I'm just about to get into reloading and haven't decided on my press yet. I keep thinking I'm set on the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit but everytime I look into the Dillon BL 550 I start to really get interested in that press.
I am in law enforcement and will be primarily reloading .40 .380 5.56 and .45 (when I get my new duty pistol). I'll be shooting 200-300rds/month myself and the wife will probably be shooting 100-200rds/month as well.
Any suggestions/thoughts? I've also thought about plunking down the $$ to get the RL550. The only drawback to the 550 I see is having to hand load powder/primers. That could really get old with the amount of pistol ammo I'm wanting to load.
That depends on your intent. Every week I crank out a few hundred rounds of ammo for the match in a few minutes time, so what the machine would do in an hour doesn't make any difference.
Last time I loaded for an hour was so I wouldn't have to do a caliber change for a while. As my luck would have it, after loading 2000 rounds of 125pf SSR ammo, IDPA lowered the floor to 105.
I don't load a bunch of any one load these days. Generally get all I need in under and hour for sure.
Both also need a good scale and calipers. You also need to buy primers. powder and bullets. So you are looking at least $300 to get going with the Kempf LCT kit or over $500 for the Dillon 550B. The Dillon 550b is far superior. But if money is tight just go with the Kempf LCT kit. Your not going to be saving any money until you get started.
That depends on your intent. Every week I crank out a few hundred rounds of ammo for the match in a few minutes time, so what the machine would do in an hour doesn't make any difference.
Last time I loaded for an hour was so I wouldn't have to do a caliber change for a while. As my luck would have it, after loading 2000 rounds of 125pf SSR ammo, IDPA lowered the floor to 105.
I don't load a bunch of any one load these days. Generally get all I need in under and hour for sure.
That was one of the reasons I went for the 650. Time. I reached a point where if I had an hour to spare I was lucky. So time was the factor. For some it is much less an issue.
Both also need a good scale and calipers. You also need to buy primers. powder and bullets. So you are looking at least $300 to get going with the Kempf LCT kit or over $500 for the Dillon 550B. The Dillon 550b is far superior. But if money is tight just go with the Kempf LCT kit. Your not going to be saving any money until you get started.
That was one of the reasons I went for the 650. Time. I reached a point where if I had an hour to spare I was lucky. So time was the factor. For some it is much less an issue.
Which calibers do you shoot the most. It's possible to use the LCT for the lesser used calibers in the future and use a 650 for the one ore two you shoot the most.
Always that. Weighing time against money. Something else that hasn't been mentioned which may or may not play in to your decision. Caliber conversions are waaaaaaay more money on the Dillon if you get the quick change kit, tool head, and caliber conversion. If you just change out the dies and shell plate stuff, not so much. The LCT only requires you to change turret plates (they're like $15) with dies installed, shellholder (included with the dies usually), and move the powder measure. Just food for thought. That comes at the cost of lots slower production though.
Which calibers do you shoot the most. It's possible to use the LCT for the lesser used calibers in the future and use a 650 for the one ore two you shoot the most.
Right now I should primarily .40S&W and will be loading up .380 for my wife's concealed carry piece. As mentioned, I'm really considering a switch to a .45 for my duty weapon so will be loading a lot of that once I switch. Also, once I finally get my duty rifle I'll be loading a lot of 5.56 rounds.
I'm not looking at this as something I need to be running a manufacturing plant, but rather a hobby to kick out 500rds or so a month. I don't shoot IDPA or anything like that, just enough to practice and keep proficient for work. So as good as the Dillon sounds, I'm kinda leaning to saving the $$$ and doing the Lee...
I'm not looking at this as something I need to be running a manufacturing plant, but rather a hobby to kick out 500rds or so a month. I don't shoot IDPA or anything like that, just enough to practice and keep proficient for work. So as good as the Dillon sounds, I'm kinda leaning to saving the $$$ and doing the Lee...
I do not carry a gun for a living & proficent for me is once a week. You can NEVER get better shooting less than that. I shoot w/ LEOs all the time. There may be 2-3 that are even what I call competent, certainly not proficient. Get into IDPA. It is NOT training at all, but very, very good practice. You'll do more in one match with your gun that a year's worth of qualifications. Stay safe.
