...

quote:

I will reload 9mm and 45 cal pistol, apprx a 1000rds a month output. Rifle calibers in 7mm, 30-06, 375H&H, 7.72/.308 and 5.56/.223.

Most of the progressive systems I'm aware of are for pistol and maybe small rifle. If you want a progressive for pistol I'd bet you are looking at two different presses.

Check out the Dillon products. Call them for advice if you aren't sure which suite your needs, but there's a self help on the website too.

I own an old Hornady Pro-Jector. It cranks out the rounds. The new Hornady Press is awesome.
Lock-N-Load AP

hornady progressive is the way I would go for quality without dillon $$$$

lee is what I use and it flat works just fine

I bought a used Dillon RL550B.Sucker pumps some rounds out.Wish I would have bought one years ago.

The Lock-N-Load will handle a 375H&H?? If so I learned my something new for the day.

The No. 5 shell plate by Hornady handles the 375 H&H. They also sell shell plates for 458 Lott, 416, and 460 Wby.
Here is a link to the manual that will show you the shell plates the offer. See page 4
LNL-AP manual

quote:

The No. 5 shell plate by Hornady handles the 375 H&H. They also sell shell plates for 458 Lott, 416, and 460 Wby.
Here is a link to the manual that will show you the shell plates the offer. See page 4

Thanks Rusty. Always a great day when I learn something new.

Dillon has a forever, no BS warranty. A 550B will load anything from 22 Hornet to 375 H&H length cases easily. Once you develop a sense for the machine, you can load 400 rounds an hour pretty much anytime you set down at the bench.

Rich

Been using a Dillon RL550B for 15 yrs., it is a great press with a no BS warranty, and you can call and talk to a live person that knows everything about their product. You can pound out 400 per hour, or you can use it like a single stage for precision rifle loads if you like.

With your list I would go with the 550B.

If this is your first venture into reloading, I'd get the most inexpensive single stage set up I could find. Which would probably be a Lee. Then I would learn how to reload. Really learn. Once you have your feet firmly on the ground, you can decide which direction you want to go. And what you really need to go there.
you're out maybe a couple of hundred bucks which you can recoup part of or donate your rig to a deserving, young shooter.

+1 to what Wasbeeman said. Progressives are less forgiving of mistakes than single-stage or turret presses. Any new or used single-stage will do you just fine until you get some experience under your belt.

Is you are interested in a really good, semi-progressive and have the money to spend, consider the CH/4D '444' press. It is compact, strong, has 4-stations.

It's the one on the left.


But first off, pickup a copy of the Lyman #49 manual. It will tell you what to buy and how to use it.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
The Lock-N-Load will handle a 375H&H?? If so I learned my something new for the day.

yep and 458 lott.. and 500 Accrel

quote:

Originally posted by Macs B:
What are your suggestions for a complete reloading setup. I think I'm going to take the plunge and invest in a full set. I don't know if a automated set would be necessary but a progressive set sure seems like it makes sense. I will reload 9mm and 45 cal pistol, apprx a 1000rds a month output. Rifle calibers in 7mm, 30-06, 375H&H, 7.72/.308 and 5.56/.223. I'm not sure if large numbers of rifle rounds are a requirement except maybe in the 5.56 and 7.62. Some type of automated powder measure/dispenser seems like a great accessory. What other types of sundry equipment do you consider "must have"? I would like to put my hands on it before purchase so if you can suggest something available in retail stores that would be a big help. Thanks for your help in advance.

If you want to jump right in to a progressive setup then there are a couple of options. The Lee is by far the least expensive, but it is not even in the same ball park as the Hornady or dillon. For a progressive press that involves Rifle as well as pistol I would suggest the Hornady progressive press. It is not nearly as spendy as the Dillon but very well made and functional. The dillon is the best but it is quite spendy.

I use a turret setup and I like it but it is really not much different from a single stage.

The one accessory you "MUST" have along with the usual tools as mentioned is a good manual, preferably a couple of them, Lyman comes highly reccomended, I also like Speer. If your "package" deal does not come with some sort of trimmer system then you will need that as well. I use both the Lee and forster system. A good pair of calipers is essential for measuring cases and OAL.

