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Post by Quick Draw McGraw on Jan 14, 2019 22:51:42 GMT -5
So much to consider, my head is spinning. My biggest confusion is setting up the powder dispenser. How do you get that to dispense accurately and consistently?
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Post by wheelguns on Jan 15, 2019 3:05:37 GMT -5
I use an rcbs chargemaster. On one station of my turret, I have a lee powder thru die with a funnel on top. The die is not used to bell the case mouth. I use m-dies or noe expander plugs for this. I love my chargemaster, and it is very consistent. I shoot 100% cast.
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Paden
.375 Atomic
Lower Goldstream Creek
Posts: 1,132
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Post by Paden on Jan 15, 2019 4:20:58 GMT -5
Hello Guys, I currently reload with the old reliable single stage press system, and RCBS Rock Chucker to be specific. It's a fool proof design to be sure. But I would relish the opportunity to move a little quicker. That will naturally require an investment, and part of my concern is that I reload for some oddball rounds and use all sorts of different dies. I use Lee, Redding, RCBS, and Hornady. And I reload the following cartridges: - .357 Magnum/.38 Special - 10mm Auto/.40 S&W
- .40 Super - .44 Magnum/.44 Special - .45 ACP/.45 Super - .460 Rowland
- .454 Casull/.45 Colt - .460 S&W Magnum
- .45-70 Gov't - .475 Linebaugh/.480 Ruger - .50 AE - .500 JRH - .500 S&W Magnum Some need a factory crimp die, some don't. Some have powder through dies, some don't. Before I go spending hundreds of dollars, what recommendations do you fellows have? I am curious to see what you gentleman think. The single stage has provided many fail safe's for me in regards to the high-pressure rounds, but perhaps I am worrying too much. Any and all recommendations are most appreciated.
Depends on what your definition of moving a little quicker is. I use a T7 and love it, but IMO it's a mistake to think of a turret as some kind of mini-progressive, because that's really not the intent or best use of one. Sure, you can rotate 'round a turret to complete a single round at a time, but that's terribly inefficient and doesn't achieve the best consistency. A turret is really nothing more than a single stage that allows for multiple dies to remain set up permanently. That's it's only advantage over a rock chucker. It's still most efficient and consistent to run a whole batch of brass one stage at a time, then rotate to the next die and run that stage, just like you do with the chucker. The advantage is you don't have to spend all the time switching out and adjusting dies between stages. If you enjoy using a single stage, a turret is a step up IMO. I'm a "one load/one gun" kind of guy (i.e. I only load one .45 Colt recipe and shoot it in all my .45 guns; and I don't shoot different bullets/loads for different occasions), so I like the turret because once I have my .45 dies dialed in for my pet load I don't have to screw with them again, ever. Same for most of my other cartridges. If I want to load some 338-06 I put the 338-06 turret on the press and I'm good to go for that recipe because the dies are all dialed in. That's the beauty of a turret. A progressive is an entire assembly line in action with each pull, and that's a whole different conversation (and I have no use/desire for one, so will leave those comments to others).
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kooz
.327 Meteor
Posts: 618
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Post by kooz on Jan 15, 2019 4:53:32 GMT -5
I have been using the LEE 1000 progressive presses, probably since the 80's and had very good luck with them for loading pistol calibers up to .45 Colt . You can get into one for less than or right at $200 and that is a complete set-up with everything you need , just add powder , primers and bullets . This would be a cost effective way for you to give a progressive press a try without breaking the bank . Buy one in a common caliber such as .45acp and give it a whirl. If you don't like it, you will be able to sell it for close to what you paid .
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Post by 45MAN on Jan 15, 2019 6:20:46 GMT -5
FOR REVOLVERS I USE 2 DILLON 550's, 1 SET UP FOR SMALL PRIMERS AND 1 SET UP FOR LARGE PRIMERS, FOR MOST ANYTHING ELSE I USE A T7, ALSO HAVE A SINGLE STAGE THAT GETS RARE USE. I USE AN RCBS HANDHELD PRIMER FOR SOME PRIMING CHORES. FOR 475L AND 25-20 REVOLVER LOADS I DO THE RESIZING ON THE T7.
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Post by mike454 on Jan 15, 2019 6:52:46 GMT -5
When I reload on the T7 I full length size in one station than turn the turret and bell the brass for all 50 or 100 rounds. I then hand prime, put in blocks and charge with powder off the machine. Then back on the press and seat the bullet turn the turret and crimp. I've never timed myself, but it's always seemed faster than removing each round after each operation. Still feels like standing still compared to the 550 which is why I only use to load a box or two of shells at a time.
On the dillon 550 I now always do every operation on the press. I used to occasionally size and prime off the press. It was pointed out to me that if you have a decapping pin at station one and double charge you will also knock a primer out of the round at station one. at the end of your reloading session if you find a round without a primer you may have a double charge. I prefer to use bulky powders on the 550 as another safeguard against double charges.
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Post by contender on Jan 15, 2019 9:29:59 GMT -5
"So much to consider, my head is spinning. My biggest confusion is setting up the powder dispenser. How do you get that to dispense accurately and consistently?"
On the Dillon powder measure,, it has a sliding adjustment bar. You adjust the powder charge by turning a screw in or out according to the amount of powder needed. The way I adjust my measure is to pull the locator tab at the station just past the powder drop. I cycle a single case, and when it rotates over, I remove the case, weigh the powder, and adjust the measure accordingly. Once the desired weight is achieved, I test a few to make sure I have the measure set correctly, then I replace the locator button, and start loading. When setting a new load up, I usually just use a fired case, and put the empty in under the measure. Dillon instructions (the book) has excellent pictures & description on all this as well.
