I have spoken with a few members that are considering to reload, including myself.

 

Is there a basic list that I can use to get what I need?

I would be reloading 9mm, .40 and .45acp. I will also be reloading .308 in the near future.

 

Any help would be appreicated.

 

Little note:

I want to buy stuff once. I like the idea of a progressive, as it seems it will be faster. Not looking for the cheapest route, but more of a quality route. I want stuff that will last.

 

Thanks in advance.

If you want to do it right, once, get a Dillon 550. Especially if you want to start with pistol calibers and produce ammo in bulk to feed your handgun/carbine habit.

It will be about $700 all in to start loading in a single caliber. I would start with 45ACP. It has the lowest pressure of the three. Save 40S&W for last. It has the highest pressure of any of the common pistol calibers.

I'm very interested in this topic as well. I'm looking to reload 45acp's first and the 9's eventually.

 

Thanks for starting the thread Bry@n!

If there is enough interest, I can have a few people over to see the reloading press and how it works. I am in Middletown, next to Sandy Hook.

i'll bring donuts

If there is enough interest, I can have a few people over to see the reloading press and how it works. I am in Middletown, next to Sandy Hook.

I'd like to be included in those few if it comes to fruition.

Party @ Lunkers! i'm in

Also Vinny at Hunting World and arms offers Dillon presses %10 off and half price shipping. Give him a call might get a break on a group buy. He also reloads using Dillon so can advise you on what you need.

Dillon makes good stuff, but really ought to go 650 if you are buying once. Auto progressive really works well.... or just get the Hornady Lock n Load.

 

They are all good presses, it really comes down to preference of if you are Red, Blue, Orange or Green.

 

Here is a great article...

 

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLee ... arison.pdf

I love my LNL.

Ok - you'l need large pistol primers for .45 ACP. I like Acc #2 for powder. It shoots nice and measures very consistent. I would go with a balance scale if you only have one. The RCBS 505 is a very good scale. The Lee delux die set is nice - it comes with the factory crimp die which is a plus. A tumbler and media to clean cases. The Cabela's kit is good. Oh - and some reloading manuals of course.

Dillon makes good stuff, but really ought to go 650 if you are buying once. Auto progressive really works well.... or just get the Hornady Lock n Load.

 

They are all good presses, it really comes down to preference of if you are Red, Blue, Orange or Green.

 

Here is a great article...

 

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLee ... arison.pdf

 

MAKS- How can you be so wrong? Beginer loaders should stay away from a Dillon 650. If you F'up it's harder to recognize and clear. #2 Dillon clearly has the highest quality and best customer service of any of the colors. Lad go with a Dillon 550B or a single stage press.

 

15,000 rds of 9mm loaded on a 550B last year and I don't shoot much better

I suggest you get a Dillon 650. Order the video or get in touch with someone who has one, and practice. Start off slow and once you get the hang of it you will be fine. IF you plan on loading 45acp and 9mm, you will need a large and small primer assemblies, conversion kits for each caliber, a large and small case feeder plates, and a complete quick change kit, dies, powder, brass, heads, tumblers, and a media seperator. You don't need the low powder sensor, it is useless. Get an EGW lee undersize die for the 9mm (glock brass). You will spend quite a few bucks to get everything you need, but once you do you save money from not buying factory ammo. If you have any questions let me know, I have 3 650's one at work, one at home, and one at my friends house.

Dillon makes good stuff, but really ought to go 650 if you are buying once. Auto progressive really works well.... or just get the Hornady Lock n Load.

 

They are all good presses, it really comes down to preference of if you are Red, Blue, Orange or Green.

 

Here is a great article...

 

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLee ... arison.pdf

 

MAKS- How can you be so wrong? Beginer loaders should stay away from a Dillon 650. If you F'up it's harder to recognize and clear. #2 Dillon clearly has the highest quality and best customer service of any of the colors. Lad go with a Dillon 550B or a single stage press.

 

15,000 rds of 9mm loaded on a 550B last year and I don't shoot much better

Before I bought my 1st press, I loaded/tried out voodoodaddy's 550, and I did not like it. Got the 650 instead and yes I did run into some issues at 1st, but once I figured out the kinks, smooth sailing.

how many rounds of each do you shoot in one week ? - how much time will you have to reload in a week ? -

I shoot around 100 9mm and my wife shoots 100 of 9mm a week. If I shoot .45 acp, it will be 100 a week instead of the 9mm. That is if I only go to the range once a week. Right now it's about twice.

 

anywhere between 200 and 400 rounds a week right now.

