Thinking of a reloading blowout

Status
Not open for further replies.
Valkman

Valkman

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
9,492
Location
Las Vegas, NV
The wife wants to move and that'll mean downsizing - I could keep my reloading stuff but I haven't shot much these past few years and was thinking of just reloading all the components I have, then selling the equipment.

I have Dillon toolheads and die set-ups for .357/.38, .45, .44mag/spl, .454, 10mm and .223 and 2 Dillon 550b machines.

I have lots of components, especially for .45 and 10mm but probably wouldn't reload the .223 - I've worked and worked on getting good rounds but never made 'em that would cycle reliably in my AR.

I figure reloading everything I have will give me more ammo than I'll ever shoot and I could use the $$ to buy knife making stuff, which I want to get back in to.

What do you think? I have time, I'm sure we won't move for 6 months or more. Ever think about loading everything you have saved up?
 
What do I think? I think you have to do what you have to do. If downsizing is in the picture and you feel you will not be hand loading anymore then by all means sell the stuff. Just think about replacement cost if down the road you want back into reloading. I sure as hell can't tell you what is best for you. :) Me? I won't ever get out of hand loading so for me it would be simple.

Ron
 
Valkman - you're the only one who can say what's right for you.
I'd be interested in 1 of your 550s, if the price is right.
 
Wait, you should be able to sell the 550's for twice what a new ones costs on eBay after the election and next panic starts.
 
I handloaded/reloaded for my entire life and factory loads were never really an option for me so loading my own is in my blood and all I know.

I would never part with my loading equipment unless I came down with a debilitating disease that would put me down, If I did I would do as your saying because my son has no interest in reloading but he does like to shoot.

He would have enough ammo to last him a long time.

And yes, then I would sell my equipment so my wife wouldn't have to deal with it.

It doesn't sound to me like you ever made ammunition that suited you so maybe you would be better off doing what you are suggesting.

But if you never made any that would cycle reliably then why would you want to load up everything you have and put yourself through the torment?

I'm just asking.
 
I did make good ammo for everything but the .223. I have tried everything to make it so it cycles but the SIL tried it too and it wouldn't work in his AR either. I would load up everything BUT the .223.

I don't know, I just haven't reloaded or shot that much in the last couple of years and talking of moving got me thinking about this. I've been reloading since 2003 and bought all Dillon stuff back then.
 
I would load up a pile of stuff to use the components up.
Sell a 550 and then see where you end up come the move.
If there is no room and reloading goes for this phase of your life I think you will be fine. Sell the 2nd 550 and drive on.
 
I would load up a pile of stuff to use the components up.
Sell a 550 and then see where you end up come the move.
If there is no room and reloading goes for this phase of your life I think you will be fine. Sell the 2nd 550 and drive on.
Click to expand...

That's good advice, thanks!
 
I say sell what you won't use and get a single stage for a "what if" time. They don't take up much space and maybe you'll only use it for the 1 or 2 calibers which you shoot the most. I choose to only use a single stage because space is at a premium but I also reload for a quiet therapy and the single stage works best for that, for me.
 
I'm thinking like mentioned here,

I would load up a pile of stuff to use the components up.
Sell a 550 and then see where you end up come the move.
If there is no room and reloading goes for this phase of your life I think you will be fine. Sell the 2nd 550 and drive on.
Click to expand...

One packed away 550 doesn't take up much room, and the rest of the tools which would feed the handgun side would probably all fit into one of the plastic totes real well nicely stacked. Choose two powders that will handles all of those calibers, like Unique and AA-9, 1K each of small and large primers, and see where your at room wise with those.

Once you know how little room all of this will actually take up, you can cull the other press and all of the .223 stuff. You will still have something to deal with the high priced ammo for your 357, 10 and 454. The others aren't quite as high to purchase in bulk, but those three can get pretty pricey especially the 454.

You actually wouldn't even need to take the primers and powder with you, those could be purchased once you arrive at your new destination. Who knows, there might be more opportunity for you to get out and do more shooting once you get there.
 
As noted above, you're the best source for the right answer. But, for me at least, just shooting is only half (sometimes less) of the fun. Shooting without reloading might be OK, but for me down sizing would mean cutting down on "extras"; I have 4 presses, but mostly use 1, I have a bunch of brass for guns I rarely shoot, and a metric ton of assorted not essential tools that I might be able to live without...
 
I think I would sell most of the equipment but keep the dies for what I shoot most and buy a Lee Classic Turret press just in case. It takes very little room and you already have the dies. It will be a big downsize from the Dilllion 550 set ups but you can still load ammo. Best part, you will have plenty of money for the knife making equipment. IMO you get the best of both...
 
ArchAngelCD said:
I think I would sell most of the equipment but keep the dies for what I shoot most and buy a Lee Classic Turret press just in case. It takes very little room and you already have the dies. It will be a big downsize from the Dilllion 550 set ups but you can still load ammo. Best part, you will have plenty of money for the knife making equipment. IMO you get the best of both...
Click to expand...

^^^^ What he said.

IMHO, a bunch of loaded ammo will be much harder to sell in the future than just the components - most people are leery of someone else's reloads and would rather pull the bullets than to shoot them. I think you would be better off keeping enough components to shoot what you want, and getting a small press to reload them with. The LCT is a great option. I have a Dillon 550 on one end of my bench, and an LCT on the other end. I use them both.
 
Last edited:
I have been looking into a 550 for a while, all I have is a lees single stage right now. So if you are working to lighten the load......
 
cancel..I forgot how to do all this stuff..was trying to give JMorris's comment about the next panic a LOL +1
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
New to reloading - turret press questions
Replies
4
Views
405
jenrob
J
Zaydok Allen
  • Locked
How many tool heads and conversion kits do you have for your progressive press?
2 3 4
Replies
91
Views
4K
hollywood63
hollywood63
M
  • Locked
Good deal for a Dillon 550B?
Replies
9
Views
487
Kevin Rohrer
Kevin Rohrer
S
  • Locked
Dillon 650 Questions
Replies
23
Views
1K
amlevin
A
G
  • Locked
interested in reloading question about dillon 650
Replies
8
Views
592
xring44
X
Back
Top