I do not carry a gun for a living & proficent for me is once a week. You can NEVER get better shooting less than that. I shoot w/ LEOs all the time. There may be 2-3 that are even what I call competent, certainly not proficient. Get into IDPA. It is NOT training at all, but very, very good practice. You'll do more in one match with your gun that a year's worth of qualifications. Stay safe.
I am shooting once a week right now and with reloading would probably bump that to twice a week, or shoot twice the rounds that I normally do on my shoot day.
Don't really have the time right now to get into IDPA competitions but I am getting some IDPA type practice programs from our firearms guy to run when I go out.
This summer we'll start up our monthly department competitions that are scenario based and I'll start hitting those. Probably better than IDPA because they're designed by our firearms instructors to simulate potential work related scenarios.
And I agree, there are far too many LEOs that don't practice NEAR as much as they should. Ammo cost is the most common reason I hear for that.
I'm not looking at this as something I need to be running a manufacturing plant, but rather a hobby to kick out 500rds or so a month. I don't shoot IDPA or anything like that, just enough to practice and keep proficient for work. So as good as the Dillon sounds, I'm kinda leaning to saving the $$$ and doing the Lee...
If you have read the stickies, you will note that the recommended Lee Classic Turret kit comes from Kempf. The reason is that it includes something you need (and I don't recall what it is) and it doesn't include the Lee scale (not highly regarded around here).
You can buy the dial/digital calipers anywhere but you should buy a really decent scale because it will last a lifetime. This may be your first press but it is unlikely to be your last.
Get a Dillon Eliminator beam scale (or the DTerminator digital scale). Skip the low dollar digital scales, they really aren't built for reloading. Just get the Eliminator...
You need check weights (MidwayUSA has 2 RCBS kits, the small one for powder only and the big one for powder and bullets), a primer flip tray and a case gauge for every caliber you intend to load.
These peripheral items will last forever. Choose good ones.
Loading manuals: Hornady, Speer and Lyman are a good start. You will also want to look at the Alliant and Hodgdon web sites.
For practice ammo, there is no need to loaded jacketed bullets (from Precision Delta or Montana Gold, BTW). You should consider lead bullets from some place like S&S Casting. Right now lead bullets are available. I'm not sure how things stand for jacketed. I suspect supplies are limited.
Being involved with LE, you will probably always have a market for the LCT when you decide to upgrade.
Watch the videos of the LCT on YouTube. Some of them are pretty good. The cell phone videos, not so much...
It's also worth watching the Dillon RL550B and XL650 videos. Who knows? You might skip past the 550 and wind up with a 650 when you upgrade. Now THAT'S a reloading machine!
Some may be ammo cost related - but I know for a fact that some is lack of any real interest in practice, and that many LEOs shoot only to qualify periodically.
Either way, it makes it no coincidence that GSSF Guardian Division shooters (LE, Mil, First Responders) shoot historically worse scores across the board than Amateur Civilian Division shooters.
Last year, I was apparently 10th highest female scorer when I shot with the AmCiv for an All Ladies Team, but 1st, 3rd, and 6th female when shooting Guardian. (Guardian may shoot Civilian, but not vice-versa.)
I started with the LCT and it has worked out very well for me, but it was a gift. If I had the money and was buying it myself, I would go with the Dillon.
I had my eye on the 550b last month even though I have the LCT, I would have been better off to just start with the 550b.
I decided to save some more money though and just go with the xl650.
I am shooting once a week right now and with reloading would probably bump that to twice a week, or shoot twice the rounds that I normally do on my shoot day.
Don't really have the time right now to get into IDPA competitions but I am getting some IDPA type practice programs from our firearms guy to run when I go out.
This summer we'll start up our monthly department competitions that are scenario based and I'll start hitting those. Probably better than IDPA because they're designed by our firearms instructors to simulate potential work related scenarios.
And I agree, there are far too many LEOs that don't practice NEAR as much as they should. Ammo cost is the most common reason I hear for that.
