PRESS RECOMMENDATIONS

Folks: Looking for recommedations on a press. Ammunition I'm reloading is principally for my bolt guns (.257 Wby, .308 Win and 338-06), which I shoot approximately 500 rounds per year. I"ll also use the press for 45 Colt and 454 Casull, which is closer to 1000 rounds per year.

Amount of rounds doesn't warrant a progressive, plus I'm a little particular on powder weight for my rifles, but would like to simplify swapping out and resetting dies. My experience is with a RCBS Rockchuker press. Great press but looking at a turret.

Redding's T-7 seems to be one of the best, but any impressions on Lyman's turret press?

Lee Classic Turret is also on the list. Like the flexibility running it in single stage or progressive mode.

RL 550 is also on the list, but more for my 45 ACP and .223 needs.

It is easy to load bolt gun ammo on a 550. You just dont use the Dillon powder measure. You throw the powder elsewhere and dump it in.

All my bolt gun ammo gets loaded this way.

For a turret press, get the Redding.

Interesting. Been thinking about how to use the 550 as a quasi single stage press. Cost of the caliber conversion kits on the first kit would be cheaper than buying a second press, but not so much on the subsequent ones. Speed, however, is a plus for the 550 since time is always in short supply.

Hoser has great recommendations. I use a Rock Chucker. It was basically given to me by my brother-in-law. Works great for my bottle neck and when I am working up loads on everything else. I have the Hornady die bushings which allow me to set the dies only once.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/116...d-die-bushings

I am happy with this press, but I also have a progressive. A turret may be the way to go if it will be you only press. Be careful you will probably end up with a progressive down the road.

Expect you are right. A progressive is in my future. Working up an order with Brian Enos.

Appreciate the tip on the bushings. I've heard about them but never used them.

You will enjoy the blue Dillon cool aid. It's a great machine.

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Originally Posted by Marine24

Interesting. Been thinking about how to use the 550 as a quasi single stage press. Cost of the caliber conversion kits on the first kit would be cheaper than buying a second press, but not so much on the subsequent ones. Speed, however, is a plus for the 550 since time is always in short supply.

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It is a "quasi" single stage, without having to change dies for every step. Nothing happens until you move the round to the next stage.

True. Just need to get past my single stage baggage of swapping dies vs rotating a sprocket. If the caliber changes on the Dillon weren't so expensive, using just the 550 would be a no brainer.

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Originally Posted by Marine24

True. Just need to get past my single stage baggage of swapping dies vs rotating a sprocket. If the caliber changes on the Dillon weren't so expensive, using just the 550 would be a no brainer.

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I thought that way until i set up a dedicated 38 & 357. disconnect the powder "safety" bar pop 2 pins, I'm almost to the point of 1- 550 per caliber. . Good thing i only shoot 2 different center fire's

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Originally Posted by jim

I'm almost to the point of 1- 550 per caliber. .

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Me too.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/a...f/DSC02969.jpg

550 all the way. Just do what you need to, then 'move' the case when you need to goto the next 'step'! And for your handgun needs, you'll thank us later. [Flower]

Okay I'll quit whinning about the caliber conversions costs. Price of doing business and can always sell a couple PMags to cover the cost.

What about other vendor dies in a Dillon 550? Any ones to avoid? Dillon doesn't have a die for the 338-06.

I can't speak to the quality/differences of various dies, but I think they all fit in the Dillon, *however* the Lee dies tend to be a bit shorter, so if you use them, get some Dillon lock-rings and place them UNDER the toolhead if they end up being too short! I'm partial to Forster seating dies...

Thanks. Saw the note on Brian Enos site about using other manfucture dies. Seems the Dillon seats and crimps in separate dies, where most other manufacturers combine both operations in a single die. Ironically Lee has a crimp die that should work if I wanted to go that route, but never had an issue with RCBS's 338-06 die set.

I'm starting off with the 454 Casull in the Dillon 550, since that is what I need to reload now and follow it with the 338-06. Have a couple thousand rounds each of the other calibers (9mm, 45 ACP, .223 and .308), so have some runway until I need to buy those conversion kits.