There is something to be said for starting with a single stage press as an entry level setup. To jump right into progressive could be complicated and frustrating for a beginner. Sometimes a good single stage press is good to have around to compliment a progressive press anyway.

G-luck and welcome to the forum.

A lot of good advice in this thread.

If you want to get a progressive, a dillon 550B is an awesome choice. Granted I am biased because I have one too.

However, if you have never loaded before you really need to get a single stage to learn on as the previosely mentioned presses are all for the most part pretty unforgiving and if I may say so it can be hard to figure out sometimes. Me, I'd suggest buying a basic single stage press kit and then after you have loaded up a couple thousand rounds buy a progressive.

Macs B- Learning the nuances of reloading rifle ammo is best done on a single stage press.

The pistol ammo can be started up on a progressive since you use carbide dies.

I would start with a single stage for the rifles and learn to set the headspace on the bottle neck cases.

Once you have to figured out how to process your ammo with lube on the inside and outside you might think about progressives on the rifle cases.

I am fairly new to reloading also and I bought

the lee classic anniversary kit. It come with

the press, chamfer and primer pocket cleaner,

Powder measure and funnel, lee safety prime,

and a lee balance beam scale. For the price

and my experience it was a great deal. I have

the Lyman 49th edition and it is excellent. I

also got the Hornady 8th edition because I work

with their bullets allot. The chamfer tool

isn't that good, I picked up an RCBS that does

the chamfer/deburring in one motion. It also

came with a hand trimmer, but you have to buy

the shellholder and trim length guide for what

your going to reload. The kit was like $100 at

at my local sporting goods shop. I strongly

urge you to atleast look it up and check out

this kit before you buy something else. It has

been great to learn on and if I break something

due to my inexperience its cheaply replaceable.

I like turret presses a lot as a good compromise between time and simplicity. I hate changing dies.

My reloading bench looks like a Rube Goldberg nightmare and I still have presses in boxes underneath it.

Macs B, from your other posts I get the impression that you are new to reloading. (You are looking for RWS 7mm Mag ammo). I would absolutely start with a single stage press. The advise above of starting with the Lee anniversary kit is perfect. BUT FIRST start with the Lyman manual and stick to it for 1 year. Do not confuse yourself by comparing load data from differnt sources until you know your basics of reloading.

Once you reach near max loads, a 2% increase in powder can give you 10% increase in pressure! The maths is not a straight ratio and it keeps changing. So be safe and start with the Lee kit and the Lyman manual. Good luck.

The guys suggesting the use of a single stage press to learn the basics are giving you some good advice. I would suggest that you heed their warning. I can't recall how many times I have read that progressives are not for beginners. That statement seems to be mostly due to the fact that they require so much adjustment and "fiddling" to get every single detail just right. Some expierance with a single stage press will certainly come in handy when it comes time to set up a big, complicated progressive press.
With some single stage presses a Reloader can "add on" certain pieces of equipment that can turn a single stage press into a semi progressive or progressive. This might be worth looking into. At least that way, you can use some of the same equipment and save a bit of hard earned cash.
When looking into name brands of presses, I like Hornady and their lock and load system. I use one of these myself and have had great success with reloading my ammo with no failures what so ever.
At any rate, have fun and be safe. I'm sure that once you het started and get the basics down, you will enjoy this very rewarding pursuit.

I'm from the school of start with a single stage
1. because you will continue to use it even after you buy a progressive, I have two Dillons a SDB for pistols, a 550 for quanty reloading like 220-223-22-250-243 which I use to shoot P-dogs and were you can burn thru and easy 400-700 rds a day and 2. I use my SS still for working up loads on everything a lot easier to pound out 10-20 rds on the SS then switch dies around on the dillons 3.the SS is all I load my larger cal. hunting rounds on I just feel easy about it and 4. you really need to get the idea of what and how to reload and nothing safer then a SS to start with.

I will disagree with other who say to just buy and entry level SS myself I have a RCBS-RC and have had one for 40yrs never a lick of trouble and it's just as smooth as it was new and I know the ammo will be quility.

That my 2 cents worth.