First reloading press

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

First reloading press

Post by newgunner » 09 Aug 2014, 4:27 pm

Hi guys,

I'm about to buy my first reloading press. I like the Dillon RL550 ones which are progressive I believe, are these better than a good single stage press?

Do progressive presses have issues with consistent loads?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Baldrick314 » 09 Aug 2014, 5:43 pm

I take it you're reloading for rifle? I wouldn't load rifle ammunition on a progressive press. You can still make safe ammo but it won't be as consistent or accurate as it would be if you took the time to weigh every charge and assemble it on a single stage press.

A Dillon press would set you back about $5-600 right? You could get a full reloading kit for that and have change. If I were starting all over again right now I'd buy the RCBS Explorer Plus kit

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/828368 ... -press-kit
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Re: first reloading press

Post by yoshie » 09 Aug 2014, 5:54 pm

The progressive are about volume first, accuracy second. They are more for pistols however some people who load high volume 223 will use a progressive. Dillon is a good brand but they aren't cheap.

If you're going to be loading rifle get a good single stage. If you'll be loading multiple cals, a turret is a good idea as you take the plate off and put on another, no adjusting each time you change cals. Hornady do a quick change die also, set and forget. All the main brands are interchangeable, except simplex.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by petemacsydney » 09 Aug 2014, 8:23 pm

I use a dillon 650 for 308 reloads.

I'm no bench rest king (and I don't want to be), but its shooting less than 1/2 inch in a Tikka T3 at 100m with cheapy custom comp's bullets.

I know its not 'traditional', but i love my dillon 650 ;-)
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Rippah » 11 Aug 2014, 11:50 am

yoshie wrote:The progressive are about volume first, accuracy second. They are more for pistols however some people who load high volume 223 will use a progressive.


I was having a chat with the pistol guy at my local range. He reckons you go through 5,000 rounds a year comp shooting if you're doing it "properly".
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Jessie » 11 Aug 2014, 11:50 am

f*** doing 5,000 rounds a year with a single stage press :lol:
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Klem » 11 Aug 2014, 12:03 pm

newgunner wrote:I'm about to buy my first reloading press. I like the Dillon RL550 ones which are progressive I believe, are these better than a good single stage press?

Do progressive presses have issues with consistent loads?


"issues with consistent loads" is over stating it but there can be some variances, more so than with a single stage press.

A single stage press is single and rigid, between raising and dropping the handle there isn't really anything that can change.

Will rotating and moving parts in a progressive press there is going to be more flex in the press and variances. Might be a fraction of a gr of powder here, a few thou seating depth there. etc.

In terms of speed though a single stage can't compare, a progressive press will blow it away. So they're hugely popular for pistol reloading because it doesn't matter in the slightest for that kind of shooting.

I'm not bagging them for rifles. If you're hunting or target shooting for fun and use a lot of ammo it wouldn't be a bad idea. Or if you just want to save time. If you were seriously into your target shooting and every thousandth of an inch of your group counts though, you'd go a single stage.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Atter » 11 Aug 2014, 12:04 pm

petemacsydney wrote:I know its not 'traditional', but i love my dillon 650 ;-)


Whatever works...
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Tonit » 11 Aug 2014, 12:05 pm

How much shooting do you expect you'll be doing, newgunner?

How many rounds in a year?

How many calibres also?
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Kelix » 11 Aug 2014, 12:11 pm

yoshie wrote:The progressive are about volume first


Yep.

Where you draw the line is up to you but unless you were shooting at least 1,500 rounds a year or something I'd just go a single stage press.

(single stage press is 1/3 the price as well ;))
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Patrol66 » 11 Aug 2014, 6:14 pm

If I was starting with rifle. I would go single stage. Enjoy the process.
I'm going to have a go with my Dillon progressive for rifle reloads as I already have that. Be awhile yet though
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Baldrick314 » 11 Aug 2014, 6:43 pm

Jessie wrote:f*** doing 5,000 rounds a year with a single stage press :lol:


There're people that do it.

Blokes I shoot with shoot twice a week and at least 100 rounds per session. They de-prime and size on a single stage, hand Prime, then weigh every charge, then seat and crimp projectile.

Would take a heap of time! They are retired I guess :lol:
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Re: first reloading press

Post by petemacsydney » 11 Aug 2014, 9:03 pm

'newgunner' come over to the darkside, get a progressive! lol
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Re: first reloading press

Post by newgunner » 11 Aug 2014, 9:25 pm

I plan on reloading 9mm and 223 to start

I shoot about 50-100 9mm every weekend nearly, maybe 50-100 rifle every 2nd weekend also or until the fun wears off.... That's not going to happen any time soon I think

Thanks for all the answers so far.

Cheers.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Kelix » 12 Aug 2014, 10:05 am

newgunner wrote:I shoot about 50-100 9mm every weekend nearly, maybe 50-100 rifle every 2nd weekend


Call it 100 rounds a week then (if not more).

5,200 rounds a year is definitely enough to warrant a progressive press IMO.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by chacka » 12 Aug 2014, 10:06 am

For that volume I'd go a progressive reloading press too.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Rakk » 12 Aug 2014, 10:07 am

Baldrick314 wrote:
Jessie wrote:f*** doing 5,000 rounds a year with a single stage press :lol:


There're people that do it.