Maybe I'll trade you back some of the Freedom Munitions 124gr 9mm ammo for some counseling/training once it comes in.

I have the T Mag II turret press on its way to me. Once it shows up I can give you my take on it.

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Originally Posted by silentshooter

I have the T Mag II turret press on its way to me. Once it shows up I can give you my take on it.

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Thanks. Still curious about that one.

What about the Dillion 650 XL...a guy down the street has them for $620

The 650xl is great, just be prepared that if you want the cool kid addons like case feeder, caliber change kits with extra heads and such you are looking to spend over $1000. The 650 is great in that its an auto indexing progressive, can support auto case feeder, auto bullet feeder and they even make (third party, dillon does not support) an auto drive to fully automate.

I am just getting back into reloading so once I have worked up loads with the turret press I'll be getting a Dillon 1050 and if things stay at the point where I need to reload a couple 1000 rnds a month might even go with the bullet feeder add on. With the cost of new ammo, it just make sense to get back into reloading.

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Originally Posted by Marine24

Thanks. Saw the note on Brian Enos site about using other manfucture dies. Seems the Dillon seats and crimps in separate dies, where most other manufacturers combine both operations in a single die. Ironically Lee has a crimp die that should work if I wanted to go that route, but never had an issue with RCBS's 338-06 die set.

I'm starting off with the 454 Casull in the Dillon 550, since that is what I need to reload now and follow it with the 338-06. Have a couple thousand rounds each of the other calibers (9mm, 45 ACP, .223 and .308), so have some runway until I need to buy those conversion kits.

Maybe I'll trade you back some of the Freedom Munitions 124gr 9mm ammo for some counseling/training once it comes in.

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There isn't any crimp required on any rifle round short of rounds in tube mags. The seat/crimp issue isn't an issue.

It drinks the blue kool aid or it gets beat with the hose!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by SA Friday

There isn't any crimp required on any rifle round short of rounds in tube mags. The seat/crimp issue isn't an issue.

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The more I think I know about reloading, the more I realize I don't know.

Thought on bottleneck cartridges, there was a taper crimp applied or is that marketing speak?

On rifles if your bullet has a cannelure then it was designed to be crimped. Most 7.62 and 5.56 military brass is crimped and sealed. This is so that things like full out, belt fed and ruff handling of ammo/mags does not loosen the bullet seating and the sealant is for moisture.

If you are going to be doing mag dumps with your ammo then crimping it is a good idea. Some say crimping increase accuracy and others say it hinders it. You bullet does not need a cannelure to be crimped. You can always experiment with crimping to see how it performs in your rifle.

Feels like I'm playing Texas Hold'em and just went all in. Picked up a 550 in 454 Casull, along with the conversion and deluxe quick change kits for 9mm, 45 ACP, .223 and .308. Showed some restraint and didn't order kits for .257 Wby and 338-06 (sure hope the Jennings 22 I'm selling pays for this).

Dillon sells the ktis for .257 Wby but what do you do for 338-06? Would a conversion kit for 30-06 work since the case for a 338-06 is a necked up 30-06 or would the powder funnel be wrong? Since I'm weighing individual charges and using the 550 like a single stage, powder funnel probably doesn't matter.

You just dropped a good bit of coin. You don't have to use dillon dies. Last dillon I was using we had a forster seating die inplace of the dillon to get a more consistent seating.

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Originally Posted by Marine24

Would a conversion kit for 30-06 work since the case for a 338-06 is a necked up 30-06 or would the powder funnel be wrong?

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Standard 45 ACP/308/30-06 shellplates are the same.

Thanks Gents. Another stupid question. Assume with a progressive, you use shellplates instead a shell holder in the press.

Correct. Take a look at this chart (you can download it as a spreadsheet): http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillo...onv.chart.html

Makes it easy when planning your loading sequence. Run 45 ACP, 308 and 338-06 and only need to swap the tool head.