The design of the measure is very good & will give very consistent charges with most powders. Small flake powder will occasionally allow a flake or so to creep out,, but that's the way it is with flake powder in almost all powder measures.
Also, once set up, and all, you can easily stop at any time, pull the locator button, pull out a powdered case, & check the weights. Just like on a single stage, you can check your charges easily.
And to help a little,, I use Unique a lot in my Dillons, for my match ammo. Never had an issue making my power factor in USPSA. Consistent ammo is what I get.
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Post by lazytcross on Jan 15, 2019 9:52:54 GMT -5
There has been lots of Dillon discussion,rightfully so. I will toot hornadys horn for a few lines. Great customer service. A person answers the phone. Easy caliber conversion, or single die swap. Fair repeatablity. I find that when seating heavy rounds 500 and such that seating depth can vary between full press not full press.
One thing I find as an advantage over Dillon. You can use as a single round loading machine. Much like an automated turret. Without loosing primers. I have loaded on 550-650s. Maybe there is a way to do it there too but I don’t know it.
Price is affordable. I enjoy my Lock and load. Not going to say it’s any better or worse that a Dillon having run both.
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wdr2
.30 Stingray
Posts: 147
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Post by wdr2 on Jan 15, 2019 10:19:34 GMT -5
I have used my Dillon (now a 550B that began life as a 450) for 30+ years. It just works. I am not a high volume shooter so, alas, I only have one Dillon. I have about a dozen tool heads set up with dies already adjusted and ready to go. I find caliber changes fast and easy even going from small to large primers, takes maybe 5 minutes. My Dillon powder measures are very accurate with most handgun powders. I have added the Uniqutek micrometer adjustment to my powder measures and made Excel spreadsheets for the powders I use: www.uniquetek.com/product/T1231I use a Redding Big Boss for most rifle calibers especially the small stuff like 22 Hornet. I also have many reloading bench products from Inline: inlinefabrication.comBill in Idaho
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Post by Quick Draw McGraw on Jan 15, 2019 13:21:13 GMT -5
After reading all these responses, I think the best course of action if I want to upgrade is to save my pennies and go for something really solid. Probably Dillon, as their reputation and no BS warranty is extremely appealing. Thanks for all of the input, fellas. Very informative,
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Post by lazytcross on Jan 17, 2019 11:37:16 GMT -5
I would see if there was a way to try a few for yourself. And I would think about how many operations I wanted to do at once. Personally if I was going to use a press for multiple calibers. Some needing a lfc die. I wouldn’t consider a press with less than 5 stations. So 650 or hornady. Both great presses, both have owners that wouldn’t want the other one. Price being the biggest difference.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,118
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Post by edk on Jan 17, 2019 14:40:33 GMT -5
Dillon 550 for a only one machine. Change over is super simple. I love mine! Dillon 550 owner for about 25 years. Good purchase. Obviously it isn't perfect, no machine is... Agree caliber change over (shell plate + toolhead) is super simple. I don't enjoy changing back and forth between primer sizes though. FOR REVOLVERS I USE 2 DILLON 550's, 1 SET UP FOR SMALL PRIMERS AND 1 SET UP FOR LARGE PRIMERS... Seems I'm not alone on this
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Post by wildcatter on Jan 17, 2019 17:17:51 GMT -5
I will always have a Dillon 550B, I always will have an RCBS Rock Chucker, and whether I use it or not a Sinclair Arbor Press . But then I have always had a Rock Chucker, and is the very first press I tell others they should have if it is all they have, nothing could change my mind on that.
Next once they have the Rock Chucker I recommend a 550B, I don't care what I want to load, these 2 presses have proven over the decades, to produce the most accurate, most consistent ammo one can produce.
Then of they want to get anal, or use stand alone dies like the Wilson chamber dies I recommend the simple Sinclair Arbor Press. With the proper dies it will load the nost accurate precision ammo possible.
In my opinion these three presses should be on every serious reloaders bench, and if they are they have the most versatile loading press setup available. Yes I had a 650XL, I hated the fact it was only worth using in a dedicated caliber. I sold it because it was such a hassle to change calibers and priming systems in. If I had wanted a dedicated press setup for one caliber I might have kept it, but it took up to much room, and with the ease of the 550B to change calibers, it just wasn't worth its weight for me.
I also tried to setup a SD for 45 acp only, it was the fastest press I ever sold, the need for special dies I didn't care for but bought it anyways, then after using it, with my large hands and fat fingers I got tiered of fumbling, as well as pinching my fingers, and sold it to friend. I mean what are friends for?
Yo this day, and I have used several different turret presses others have had, I just don't see any advantage they could have that one of these three presses can't do better. I also don't see any one thing they can do over the 550B, or the Rock Chucker, even the 1050 would have to be used for loading more than 2 or 3 thousand rounds at a time for me to justify having it, and that's more work than I want to get involved with today.
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Post by wheelguns on Jan 17, 2019 17:49:23 GMT -5
The advantages of a turret press over a single stage press is that you don’t have to keep taking the case in and out of the shellholder. It can also be used exactly like a single stage press if you want. By doing one round from start to finish, I find it much harder to forget to charge a case or double charge a case because you charge the case then 5 seconds later you seat the bullet.
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Post by Quick Draw McGraw on Jan 17, 2019 18:36:10 GMT -5
Well, after a ton more thought, I orderes that new Lee Auto Breech Lock Press. Ita simple and fairly cheap. But I liked that I was able to have a little more involvment in the process like no automatic primer tray, powdering myself, and searing the bullet myself. Also, when I proced out a Dylan, it was over $1,100 for the machine and the caliber conversions. So, im gonna try this, and worst case scenario, I'm spending around $250 at mist for everything I needed but didn't have. I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome.
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