I want to get into reloading, I want a progressive press, I was thinking on getting a Lee Precision Loadmaster, I could use some starter advice

[Twangbanger]

... I'm not a fan of the 450/550...IMO, the manual indexing makes it vulnerable to a double-charge. With a single-stage or turret I can load and inspect in batches, with an auto-indexer the press's own workflow keeps the case from getting charged twice. I have good lighting, a good understanding of the process, load powders that are difficult to double-charge, and I pay attention to what I'm doing...but I'm not perfect and it only takes one. With a manual-index progressive, all you've got to do is forget to index one time, and you've got a double-charge on your hands...it makes me uncomfortable.

Good points here:

1) Primer availability - the modern dilemma is, is it even going to be worth your fuss to reload, given the volume you shoot? Would you be better off just looking for ammo deals? No primers = no reloads. When ammo scares hit, reloaders are just as screwed as everyone else, because the available primers are getting used for factory ammo. How many thousands of dollars of primers are you willing to hoard to insulate yourself from this? And what will powder and primers actually cost, once you pay hazmat shipping? Reloading is only cheaper "if" you can get components, and "if" the value of your time spent pulling the handle is free.

2) Dillon 550 may seem like the cheap way to get the Dillon name, but if you're only loading pistol, Square Deal B may be better. The lack of auto index wears out your thumb, and almost every time I hear of a gun blown up, the ammo was loaded on a 550, the user forgot to index and double charged a case. Yes, an idiot could potentially manage to do it on any press, but auto indexing makes it hard to do. The 550 makes it easy.

 

[92FSTech]

Good points here:

1) Primer availability - the modern dilemma is, is it even going to be worth your fuss to reload, given the volume you shoot? Would you be better off just looking for ammo deals? No primers = no reloads. When ammo scares hit, reloaders are just as screwed as everyone else, because the available primers are getting used for factory ammo. How many thousands of dollars of primers are you willing to hoard to insulate yourself from this? And what will powder and primers actually cost, once you pay hazmat shipping? Reloading is only cheaper "if" you can get components, and "if" the value of your time spent pulling the handle is free.

Yep. Lately I've been looking for deals on 9mm factory ammo and grabbing it when I can find it (got some 50ct blazer boxes for less than $12 a box last week...I can't reload it for that!) and saving my small pistol primers for more expensive/harder to find stuff like .38/.357, .32 S&W Long, and .32 ACP. I like the versatility that reloading gives me, but I'm not above buying factory ammo when it makes financial sense.

 

[Twangbanger]

Yep. Lately I've been looking for deals on 9mm factory ammo and grabbing it when I can find it (got some 50ct blazer boxes for less than $12 a box last week...I can't reload it for that!) and saving my small pistol primers for more expensive/harder to find stuff like .38/.357, .32 S&W Long, and .32 ACP. I like the versatility that reloading gives me, but I'm not above buying factory ammo when it makes financial sense.

Ironically, I got into metallic cartridge reloading to run large amounts of 9mm and 38spl, but that press mostly ends up running lower volume stuff like 45 Colt now, because the prices on those less common rounds is so outrageous. If I was into boutique CF rifle rounds, it would be more so. It's the only practical way to get ammo for my 257 Roberts. My rifle isn't trendy...just old.

 

[dieselrealtor]

I haven't read each post so it has probably been addressed.

I started with a LCT to see if I would like reloading, several thousand rounds later it was confirmed.

If I were going to start over, I would start with a Dillon 550. It can be used as a single stage (not auto indexing) but capable of 500'ish rounds per hour when you get in the zone.

If you pick one up used & decide reloading isn't for you, you are likely to be able to get 100% of your equipment investment back.

I have never been interested in the Dillon Square Deal, it required proprietary dies.

 

[Aszerigan]

Start with an RCBS Rock Chucker. Cut your teeth on it for 100 rounds, 500 rounds, 5000 rounds, whatever until your comfortable. You'll always need a single stage no matter where your journey takes you.

Once you're comfortable, move up to a Dillon 550. Same process as the Rock Chucker, but more ways to make more mistakes more quickly if you're not totally familiar with how your press functions. Follow the load data books, not the internet. Aside from Lee dies, don't buy cheap anything. You'll only regret it later.

Also, find someone that reloads and get them to teach you. It may only be a couple hours, but you'll find that hands-on experience is head and shoulders above book / youtube learning. Start slow, or it could cost you more in guns than you'll spend on reloading equipment.

 

[ckcollins2003]

Start with an RCBS Rock Chucker. Cut your teeth on it for 100 rounds, 500 rounds, 5000 rounds, whatever until your comfortable. You'll always need a single stage no matter where your journey takes you.

Once you're comfortable, move up to a Dillon 550. Same process as the Rock Chucker, but more ways to make more mistakes more quickly if you're not totally familiar with how your press functions. Follow the load data books, not the internet. Aside from Lee dies, don't buy cheap anything. You'll only regret it later.

