Author Topic: .44 Mag Reloading: Alternatives to Dillon?? (Read 854 times)

Mawgie · « **on:** January 26, 2004, 02:47:49 PM »

Folks-

I am looking to set myself up to reload .44 Magnum ammunition, and really like the Dillon RL550B/AT500 presses. I know they are excellent quality, backed by a great warranty and hold their value. (Witness the used Dillon equipment on ebay. I saw a 10 yeard old RL550B setup go for 85% of what it costs new today!!)

Having said that, I am not a tournament shooter, won't be loading more than maybe 1000-1500 rounds a year, and don't have plans to load a bunch of different cartridges in the near future. Under these circumstances, can I save myself some money with an RCBS setup or a Lee, Lyman or Redding setup?

I'd appreciate some input as to how I might get setup less expensively than Dillon for the .44 Mag, and still avoid junk equipment.

Thanks for your input - Mawgie

HappyHunter · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2004, 03:03:56 PM »

Do you want to have a progressive reloader?

If you do not have a large quanity of ammo to make consider a single stage or a turret press instead of a progressive.

If a progressive press is important to you consider a Lee. The quality is not the same as a Dillon or Hornady (Loc-N- Load), but cost is not as great.

What are your future requirements? Will you be loading for rifle? If so you may want to stick with a RCBS Rockchucker. The Rockchucker is the standard of single stage press and there is even a progressive press adapter for it.

If it where me and I was only loading for 44 mag, I would buy more guns!

Or I would get the rockchucker. I have both the rockchucker and dillon 550 and use both.

Best advice is get more advice and decide on your own.

Good luck,

Fred

KN · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2004, 04:26:07 PM »

1500 a year equates to 125 a month. That doesnt justify a high dollar press to me. Any decent singe stage press will suit you fine. I shoot alot more than that and still do mine on one. KN

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2004, 06:37:51 PM »

If you were loading about ten times that amount of ammo, the Dillon would make more sense. The RCBS Rockchucker kit would probably work very well for you. It's very versatile and is of excellent quality. Loading that amount of ammo works out to about two hours per month with a single-stage press like the RCBS.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2004, 06:41:42 PM »

If that is all you are loading, it really doesn't justify the cost of a Dillon or a progressive.

Mawgie · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2004, 01:28:22 AM »

Thanks for the replies, guys. To answer some of the questions, I live and hunt in Upstate NY, and my deer hunting zone doesn't allow rifles. My reloading will be primarily handgun; and at least for several years will be the .44 Magnum, and possibly a 9mm. Still, my anticipated number of rounds on an annual basis is comparatively small: 1000-1500. Like you have all suggested, an RCBS or a Lee seem like the a good match in capabilities/reasonable price for these goals. Thanks-Mawgie

Arco Nudo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2004, 02:45:18 AM »

There's a big difference between Lee quality and RCBS quality.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2004, 04:38:09 AM »

Mawgie,

I was in your boat about a year ago. I was figuring on loading a couple hundred round per month, of just one caliber.

I got a Lee Turret press. I won't say that the product quality is "as good as" other brands. But it is "good enough". And the price is better.

The Lee Turret press is exactly "in between" a single stage and a progressive press. It is perfect for a beginner because you can load "single stage" as you learn, but you don't need to buy a separate press to start loading higher volumes.

The 4 stage turret holds all the pistol carbide dies, plus a factory crimp die. You don't have to adjust dies when you switch between stages - just turn the turret.

Whether you are loading one cartridge at a time or one stage at a time, you only have one shell on the press. That way if there is a problem, you know exactly where it is.

The best volume I've been able to safely and consistantly manage is about 100 rounds per hour.

P.S. Don't be suprised if you 1000 - 1500 rounds/year estimate is way low. Because the turret press is easier than I thought, and reloaded ammo is so cheap, I'm shooting more than I expected.

HappyHunter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2004, 10:41:04 AM »

And with the money you save on ammunition.....YOU CAN BUY MORE GUNS!!!

My wife wants me to show her the money I save :shock: I told her it was already invested

I think a turret press is a good idea but I am a little afraid of the Lee press. On the other hand I do like the Lee dies, especially the stand alone crimp die. I have RCBS, Lee, Dillon and Lyman dies, and I would buy Lee for my next caliber (maybe 45 long colt).

Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you decide.

Fred

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2004, 03:51:49 PM »

Black Jack was right on. He forgot to tell you to take the auto-advance out when you get it. Easy to do. One screw if I remember. I have 6 presses, including a Dillon 550, and the Lee turret is the most used. Far stronger than it appears. Add a caliber? Just get another turret. Change calibers by lifting out one turret and dropping in another. Change shell holder and you're loading in about 30 seconds. Dies are always adjusted. I keep 9 or 10 turrets set up and ready. I think you'll always find a use for it.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2004, 04:38:37 AM »

My 4-stage turret press don't even require using so much as a screwdriver to disengage the auto-index. Just remove the turret plate, pull out the little twisted bar, replace turret and you are in "manual mode".

I had the nylon rachet wear out on me once. I had to live without the auto index for some time. I found that manual isn't much slower at all. Once you get the rhythm down, you just turn the turret when your hand returns the lever to the "up" position.

