to a board, clamp it onto a bench, table, bureau top, and you'll be able to reload more easily and quickly than with the little hand press. (In this case I think a LEE Turret mounted to a board and set-up with your 9mm dies would be ideal. Easy to use, easy to break down and relatively inexpensive.)

 

[Mike44]

If you decide to switch to 45 ACP, you might consider using cast bullets to manage costs. I use berrys plated bullets for 9MM. I can buy cast 45 bullets from Missouri Bullets for about the same price.

 

[WVGunman]

Many thanks to those who have offered me equipment, etc. I'm severely constrained by circumstances (no space, basically, and I have to keep mess to a minimum) so I really am not looking to change my preferred way of doing things. I HAVE to use a hand press, and have no place--not even a garage--to use anything else. To make my life simpler I also only use carbide dies. But I appreciate the thought(s).

 

[WVGunman]

But may I ask, how can one afford to switch to a new pistol and caliber and not be able to upgrade the reloading equipment? I'm not trying to be snide either; in the last 2-3 years I've considered trying out some kind of .40 S&W pistol in place of my 9mms, but every time I look at adding another caliber to the reloading bench, it makes more sense to stay with 9mm to utilize what I already have.

Maybe I can't; this discussion is just exploratory.

As was said, you can mount a single-stage press to a board, clamp it onto a bench, table, bureau top, and you'll be able to reload more easily and quickly than with the little hand press. (In this case I think a LEE Turret mounted to a board and set-up with your 9mm dies would be ideal. Easy to use, easy to break down and relatively inexpensive.)

Nothing's less expensive than something you already have. But seriously, I LIKE my hand press, and I live in a space roughly equivalent to a large camper. I simply have no room to use anything else. Trust me, I've tried to figure this out plenty. I just don't shoot enough centerfire to bother with a different arrangement. I probably go through less than 100 rounds a month, and I can load that in two days without barely trying, even with just the hand press.
I AM buying a .357 Mag soon, that I will use mostly for .38 specials, and I expect that to simplify things even further. But I have concluded that doing most of my shooting with .22LR is the most cost-effective way to shoot a lot, period.

 

[enine]

I'll second Lost Sheep on getting the Lee scale. I have the same hand press and Lee dippers and I'm thinking the dippers were designed to err on the low side. I've only loaded a few hundred rounds but I cannot get the dipper to give the full amount and always have to trickle a little more in from a second scoop. You could have the same issue and are making light loads.
Also what powder, they can vary a lot. Tightgroup cycled and shot fine at the starting load but 700X I had to go up a few tenths to get it so cycle.
I like my hand press too, I'm temped by a bench press but then I couldn't load on the couch.