New to reloading, serious question

[sellersm]

If you can walk and chew gum, you can learn to reload on a progressive press! Anyways, yes, other brand of dies will work in the Dillon. And getting a Lee Cast (be sure it's cast, not the cheapo aluminum one) SS press is a good idea cuz you'll always need it for something!

I started on all Lee equipment and have since upgraded to a Dillon 550, but still use my LCT and Lee cast SS presses, got rid of the Pro 1000 and don't miss it at all, but you didn't ask about Lee products...

I know guys that have issues with the LNL: priming, and casefeeder issues with 9mm.

[Inconel710]

Another Dillon fan here. I'm using a Lee cast SS for now and saving for the 550BL down the road.

[dwalker460]

Yea? I did too, on my LCT used as a single stage

Heres MY problem with a progressive press-
First is my process-
1st- tumble
2nd- decap and inspect. Yeah, I check each and every damned case.
3rd- decrimp- I use a cutter to remove the crimp, but swaging works fine too
4th- cut to length, ,inside and outside chamfer- all one operation on the rifle rounds I load. I also clean all the primer pockets
5th tumble again, then sort by headstamp, weight, or length depending on what I am doing. yeah yeah I know, probably not necessary, but its my process
6th- Prime, I again do this by hand, because i hate it when a primer pocket is loose and powder goes everywhere.
7th- charge- I SOMETIMES use a powder die and charge on the press, but not usually. Usually I hand charge each and every single case. Yeah, I know, probably not necessary but its my process.
8th- seat the bullet, finally I use an RCBS competition die for this and if your not your doing things the hard way.
9th- put in some form of carrying container for temporary custody until transferred to a standard capacity magazine


Now, when I was using progressives it was a PITA to do things for the rifle cartridges the results I am after. Pistol cartridges are fine on a progressive for the most part, but even then on my LCT I can still pump out respectable rounds per hour. ALL progressives hate any kind of contamination, such as powder, brass trimmings, etc. and you get to spend time cleaning and fixing those issues.

The bottom line is how much, seriously , do you actually shoot? If your burning up 1000rnds a week, and are concerned with production volume only, then MAYBE a progressive is for you. If your burning down 1000rnds (maybe) on that once a month trip to the range, then the progressive is a huge waste of time and money. In my spare time, which as a Dad and business owner is in incredibly short supply, I manage to pump out more than enough ammo to keep me going and I shoot almost every single weekend as well as the occasional weekday sneek-a-way range day.

Dillons customer service is top notch, but RCBS's is as good if not better, and Lee's is almost as good.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I started with the RCBS rock chucker 13 years ago. Still have it, use it often and works great. A few years after that I up graded to the Dillon 550B. And thats where I kept it. The 550b can also be used as a single stage press unlike a true progressive re-loader. Because it has a "Thumb Index" vs a mechanical. I like it better because I have more control over each station. Some thing goes wrong, just pull the pin on that station, remove the case, fix the problem. Re-loading again. JMHO!!

[Great-Kazoo]

Had you been diligent you could have scored a NIB 550B with 223 dies i sold today.

I like the RCBS , Dillon or hornady dies for 223. use D & rCBS for everything else. I have a s/s RCBS and a few dillons.

The only down side to reloading is buying components, and more components and more ..................

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Had you been diligent you could have scored a NIB 550B with 223 dies i sold today.

I like the RCBS , Dillon or hornady dies for 223. use D & rCBS for everything else. I have a s/s RCBS and a few dillons.

The only down side to reloading is buying components, and more components and more ..................

If, and thats a BIG IF. You can even find what your looking for!!

[Great-Kazoo]

If, and thats a BIG IF. You can even find what your looking for!!

I'm disabled and have lots of free time. Granted the wife said, STOP BUYING GUNS and focus on ammo and MORE components. So since last year reloading supplies have become a household purchase.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I'm disabled and have lots of free time. Granted the wife said, STOP BUYING GUNS and focus on ammo and MORE components. So since last year reloading supplies have become a household purchase.

Your a good man Jim!! After the Clinton FU I've been buying here and there. People don't realize that if they just buy one box of ammo when they go to Walmart. One box a trip. $20 or so, they don't blink an eye.

But Shit hits the fan and OMG. 1,000 rounds of 5.56 /223 is $1,000 Ooooooo big ouch. $20 here, $20 there. Loaded, brass, powder, primer, bullets, over a few years = Comfort Zone!!

[USAFGopherMike]

Had you been diligent you could have scored a NIB 550B with 223 dies i sold today.

I like the RCBS , Dillon or hornady dies for 223. use D & rCBS for everything else. I have a s/s RCBS and a few dillons.

The only down side to reloading is buying components, and more components and more ..................

I wondered how long it would take Jim to wade in. Having seen his operation I can say he's a guru. I haven't bought a press yet, still doing research and saving.

[Great-Kazoo]

I wondered how long it would take Jim to wade in. Having seen his operation I can say he's a guru. I haven't bought a press yet, still doing research and saving.

Thanks.
However Just because you have the tools , Doesn't mean you have the Knowledge.

I am always reading, reading and researching. Cannot learn enough, especially when it comes to a process, if not done correctly could damage a gun if not something serious to you.