I like the interchanging die plates so much I went and bought a separate die set for .357 Mag. Even though you can reload .357 cases with the .38 spl dies, I find it worthwhile to have separate dies. Just click in the dieplate, scew on the powder measure and you're set.

I'm not knocking Lyman or Redding turret presses. If someone has one of these and can vouch that they are equally versatile and convenient - then I would say this is just a "turret press" thing.

Catfish · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2004, 07:12:39 AM »

I reload all of my metical cartridges on a 550 Dillon and have for about 30 years now. I once tried to see how many rounds I could load in 1 hour, I loaded 800 rounds in 57 min. Normal loading speed way around 200 per hour, when I was loading alot, but that included putting them in boxes, lableing them going down stairs and getting coffie and tuning the radio to something I wanted to hear. In other words screwing around alot. I recomand Dillon to everyone, and you would be well served to buy one also. If you deside to go with something cheaper I would recomand you buy a good single stage press. The RCBS Rock Chucker or one similar in weight and strenth. Over the years I`ve owned alot of equipment made by about every manufacture out there, includeing Lee. I can honestly say that every piece of Lee equipment I`ve ever had was a disapointment. I guess I just kept tring it because it was so cheap. Alot of their stuff worked for a while, but with the volume of ammo I reload it just didn`t hold up. RCBS, Lyman and afew others make good quality presses and dies and they are not that much more than the Lee junk.

Mawgie · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2004, 01:39:36 PM »

Okay guys, I am convinced that a Dillon progressive is not for me, at least not yet given my budget, so let's get down to dollars and cents for different turret press options. I have obtained prices from MidwayUSA and the latest Dillon Press catalogue. I am quoting prices for the press, a powder system and shell holders.

DILLON:
AT500 Press (can be upgraded to RL550B): 193.95
Auto Powder system upgrade: $66.95
RL550 B Shellplate for my caliber (.44 Magnum): $21.95
TOTAL: $282.85

RCBS:
88901 Turret Press $142.39
RCBS Shellholder #3 $5.95
RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure $57.98
TOTAL: $206.32
Note: (88906 RCBS Turret Press Deluxe Reloading Kit (everything but dies): $289.48)

LEE:
3 hole turret press/44 Special/44 Magnum: $68.37
(CARBIDE DIE SET INCLUDED w/ Press)
Lee Perfect Powder Measure: $18.99
Lee shell holder for turret press: $1.99
TOTAL: $89.35 (with the dies included)

Well, there you have it.

Dillon: $282.85
RCBS: $206.32
LEE: $ 89.35 (with dies)

I am confident that you get what you pay for. I'm inclinced, at this point, to go for the Lee, or spend the extra $120 or so and get the RCBS for the extra quality. Still, I think the Leee sounds like a superb value for the money.

Given the needs I outlined at the top of this thread (.44 Magnum reloading exclusively to start, at around 1000-1500 rounds a year), which press would you buy? Also, to answer one poster's inquiry, I am an accuracy buff, so the equipment has to be sharper than me. My weapon will be a new Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter, which is widely reported to be capable of 1" groups at 50 yards. I am looking forward to working toward that accuracy potential.)

Thanks again for all your input. I think I have it down to two or three press alternatives now....

Regards-Mawgie

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2004, 01:56:33 PM »

With the RCBS, unless you buy another rather expensive turret (also troublesome to change), the dies must be adjusted every time you change calibers (and you will in the future, once you start handloading). Quickly becomes a royal PITA. Dillon much easier with other die plates. Spend about $5 more and get the Lee 4 hole. You may decide later to use Lee Factory Crimp dies and you'll have a place for it. Or you could set up two rifle calibers per turret or...

Mawgie · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2004, 02:33:49 PM »

Blackhawk, the RCBS turret has six stations, costs less than $35.00 and is removed with one bolt. The user comments on Midway USA say it takes about "20 seconds" to remove and replace to load another caliber. Are we talking about the same equipment?

HappyHunter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2004, 03:18:51 PM »

Do not sacrifice quality!! You will regret it every time you use this press. This time reloading can be as rewarding as the shooting, so I say again: DO NOT SACRIFICE QUALITY!

I would get a single stage good quality unit i.e. rockchucker and maybe the Lee dies with the 4th crimp die.

You will also need loading blocks (try midway wooden blocks) Dial calipers, bullet puller, case reamer.

Other items will present themselves, maybe a Lee hand primer tool.

Personally I like Lee dies, I have used the lee primer tool but not much else of the Lee line do I care for.

btw, RCBS makes a primer tool attachment for the Rockchucker, I use one on my rifle cartridges and like it very much.

The Dillon is a great press I load: 38 special, 357 mag, 9 mm, 41 mag, 44 spec, 44 mag, 45 acp, 223 rem on mine, but prefer the rockchucker for larger rifle rounds.

If I had to make a box of the best ammo I could make, it would be on my rock chucker hands down.

The single stage press is not lesser machine, many loaders prefer this press to any other.

good luck

Fred

HappyHunter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2004, 03:23:03 PM »

mawgie,

Try MidSouthShootersSupply.com as well. They have a Rockchucker kit with all the extra's you will need. http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357