Also, find someone that reloads and get them to teach you. It may only be a couple hours, but you'll find that hands-on experience is head and shoulders above book / youtube learning. Start slow, or it could cost you more in guns than you'll spend on reloading equipment.

All of this right here! Start off with the single stage. Progressive presses are great when they are running right and when you know what to look for as far as issues go, but if you don't know what is causing the issue because you're just starting off, you'll get irritated very quickly.

The Lee is great... for pistol... when it's not throwing a fit and giving you problem after problem. When I was reloading pistol, I used a Pro 1000. Other than primers always going in sideways or not at all, it was great. I could always count on about a 10% loss of primers, which now days, can lead up to quite the cost really quick. I ended up back at my trusty single stage every time because of the headache. Now the Pro 1000 just sits there gathering dust..

 

[Wabatuckian]

Another vote for starting of with a single stage

-or-

a manually-indexed turret press like the Lyman T-Mag or All-American (https://www.lymanproducts.com/reloa...-kits/brass-smith-all-american-8-turret-press) which seems to have replaced it.

I started off with the T-Mag turret, and it was perfect. I didn't need to stop to swap out dies and saved time that way, but neither was too much going on for my beginner-reloader self.

 

[Hookeye]

My dad had a Dillon 650 full set up.
He hated changing from .45 acp to .357, so bought a second full set up 650 LOL

Anyway, had a bud also get a Dillon 650 full set up.
He too found switching a bit of a pain.

Being lesser volume shooter and just a couple cartridges, he ended up going w two turret presses.
Leaving dies in.

Convenient, but not speedy. Still better than single stage.

BTW, am not a fan of Lee presses. Do like their Ram Prime and collet dies.

FWIW I run Lyman turret press ( had Spar T .......little thing, made half inch at 100 varmint loads w it.......and now have a T Mag ).

Started reloading in 6th grade, .222 rem...........on my dad's RCBS A2.

 

[Wabatuckian]

My dad had a Dillon 650 full set up.
He hated changing from .45 acp to .357, so bought a second full set up 650 LOL

Anyway, had a bud also get a Dillon 650 full set up.
He too found switching a bit of a pain.

Being lesser volume shooter and just a couple cartridges, he ended up going w two turret presses.
Leaving dies in.

Convenient, but not speedy. Still better than single stage.

BTW, am not a fan of Lee presses. Do like their Ram Prime and collet dies.

FWIW I run Lyman turret press ( had Spar T .......little thing, made half inch at 100 varmint loads w it.......and now have a T Mag ).

Started reloading in 6th grade, .222 rem...........on my dad's RCBS A2.

I flat wore that Lyman Turret out after some years.

Now I use a Lee 4-hole auto-indexing turret press for pistol only. It excels at that. I can kick out a respectable amount of ammo without going so fast I blow myself up with the resulting loads.

For rifle, I've actually gone slower, to a Rock Chucker. I mainly load 7.62x54r, and I need them to be as precise as possible due to the business I'm in, so I hand measure the powder and even sort the bullets after weighing them.

 

[Creedmoor]

I flat wore that Lyman Turret out after some years.

Now I use a Lee 4-hole auto-indexing turret press for pistol only. It excels at that. I can kick out a respectable amount of ammo without going so fast I blow myself up with the resulting loads.

For rifle, I've actually gone slower, to a Rock Chucker. I mainly load 7.62x54r, and I need them to be as precise as possible due to the business I'm in, so I hand measure the powder and even sort the bullets after weighing them.

I gotta ask, why 54R, what rifle and what bullet please.

 

[Hookeye]

I flat wore that Lyman Turret out after some years.

Now I use a Lee 4-hole auto-indexing turret press for pistol only. It excels at that. I can kick out a respectable amount of ammo without going so fast I blow myself up with the resulting loads.

For rifle, I've actually gone slower, to a Rock Chucker. I mainly load 7.62x54r, and I need them to be as precise as possible due to the business I'm in, so I hand measure the powder and even sort the bullets after weighing them.

My dad collected reloading gear. Had over 60 presses when he passed.
Still trying to move a Lee Loadmaster I inherited LOL
He had Lee 3 and 4 hole presses, and single stage.
Redding turret was beefy.
Hollywood was a boat anchor.

 

[Wabatuckian]

I gotta ask, why 54R, what rifle and what bullet please.

1. Because I own a company that makes custom sights, trigger sets, and accurizing kits for the Mosin-Nagant, and I need the best ammo available.

2. Mosin-Nagant, specifically a 1939 (1938 receiver) M91/30 with a tight bore.

3. I generally use Hornady Match and Sierra Match Kings for accuracy and precision testing, and Hornady SSTs for anything I might need expanding bullets for.

My favorite powders for this load are Varget and H4350.

 

[BE Mike]

My advice is videos may make everything look easier than it actually is. I wouldn't suggest a progressive press at this point, especially since you want to load rifle and pistol. Rifle brass needs trimming and other processing before loading it and it has to be resized before trimming, so the progressive has limited value until your brass has been processed. You only need to get a progressive press if you are shooting a lot, say a couple of hundred rounds weekly or more.

