Brand new to reloading!!!

Ok maybe not brand new cause i use to reload shotshells when i was a little guy but am now looking at reloading .223 and 9mm.

I have so many questions i can even remember all of them so this might turn into along thread.

1. I want a progressive press thats for sure, I was giviin a rock chucker a couple years back so i was think i could use that as my decapping station then move to my progressive for the rest? will a lee pro 1000 have enough stations to finish my bullet? I figure i can prime in one, powder in the other and seat the projectile in the next... but what about crimping? maybe back to the rock chucker with the factory crimping die? or just go all out and get the load master instead of the pro 1000.

2. I have been reading about the rcbs x-die seems like it would be a good buy since i hate the idea of having to trim everytime i reload, i can get ahold of already trimmed brass so i shouldnt have to do any trimming with this die correct?

3. If i buy a kit for a .223 will it come with everything i need besides like a scale,x-die,caliper and powder,primers stuff like that?

4. What will be needed for me to load 9mm on the same press? Just dies, shell holder and a extra turret?

5. I heard that if i load 9mm the cases do NOT need to be trimmed is this true?

Sorry if some of these questions are pretty basic like i said i am new to all this and have been trying to do as much reading and watching youtube videos as i can.

Thanks Jason

If you're used to reloading for a shotgun then I'm sure you are careful already, which is good.

I would recommend the Dillon 550B. It's the best bang for the buck where progressives are concerned. The ONLY rifle round I would consider doing on it is the .223 so if you're not planning on going crazy with rifle reloading, the 550B is a great choice.

I'm just getting into rifle reloading so I can't help too much there. I plan on getting a Rock Chucker or Redding T7 for my new .308 and I also plan on the X-dies for that. As for trimming .223 cases, all I know is what I've heard . . . the brass gives out pretty early so you might not ever have to trim. See what others say about that.

No, you will not have to trim 9mm cases. I've never had to trim any of my pistol cases, ever. Usually only necked down cases need to be trimmed and I don't load any right now.

With a Dillon 550B (as I'm sure with any press) you will need different shell plates for sure, and since adjusting dies can be a massive pain and take a long time, you will want multiple die holders so you can set them once and switch between calibers easier. Dillon calls these "caliber conversion kits." I have one for each caliber I reload. Yes there are a lot of duplications going on (multiple powder drops and tool heads and more) but trust me . . . you don't want to have to set that up every time!

Damn those dillons are pretty pricey! i was hoping to keep this on a tight budget thats why i was hoping one of the lees would work for what i need... Thank you for the replying it answered alot of my questions

Thats the problem is i want to go though these rounds pretty quick cause during the summer i will probably go through alot of rounds and dont want to spend all winter reloading due to other projects i have going on.

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Originally Posted by Maroslut2001

Thats the problem is i want to go though these rounds pretty quick cause during the summer i will probably go through alot of rounds and dont want to spend all winter reloading due to other projects i have going on.

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Well, 'a lot' isn't quantitative. A lot to me is 60k plus rounds a year. if you're looking at that amount of ammo, you better be looking at a Dillon 1050. 30 to 60k rounds then I would look at a Dillon 550,650, or Pro 2000. Less than 30k a year, Dillon 550 or Pro 2000. The Pro 2000 can have either an auto indexing or manual indexing head.

Faster is more money. Auto indexing is typically more money. Ease of caliber change is more money. Cartridge and bullet feeders are more money. Getting into reloading is an investment into future amounts of ammo. The gear costs a lot, but if you shoot 30k rounds in a year, you essentially payed the gear off.

While a big benefit to reloading is savings, there are other benefits too. Yes, the initial investment is high. . . . you'll need calipers, a brass cleaning system, a powder scale and many other "nickle and dime" items. My equipment has paid for itself but I also enjoy that process . . . I'm manufacturing my own ammo . .. kind of cool. But I also have not only a custom round but a BETTER round. My rounds blow away all but super expensive match ammo and then only because I haven't tried harder.

I would suggest shopping around to see if you can pick up some used gear. There is always somebody getting out of it. In fact I'm selling a brass cleaner and a scale (shameless plug - sorry!).

[Flower]

I was only planning on reloading 9mm and 40 S&W. So I don't need a case trimmer? Fantastic.

I have a tumbler already also... does no one like the lee stuff? Just wondering

I use a lee classic turret press and love it. I load .45 and .223 on it no problems and it's pretty darn fast. I use it as a single stage for sizing the .223 and then run it as a self indexing turret press for loading. The turret press is still one round at a time but I like it better than batch loading with a single stage press for basic practice ammo.

I have had zero problems with it and would highly recommend. They are cheap and get the job done. I have loaded thousands of both .223 and .45 on it.

Edit: and cartridge changes take 10 seconds...

Edit #2: If you decide on a Lee turret press, get the "Classic 4-hole turret" not the regular one. The classic press is much more solid.

Sorry, Edit #3: I load about 300 pistol rounds per hour on it. Not as fast as those blue progressives, but it's not too slow either.