Cheap Start to Reloading?

[k0ua]

Dillon 550 is on my wish list. I have had years of reloading on a single stage Rock Chucker, but would like to set up progressive for 45acp and 357mag. I have family member with a 650; that thing is sweet!

The OP however, was trying to get started for $150. If you know of a complete RL550B for $150, please post; I'll buy it!

I'm seeing RL550C for $450-550 set up for one caliber. That is 3x the OP $150.

Just go out and buy it, you will thank your self. Keep your Rock Chucker, it is a good press, you can use for bullet sizing, or ironing out stretched cases etc. But once you have loaded on a progressive press, it is pretty darn hard to go back. But you knew that!. :laughing:

 

[FTG-05]

Dillon 550 is on my wish list. I have had years of reloading on a single stage Rock Chucker, but would like to set up progressive for 45acp and 357mag. I have family member with a 650; that thing is sweet!

The OP however, was trying to get started for $150. If you know of a complete RL550B for $150, please post; I'll buy it!

I'm seeing RL550C for $450-550 set up for one caliber. That is 3x the OP $150.

It's a very good that you came in here and posted the prices for the RL-550B*.

You might have noticed that I said I bought my RL-550B in 1986. I have no idea what I paid for it. I doubt the OP will either a year or two after he buys it. Is my point clear?


BTW: I think the RL-550B has been superseded by the RL-550C. FYI.

 

[rbstern]

Sorry I'm late to this party, but in my opinion, the Lee Classic Cast turret press is about the best beginner press available for someone who wants to reload both rifle and pistol calibers, and eventually will want to load pistol fast enough to produce a good amount of ammo. The quality is high enough that it is also a long term answer, even as a lifetime purchase.

Forget any negative comments you've ever heard about Lee's equipment. The Classic Cast turret came along at a time when they really started to improve quality. It's a very good piece of equipment. Well designed and well built. DO NOT confuse it with the earlier Lee turret presses, which are made out of cast aluminum. The Classic Cast is linked below. Check out the reviews on MidwayUSA. Near universal praise from many reviewers.

It takes 10 seconds to convert between single stage for rifle (or learning pistol) and auto-indexing for fast production of pistol rounds. Caliber changes take about 30 seconds, if you have spare turrets (less than $15) set up with your other die sets. Produces very good ammo in either single stage or auto-indexing mode. 150 to 200 pistol rounds an hour is realistic, although at the upper end of that rangem it requires a pretty quick pace, maybe faster than some people would be comfortable going.

In my 15 years of reloading, I've had Hornady, RCBS, Forster and Lee presses, single stage, progressives and turrets. About eight years ago, I settled on the Lee Classic Cast turret as the only press I need.

Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press - MPN: 964

 

[paulsharvey]

Thanks everyone. I don't doubt anyone is happy with their purchase. I really wanted to stay cheap, small, and cheap. I probably should have scrounged up an additional $30 to go to the Challanger type, but it was really a pretty firm budget. I can't really justify $750 start up for a toy. Heck, I may not want to bother with the whole mess after a few months, who knows.

One minor complication was of the $150 budget, $75 was in Amazon gift card, and they don't sell components...

So far I'm happy, but already I want a bigger space than a 24" x 12" square of plywood c-clamped to a TV tray.

BTW, Hornady says no lube needed for pistol with their titanium nitrate or whatever, but works SO much nicer with some bow string wax as lube.

 

[k0ua]

Sorry I'm late to this party, but in my opinion, the Lee Classic Cast turret press is about the best beginner press available for someone who wants to reload both rifle and pistol calibers, and eventually will want to load pistol fast enough to produce a good amount of ammo. The quality is high enough that it is also a long term answer, even as a lifetime purchase.

Forget any negative comments you've ever heard about Lee's equipment. The Classic Cast turret came along at a time when they really started to improve quality. It's a very good piece of equipment. Well designed and well built. DO NOT confuse it with the earlier Lee turret presses, which are made out of cast aluminum. The Classic Cast is linked below. Check out the reviews on MidwayUSA. Near universal praise from many reviewers.

It takes 10 seconds to convert between single stage for rifle (or learning pistol) and auto-indexing for fast production of pistol rounds. Caliber changes take about 30 seconds, if you have spare turrets (less than $15) set up with your other die sets. Produces very good ammo in either single stage or auto-indexing mode. 150 to 200 pistol rounds an hour is realistic, although at the upper end of that rangem it requires a pretty quick pace, maybe faster than some people would be comfortable going.

In my 15 years of reloading, I've had Hornady, RCBS, Forster and Lee presses, single stage, progressives and turrets. About eight years ago, I settled on the Lee Classic Cast turret as the only press I need.

Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press - MPN: 964

That unit does look pretty good. And the ability to buy new turrets for just $12 looks good. That way all your dies can stay adjusted in the turret. Almost just like the Dillon tool heads!. I am sure the production rate would be less than a new Dillon 550C, BUT the price is right, and if it is as well made as you say, it looks like a good value.

 

[PILOON]

OK. don't LOL.
I enjoyed shooting and DIY 'smithing of sorts.

A buddy had a loading setup so I measured out a proper powder load for my 30-06.
Took a casing and cut it down to size to accommodate that 30-06 load and double checked (filing as required) to adjust my 'powder scoop'.
Soldered a handle to make life easy onto my 'calibrated scoop'.
Old primers I kind of pushed out with an awl.
Installed new primers carefully using my vice.
Inserted new bullets by hand.

Hey, it worked A-OK as an experiment and I actually 'fabricated' a fair bunch of ammo.
I know it was rather crude but compared to the settlers powder horns and black powder I think I was miles ahead.

To remember the settlers were often more accurate with a higher 'kill rate' than the red coats. Think Alamo.

 

[k0ua]

OK. don't LOL.
I enjoyed shooting and DIY 'smithing of sorts.

A buddy had a loading setup so I measured out a proper powder load for my 30-06.
Took a casing and cut it down to size to accommodate that 30-06 load and double checked (filing as required) to adjust my 'powder scoop'.
Soldered a handle to make life easy onto my 'calibrated scoop'.
Old primers I kind of pushed out with an awl.
Installed new primers carefully using my vice.
Inserted new bullets by hand.

Hey, it worked A-OK as an experiment and I actually 'fabricated' a fair bunch of ammo.
I know it was rather crude but compared to the settlers powder horns and black powder I think I was miles ahead.

To remember the settlers were often more accurate with a higher 'kill rate' than the red coats. Think Alamo.

OUCH!... um.. how did you properly seat the primer below flush, and for that matter sensitize it properly? Don't do that. How did you properly crimp the bullet into the case to provide proper neck tension?.... don't do that... Folks, while this is a great tutorial on how to crudely load a couple of rounds in a SHTF type of situation, don't do this. Please. Don't follow these instructions..Reloading ammunition inherently carries some dangers. You must take all steps to mitigate those dangers at all times. Just because he got away with it, and can still see out of both eyes. All well and good. That don't mean you will be so lucky.

 

[PILOON]

KOUA,
AS I said it was an experiment of sorts.
As to crimping that was the shortcoming and please note that I did not use for hunting or serious shooting.
Actually seating primers was not all that great a problem as I did use a thin rubber pad and that worked fairly well.
I agree with you that this should not be a recommended practice but I am the type that likes to experiment.
And yes some casings were rather difficult to eject as they had expanded from repeated shooting.
And, yes be careful with reloading.

 

[k0ua]

KOUA,
AS I said it was an experiment of sorts.
As to crimping that was the shortcoming and please note that I did not use for hunting or serious shooting.
Actually seating primers was not all that great a problem as I did use a thin rubber pad and that worked fairly well.
I agree with you that this should not be a recommended practice but I am the type that likes to experiment.
And yes some casings were rather difficult to eject as they had expanded from repeated shooting.
And, yes be careful with reloading.

Well, I am not saying that if push came to shove, and not having any ammo means I go hungry that day, I might try something similiar, but In general, cases need to be resized properly, primers need to be seated properly, and bullets need to be seated and properly and to proper length, crimped to proper neck tension. Reloading is a precision recipe that need to be followed. As for you "dipper" powder measure, if calibrated, there is nothing wrong with that. It is not flexible for load development, but if you stick to the same exact powder it is fine. If fact LEE sells plastic dippers for that purpose.

 

[Soundguy]

Although, it's probably the least cost savings, would 9mm be the best to start with? Are there certain cartridges that are less forgiving than others? I've read that .40 S&W is bad, but I had no intention of loading it. Is pistol easier than rifle, vice versa, or same? I see you can get 500 once fired brass, with 500 124 gr plated projectiles for around $65 as a combo.

38/357 is one of the cheapest combos to start reloading for. 1 die set, both cartridges, you can use inexpensive bulk purchased or hand cast lead projectiles, its a big roomy case and uses little powder, very forgiving to learn on a rimmed, and a revolver cartridge. Oal and headspace are a no brainer. You can run anything from full wadcutter to swc, lrn, or truncated nose or hollow point and have no feedramp issues like autos have. If you get too aggressive with the crimp, they still headspace, you just wear the brass a little, minimum charges don't bother a revolver like they can an auto that might short stroke or stovepipe on lower charge rates.

Lead and 38/357 love each other, some cartridges and guns just don't like lead due to rifeling type, etc.

With a 357mag revolver you can make 38 wc target loads, full 38's, you can shoot 38+p, as well as full blown 357mag loads. Lotsa ammo versatility.

You can get decent 357's in the 400$ range.