Which reloading setup?

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by AngelsSix

I will primarily be doing pistol for now, 9mm, .40, .45. As I get more experience I want to start doing some custom .556 loads.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I am going to go look for those books and start doing some reading.

Then you will not need the rifle case prep and accuracy tools that would be required if you wanted to start loading for long guns.

The 550 would be a great machine for your needs. A brass tumbler is not required for what you are doing, at least as long as you are loading virgin or once fired cases.

Rich has a good starter list, I would add a taper crimp die, calipers, plastic ammo boxes, and a powder check.

If you do not have a beater table to mount it to, you may want to get the NRA plans and build your own. At least one of their designs is very heavy duty and can be used for a variety of purposes.

Welcome to the dark side.

TR

[worksivme]

AS someone who has a few reloaders, including the RL 550b and the Hornady Lock-n-load and Forster Co-Ax

The hornady lock-n-load ap is better for a progressive.

Produces finer ammo. Has a true 5 stations and auto index.

If true quality is the thing "Forster".

Hornady still gives you a thousand rounds free with purchase of this reloader.
A better deal you will not find.
Plust if their choice or bullets is not to you liking they usuall will allow you to switch for an additional two dollars.

Be Well

[HOLLiS]

Originally Posted by RichL025

Angels,

My 550B is on it's way (Merry Christmas, me!) so I'll be able to give you a personal report on it soon.

Well? How do you like it, or are you still busy reloading?

On the single stage, I would reload once I had at least 50 or more empty cases.

On the Dillon, I wait. Only draw back, I spend less time reloading.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by worksivme

AS someone who has a few reloaders, including the RL 550b and the Hornady Lock-n-load and Forster Co-Ax

The hornady lock-n-load ap is better for a progressive.

Produces finer ammo. Has a true 5 stations and auto index.

If true quality is the thing "Forster".

Hornady still gives you a thousand rounds free with purchase of this reloader.
A better deal you will not find.
Plust if their choice or bullets is not to you liking they usuall will allow you to switch for an additional two dollars.

Be Well

Who are you? No intro and no profile. Hmm.

Did you read the registration message you were sent?

How about the rules and stickes posted here?

You are off to a poor start.

TR

[RichL025]

Originally Posted by HOLLiS

Well? How do you like it, or are you still busy reloading?

On the single stage, I would reload once I had at least 50 or more empty cases.

On the Dillon, I wait. Only draw back, I spend less time reloading.

About 200 rounds loaded so far - 50 or so to work up a few options, and 150 for a recent IDPA match. So far it's getting a big "two-thumbs-up", but, as some of the serious guys on this forum can tell you, the true test is after several thousand rounds, not a measly two hundred

I'm having trouble finding a shop with a decent powder selection around here, so I still have quite a bit of load work-up I'm going to do before I settle on something - a local guy who does pretty well in USPSA and IDPA gave me the recipe he uses, I want to try a few others also.

[AngelsSix]

Rich,

Glad you like your reloader. I am looking at the Dillon for now as well, it is fairly inexpensive for what I want to do right now. I am certain I will start looking at other set-ups after I get some time under my belt.

Thanks for all the input, I plan on going to look for that Lyman manual sometime this coming weekend.

K

[Gene Econ]

Originally Posted by HOLLiS

Gene, I bought my first 550 about then too. I had several issues. I think part of it was just a transition issue. One of aspect of a progressive, is stopping and then re-starting in the middle of a load. It is much easier, if one has to stop, is to run all the case through first. The other aspect was primer seating, It took a while to get it all sorted out. I think I was the most of the problem that I had with my 550. I have friend who have other progressive or multiple stage presses. They would be a good way to go, if a person only has a few calibers they reload. I would be interested in knowing more on what your complaints where. I fell like I need to still learn a lot. H.

Hollis:

You covered the main problem that was the primer feed. Essentially -- it wouldn't.

Intrestingly enough given the somewhat floating die holder on that early 550-B Dillon, -- the alignment between dies and ram (shell plate) was horrible. Cartridge run out was so bad that necked cartridges wouldn't chamber reliably. That was strange as the 450's had a little tool that you used to align the ram with the head and you would think that this would cause alignment problems but that 450 could produce blasting ammo for necked cases with no problems.

Well, I have my two 450's and the Hornady among a couple other turret and single stage presses. Almost all of my rifle ammo is loaded on a Redding T-7 turret these days. Pistol on the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP.

I buy Dillon products and have done so since the days their flagship was the 450. Honestly, I believe their 450 remains an exceptional press that is far less prone to mistakes or problems than the 550. I have no experience with the 650 series.

Gene

[redleg99]

Another satisfied Dillon owner here –
I’ve had my 550 for about 7 years now, and I’m very happy with it.

BrianEnos.com has a couple of good FAQs posted on Dillon presses which may be of interest:

“Which Dillon?”
http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html

“Dillon Precision FAQs”
http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html

Disclamer: BrianEnos.com is a commercial site that does sell Dillon presses. I have no connection with them whatsoever – I just found the information in the FAQs useful.