Best press for a newbie?

[thefamcnaj]

I've been wanting to get into reloading for almost a year. I've done a lot of reading and debating back and fourth on things. I've been talking about getting a press a while with my wife. She's decided thats what she's going to do for a Christmas present for me.
I shoot .38, 9mm, .40s&w, 45acp and 357 mag. I've decided all I want to reload is 45 and 9mm. I don't shoot .357 mag enough to justify buying the components for that caliber. I've been told to stay away from loading .40s&w because its a real volitile round.
The wife and I shoot once a week together and its mainly 9mm(80% I'd say)
I love the 45 acp round above all others and I have three 45's that see less and less range time due to cost. I'd love to shooth them once a week. Any where from 100 to 300 rounds a week would be ideal.
I"m thinking the Lee90064 Classic turret press would be my best rout. It would be faster than a single stage but slower than a progressive loader. With the lee, every 4 pulls of the handle I'd have a ready to shoot round right? Round stays in one spot as I rotate dies? I've been told to learn on a single stage press, but this seems to be a safe alternative. My lgs told me once I get comfortable with loading I'll want to move to a progressive loader(thats not a concern right now, if ever)
I feel like only wanting two calibers to load and shooting once a week(making rounds for two people though) this would make me productive enough to keep us shooting at a lower cost. Does any one have a better suggestion for me based on my needs and wants for loading.

 

[jcwit]

That Lee Classic Turrent would be a good choice for starting, and will serve you well for years to come.

First step tho is get a couple of manuals and read them cover to cover. One of the best, The Lyman Manual, IMO.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

You can still load single rounds with a progressive. For example with the Hornady L-N-L, you can put a case in one station and pull the lever 5 times which would advance the case to each station and perform that function. You can easily monitor what is going on. Once you are comfortable with how things work you can load all stations and start progressive loading...........I suggest this option due to the amount of ammo and frequency you are going to load.

 

[gatesbox]

Yep, go with the lee four hole press, you will likely benefit from the factory crimp die...get the carbide dies, and while the dies can be used without case lube, I find a couple sprays of the dillon case lube in a plastic shopping bag, shake your brass around in the bag, and you have a much easier time with the depriving sizing die.....

 

[thefamcnaj]

After the first 3 pulls of the handle you should get a completed round with each pull after that.

Not trying to skin my ignorance here or anything.
On the lee I thought I put a case in, pull handle rotate dies, pull handle rotate dies pull handle,etc until round is complete, then but in new case and repeat process.

For example with the Hornady L-N-L, you can put a case in one station and pull the lever 5 times which would advance the case to each station and perform that function

. So I could just leaave all the stations empty as the one case is making its way through the process? Then always have the option later on down the road when I feel comfortable doing multiple stations at a time. This sounds like a promising idea. Why would I not be reccomended this at the shop(I kept getting progressive loaders are not good for a newbie) if I can just get a progressive and treat as essintially a single stage at first. Do presses made by a company only accept dies from the same company?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yes, you can leave all the stations empty, but the one you are focusing on...I can nearly guarantee you will be ready to move up to progressive in less than 1000 rounds.

You can use any standard die no matter the brand.

 

[jcwit]

Not trying to skin my ignorance here or anything.
On the lee I thought I put a case in, pull handle rotate dies, pull handle rotate dies pull handle,etc until round is complete, then but in new case and repeat process.

You're right, what am I thinking of? I'm getting turrent mixed up with progressive.

Getting old, thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

 

[thefamcnaj]

Yes, you can leave all the stations empty, but the one you are focusing on...I can nearly guarantee you will be ready to move up to progressive in less than 1000 rounds.

That actually sounds like I'd save money in the long run. I would hate to buy a turret and load 1000 or 2 rounds and decide I want to be more productive. Then I'd have to buy another press. My lgs sells all kinds of hornady reloading equipmeant, I'm going right now to see about the L-N-L. Thanks for giving me a good reason to hit the lgs on this Saturday afternoon coltpythonelite

 

[4895]

If you really plan to shoot that much, consider buying a progressive. Some Dillon presses can often be had for $200 or less on ebay that are ready to load either of those calibers. Believe me, the $200 is well spent when you know you can use it, sell it for almost or same as what you paid for it, and make lots of boolits in the meantime. Nobody gets their money out of a Lee press. The Dillon Square Deal has auto index feature, very accurate powder measure, and small bench space. Down side is the cost of dies, they have to be Dillon and sell for $90 new or $45 used. Also, you can only load pistol calibers with it. Good luck.

