What did you do at your reloading bench today?

Melnic · Mar 21, 2020

I"ve been prepping lots of 9mm to build up 1000 to match the latest arrival of 9mm FMJ. Already had 250 fmj so needed to load up 1250 9mm to complete the FMJ I had
I'm up to about 800 cases prepped and primed and already loaded up 400 of them
Loaded up 200 223 also and will do more.
After looking at my inventory realized I don't have any 45LC so lubed up some lead I cast about a year ago.
Also lubed up some cast 9mm

Sunday I plan to cast some more of Brickman's lead. When things become normal, I want to do alot of shooting.

RelevantUsername · Mar 21, 2020

Im looking into getting into reloading but i cant find any definitive answers on equipment anywhere? Is there a consensus on presses? Im definitely looking to skip single stage and go to progressive. Ill be fine spending some money on something decent (only would be doing 9mm for now)

Muleskinner · Mar 21, 2020

Loaded another 50 300 BO subs and about 250 9mm.

PowPow · Mar 21, 2020

RelevantUsername said:
Im looking into getting into reloading but i cant find any definitive answers on equipment anywhere? Is there a consensus on presses? Im definitely looking to skip single stage and go to progressive. Ill be fine spending some money on something decent (only would be doing 9mm for now)

No. I think you'll hear from everyone about their favorite presses.

It's all in how you like to work and what kind of ammo you desire to load.

Progressive doesn't necessarily mean fast. I take my time. I mean, I really take my time. I might do 100-200/hr 45acp on my Dillon 550. I know other reloaders who easily claim to double that rate on the same press. But, that's just not me.

Dillon and Hornady make good progressives. If you can, I'd go with a Dillon 550 or 750 if buying new, or pick up a good used 650. The 550 is the most versatile of the Dillon progressives in my opinion.

steves1911 · Mar 21, 2020

Resized trimmed cleaned and primed 1000 5.56 brass. My fingers are sore lol. Tomorrow they get loaded up with 24gr rl15 and a 75gr hornady.

RelevantUsername · Mar 21, 2020

Would there be any reason to get the new 1100? I dont particularly want to spend that much but if it will make things safer with being more consistent and faster that would be good. Thanks for the help

6-Pack · Mar 22, 2020

RelevantUsername said:
Im looking into getting into reloading but i cant find any definitive answers on equipment anywhere? Is there a consensus on presses? Im definitely looking to skip single stage and go to progressive. Ill be fine spending some money on something decent (only would be doing 9mm for now)

I used a single stage for years, and I still have it. A few months ago I switched to a turret press and couldn’t be happier. Yesterday morning I cranked out about 100 rounds of 30-30 and another 100 rounds of 38 S&W.

I run all Lee equipment, except I have a Hornady electronic powder measure. I like having each charge weighed out exactly, as opposed to volume measuring. It’s also easier to switch powders.

I’m not sure I’d go with a progressive press. I’d go with a turret press if I were starting from scratch.

This morning I’m going to powder coat the 500 bullets I molded yesterday. Those Lyman hollow point molds are slow, but they sure do turn out some nice rounds.

PowPow · Mar 22, 2020

RelevantUsername said:
Would there be any reason to get the new 1100? I dont particularly want to spend that much but if it will make things safer with being more consistent and faster that would be good. Thanks for the help

The more bells and whistles you have, the more you have to know how to tune and fix. I cannot imagine having started reloading with a machine like the 1100 or 1090. It was challenging enough to learn the ropes on a 550. Just like with your firearm, you are the safety in reloading. You're ultimately the consistency too, but press design does contribute a bit.

The only reason I started with a 550 is that I won the press in a raffle. I've thought about upgrading to a 650/750, but I really like the flexibility of manual indexing on the 550. The square deal, 650, 750, 1100, and 1090 all auto-index, which means the shell plate rotates when you pull the lever.

I would be happy with a good turret press as well, such as the Redding T-7. Like I said. I like to take my time.

How many rounds of 9mm do you shoot in a month? Are you mechanically inclined?

Melnic · Mar 22, 2020

Spent some time with the molds melting down Brickman’s lead
Did it between yard chores
80 58 cal Moose Mold minie balls
60 .311 balls
110 9mm

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LGood48 · Mar 22, 2020

6-Pack said:
I used a single stage for years, and I still have it. A few months ago I switched to a turret press and couldn’t be happier. Yesterday morning I cranked out about 100 rounds of 30-30 and another 100 rounds of 38 S&W.

I run all Lee equipment, except I have a Hornady electronic powder measure. I like having each charge weighed out exactly, as opposed to volume measuring. It’s also easier to switch powders.

I’m not sure I’d go with a progressive press. I’d go with a turret press if I were starting from scratch.

This morning I’m going to powder coat the 500 bullets I molded yesterday. Those Lyman hollow point molds are slow, but they sure do turn out some nice rounds.

Agree with this wholeheartedly! Been using nothing but Lee since the mid 80s except for my electronic powder measure (also Hornady). The turret makes it very easy to switch calibers as you set up your dies on a turret and leave them. Buy one turret for each caliber you intend to load.

Neutron · Mar 23, 2020

+1 for the Lee Turret Press. Very economical and easy to use. Payback is pretty quick as compared with a progressive press unless you plan on reloading many thousands of rounds.

Melnic · Mar 25, 2020

I was gifted a Lyman Tmag (don't think they make it anymore). Saved me so much more time than the single stage press. I do my pistols on it right now but when you say seat a rifle bullet then have a Factory crimp die, it saves lots of time.
I do priming with hand primer and load powder on a 50 case tray using a Lyman 55 powder measure which works great on ball powder for my 223 (H335) as well as most of the Pistol powders I run (bullseye, unique, and W231)
I have not though at this time to jump to a progressive press.

MG in MD · Mar 26, 2020

Loaded about 400 9mm, cast and powder coated.

Speed3 · Mar 26, 2020

Necked down 78 pieces of 6.5x47 to 6x47 for my dads rifle last night. Interesting enough the necks seems thinner on this lot of lapua brass than the others. Might have to change the bushing for this one batch of brass in his gun, time will tell when I can actually test them.

Neutron · Mar 28, 2020

Reloaded 34 30-30 cartridges. I only had 34 pieces of brass and about 40 bullets left. Haven't loaded 30-30 in a couple of years, so had to swap out the turret press for the old Lyman single. Having those Lee bench plates on everything sure makes it easy to swap out a press. Had already swapped out the single for the Turret by the time I took the picture. Single is off to the right side of the bench in the dark.

Melnic · Apr 1, 2020

Since I’m working at home feet from my vibe and wet tumbler, I’m prepping brass then tossing them into the wet tumbler and dehydrater to make everything Purdy. Even my plinking brass is getting cleaned up. No steel pins, just soap, water and some lemon

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Leper Messiah · Apr 1, 2020

I loaded 100+ of these cute lil things today.

Melnic · Apr 1, 2020

Are those glued in? How do you keep them from falling out with the ammo can nailed to the wood roof?

Leper Messiah · Apr 1, 2020

Melnic said:
Are those glued in? How do you keep them from falling out with the ammo can nailed to the wood roof?

I can't flip it for some reason.

steves1911 · Apr 3, 2020

100 5.56 64gr gold dot h335
50 308 168gr eldm RL15
20 300 Win mag 208gr eldm H1000

What did you do at your reloading bench today?

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