 

I will also shoot more .45acp if I reload it. The $20 a box is getting old.

when I 1st started shooting and reloading I was going through about 500 rounds a week. I would load several times a week (sorting and cleaning brass as well). You can conservatively load about 500 rounds an hour with no interruptions. Load for a few hours a week for one caliber, then switch and load for the other. You will end up having a stockpile of loaded ammo. After which you would load for what ever you are low on. Now I usually load for several hours and pile up the ammo for when i need it.

i just bought a hornady E-Z lock-n-load AP its a progressive press and has a bushing system to where you lock the settings in and when your done you pull the whole bushing out and put the new one in and you dont have to do any adjusting from one caliber to the next besides for the first use its great!

Old School,

 

For someone to learn, I would rather they start on a single stage or a turret press.... however Bryan said he wants to buy one and that is it.... so the 650 is what he should get.

 

If I spend $700 on a blue press and I still have to index it myself.... as opposed to the $200 Lee press that does it by itself... i'd be pissed. lol.

 

But that is why you should not be learning on a AP.

 

Other school of thought would be to get a single stage or turret press for rifle, and a Square Deal for pistol.

 

I feel a Hornady Lnl AP in my near future..... =)

I know Dillons are excellent but they seem to be too pricey.

 

Does anybody use a Lee Pro 1000? I've seen videos in youtube and the owners seem to be happy with them. However, I've also read negative reviews online. I've also seen a thread previously about a Lee Classic Turret press.

 

These two might not be as good as the more expensive equipment out there but they can get somebody like me started with reloading for less than $500 (am I being to optimistic?).

I know Dillons are excellent but they seem to be too pricey.

 

Does anybody use a Lee Pro 1000? I've seen videos in youtube and the owners seem to be happy with them. However, I've also read negative reviews online. I've also seen a thread previously about a Lee Classic Turret press.

 

These two might not be as good as the more expensive equipment out there but they can get somebody like me started with reloading for less than $500 (am I being to optimistic?).

 

 

I love Lee, but the Pro 1000 is the biggest POS in the whole wide word...

 

I have one ready to go for 45 LC if you want for $75. I am sure you can get the kinks out.

 

the Lee Load Master is leaps better, but still not up to par to the Hornady and Dillon AP.

 

Lee makes a great classic turret press, and a great single stage... it ends with that.

If you only want to buy 1 press and never again, buy the 650 with all the bells and whistles. You can load many different calibers on it. You get a real no questions asked lifetime guarantee. If anything ever goes wrong or a part breaks, regardless of how big or small it is, Dillon will replace it. Finally if you decide that it is not for you or you want something else, Dillons NEVER lose their value. I have seen items for sale on ebay that were used, going for new prices.

Reloading can end up being a chore (that is how I feel) and to make the chore more tolerable, get the best tool for the job.

a Lee Load Master

 

Midway has a 45acp kit for $ 229+. Now, that sounds like a great place to start.

send me a link.... I am a Lee dealer, so will see, but on some stuff, just hard to compete with Midway.

I'm sure we can go around and around on which press is better but I bet we can agree on one thing... You have more appreciation and a sense of accomplishment for the bullets you throw down range when reloading.

 

And for $.20/ round I have the best .223 ammo there is tailored to my rifle.

Midway has the LNL on sale.

 

I am easy, I just hate buying things to end up upgrading and have a useless item I am never again going to need.

 

That is why I said one. If I could buy the turret cheaply and learn and then not have to buy $785 worth of other stuff to use a progressive, then okay.

 

Also, that article maksim sent, had the hornady as pretty much the better all around deal. I was thinking of going that way.

send me a link.... I am a Lee dealer, so will see, but on some stuff, just hard to compete with Midway.

 

here you go:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=236243

Midway has the LNL on sale.

 

I am easy, I just hate buying things to end up upgrading and have a useless item I am never again going to need.

 

That is why I said one. If I could buy the turret cheaply and learn and then not have to buy $785 worth of other stuff to use a progressive, then okay.

 

Also, that article maksim sent, had the hornady as pretty much the better all around deal. I was thinking of going that way.

 

Hornady LNL at less than $400... with lots of positive reviews. Not bad at all! Sale is up to 9/30 so there's plenty of time to research 8-)

here's the link: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=679228

Patience, a well organized setup and quality supplies

 

I have the Lee Classic Turret and dies for 9, 40 and 45. I'm reloading around 1500 per month and I'm very happy with it. If you ever are near by South Orange you are welcome to see my setup.

If you only want to buy 1 press and never again, buy the 650 with all the bells and whistles. You can load many different calibers on it. You get a real no questions asked lifetime guarantee. If anything ever goes wrong or a part breaks, regardless of how big or small it is, Dillon will replace it. Finally if you decide that it is not for you or you want something else, Dillons NEVER lose their value. I have seen items for sale on ebay that were used, going for new prices.

Reloading can end up being a chore (that is how I feel) and to make the chore more tolerable, get the best tool for the job.

 

This +1

 

But there are deals to be found. I got my dillon 450 for $125.