Pfft, they can have that! I'd go insane.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Baldrick314 » 12 Aug 2014, 10:50 am

Rakk wrote:Pfft, they can have that! I'd go insane.


Yeah I'm quite meticulous with my rifle loading but I only shoot 40 max in a session. Definitely a progressive for pistol though
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Re: first reloading press

Post by newgunner » 15 Aug 2014, 5:44 pm

hey guys and gals,
thanks for all your advice, on my first press

I bought a lee 1000 progressive press for my 9mm loading and a lee breech lock challenger kit for my rifle reloading

thanks again

not sure if they are good or not ,seems ok
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Re: first reloading press

Post by bigfellascott » 15 Aug 2014, 7:00 pm

newgunner wrote:hey guys and gals,
thanks for all your advice, on my first press

I bought a lee 1000 progressive press for my 9mm loading and a lee breech lock challenger kit for my rifle reloading

thanks again

not sure if they are good or not ,seems ok


I'm sure they will be fine for a beginner kit, enjoy mate.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Baldrick314 » 15 Aug 2014, 7:01 pm

newgunner wrote:hey guys and gals,
thanks for all your advice, on my first press

I bought a lee 1000 progressive press for my 9mm loading and a lee breech lock challenger kit for my rifle reloading

thanks again

not sure if they are good or not ,seems ok


I'm a big fan of the lee progressive. A lot of people knock them but I reckon they're great
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Re: first reloading press

Post by newgunner » 16 Aug 2014, 5:53 pm

Hey guys

Update on my new Lee progressive press, total piece of s**t so far.

Doesn't seat primers deep enough, no way to adjust it I can see. Primers sometimes turn sideways in load chute and jams.

Not impressed at all.

May sell it and buy a good turret press I think.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by bigfellascott » 16 Aug 2014, 6:17 pm

:lol: :lol: oh dear! not good mate, I remember my first reloading press was a Super Simplex Turret Press, it was a great little press to get me started with, I'd still be using it except I lent it to a mate who turned out to be a druggy and he sold if for drugs as far as I could work out :twisted:

I never like using the presses to seat primers, I've always had similar issues to you when trying to use them, I went a Lee hand Primer tool and its fantastic for a cheapy, never an issue.

I foolishly gave it a way a while back as I had what I thought was a better hand primer which turned out to be anything but, same sort of issues to you, so I ended up buying a Lee Handprimer tool again! :lol: Infact I bought 2 just in case the other one dies one day!
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Re: first reloading press

Post by AlanK » 16 Aug 2014, 7:13 pm

newgunner wrote:Doesn't seat primers deep enough, no way to adjust it I can see. Primers sometimes turn sideways in load chute and jams.


I've always primed cases by hand. Then put them through the press. Single stage and a progressive (I have one, a mate has the other).

Press priming sucks...

Prime them by hand first, then put them through and everything else should be good as gold.

Having any other problems?
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Re: First reloading press

Post by AlanK » 16 Aug 2014, 7:14 pm

bigfellascott wrote:I never like using the presses to seat primers, I've always had similar issues to you when trying to use them, I went a Lee hand Primer tool and its fantastic for a cheapy, never an issue.


Same here, same as above comment.
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Re: first reloading press

Post by Baldrick314 » 16 Aug 2014, 7:54 pm

newgunner wrote:Hey guys

Update on my new Lee progressive press, total piece of s**t so far.

Doesn't seat primers deep enough, no way to adjust it I can see. Primers sometimes turn sideways in load chute and jams.

Not impressed at all.

May sell it and buy a good turret press I think.


That sucks mate. I know mine sometimes has feeding issues if i have too many primers in the tray or let them almost run out. As far as not seating deep enough, that's a weird problem. Try dropping lee an email, in my experience they always want to help fix problems with their gear. Hope it works out
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Re: First reloading press

Post by newgunner » 16 Aug 2014, 10:00 pm

i have found that putting them through the press in the complete cycle and then using a hand primer to finish them off so the primers are seated properly seems to work ok
more work but , hey it still works after a fashion.

bit dissappointed i have to do it this way,specially after all the good things i heard about these presses
can't believe the hype all the time i guess.

i will try lee,but i have had heard a lot of bad things about their after sales service


cheers
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Re: First reloading press

Post by Silver87 » 16 Aug 2014, 10:38 pm

Newgunner, do you mean you're seating the primers further on the completed round? Definitely don't do that mate, if that primer goes off which it could you'll put yourself in a world of pain.
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Re: First reloading press

Post by Silver87 » 17 Aug 2014, 12:56 pm

In case you're wondering what I mean when hand priming a case you should always point it away from your face in a safe direction so if the primer does go off injury is unlikely (you may need to change your undies though :shock: ). With a charged and seated round you don't have that luxury as no direction is safe, the case, projectile and even parts of the hand primer will become shrapnel.
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Re: First reloading press

Post by yoshie » 17 Aug 2014, 2:17 pm

Check out YouTube, there are heaps of videos how to adjust the lee presses. Sounds to me like it just needs a tweek here or there.
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