Reloading Presses

[NcongruNt]

Bullet puller................

Thanks.

I just realized that I'm going to need a chronograph as well.

[Mike1951]

Chrono's are nice to have and very useful.

But I reloaded almost 30 years before owning one.

If you have the money to buy one up front, that's fine.

But rethink all of your immediate needs and make sure there isn't something more pressing now.

[Jeremae]

Toohead is what dillon calls the round plate at top of press you screw dies into, Lee calls them turrets.

I always buy the Lee Deluxe Pistol die sets that have 4 dies (the Same as 3 Die Carbide set Plus the Factory Crimp Die) 1. Carbide sizer/decap die 2. Mouth expander/powder drop through die 3. Bullet seat/sizer die and 4. Factory Crimp and final sizer die. If press comes with just the 3 die set you only need to add the factory crimp die for that calibre.


The Loadmaster has 5 stations (place for 5 dies). You can get a Powder Check die to do automatic check for no drop/double drop in a case.

For a pistol cartridge I would set up/operate like so:

First station (where case loader feeds onto shell plate) is the Sizer/decap die. On upstroke case is resized and used primer is removed. On downstroke new primer is seated in cup.

Second station (above primer seater) is Mouth expander / powder drop die. I would mount a Lee AutoDisk pro Powder measure on this die for pistol and probably use a funnel to drop powder for rifles that I measured in a better powder measure like the rcbs. On upstroke the mouth of the case is spread enough to start bullet and powder is dropped into the case. On downstroke case move on to next station.

Third station would be powder check station with either an actual check die or the poor boy alternative a small mirror mounted to see into case.

Fourth station Bullet seat / crimp die. if you have a bullet loader it will be here. I only seat at this station (press bullet into case). The die can do both operations but I prefer to seperate them into two different steps so I have my die unscrewed so it does NOT crimp only seats. On the upstroke the bullet is pressed into the die the correct depth.

Fifth station Factory Crimp/resizer die. This die does the actual crimp and does a final resizer of the case.

I haven't loaded rifle (since 1972 I think) so someone with recent experience can explain the differances (like you use less dies).

Don't know how I forgot the bullet puller but YES get one. The inertial (hammer style) work fine and are only $15 to $20. Chronos are nice but unless you are doing a LOT of load development (experimenting with various bullets and podwers) not really necessary. Just make sure you do NOT exceed the max load published for a bullet powder combination.

It might be a good idea to start with just what you need for 1 calibre (I would suggest 9mm as it is realtively easy to load) and you don't need the case trimming tools for pistol calibres.

[arod757]

Question moved to new thread.

[Kawabuggy]

One other thing the OP stated was that shell holders come with the dies.. Well, yes, & no. The shell holders that come with die sets are for SINGLE STAGE presses. With the Loadmaster, or the 1000, you have to buy the shell plates (5 station for Loadmaster, 3 for 1000) separately. So for each caliber you have, you will need to get a shell plate unless you already have a shell plate that will work for the various calibers you have.

In regards to the "turrets', or "toolheads", you only really need one for all calibers. However, if you want to save time by not having to change your dies out, and then readjust them with each caliber change, you can purchase a tool head that will store all of your dies in perfect adjustment for each caliber. That way, when you switch calibers, you simply pull one toolhead out, then put the other one in, and you are ready to roll. Multiple toolheads basically just save time.

I just bought the Lee Loadmaster yesterday. I have had an RCBS Rockchucker for about a year now, and decided I wanted a progressive. It took me about 20 minutes to get it up and running flawlessly. People were saying that they were very difficult to set up, and to get operational. I am a mechanic and certified tinkerer by trade so it was really easy for me. I bought the kit with 45 Long Colt as that was the ONLY Loadmaster in stock. So I had to change dies, & shell plate. Even doing that I was still pumping the handle in about 20 minutes. I am going to trash the Pro auto-disk powder feeder (Lee), and adapt my RCBS Uni-Flow measure to work in it's place.

So, anyone need a complete set of 45 Long Colt dies, with shell plate (5 station for Loadmaster), & a Lee Auto-Disk powder feed for cheap? They are brand new, never used! Make offers.

[jhutto]

If your getting into Rifle reloading as well for high acuaccy you need a single stage press.
Otherwise go with a multistage like the Dillon 550b... Lots of ammo fast.