Assuming you put them together carefully with attention to detail, normally assembled handloads with generic (i.e., cheap) bullets will generally equal the standard ball ammo; switching to premium bullets will usually improve accuracy.Cedar Park Dad wrote:Debating about getting into reloading in the coming year. Let me preface with I shoot 9mm in IDPA and would like to shoot about 800-1000 a month once the Great Bullet Freakout of 2013 gets manageable again. . . . With a multi stage press like a Dillon 550B, how accurate can your rounds be on average vs. lets say Remington UMC or Federal hard ball?
The Dillon 550B is a fine, versatile press, and capable of loading target-grade rifle ammo as well as pistol ammo. But if your emphasis is handgun, take a look at the Square Deal B. The SDB is a little cheaper, but unlike the 550B, it will auto index - that is, you don't have to manually advance the shell plate like you do with the 550B. HOWEVER, with the SDB, you're restricted to straight wall pistol cases and have to use Dillon's proprietary dies. I have an SDB and use it for .45 ACP, .38/.357, and .44 Mag, where it works just fine. I bought it when it sold for under $200 . . . if I were buying a new progressive today, I'd go with Dillon's 650. But since my SDB is still going strong and was paid for a long time ago, I'm staying with it.