I Need Reloading Equipment Recommendations

[BamBams]

Okay guys, I am waiting for my tax refund to get here next week.  I've got to replace all the reloading and bullet casting equipment I sold before I moved to MA last year - (I recently moved back to Colorado).

I shoot about a thousand rounds of 45 ACP per month, and I prefer casting my own bullets from wheel weights.  I normally use a Lyman #452460, 200g LSWC mold.  I am trying to keep my total equipment expense under $700.

I ran a "mock" order at the Mid South Shooters supply and it came to about $650 using the RC Supreme press and RCBS powder measure.  From what I can tell so far, buying a reloading "kit" is going to give me a bunch of crap I'll never use - like case lube, case trays, and so forth, but I'm still open minded and willing to save a buck or two if possible.

Here's my dilema: I used to have an RCBS Rockchucker press and mostly RCBS reloading equipment.  Lately, I've been looking at the Dillon 550B.  Frankly, I am not sure which way to go, or if there is anything else out there I should consider?  Reliability and accurate loads are my top concerns. Whatever equipment I purchase will be getting used ALOT. I need it all, from a tumbler to a case trimmer, to all the small little doodads.  I plan to order everything at the same time.

Does anyone have any advice they can offer me that might serve me well as an avid reloader? From what company can I get the best deal?  I don't care if the equipment is green, red, blue, orange, or grey -- as long as it is durable and will serve me well for many years.

[Questor]

Get a Dillon 550 progressive reloader and a powder scale, Dillon's 45acp dies, the Dillon maintenance kit with spare parts, a set of allen wrenches to adjust the machine, a primer tray, four extra primer tubes, a pair of shop goggles, a decent digital caliper, and a can of canned air to blow the crud out of the loader.

For casting, two Lyman 4-bullet moulds and two handles, an RCBS casting furnace, a ladle, a pot and burner to melt the wheel weights, an ingot mould, some flux, and some heavy gloves and clothing.

[Jack Crevalle]

Go to www.cabelas.com

then go to:

Bagain Cave, Reloading Accessories

There you'll find:

RCBS RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit On sale! Item:  IE-214924  
 
 $219.99

Yes, it does contain a lube pad but you can afford to throw it away at that price.

[Jack Crevalle]

Go to www.cabelas.com

then go to:

Bagain Cave, Reloading Accessories

There you'll find:

RCBS RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit On sale! Item:  IE-214924  
 
 $219.99

Yes, it does contain a lube pad but you can afford to throw it away at that price.

[palgeno]

I switched from a Dillon 550 to an RCBS Pro 2000 when I went through a move such as yours ---- I like the Pro 2000 much better than Dillon 550 (and 650.) Try one if you can---ergonomics are better as far as I am concerned and RCBS is now very competetive with Dillon on customer backup and service.  pg

[Flash]

You didn't state that you're loading anything other than the 45acp. The Dillon Square Deal is real nice and can give you hundreds of loaded rounds per hour. They sell them set-up in the pistol caliber of your choice and they're top quality. On the other hand, if you'll be loading multiple calibers including rifle, the 550 is the way to go in this direction. With a Dillon press, trimmer, dies and a good scale, you'll need nothing other than your casting equipment. Go to the web sites and check them out for yourself. Oh, the strong mount is worth it's weight in gold.

[Danny Boy]

Buy something you like and make sure it is of "good value". In your case, if I am not mistaken, you have already talked yourself into a Dillon set.

I am relatively new to reloading and I am very happy with RCBS equipment.

Cheers!

Danny Boy

[BamBams]

Yes, I am leaning toward Dillon but still undecided.  I've noticed that the RCBS Master Reloading kit no longer includes the trimmer.  To me, that really reduces the value in buying the total package.  Seems like they deleted the trimmer when they changed over to the new press.  Used to be able to get the press, powder measure, and trimmer for about $250.00 on sale.  Oh well.  I am also looking at the Hornady "Lock N Load" progressive.

[BamBams]

UPDATE:

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I just got off the phone with Brian Enos, (if ya don't know who he is, just do a Google search) and he urged me to go with the Dillon 550B since my ammo requirements are kinda high.  I'll be able to get a new one for $320 including drop shipping directly from Dillon. The problem is, with all the accessories I want/need for it, the thing is still going to run me about $500.  Oh well, you only live once!

I also downloaded, and printed out, the owner's manual for it, and it seems to be simple enough to put together and operate.
Once it arrives, I'll post here what I think of it.

Sheesh....now to locate all the other stuff I need!  I hate having to replace things.  Anybody got a line on 20 pounds of cheap beeswax?

UPDATE#2:

Well, I just ordered 20# of beeswax @2.00 per pound.  So I ought to be set on bullet lube for a few years.  *smiles*

I do have another question though for you Dillon experts.  In the past, I always deprimed my brass prior to tumbling it.  Is there a way to set up the "Dillon 550B" so I can do my depriming as a separate process?

