Starting out reloading

[dennishoddy]

I've been reloading since 1980. I was on a very tight budget, and bought the cheapest RCBS special press, a set of dies, beam scales, and went to town. At that time was only loading bottle necked rifle rounds, and shotgun. Polished brass with steel wool and a drill to chuck the case into
Over the years, getting heavily into trap, and then handgun and rifle competitions, the volume of reloading has gone to about 800-1000 rounds a month sometimes. Depends on how many matches I hit, so consequently the ability to load a lot of rounds has forced investing into progressive reloaders.
What you need to do before starting is look at your budget, determine what your needs are going to be, and IMHO go a grade higher than you expect to need right now. Are you loading just pistol or a combo of rifle and pistol? Wanting to get into shooting matches?
All things that need to be thought about before getting into a great hobby.

 

[foghorn918]

I went with the Dillon 550b progressive, bought it through Brian Enos website using his "As It Should Be" recommendation, no regrets. I load 9mm, .40, and .45acp.

It depends on how much you are planning to reload and how much you are willing to spend to get started. Reloading will save you money per round, but in the long run you'll likely spend more $$ on your shooting because you will be shooting more.

 

[Pokinfun]

I went with the Dillon 550b progressive, bought it through Brian Enos website using his "As It Should Be" recommendation, no regrets. I load 9mm, .40, and .45acp.

It depends on how much you are planning to reload and how much you are willing to spend to get started. Reloading will save you money per round, but in the long run you'll likely spend more $$ on your shooting because you will be shooting more.

now you did it, you had to bring Dillon into the conversation.

 

[Dumpstick]

it was bound to happen.

Here come the blueboys....

 

[dennishoddy]

now you did it, you had to bring Dillon into the conversation.

 

[lasher]

used to load shot shells years ago, had several MEC loaders in different gauges. started loading brass rifle about 3 years ago, first round i loaded cost right around 1000 bucks, but i've since reloaded several thousand. i keep my eye out for sales on projectiles and brass, buy in quantity and spend some relaxing time at the presses. i agree with the buy a setup/press a little more, or a lot more, than what you think will get you by.

 

[lasher]

i have green, red, blue, and even a yellow press, never cared for the orange crush because i once lived in denver and don't care for the fans

 

[deerwhacker444]

Get a reloading manual and read it front to back.

Go get another reloading manual and read it front to back.

Then come back with your questions..

 

[dennishoddy]

Progressives can be used as a single stage. You just load one die and act like it's a single stage.

 

[D. Hargrove]

This^^^^^, always recommend you learn on a single stage press even if it is someone else's. Then move on up to a progressive as you get truly familiar with the loads you are making. I started on a rock chucker a longggg time ago and never regretted it. Many precision competitors use single stage presses as they feel it allows for absolute certainty of primer seating, powder weight and bullet seating and crimp. I now have a progressive and usually use it as a single stage for Bullseye rounds. Then I unleash the beast and crank out a few hundred plinkers for the 9mm pistols in a few short minutes. You will enjoy the loading as it challenges ya and allows you to create any load you desire for your caliber.