 

[JohnM]

Nobody gets their money out of a Lee press

Oh, come on now.
The Dillon may be a high quality piece of equipment, but many people get years of use out of their Lee equipment too.

 

[Blue68f100]

You did not say how much time you will have to reload. Your monthly round count is high enough to justify a AP. Like all ready mentioned you do not have to run it with all the stations full. A lot of new reloaders get burned out trying to keep up with there reloading to feed there habit. Just not enough time to keep up, unless your reloading day and night. With the LNL in AP mode you can do 300/hr pretty easy. With the brass feeder option (which you can add later) you can get near the 700-800/hr rate if you have enough primers tubes loaded up ahead of time. I spend more time getting things ready to load.

 

[jcwit]

Nobody gets their money out of a Lee press.

You actually believe that statement?

Been reloading for 50/60 years now and still have my Lee equipment and yes I've more than gotten my money out of it. Used to load 20/30 thousand rounds a year so I believe I know whereof I speak.

Further check out the pricing at the Bay for used Lee presses.

Heck, I still use my Lee Loaders now and again. I see the Lee Loader in .32 Win. Spec. is now a collectors item, asking price is $100.00.

 

[thefamcnaj]

You did not say how much time you will have to reload

Well I swing shifts, so I make my days off count. I mean if a project needs done or the kids need something or what ever the case may be I'll give 12 to 14 hours on one day off to complete any task at hand. So on a day off, while my kids are at school, I could devote 8 hours straigh(if I wanted to.)
On the 2 nights prior to swinging back onto third shift I stay up all night getting ready for my turn on third again. So I have big spirts of hours through out the month.

 

[BoKnows]

Bought my first reloading press and I went with the Forster Co-Ax as i wanted form brass and load for 300 Blackout. Everyone i talked to and from numerous forums, the Forster is one of the best single stage units. My next unit will be for higher volume and i'm looking at either the Dillon or Hornady. Having the ability to switch out dies quickly and not needing caliber specific shell holders is a nice feature of the Co-Ax.

Even when I go to a auto-indexing unit in the future, the Co-ax will still be the precision loading unit.

 

[ImjinScout]

The wife and I did the same thing you are asking about. Couldn't afford to shoot as much as we like due to cost. So we decided to start reloading, and we went with the Hornady LNL, and I'm glad we did. For the amount of ammo we shoot I want a progressive press. I picked up the LNL for $379.00 and bought some accessories and the dies and shell plates for 9mm, .40S&W and just recently added .45ACP.

Don't shy away from .40S&W it is not a problem to reload if you follow all of the safety precautions, the same as any other round. I figured I will recoup my investment in about 4 months with the amount of ammo we shoot. As was stated earlier you can run it as a single stage if you like, and I love the bushing system for the dies, it makes changing over on caliber super easy. Have fun but I would recommend a progressive,

 

[BeerSleeper]

I shoot .38, 9mm, .40s&w, 45acp and 357 mag. I've decided all I want to reload is 45 and 9mm. I don't shoot .357 mag enough to justify buying the components for that caliber. I've been told to stay away from loading .40s&w because its a real volitile round.

I wouldn't be shy about loading 40. I shoot 9 and 40, and thought the same way, so I only loaded 9 the first year. 40 has a reputation for being a high pressure round (that's why there's no 40 +P), but the thing nobody points out, is that 9 is also a higher pressure round. Pretty close to 40, actually, that's why most powders that are good for one do well in the other. You can always change your mind later, once you have a press, you're never more than a die set + components away from loading another caliber.

There's also no requirement that you load anything hot. The general recommendation is to start at the low end, and work up, but if you start at the low end, and like the way they shoot, there's absolutely no reason you can't stop right there. A number of my target/practice loads are just hot enough to reliably cycle the slide. It's ok to push a max load if you do it correctly, but reloading is not a hobby for the Tim Taylors out there.