[Badnews Bob]

Dillions are so nice. I wish my wallet could handle one. as for just depriming, the 550 is a manual indexing press so after you pop out the primer just remove the case and repeat as nessasary. :wink:

[reelhook]

IF you deceide to go back to a single stage press-do yourself a favor and but a co-ax press. They are the best and because of the die set up, you don't have to buy shell holders for different calibers. The AMU and the Seals use this press. I understand pistol ammo and the extra step-so if you shoot a lot of handgun-go progressive.Forester also make one of the bes trimmers our there and also a primer which is hard to find but well worth the looking time.

[BamBams]

If I can get one thousand rounds a month out of the Dillon for about a nickel a round, I'll be in heaven with a $50.00 per month sporting activity.  I  figured out that the Dillon will have paid for itself after two months of shooting, and after 5 months, all the reloading and casting equipment will have paid for itself. This is conservatively based on 50 rounds of .45 ACP costing $12.00 per box retail.

As far as time goes, I figure 5 hours per month casting, and 3 hours per month reloading, so I'm looking at one day (or night) per month to manufacture my monthly quota. If I went at it steady for 12 days, I could shoot all year! (That was a joke).  

One of the things that has always held me back, in terms of shooting proficiency, has been the high cost of ammo and the high cost in time to reload it -- especially with the time it takes to cast, size & lube the bullets. I figure if I can make things go faster, the savings will increase and I'll be in really good shape.  I don't pay for the lead, and 1lb of Bullseye goes a long, long way at 4.5g per cartridge.

I'm going to add some 12v power to case trimming, chamfer/debur, and primer pocket cleaning since that is where I used to spend 90% of my time whenever I got new, or "strange" cartridge cases.  Lyman makes a cool tool for chamfer and debur that is like a hand held power screwdriver.  I will probably get the Forster trimmer and use my power drill to juice that up also.  Once I get plenty of cases trimmed, I never trim them again. I'm only attempting to get uniformity, and hey, we're talking .45ACP here, and lots of people wouldn't even bother.  

I do want to say that I wasn't prepared for the all the "add-ons" needed for the 550B. I say "needed," but I know that's not technically correct either.  The strong mount, the low powder sensor, the bullet tray, the roller handle, etc - they are all "accessories, but I feel like they should be included from the start, and the price ought to just reflect them.

[Iowegan]

I've owned a Dillon RL550B for more than 10 years. It's a great press and once you get the "rhythm" down pat, you can crank out some ammo.

As for the casting stuff. My furnace died and I decided to do some bean counting. I found I can buy quality cast 45 bullets for about a nickle a piece at most gun shows (no shipping). It takes a hell of a lot of bullets to come close to break-even. If you are casting to save money, do the math. Besides, I got tired of breathing those lead vapors and spending an evening to cast $5 worth of bullets.

[BamBams]

Here's my math at your request:

1) Mold = $55
2) Handles = $23
3) Melting Pot = $45
4) Enough lube to last 10 years = $50
5) Sizer, top punch, and die = $120
5+) Everthing else I've already got, and lead & flux are free.

Cost per thousand of somebody else's cast bullets I can buy  = $30
Cost per thousand of the bullets you buy = $50

Now, if I shoot 12,000 rounds per year, at the price you pay for those gun show bullets, the casting equipment will pay for itself in about 6 months.  My loaded cartridges won't even cost a nickel.  When you shoot as much as I do, every fraction of a penny adds up -- especially after a few years.  The idea is to make the activity as affordable, and self-sustaining as possible.

I don't know what you used for a mold, or what your process was, but last year, with a four cavity mold,  I could easily cast a thousand rounds in several hours -- and it was quite therapeutic for a high strung guy like me.  400 bullets is just 100 fillings of the mold.  I just turn on music, get a bottle of cold microbrew, and have ALOT of fun. It's an attitude thing - and yes, my attitude drives people around me nuts. I used a Lee Production Pot IV -- which fills up a mold quickly.  I don't bother hand pouring with a ladle, that would take wayyyy too long.

As for the lead fumes, I never had to inhale enough to concern me.  I take a fan, place it near the bench, turn it up, and it sucks all the fumes away from the pot.  I've got some ole' timer friends who've casted all their lives this way and they seem in great health to me. I'd be more worried about driving behind a tractor trailer in terms of health risk.

I agree that some folks tend to go overboard on the casting equipment -- buying $250 furnaces, $100 Saeco lead testers, $50 thermometers and such, but for a .45 ACP and 38 Super guy like me, none of that crap is necessary at all to make some great SWCs -- and really nice holes on a target.

I try to alway discuss equipment purchases like this with someone who is more experienced first.  I'll make a list of what I think I need, and then let them start telling me what NOT to get.  Brian Enos was able to reduce my Dillon cost by about $75.00 just by that method.  When I figured it all out, between his recommendations and his discount, vs. what I would have paid Dillon directly, he probably saved me about $150 on that stuff. Hehe, now he's talking about raising his Dillon prices, so get in your orders quick if you're so inclined.