Just starting out

[Tachycardia]

I decided I wanted to try reloading and I wanted to start with the 38 super and 9mm rounds.

I have yet to purchase any equipment as I wanted to pick the brain of the guru's here to see what you all like to use.

Any advice or good websites I could go to to get an idea of what I would need to start out?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Young Guns]

i just started reloading myself. i am only set up for .44 mag right now. i got a dillon 650 and it is awesome. i don't have a lot of time to spend reloading so i wanted a progressive. it is very user friendly and fast. i highly recommend it.

[blueorison]

You set up your dillon 650 for .44 mag.

If that isn't devastation I don't know what is. Awesome.

We need to get you an extreme capacity magazine now.

[Rapier1772]

If you are just sticking with straight case shells, definitely go progressive. (Some people here use progressives for necked rounds but not me)

I use the Dillon 550 & kinda wish I had gone with the 650 as it has a couple of options that would be nice - powder level sensor is a big one.
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[Young Guns]

You set up your dillon 650 for .44 mag.

If that isn't devastation I don't know what is. Awesome.

We need to get you an extreme capacity magazine now.

that's all i could afford to get for it after i bought the press! next up is .45 ACP, then .40 S&W.....

Tach, you won't be disappointed in the 650, I guarantee it...

[panzermk2]

I decided I wanted to try reloading and I wanted to start with the 38 super and 9mm rounds.

I have yet to purchase any equipment as I wanted to pick the brain of the guru's here to see what you all like to use.

Any advice or good websites I could go to to get an idea of what I would need to start out?

Thanks in advance for any help.

LEE has single stage starter kits that rock. Yes down the rounds get a progressive, but when your learning a single stage is great and you will always have a use for it. Plus most of the LEE kits come with LEE loading manual. It's fun read full of all kinds of great information.

[Visceral_Malice]

I've been reloading for about a year now and started with the Lee anniversary kit and as Panzer has stated, its a great beginners setup. Its pretty much everything you need for $100 minus a few tidbits like a caliper and tumbler. I started on that thing with 45 acp and moved on to 223 after a few months and I have made at least 1000 rounds of each with it.

Anyway you go, get yourself a good caliper and If you are end up doing any bottle neck cartridges get some case length gauges/trimmers. You can find all the latest reload data on powder manufacturer's websites also, but you should still get the Lee book as it covers all the basics and how to do everything in detail. You can find good brass for a good price on scharch.com also. You can check out firstclassbrassandbullets.com too as they have very competitive prices, but are really slow at shipping.

[Tachycardia]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I am looking at a Lee setup right now.

I will post some updates as I progress

[flyingirish04]

I started with forester and a RCBS buddy press with it. Love em both. For shotguns I have a Ponsness Warren progressive.

[jmz5]

I got a second hand Rock Chucker when I started out, and still use it to load my match ammo.

[VeTTeMaNC486]

My first press was a lee hand press. Its really a neat piece. Hardly use it now but it works good as long as you dont use cases that are pretty large. I got it because initially I had no where to put a bench mounted anything.

Now that I have a bench I use a Classic Turret press. I would recommend this if you have a bench to mount the press to, its not quite a progressive but its still faster than single stage and you can still do single stage with it too if you would like. I like it. :thumb:

[Tachycardia]

Thanks for all the help guys, got everything today and I am planning on sitting down in the morn and starting out with a 9mm.

I feel like a kid on Christmas day

[Tachycardia]

I actually ended up with a Lee turret press and if need be I will look into a Dillon progressive as I gain some skill and knowledge

[Tachycardia]

I just realized the Dillon main store is a mere 25 miles from my house!

I think a field trip is in order

[VeTTeMaNC486]

I just realized the Dillon main store is a mere 25 miles from my house!

I think a field trip is in order

For sure!

I actually ended up with a Lee turret press and if need be I will look into a Dillon progressive as I gain some skill and knowledge

How ya like it? I love mine! Although, I have not had alot of time to play with it lately.

[Tachycardia]

I just realized the Dillon main store is a mere 25 miles from my house!

I think a field trip is in order

For sure!

I actually ended up with a Lee turret press and if need be I will look into a Dillon progressive as I gain some skill and knowledge

How ya like it? I love mine! Although, I have not had alot of time to play with it lately.

It is a good press but I ended up selling it and going with the Hornady L&L AP.
The 1000 free bullets sealed it for me and it is at the same level as the Dillon 650 and some of the features are better IMO.

I have been sick for a bit but I just got my bench made and I am mounting it tonight if all goes well and I am feeling up to it.

[Tachycardia]

The worst thing about the L&L was the initial cleaning, but it gives you a good lesson on the workings of the press and Hornady offers some very good videos that saved me more than once.

[Tachycardia]

Phase one is complete, got a bench started in the new garage and got the press mounted.

After I clean up the parts and build a few shelves I can get the rest bolted on, hopefully with a case feeder.



I have all my dies and what not coming in on Thursday and I want to start cranking out rounds on Friday.