9mm is the cheapest to load, but it's also the cheapest to buy factory. You will get cost savings loading 9, but less savings (proportionately) than loading 40 or 45. I don't do revolver, so I cannot speak to those costs.

 

[jcwit]

I shoot .38, 9mm, .40s&w, 45acp and 357 mag. I've decided all I want to reload is 45 and 9mm. I don't shoot .357 mag enough to justify buying the components for that caliber. I've been told to stay away from loading .40s&w because its a real volitile round.

Don't be concerned about reloading any of the calibers you have listed, 40 cal encluded. Only thing I'd add is make up some dummy rounds for the 38 Spec. and 357 Mag and load them both. If you have components for the 38 Spec. you have the components for the 357 Mag, just readjust your dies.

BTW any of the present manufactures will do you good, just depends how fast you wish to go and how much you wish to spend.

 

[BYJO4]

I also suggest you consider the Hornady LNL AP. As already mentioned, you can use it as a single stage until you get completely comfortable then use it as full progressive. I loaded on a single stage for over 30 years but if had the options that are available now would go with the AP and save some money in the long run plus alot of time reloading pistol rounds.

 

[4895]

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my belief. My opinion is that your time is valuable. So is your arm. You can play around loading 300 rounds a week on a single stage and pop all the blisters you want, or get a progressive. You can buy a turret press and still have 4 pulls per round, i.e. one sore arm or buy a progressive. You can pay someone else to mow your lawn and rake your yard or reload on a progressive. You can spend countless nights loading in stages to make 300 rounds on Saturday, or take 1 hour a week and still have time for other activities.

You will stretch your dollar with Lee equipment, and I have many Lee components. My point however, is that Lee equipment will hardly ever fetch top dollar in the used market. The Dillon piece will forever have a great reputation, save your valuable time to actually shoot in "HIGH VOLUME" like you have stated, and have marketable resale value should you decide to opt out of reloading or upgrade and use it as a down payment on other equipment. Since it is a 'first' press question, I wouldn't be ashamed to recommend the Square Deal press. Thanks.

 

[RandyP]

I can't say my Classic turret has ever come near givng me any blisters or a sore arm - I must not be yoinking that lever hard enough? LOL

It does churn out at a VERY relaxed pace 150-175 rounds per hour for as many hours as I care to hobby. That pace is a perfect fit to my realistic ammo needs and limited budget. Disclaimer - I ONLY reload (or fiddle with any of my hobbies) in my free time which by definition means I had nothing better to do with it anyway and opted to find an amusement to occupy the time..

IMHO a low volume shooter, especially a newcomer, will find a full progressive a poor choice, regardless of who made it. I can only speak from my experience - I started single stage and soon after advanced to the Classic turret. For ME it would have been a disaster and huge frustrating waste of my money to start with a progressive.

 

[jcwit]

Many folks seem to be to obsessed with their free time or lack of.

Man is it a joy to be retired, loving every minute of it.

 

[Hangingrock]

There is an adage which applies “I can’t afford cheap” buy a quality product one time and be done with it. Dillon, Hornady, and RCBS progressive units are quality products that maintain their value.

 

[jcwit]

There is an adage which applies “I can’t afford cheap” buy a quality product one time and be done with it. Dillon, Hornady, and RCBS progressive units are quality products that maintain their value.

I'm 68, have no interest in selling what I have, no interest in up grading, and maintaining value is the least of my concerns.

Still own the first press I got, a blue Honey Bair, single stage from way back when, have yet to sell the first item of reloading equipment, and only have sold 1 firearm in 68 years, and that was a mistake.

I do need a few sets of dies tho as I reload for almost 40 calibers, need a few Lee Loaders.

 

[4895]

jcwit, I completely understand where you are coming from. As a veteran reloader, you know what you want. My posting was to aid the OP in determining what the pros and cons of a progressive press are. I respect your opinions and look forward to learning much from you in the future. Thanks.

 

[jcwit]

4895, and all the rest of those out there.

Reloading is a learning process from day one till the last round is loaded, and never stops in between.

There's some super knowledgeable folks here rcmodel, walkalong, and a few others one can take just about anything they say to the bank and never worry. I wish at times I only knew what they forgot and even then I disagree at times.

Keeping all this in mind and we all will enjoy this fantastic hobby to its fullest.

Best
jcwit