Tired of paying out the nose for good ammo. I read the previous posts about reloading presses and see that many of you like the Dillons. I'm wondering if you have any advice for a guy that has decided to go out and join the reloading crew but has never done so before. Your opinions on presses, equipment yada yada. I'll be reloading primarily handgun ammo: 40, 357mag, 9mm, & 45. Also a few rifle cartridges as well, to include: 30-30, 30-06, and 300 winmag.

So what say you? Remember, I'm admitting that I'm an FNG to reloading.

Concur on Dillon being a good choice. It is a good idea to get enough machine to handle current and expected needs. The bad news is that reloading components are suffering from the same supply and demand influences as loaded ammo.

Dillon is great for volume but the price of admission is steep. You can get a good simple single stage press and everything else you need including dies for every caliber that you have for about the price of the Dillon press alone. Especially for the large rifle calibers where shooting volume is fairly low, a progressive press makes little sense. It also makes little sense for the new reloader, especially one getting into it for economy.

Thx for the tips fellas. I went ahead and ordered the Dillon RL 550 B with all the amenities. I figure: if your gonna be a bear...be a grizzly!

Besides, I am going to have to end up reloading the significant others ammo as well and she likes to shoot as much as I do. She even has the audacity to go to the range when I can't!

How rude of her.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with just how easy and how much fun it is to reload with your Dillon. If I wasn't working in a job where I get just about all the ammunition I could care to shoot, I would definitely have a Dillon set up in my workroom at home...

Good luck! TAKE YOUR TIME and check, check, check your loads! Everyone I know who's had a major malfunction while reloading (including myself!) had it happen after they got comfortable with the operation and started taking things for granted.

I'd recommend setting your reloader up in an isolated area, with no phone or television nearby. If you leave the reloader for ANY REASON - finish loading the round(s) on the shell plate completely before walking away, and start over fresh when you come back.

Regards,

Kevin

Kevin,

Great advise. This was the way I had my first mishap reloading from walking away from my press with ammo still on the plate. I caught it in time but it's something I'm always cautious about now.

Happy Shooting,
LuckyGunner