RCBS RC Supreme VS Dillon 550B

[atblis]

Get a turret press.
http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm

Single stage is just flat out painful if you shoot any sort of volume.

 

[Sam1911]

If you really only shoot 100 rds. a month, you can buy a single stage press and make that quantity without any drawbacks whatsoever. The process will be simple and you will learn the very basics, one step at a time, very well. You will never "outgrow" the single stage as every reloader I know has one or two singles on the bench near their progressives. Always useful for something and downright invaluable for some other things.

Heck, you could buy a Lee anniversary kit right now from Cabelas for $89 (I think) and be almost ready to load rounds right out of the box. If you have a little more money to spend, I'd get the Lee Classic Cast press instead as it is a GREAT press for the money, but I still have my original Lee Anniversary kit on my bench and use it from time to time. It will make FINE ammo.

...

Having said all of that, I just can't agree that buying a single stage first is a requirement for all new loaders.

if you think you'll get into competition and/or shoot more than a handful of rounds a month someday you CAN safely learn on a progressive style machine as they are very flexible.

A 550 (and most others*) can be set up one die at a time if you want. You can run it just like the most basic single-stage press (one die, one case at a time) until you understand that process inside and out. Then install the next die and go back through your cases one at a time -- and so forth.

When you've had enough of that, you can set up the whole set of dies in the toolhead and run one cartridge through each step -- one round at a time -- just like a turret press until you're REALLY confident with how one empty case becomes one loaded round.

Probably by the first week of reloading you'll have enough figured out to be running full progressive style.

[* I don't think I'd necessarily jump for a 650 as the're a bit complicated with the auto-advance and pain in the butt primer system.]

 

[Agent Tikki]

Thx Sam.

I understand yours and RC's advise as to learn the process single stage. But the fact of the matter is that I have a pretty good deal pending on used Dillon 550 (which is where I'm leaning right now). I'm very mechanically inclinded (been in the auto industry for over 15 years now) and mathmatically adept. I'm just afraid that making more ammo will mean shooting more ammo! (lol jk ) My plans are to inspect this "good deal" but used equipment, and then make a few hundred round single stage at first. I have .40 cal, 9mm and .357 sig handguns right now. and plan on reloading those calibers in that order. When I think I'm ready, I'll start using it progressively. Then I think I may have to purchase a .45 cal and 10mm so that I can make ammo for those calibers too. I mean, its all about the reloading right?

 

[Agent Tikki]

As for the chrono, I was wanting one to test out various light loads for a planned Glock 29sf for the wife. I want to use it to measure velocities on various 10mm HD light rounds that she can handle and won't over penetrate. I guess I could go set up some water jugs and test penetration etc. But being a city boy, its a good 1hr drive to find a place outdoors for a little plinking. T_T

 

[Sam1911]

If you can get a good deal on a used 550, I would NOT hesitate! That's how I got mine and Dillion will not care in the least if you're the second owner or the 50th. If something breaks, they'll fix it. Usually for free. If it doesn't run perfectly, ship it back to them and they'll make it 110% right. I've never dealt with a company that good (and generous) in the Customer service department.

If you're used to turning bolts and measuring things, this will be a piece of cake. And, like I said, you can break it down into the simplest possible steps -- even though the press can do everything at once -- while you're learning.

Conventional straight-walled pistol & revolver rounds are dead simple to reload anyway. When you get into loading for rifles you'll probably want a single-stage on the bench too, but let that come when you need it.

Last Saturday I loaded over 1,000 rds of handgun ammo on my 550B which involved changing dies and primer feed parts (large vs. small) twice. I probably wasn't actually at the press for more than 3 hours all told, though on lazy days like that I like to work in 15 - 30 min spurts and break it up with a little High Road surfing, playing with the kids, etc.

Lastly, if you have any questions or difficulties, with resources such as the folks at Dillon, and the folks here who contribute to our reloading forum, you'll never be too stuck. Help is pretty much instantly available 24/7.

(Oh, my chronograph is a Shooting Chrony Master Beta. They all work pretty well, but you really should have one. Even at newby stages and using the most tried-and-true loads ever -- the chronograph will teach you a lot about how cartridges work and how your different guns behave.)

 

[Agent Tikki]

A little update, I'm shooting alot more. 100-300 a week. Progressive seems like its the best thing for me. I've done a bit of reading and Hornady's Lock n Load seems like the one for me. Thank you all for your input, it was invaluable.

 

[cfullgraf]

Beginning reloading on a progressive can put you into information overload so I would recommend that you begin learning reloading in single stage mode. That can be on a single stage or the progressive of your choice.

That said, reloading is a handy skill and a single stage press is a handy tool to have even if you reload regularly on a progressive. There are some tasks that just work out better on a single stage.

For the most part, equipment required to get started on a single stage will be required for a progressive. So, you are not having to buy many things twice to make the transition. Besides the cost of the single stage press, a powder measure would be the other exception. But, if you choose correctly, the powder measure could be used on the progressive and it is sometimes handy to have multiple powder measures set up for different cartridges or range of powder loads.

Finally, with having the capability to load on a single stage press, cartridges that you shoot small quantities of are handy to reload on a single stage. It is handy for working up new or special loads. Also, you have the capability of manufacturing cases for obsolete or wildcat cartridges.

For me, reloading is a recreation activity on it's own. I enjoy it, been at it for almost 30 years. I don't mind reloading on a single stage press but I don't shoot thousands of round a week, more like a couple hundred a week. I did buy a progressive last year to reload straight walled handgun cartridges on. I still load rifle on the single stage press although I have dabbled with 223 Rem and 30-06 on the progressive.

That's my two cents worth.