reloading presses and dies

[smoggle]

Since looking at the prices of .308 I am seriously thinking about reloading my own. That way I know the powder and primer in it. Component prices are low enough that it looks like it can be reloaded for around $.30 a shot. less if you have spent cases to reload. I know that my time is involved but so is driving to the range. Also the cost of the set-up too. That will go down as I load more. And it is another cool tool to have.

My question is what are your opinions on reloading presses?
Obviously cast iron should be better than an aluminum frame for durability but is it?
I know you get what you pay for, generally.
Do most of you use single stage or progressive presses?

Thanks in advance.

[johnnymg]

I personally use a single stage press, solid frame, unless u do alot of pistol shooting then you would need a progressive. you may also need a bigger progressive when doing rifle cases, also dont forget you have to full length resize for reliable SA feeding. Bolt action generally does not require full size as mostly the cases are reused in the same rifle, chamber dimensions. Just my .02

FOLLOW RECOMMENDED LOAD DATA!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT EXCEED MAX LOADS AND DONT START THERE, WORK UP TO A RELIABLE LOAD FROM MIN. WILL SAVE POWDER AND POSSIBLY YOU!!!

Johnnymg

[drooling idiot]

i'm getting into it right now for the 50BMG .

only advice i can give right now is
LEE precision has been good to me , good quality at great price.
the more money you spend on quality equip. the easier and faster it is and the more you'll enjoy it.
you need a area like a bench you can set up on .

its money or time , which you got more to spend ?

[JBaum]

When I was shopping for a press, everyone had a single stage for sale. When I asked why they wanted to sell it, every one said they wanted to get a Dillon. I bought a Dillon 550 to start with and saved the trouble. Every pull of the handle drops another loaded cartrdige into the bin. It does 4 steps with each pull, and that means you pull the handle 1/4 as much as with single stage presses. I bought mine used and it was missing a small part. I emailed Dillon, asking how much for the part, and they sent it to me free with a catalog. You can't beat service like that. It's what they're known for. Everything they sell is top quality. Buy the best to begin with and save yourself the trouble of selling your used equipment when you want to step up. They even have a video tape of how to use the press, how to set it up, how to - start to finish.

I bought mine used from ebay and saved a few hundred bucks with all the stuff that came in the sale (vibrating tumbler, scale, primer pocket cleaner, etc.). .308 brass is available on ebay cheap. You can reload for about 24 cents a shot, easily.

Hodgdon has an online chart for reloads - no need to buy a book. http://www.hodgdon.com

Buy bullets and powder at a gunshow and save shipping, buy the brass from ebay or pick it up at the local range from other people who don't pick up their mess. After two reloads, look at the sidewall of the brass and the case mouth to see if it's cracking. I don't reload a cartridge more than three times for the 42. A rifle isn't as violent with extracting the brass, and rifle fired brass will last longer. The 42 tears it up pretty quickly, so 3 shots from the same brass and it's done. The stripper nose on the bolt puts a slight dent in the cartridge base, so 3 dents and it's out.

[Intruder196]

Since looking at the prices of .308 I am seriously thinking about reloading my own. That way I know the powder and primer in it. Component prices are low enough that it looks like it can be reloaded for around $.30 a shot. less if you have spent cases to reload. I know that my time is involved but so is driving to the range. Also the cost of the set-up too. That will go down as I load more. And it is another cool tool to have.

My question is what are your opinions on reloading presses?
Obviously cast iron should be better than an aluminum frame for durability but is it?
I know you get what you pay for, generally.
Do most of you use single stage or progressive presses?

Thanks in advance.

I started with a Lee single stage press. Lee sells everything, presses, scales, priming tools etc, at a more reasonable price than say RCBS or Dillon. I am not knocking these other two manufactureres BTW, I do own some of their products as well. Lee makes a good turret press that can speed things up over a plain old single stage.
Last time I checked, Dillon's reloading dies only fit in their presses while Lee, Hornady, RCBS dies will interchange. I friend tried to convince me to go entirely with Dillon once, but when I learned I would have to replace all the Lee dies sets with Dillons because Lee's wouldnt fit the press I never gave Dillon a second thought.
Usually when I go to the range I not only pick up my spent brass but whatever else happens to be near where mine are thrown by whichever semi auto I happen to be shooting. Its a good way to pick up extras.
Be sure to get a good reloading manual with specs for a variety of calibers. It will be well worth the money spent.

[tomcatshaas]

Highly recommend Dillion 550B. You can also use as a single stage if you are loading for competition highpower. But the only way to go if you are just plinking and loading lots of ammo. Go at your own pace and you can watch every station. Also, I believe that redding dies will also work in it as that is what you need to use when you load .30 carbine.

[JBaum]

Redding dies fit the Dillon better, but I have a few sets of Lees that work, there just isn't as much thread on them. Never had a problem, though.

[Karbinator]

Is there such a die for Kurtz ?

[johnnymg]

If not I beleieve you could have a set made , I believe that the major die manf. offer that service.

[JBaum]

Kurz dies are made in two flavors. There's the usual set for reloading kurz brass, and then there's a set for resizing other brass down to kurz dimensions. I haven't looked lately, so I don't know who sells it, but sets are out there for making the kurz brass from .308.

[Karbinator]

Cool,
My first attempt at web searching found this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/br ... 702***8344***

[johnnymg]

there you go!

[smoggle]

There is a bullet making company here in Cleveland, National bullet that sells brass, new and used, and bullets. Their prices are pretty reasonable according to one of the guys I work with.

He uses an RCBS Rock chucker. I wanted to get some other opinions.
This has been very helpful. Thanks guys.

[tomcatshaas]

If you are looking for cheap surplus .30 cal FMJBT bullets.....this is the only stocked source I can find right now. stock up!

http://www.hi-techammo.com/

[maxposner]

I have 2 Dillon presses, all standard dies fit the 550 and 650 the Square Deal uses propietary dies. I prefer Dillon dies, because they work better for production. I recommend single stage presses to the same people that cut 6 acres of grass with a motorless push mower. I am a shooter and have 2 ammo eating sons, we can't go shooting with one box of ammo. I bought my first Dillon in '82 and before that I was practicing 400 rounds of 45 a week, while spending all my spare time making loads on a Rockchucker. If you want to spend all your time loading, by all means, buy a single stage press. A turret press is like cutting the afore mentioned grass with a 22" power mower. The Dillon advantage is in their no BS warranty, you can buy a used Dillon off Ebay, or find one in the trash, they will warranty it. The worst part of reloading, is crawling around in the grass, looking for brass. Good luck!