Want to get back into reloading

[McGoo]

I reloaded some ammo on a shooting buddy's setup recently and forgot how fun it is to do.

Had a Hornady progressive setup quite a number of years ago. Hated that thing. Thinking about a Dillon 550 or 650. Read some of the posts here on this already, but still "cornfused." This would mostly be for 45acp. Can anybody give me an idea of practical load rates? I shoot up a lot of ammo during the spring and summer months. Want to make a big pile before the season gets going.

 

[dmftoy1]

I load slow because I like to double and triple check everything visually. With my 550 which I just sold off I was about 250-300 round per hour. I could've easily gone faster but I was happy with the quality and safety of it.

My new 650 with the casefeeder will do 500 per hour with the same somewhat leisurely pace. I'm sure it'll go faster than that, but 450-500 per hour and I feel good about what I'm loading. Seems like I have to work to keep the casefeeder stocked because it creates ammo so fast.

If you decide to go the hornady LNL route I'd definately spring for the casefeeder. I wish I had upgraded my 550 to a 650 a year ago. I shoot about 1200 rounds of .45acp per month and this would've made last fall alot less work.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[dcloco]

Might look into another Hornady setup for yourself. You can buy a lock-n-load for $299 online. Hornady is offering 1000 free bullets if you purchase by November of this year. So...you would be receiving $120-$200 bullets for free.

 

[TooTaxed]

The new Hornady L-N-L Progressive is a far cry from their early machines! I shopped around last fall and located friends with Dillon 550's, 650's, Lee Loadmasters, and the Hornady, and loaded on 'em all...and chose the Hornady due to the faster LNL die changing system and the FAR superior rotary powder measure. One particular nice innovation is that once you have finished your production run, You have the option of removing the adjusted powder stem by simply pressing a button on the drum...tag it with the powder and charge, store it with your die set, and the next time you want to load that cartridge, simply mount your dies with 1/4 turn each, insert the powder stem, and immediately start reloading! Powder stems cost only $10 each.

 

[mightyoakwildlife]

Load Rates

When I first got my 550B in the 1980's, I was so impressed with the production rate that I actually timed myself. Using jacketed bullets (lead builds up lube/wax in the seater, so depth has to be watched very closely), I was putting out about 475 rounds per hour. Excellent quality rounds, no errors, flaws, or blemishes.

Now that I have gained over 20 years "experience," I have slowed down to a comfort level of about 375 per hour. Maybe a loss of dexterity, gain in respect, loss of hand-eye coordination, gain in sense, etc.

My brother has both the Lee progressive and the Hornady. Loves the Lock-n-Load, keeps the Lee because his wife gave it to him. Wants my Dillon, but can't justify another press (we still keep a couple single-stage presses around for some rifle loads).

Go back to your buddies press, and try a few other buddie's set-ups if you can. Today's presses are a far shot better than ever before, and you are sure to be happy with whichever you choose, once you get used to it.

 

[TooTaxed]

Good advice from Mighty Oak! You will enjoy using the different presses, and will learn a lot!

 

[1911user]

With cleaned, inspected brass and several loaded primer tubes, I could reload 500 an hour with a dillon 550 loading 45 auto. If I had to stop every 100 rounds to load a primer tube, the rate dropped to 400 per hour. I'd suggest a dillon 550. If you even start thinking about a new hornday, make sure you operate one (loading real pistol ammo) in person before placing the order.

 

[McGoo]

Sounds like the 550 will do me.

Thanks!

 

[ATAShooter]

My brother has a Lee LoadMaster. Pretty nice machine, and he's happy with it.

 

[45shooter]

In past 20+ years or so I have had Dillon SDB, 550 and 650 to load 45ACP caliber. I always start with enough bullets, cases, powders and primer pickup tubes loaded and my rates for the first hour is/was SDB-340 rounds, 550-450 rounds and 650-700 rounds. I once loaded a little more than 2,400 rounds in 3 hours with the 650.

 

[CZ223]

Another vote for the 550

I load on 2 550s, one set up for large primers and the other for small primers. Over the last five years my loading has consisted mostly of loading for Cowboy action shooting. I have loaded for the 32S&W, 32H&R mag, 38 special, 38-40, 44-40, 44 special, 44 mag, 45 Schofield and of course 45 Colt. The bulk of my loading is done for the 45 Colt. When using smokeless powder I can easily load 500 per hour as long as I have all my tubes loaded with primers. Black Powder Slows me down but even using fiber wads I can load 200-250 per hour. Don't tell me not to use BP in the plastic tube. I don't wanna hear it cause it just aint so.:banghead: