help getting started

[jachrist]

ok... I finally decided to start reloading my own rounds.

So, I thought I would get some expert opinion here

I need to know what I have to buy in order to start this up. I can get a press at dealer cost, but I need to know exactly which one to order and I have to do it now in order to get it before christmas.

I have been looking around at the reloading forums and here, but nothing solid yet. just a lot of opinions about various setups, etc.

I would just like someone to give me the heads-up on what to order. I can figure out how to do it (aka read the manuals) while i'm waiting for the press and equipment in the mail.

Thanks in advance.

BTW: don't want to spend exuberant amount on press (but remember, if it cost $299 at cabelas I can get it for $175-190), and will mostly be for .45 and .40 handgun loads but possibly with option of .30-30 and .308 in future?

[gunga]

I think you're looking for this fantastic post from the other day...

http://forum.pafoa.org/ammunition-re...ead-first.html (Reloading Equipment/Procedure Basics For Beginners - Read This First!)

[jachrist]

thank you sir.

[wizzegun]

Every "expert" will give a different opinion. They will recommend Brand X cuz thats what they've used since the dawn of time. I went thru the same thing and decided on the Hornady for the fact of the lock n load feature and they gave you 500 free bullet tips(mostly the free bullets ) I know Lee also makes a lock n load style now too. I think most brand name presses are fine to start. I would strongly suggest a single stage as a first press until you learn the ins and outs of reloading. Its not hard...just a process. I shoot with a guy who has money so he went straight to a Dillon progressive. If done properly...any progressive will churn out ammo. If done improperly (like when he didn't notice the powder charger was empty), you can load a lot of bad ammo really fast. He loaded 20 rds with no powder before he realized it. He thought he got all the dud rds but found a few when he squibbed his .45 1911. A follow up shot is not recommended with a stuck tip in the barrel.

[WVBob]

+1 on the single stage for starting. It's the best way to learn, IMAO. All of the equipment makers have a kit of some kind for starting out and that's the best way to go. A D-press is better for longgun reloading because it's much stronger. If you were just going to shoot handgun, a C-press will do. My first choice is an RCBS followed by Lyman and Lee. Other presses are good, but RCBS, Lyman and Lee have better kits.

[cobra2411]

I started recently with a turret press. It's got all the dies setup with an auto index feature that lets you click through them one at a time to load a round. It's faster then a single stage yet it's slow enough that you can catch foul ups. Now that I've got the hang of it I can do 100-130 bullets an hour.

The breech load single stages are nice too, but for pistol I have to give the nod to a turret with auto index. Mine is a lee and was in a kit with the basics you need to start.

If you want to load rifle ammo I would go with a breech load single stage. You can load rifle ammo with the turret, but you have to disable the auto index and click through one by one. It's not worth the expense over the single stage at that point.

[BerksCountyDave]

Originally Posted by WVBob

+1 on the single stage for starting. It's the best way to learn, IMAO. All of the equipment makers have a kit of some kind for starting out and that's the best way to go. A D-press is better for longgun reloading because it's much stronger. If you were just going to shoot handgun, a C-press will do. My first choice is an RCBS followed by Lyman and Lee. Other presses are good, but RCBS, Lyman and Lee have better kits.

The other way to look at this is the fact that you can get a turret press from the start. Then you can use it in a single stage mode until you get comfortable with the process before running in a more "progressive" fashion. You get it both ways and don't have to buy another press later on if you want to speed things up.

[JohnB]

I think the first question that should be asked is how many bullets (Rounds per year) are you going to be reloading? That will drive your press decision process.

Most competitive shooters, USPSA competitive shooters are shooting between 10,000 and 50,000 rounds per year. Using a single stage press would not be the correct choice.

The second question is focused on variety of calibers. The single stage presses are relatively inexpensive to convert from one caliber to another. Progressive presses are more expensive. High progressive presses like the Dillon 1050, could cost you up to $600 per caliber. A Dillon 550 is around $100 - $150 per conversion.

I'm a USPSA shooter. I shoot around 25,000 per year. My first press was a Dillon 550. My second press was another Dillon 550, my third press is a 1050. I use them all.

Best bet is to find a friend who has a single stage and one who has a progressive. Sit on their bench with them and load. See what you like. The leaning curve is steep. It doesn't take much time.

[Poonie]

I think the choice will depend on the type of ammo and the quantity of said ammo you want to load.

If like me and you load primarily rifle cartridges, and then only a few boxes every so often, then a single stage press is all you need. A turret press will speed the process up slightly as you won't have to remove the die for each operation.

Now if you shoot often and need to load 500 rounds a month, then you definitely don't want a single stage press.

[jachrist]

I'm mostly going to be loading .45's and .40 handgun loads. Like I said in the OP, I would like the option of the rifle loads later.

From info here, I am leaning toward the turrent because I plan on shooting about 300-500 rounds per month in the nicer months...

Also, I want to make quality HP ammo to play with and see how the 1911's handle them, but also some that is cheap enough to shoot all the time (ratio of defensive loads to target load = 1:5 or something like that)