 

[Creedmoor]

My advice is videos may make everything look easier than it actually is. I wouldn't suggest a progressive press at this point, especially since you want to load rifle and pistol. Rifle brass needs trimming and other processing before loading it and it has to be resized before trimming, so the progressive has limited value until your brass has been processed. You only need to get a progressive press if you are shooting a lot, say a couple of hundred rounds weekly or more.

I now process on a Progressive Dillon 8 station I bought from a ingo member, I can easily process 800 - 1100 9mm, 223, 308 cases an hour. Your not doing that with a single stage and a trimmer.
Been there done that.

How long do you spend on a single stage loading, say 100 308 rounds?
I can run those off on a Progressive Dillon 450 or 550 in 10 - 20 minutes tops, and then toss them in a tumbler for a final 20 minute clean.
And if one wants, you can use a 450 or a 550 as a single stage.

 

[BE Mike]

I now process on a Progressive Dillon 8 station I bought from a ingo member, I can easily process 800 - 1100 9mm, 223, 308 cases an hour. Your not doing that with a single stage and a trimmer.
Been there done that.

How long do you spend on a single stage loading, say 100 308 rounds?
I can run those off on a Progressive Dillon 450 or 550 in 10 - 20 minutes tops, and then toss them in a tumbler for a final 20 minute clean.
And if one wants, you can use a 450 or a 550 as a single stage.

Can you elaborate? Do you use a Dillon 1050 to trim and debur rifle brass, after it has been sized? BTW, I have a Dillon 550 and 650.

 

[Creedmoor]

Can you elaborate? Do you use a Dillon 1050 to trim and debur rifle brass, after it has been sized? BTW, I have a Dillon 550 and 650.

I have a Dillon RL1000, it was the first big machine from Dillon. With eight stations you can do a bunch of things if you want.
Station 1, I deprime
Station 2, is a fixed primer picket swedge
Station 3 fixed prime station
Station 4 fixed powder drop
Station 5-8 are open.
So I can size on 5
And run a trimmer on a station after that.

Those gold dies are FW Wilson diies. One is a depriming die and the other is spring loaded to push back the case when swedging the pocket.
And yes, I have a Dillon afliction.
In that room are two 550's two 650's and that 1000. There are others...

 

[BE Mike]

I have a Dillon RL1000, it was the first big machine from Dillon. With eight stations you can do a bunch of things if you want.
Station 1, I deprime
Station 2, is a fixed primer picket swedge
Station 3 fixed prime station
Station 4 fixed powder drop
Station 5-8 are open.
So I can size on 5
And run a trimmer on a station after that.

Those gold dies are FW Wilson diies. One is a depriming die and the other is spring loaded to push back the case when swedging the pocket. View attachment 288817
And yes, I have a Dillon afliction.
In that room are two 550's two 650's and that 1000. There are others...

Nice setup! My comments were based on the OP's wanting to load on a Lee Loadmaster.

 

[Paul 7.62]

I run a single stage and a Dillon 550 I reload for precision for 6 calibers from .223 to .308. It involves Armanoff tool heads and die rings, custom Forester dies, Porter production Expanding mandrels, Redding Body dies, FX 120I with the AutoTrickler, to produce 4 to 5 thousand very accurate P-dog rounds and another 2000 rounb of testing rounds, then add in 1000 rounds per month for pistol. 380, 9mm, 38 super, 45 acp, 38 and 357 with change over taking about 10 minutes unless I am using the Alpha Case feeder for the 550. Not cheap but I have tried Lee, Hornady and RCBS, Dillon was way a head.

 

[Paul 7.62]

I have a Dillon RL1000, it was the first big machine from Dillon. With eight stations you can do a bunch of things if you want.
Station 1, I deprime
Station 2, is a fixed primer picket swedge
Station 3 fixed prime station
Station 4 fixed powder drop
Station 5-8 are open.
So I can size on 5
And run a trimmer on a station after that.

Those gold dies are FW Wilson diies. One is a depriming die and the other is spring loaded to push back the case when swedging the pocket. View attachment 288817
And yes, I have a Dillon afliction.
In that room are two 550's two 650's and that 1000. There are others...

Those are FW ARMS Depriming dies and Swaging dies

What do you do for parts as They haven't made the 1000 since 85 or so?

 

[Aszerigan]

I have a Dillon RL1000, it was the first big machine from Dillon. With eight stations you can do a bunch of things if you want.
Station 1, I deprime
Station 2, is a fixed primer picket swedge
Station 3 fixed prime station
Station 4 fixed powder drop
Station 5-8 are open.
So I can size on 5
And run a trimmer on a station after that.

Those gold dies are FW Wilson diies. One is a depriming die and the other is spring loaded to push back the case when swedging the pocket. View attachment 288817
And yes, I have a Dillon afliction.
In that room are two 550's two 650's and that 1000. There are others...

This is absolutely NOT what I'd recommend for a beginner, but nice setup, brother.