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Posted: 2/14/2015 6:35:36 PM EDT
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I'm interested in getting into reloading. I've looked at some of the brand new units from their respective manufacturers but need some first hand experience suggestions.
I'm looking for a COMPLETE unit that I can initially set up and dial in then flip the switch and let it rip. I'd be monitoring the machine in case there where any problems. I'd be primarily producing 5.56, .45acp, .38spl, .380acp, and maybe even some 6.8spc stuff. Would also like to know if there are any websites that offer used machines (ie a website catered ONLY to the reloading hobby). Please offer your suggestion, recommendations, and opinions. Thank you. Best Regards Molon Labe Jeff |
Guessing the answers you seek can be found here 
http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_6/42_Reloading.html |
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I don't think it would be possible for a setup like that to accomodate a new reloader safely, although you certainly can get an autodrive equipped press to do what you want. Expect to spend $2-3k depending at a minimum though.
Also go to the reloading forum as opposed to the EE. |
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Quoted:
I don't think it would be possible for a setup like that to accomodate a new reloader safely, although you certainly can get an autodrive equipped press to do what you want. Expect to spend $2-3k depending at a minimum though. Also go to the reloading forum as opposed to the EE. +1. Good advice |
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Quoted:
+1. Good advice Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't think it would be possible for a setup like that to accomodate a new reloader safely, although you certainly can get an autodrive equipped press to do what you want. Expect to spend $2-3k depending at a minimum though. Also go to the reloading forum as opposed to the EE. +1. Good advice X100. Safe reloading requires that you first know the details of each individual step of the process before you "flip a switch" and "monitor the machine." There's way too many things that can go wrong at each and every step for a new reloader to safely - or even effectively - try some plug-and-play machine. It wouldn't even be a great idea to start with a progressive press, at least in my opinion. If you have $2-3k to spend on this right now, I'd suggest putting most of it away and getting a Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit. Set that up, get your feet wet with a single stage for several hundred rounds. You'll see that this reloading thing isn't intuitively obvious stuff. It takes experience to see what things happen and when, and then what sorts of goofs and glitches happen when you've gotten the rough edges off of your technique. |
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Sparing you all the cautions about knowing the basics first I'll be direct to your answer.
The Dillon 1050 would be your best candidate. Start manually then add a auto drive like a Ponsness/Warren. The Dillion will set you back 2k plus additional conversions per caliber. Auto drive another 1K. All the necessary equipment and tools easy 1K. Good luck in your quest. |
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I've been reloading with Dillon stuff for a little over 5 years. At one point I considered the whole auto-drive thing. There are reasons you don't see automated presses like wide-spread:
1. They are cost-prohibitive: Like others said, on a 1050, by the time you get all the parts and all the time to tune it up, you're looking at a significant investment. Probably in the neighborhood of $3000+ just to do 1 caliber. 2. Multi-caliber setup: The auto-drive setups I have seen basically turn the 1050 into a dedicated 1 caliber machine. Sure you can also re-configure it for another caliber but that means re-tuning the auto-drive again and having all the caliber conversion parts. Again, more time and money. 3. They are slow: At the end of the day, with an auto-drive added to a 1050 you won't be loading near the maximum per hour. You will still need to make sure all 4 of your components are re-replenished so you are forced to watch it, may as well just move the handle and do it yourself. |
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Look, I think I speak for most of the folks who posted by saying that we'd all like for you to find exactly what it is that you're looking for, and be introduced to this hobby of reloading. But, let's just be honest. These are explosives and highly flammable items we're talking about here. No one wants you to put yourself at an unnecessary risk. So, when you posed the question - a few of us probably pictured you walking into a room full of gasoline with a full box of matches - It only takes one to blow yourself up.
Having the experience and necessary aptitude of knowing the in-depth processes taking place in an automated reloading-machine is paramount to the creation of safe, dependable, and consistent rounds. It's far from the term: "set-it-and-forget-it". Just because an automated reloading device is calibrated to a particular recipe using certain specific components doesn't mean that it is always going to do what you expect. Knowing what to do when a desired result is not being met can only come from a level of reloading experience. The book mentioned by dryflash3 is excellent. It goes into so many specifics that you'll soon realize that there's much more to reloading than just "point-and-click". GHPorter suggested beginning with a single-stage press, which is the route I went to increase my knowledge and gain experience and confidence. There's always a use for a single-stage press in developing loads for your specific firearms, and it's just a great all-around platform with many uses. In no way am I trying to deter your interest in reloading. What I am trying to establish is a reasonable expectation from a beginner's perspective. Just start off by collecting the items that you will always need to have the ability to reload: tumbler-separator-media, trimmer, caliper, etc. In no time, you will learn and gain valuable knowledge that you will always be able to use. |
In essence you are asking us how to compete in a marathon when, You can't even walk. Take the advise and (1) buy the books, (2)Read them. (3)Get a single stage and work on the baby steps while you are perfecting each step. Any one with any common sense will not be trying to do what you are asking. This is explosive stuff under extremely high pressure. Do you really want to be "THAT" guy at the range? I'm sure all of us really don't want to be next to your trial and error or even on the same range. PLEASE take the advise and buy a single stage FIRST. ( Long before some auto)
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Well said, skinnable. I too am really not trying to deter you, 2StateTrigger. I hope to get your attention though. Like shooting, reloading isn't nearly as simple and "natural" as it may seem.
The basic principles of learning anything hold here. Start with the simple and go toward the more complex, and verify you understand and can apply each step before going to the next. It's why you needed to learn how to add single-digit numbers before you could add two digit numbers, and why you needed to learn the basic principles of your job before you started doing the basic tasks. I encourage you to start with a single-stage press for a number of reasons, the first being that you can learn more by doing each step in the loading process while focusing only on that step. And there's always a use for a single-stage press even if you have a progressive; I use my Rock Chucker to form 300 Blackout cases from trimmed .223 cases, to assemble rounds while developing loads, and so on. The worst thing you could do is go blindly into handloading, and make a simple mistake that causes some catastrophic problems. I started out with The ABCs of Reloading" (the 4th edition, written by Dean Grinnell), before I loaded a single round. I learned stuff from that book that I use today. Start there, buy the Lyman loading manual and read the first 1/3 of that, where they discuss the steps in loading, then get another manual (I like Hornady's) and read their introductory material. You'll get more useful preparation from those books than from all of us blowhards here. But you'll also probably find out that we're not just blowhards... 
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Yeah, my jaw dropped when watching the Camdex Case-Trimmer video. Even owning a Giraud seemed so "old-school" after watching that thing pump out round-after-round.
It's a good thing they don't list prices, because that device alone had the knee-jerk reaction of me reaching for the wallet... easily justifying the term: "Time = Money" Somehow, I slipped into the fantasy-world of skipping through a field toward a lone tree in the distance holding hands with my girlfriend laughing all the way while not having to think about case-trimming ever again. Eat your heart out, Norman Rockwell. Of course we all know, I was skipping toward the tree to mount targets for being able to shoot... duh. <snicker> |
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Quoted:
I've been reloading with Dillon stuff for a little over 5 years. At one point I considered the whole auto-drive thing. There are reasons you don't see automated presses like wide-spread: 1. They are cost-prohibitive: Like others said, on a 1050, by the time you get all the parts and all the time to tune it up, you're looking at a significant investment. Probably in the neighborhood of $3000+ just to do 1 caliber. 2. Multi-caliber setup: The auto-drive setups I have seen basically turn the 1050 into a dedicated 1 caliber machine. Sure you can also re-configure it for another caliber but that means re-tuning the auto-drive again and having all the caliber conversion parts. Again, more time and money. 3. They are slow: At the end of the day, with an auto-drive added to a 1050 you won't be loading near the maximum per hour. You will still need to make sure all 4 of your components are re-replenished so you are forced to watch it, may as well just move the handle and do it yourself. Red highlight* This is how I've always felt. I'm not made of $ nor do I reload enough to justify. Guess if I hit the lotto it "may" go on my list. OP your enthusiasm is refreshing but I agree with the others, start small, move up with experience. |
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Have you reloaded any rounds yet for any firearm? If not then do the safe thing and learn how to reload safely first before loading any rounds at all. Some simple questions can be answered by reading books like "Beginners guide to reloading" even most of the load data books go through quite a bit of information.
Do you know what primers you would need or use? magnum primers or regular primers? primers with a softer cup or a harder cup. Depending on application and if you read and learn first you will then know which one you need. What powder are you going to use? The powder is also critical. I have been hearing more of lately of people blowing up a firearm because of not using the right powder or using too much powder. This is just a couple of the most BASIC things you need to learn before getting a large progressive press and cranking out hundreds of rounds in an hour or 2. How do you set the dies in the press? do you know how far down to screw the dies to size or crimp properly? Do you have any idea of the dangers even factory ammunition has? Example here for you. your car tire has about 35 PSI any idea what a cartridge like the 308 CAN have? Just some random numbers from different powders and projectiles here but I see some numbers around 40,000 PSI to somewhere around 59,000 PSI. and only 35 PSI is what you drive on and you have 40K PSI in your hands in front of your face. What do you think will happen if you make a mistake? We all reload for various reasons, hunting, fun, competition etc. but the first thing we all have in common is SAFETY. Please take our advise learn to do it safely. |
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