Help choosing a press for a beginner

[Spent Brass]

I'm finally coming to my sense's and realizing that the amount of money I spend on factory ammo could just as easily be turned into a reloading press. Problem is I know slim to none about presses. I've been looking online and seen the differences between the progressive and single stage and it seems that the progressive's take a lot of the hassle and work out of it. Now I'm trying to decide between the Lee Pro 1000, the Dillon SDB, and the RCBS turret. If anyone has any ideas about these or a different press if I'm on the wrong track any help is appreciated. Im not trying to break the bank so leads on used gear or sales would be helpful as well. I'll primarily be loading .40 s&w for range use. I would like the flexibility to load .223 but not needed yet as I don't shoot my rifle much.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[FD807]

Ok the SDB doesn't do rifle calibers so get a 550 I got one almost 2 years ago and don't regret it a bit. I hope to have a 650 to go with it soon.

 

[audioshooter]

id say go with the sdb. Aslo, you should buy it from LA gun and reloading on jefferson near Airline. Bryan will give you all the help you need and all of the guys that work there are great and very knowledgeable. DO NOT GET THE LEE what ever you do.

 

[Storm52]

+1 on SDB, especially if you are loading for 1 handgun caliber. Dies are proprietary and a bit expensive. I have 2 SDB as I detest having to change the primer system, although it is relatively easy...

 

[returningliberty]

I use a Lee turret press with "pro autodisk", hornady dies yada yada... I bought it because it was a hundred bucks and killer at LA Reload uses one. Once I finally got it all adjusted right, it works pretty well.

I use it just like a single stage though. Size/deprime a batch; clean it; sit on the couch with my auto-primer and prime cases while watching a movie; next day I powder charge / seat bullets.

It is not a fast process. I recommend it if you want to save money and have a lot of time on your hands.

If you want efficiency, the dillon 550 / 650 or the Hornady AP (people around this area tend to trash this press, but a friend uses his to great affect) is the way to go. LA Reload is The Place for material, help, and presses.

 

[Golden Dragon]

id say go with the sdb. Aslo, you should buy it from LA gun and reloading on jefferson near Airline. Bryan will give you all the help you need and all of the guys that work there are great and very knowledgeable. DO NOT GET THE LEE what ever you do.

If you just doing pistol +1

 

[SVTFreak]

Check out my post in classifieds. I'm getting out of the business and have kits of 223 and 40 stuff. Press is sold though. Brass, tumbler, media, dies, case prep tools, even a few primers an power.

 

[BigNick73]

I've got a Lee turret I also use kind like a single stage (prime and clean separately) put 2,200 rounds of 45 and a few hundred .223 though it no problems.

 

[Sin-ster]

Of your list, I've heard nothing but good things about the SDB. I may add one next to my 650, although chances are I'll end up with a 550 instead...

Just how much quantity are you going to be loading, and what will your timeframe look like? IMO, that's the single most important factor in what press you go with. If you're looking for tons of rounds in one evening, you're probably better off saving a bit longer and going with a 550 or 650. I like to take the block of time at the end of my Thursday and crank out rounds for that week, quickly and cleanly with no muss or fuss. As long as I don't run into a stray .40 case (loading 9mm) or a .32 ACP stuck in a good case, it doesn't take me very long at all and I'm free to go about the rest of the evening.

Also, be warned-- you will almost certainly continue to spend the same amount of (available) funds on ammo, but you'll be getting a lot more bang for the buck! Which is for most shooters an unexpected outcome, but a good one nonetheless.

 

[Spent Brass]

I was thinking about maybe 300 rounds a week, and I usually have an hour or two in the evenings to myself. Does LA reloading stock the SDB or just Lee? No one uses RCBS products? What are their hours like, I might go by there so I can get a look at the different presses in person one evening this week.

 

[audioshooter]

LA reload only stocks the 550, but will order you a sdb. The lee turret press is god, i used to use one, but once i got my 450, ive never looked back. i have not herad anything good about the lee pro 1000. beauxdog owns LA Reload. PM him for his availability of the SDB

 

[Spent Brass]

Thanks for the heads up, I got with Beauxdog and am gonna visit his shop on friday.

 

[audioshooter]

what did you wind up ordering? out of curiosity

 

[Spent Brass]

Today I just got "Lymans Reloading Handbook 49th edition" from him so I can do some reading and learn a bit before I buy too much stuff. I've got to make a trip to Houston next weekend but when I get back Im pretty sure Im going to get a Dillon 550B. It was really nice getting to put my hands on all the different presses and see how they felt and how fast/efficient they were. I think I'll be happy with the 550. It seems like a good compromise between saving space and the 650. Now I need to spend the next week learning about powder and bullet selection.

 

[flamatrix99]

I have a Lee Turret Press. I love it. I bought it from a member here and I've cranked out lots of 9mm since. I want a Dillon 650 but I don't shoot enough to justify the cost.

 

[audioshooter]

one place i use alot for data is the hogdon reloading data center.:

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

 

[CJB1911]

650. Buy right; buy once.

 

[rmorgan9718]

got two 550's, one Rock Chucker, Lee Pro 1000, and several smaller single stage presses. go with what you are comfortable with, but you will be stressing any of the turret/progressive presses more than a little if you are re-sizing larger/long rifle bullets. I still use the Rock Chucker to size and de-prime all bottle neck cases, and change the dillon over for large lots of plinking rounds in the .223 and .308. Also, extruded powders have a more difficult time processing thru the Dillon powder dispenser, even with the actuator arm.

IMHO, if sub-MOA is what you are trying to achieve, you can't beat the Rock Chucker.

 

[jguilletjr]

I started a little over 30 years ago with the basic Lee O frame press. I am still using it. It is slow but it works. Get the best you can afford. Have fun.

 

[BayouDeputy]

WEll, I see that Im a little late to this thread, but I use the RCBS Pro 2000 (manual indexing). Ive used it for about two years now and absolutely love it. The only advice I have for someone who gets this press is for them to have a STURDY bench to put this on. I had to seriously re-enforce my bench because this press is HEAVY. I plan on loading rifle rounds with this press (30-06 & .223) and dont forsee this press flexing much.