[Bailey Boat]

As an NRA Certified Reloading Instructor I'll say that you need to begin on a single stage press (yours or someone else's) until you are intimately familiar with each stage of the loading process. A progressive machine has too much going on at the same time to allow you to know when a mistake is about to happen, and mistakes DO happen.
If I can help in any way feel free to contact me.

 

[cranbiz]

I reload almost everything I shoot. Sometimes, it can be a chore and other times it's really enjoyable. You don't need to spend much to get started.

The best part of it is the satisfaction of sending your own rounds downrange.

It also let me continue to shoot an a regular basis when factory ammo was non existent. One pound of pistol powder makes in the ballpark of 7000 rounds. You almost always buy components in lots of 500 or 1000 and this lets you start a stockpile of components for later use.

You can buy a turret or a progressive and learn on those too. A Lee classic turret press lets you load single stage and when you are ready, add in the index bar to speed up ops. A progressive can be used in a like single stage mode. load one round at a time and learn which each station does. when you are comfortable that you know what each stage does and the importance of doing it right, add in more brass.

If doing rifle, a single stage press is good to have around. You can control each operation much easier.

 

[diablos30]

good info, but your math is a little off. 1lb = 7000 grains so depending on the round your loading and the powder charge you can expect to load between 1-2k rounds per pound of powder.

 

[drypowder]

As an NRA Certified Reloading Instructor I'll say that you need to begin on a single stage press (yours or someone else's) until you are intimately familiar with each stage of the loading process. A progressive machine has too much going on at the same time to allow you to know when a mistake is about to happen, and mistakes DO happen.

I started with an auto-indexing progressive. It was a steep learning curve as I had never loaded a round prior to this press.

I think being detail oriented and taking lots of notes helps. For someone with a more casual 'Lewbowski' temperament, a single stage is definitely the way to start. As BB notes, it is exceedingly easy to make mistakes with a progressive. But once you get on a roll with a progressive, it is a thing of beauty!

 

[cranbiz]

good info, but your math is a little off. 1lb = 7000 grains so depending on the round your loading and the powder charge you can expect to load between 1-2k rounds per pound of powder.

I meant that. Shouldn't post before morning coffee.

 

[mckenziedrums]

Well I'm not NRA certified... But again... I'll show you the single stage and also show you the progressive. It's not rocket science and as long as you're paranoid and check your cases to ensure that you have powder in them (and not twice as much powder as you should have) you're fine. Since you're out of town, grab ABCs of reloading from either Amazon Kindle store or get the hard copy and read up. That'll give you the basics before you lay hands on the actual press. I've got equipment to load about 11 different calibers so I'm sure we can find something you can use. If we're going to load for a pistol bring it with so I can show you how to change your rounds with dummy rounds to make sure they chamber.

For the record... I think that trying to teach yourself on a progressive is probably not the best idea on the world. Working with someone that loads already to point out the dangers, etc is quite a bit different. Single stage is simple but the fact is it's not for everyone, especially when doing hand gun rounds.

 

[diablos30]

I meant that. Shouldn't post before morning coffee.

we ran out of coffee yesterday, how does a wife let that happen?! on top of that she thought it was funny cause she could get some at work; whereas i was stuck at home.

 

[conair]

I've been reloading rifle for a while now and enjoy it. Using a single stage press and prepped brass I can get about 70 rounds in 30 minutes (I take my time). I enjoy knowing that my rounds are better than what I can buy at the store. I also know that if there is a flyer on the target it was most likely the nut pulling the trigger.

I haven't reloaded for pistol cals yet. Can you guys let me know the difference there? I'm wondering why rifle rounds are harder to do as was stated earlier. Don't you go through the same steps for both?

 

[FlatFender]

As an NRA Certified Reloading Instructor I'll say that you need to begin on a single stage press (yours or someone else's) until you are intimately familiar with each stage of the loading process. A progressive machine has too much going on at the same time to allow you to know when a mistake is about to happen, and mistakes DO happen.
If I can help in any way feel free to contact me.

No reason he can't just run one cartridge around a progressive until he's familiar.

I started on a turret, had no problems, still using it without issue.

 

[mckenziedrums]

conair: Pistol cartridges are a bit easier because frankly, people aren't as worried about pinpoint accuracy. Sure if you're shooting for matches, etc you might go through the effort of working on the primer pockets, primer holes, etc but most don't. Plus with straight wall cases they last nearly forever and you can use carbide dies so you don't have to worry about lubing the cases. Oh, and I don't think I've ever trimmed a case that wasn't a 45 colt.

 

[Djstorm100]

If you get a single and learn that way, get your self a chargemaster 1500. I was like a fat kid in candy store while eating cake when I got mine.

I want to get another dillion though for pinking/brass processing (rifle)

 

[Catfish]

I haven't reloaded for pistol cals yet. Can you guys let me know the difference there? I'm wondering why rifle rounds are harder to do as was stated earlier. Don't you go through the same steps for both?

Once the brass is prepped the steps are the same. it's the brass prep that makes it take 10x longer (not joking) - at least for me it does.

 

[lucky13bullets]

No reason he can't just run one cartridge around a progressive until he's familiar.

I started on a turret, had no problems, still using it without issue.

Exactly.

 

[JimB]

Thanks res45, roughly how long would it take to produce 500 rounds of 9mm or 45acp starting with cleaned unprimed brass?

 

[FlatFender]

Thanks res45, roughly how long would it take to produce 500 rounds of 9mm or 45acp starting with cleaned unprimed brass?

On my Lee Turret, hand indexing the turret to each station, and tossing crimped brass aside, I can do 100rds in about 22 minutes: http://www.triangletactical.net/2014/07/09/lee-turret-press-speed/

I generally go a bit slower than that though, but I timed it going balls out just to see how long it was actually taking me.

 

[B00GER]

I loaded up 200 9mm last night on my little Lee single stage. I spent:

2 hours
$6 in primers
$5 in powder
$18 in bullets
Brass was free range pick ups

$29 for 200

Walmart had Federal 100 round packs for around $26 yesterday. So a comparable amount of commercial would have been $52.

$52-$29= $23

44% savings by doing it myself

 

[Bailey Boat]

Do you have one of the adjustable rotors for the Little Dandy???

 

[para74 we]

200 rounds on a progressive in about 30 mins. Working slowly!

 

[Diverdad]

If you aren't buying in bulk or don't want to take the time it may be easier to just go buy it. I'm new to reloading and very slow but I like the satisfaction of making my own.

 

[Bailey Boat]

Some of you folks seem to be under the impression that quantity is all that matters. Since you're responsible for every round you load you may want to think a little deeper about quality. The number of rounds you can bang out should be secondary to safety and quality control.
Think about this, you're in a bay with people on both sides and you have a kaboom from a poorly/improperly loaded cartridge. Pieces of your gun hit innocent bystanders and causes injury, do you think they are going to just say "that's okay, I understand you were in a rush"..... Not hardly.....