Dont' kid yourself. I shoot with & know a lot of LEO. Even many of the instructors are just competent. SOme are really good & many of them run programs & design matches for IDPA. What you get at an IDPA match is mostly scenario based events, but with a slightly higher round count. Drills are great, I do them all the time, but putting your training & skill together in a timed event that offers some realsitic movement, gun handling & thinking is really better practice than any drill. Nothing replaces good training, but that needs to be followed by better practice.:wavey:
All the Guardians who can shoot, have moved on to Master - plus one who can't. :crying: No matter... she just latches on to 2 Masters who can, and drags them down. :shocked:
This summer we'll start up our monthly department competitions that are scenario based and I'll start hitting those. Probably better than IDPA because they're designed by our firearms instructors to simulate potential work related scenarios.
Before dismissing IDPA, look at some of their stage descriptions. Many are based on real shootings. Now, it's true, not many ranges can model a Stop-n-Rob but the target obscurity and distances can be pretty realistic.
Fewer still allow the downrange target to shoot back! :rofl:
I don't have a good source for course descriptions but the few I have downloaded have been pretty good. You just have to recognize the limitations of the range and the cardboard targets.
I don't shoot IDPA (or any other form of competition) but, were I a lot younger, I would consider it. I rather enjoyed IPSC back in the early '80s.
Richard, from what I've gathered, you are NOT that old. We have at least one gentlman in his 80's and another with a bad knee who just got it replaced and is back at it. Our MD won't exclude folks like that - he simply adjusts their COF. Good thing too, 'cause we are all headed in that direction. Some are just going to get there sooner than others.
IDPA is a good to practice getting the head eyes feet and hands to argue. I mean agree. Lots of fun and the more fun the more you do it, the more you do it the better you are at it.
If the lee works for you and that's what you can afford go for it. Every day lost doing something you like is a lost day. I will say in the long run I feel the Dillon will,treat you better and make it easier on you. Easy equals happy in my eyes.
I have reached a point where if I want something I would hold off a little longer to get it right instead of right now. I feel like cry once buy once is cheaper in the long run. But only you can balance your budget.
Like Fred said, bag your lunch, skip the coffee shop and you can have it paid for pretty quick.
You don't need tool heads and powder measures for every caliber in the beginning. You can swap the dies and adjust the powder measure same as any other press. Depending on the dies you pick (dillon for example) you may need to buy some lock rings. I believe the lee ones will hold there setting, RCBS and redding as well. You unscrew the die and put in the next. Some caliber conversions can be bridged or made up with a few small parts. I think there is a list at Dillion, maybe even here. Like .308 and .22-250 use the same locator buttons and shell plate, a powder funnel and your done. Some of the pistol stuff is the same way.
Richard, from what I've gathered, you are NOT that old. We have at least one gentlman in his 80's and another with a bad knee who just got it replaced and is back at it. Our MD won't exclude folks like that - he simply adjusts their COF. Good thing too, 'cause we are all headed in that direction. Some are just going to get there sooner than others.
I'm just 67. I really don't have any interest in competition unless my grandson wants to shoot. Right now he is concentrating on basketball and baseball. Bummer...
b_oglethorpe..."Lee in junk. I always had cross thread problem, wearing out threads. One press the dies wouldn't go in straight. It's all replaceable crap."
I must have been one of the lucky ones than. I have a LEE classic single stage & LEE classic turret press as well, both have worked fine for many years now. I have tested and reloaded more rounds than I can count and all my equipment still works just fine. Of course i'm very anal about taking care of my stuff as well so most anything I have lasts me a very long time.
Having said that - I plan on buying a Dillon 650XL sometime in the spring. During the spring/summer/fall months I go through more rounds than my Turret press can keep up with. I just don't have that kind of time to sit at that press and try to crank out that amount of rounds to keep up. I looked at many different presses including the Dillon 550's, read tons of post & reviews and have come to the conclusion that forme the real long-term solution is going to be the 650. I also have no plans on getting rid of my LEE press, they still will play an important role in my shop.
I have to agree that the single most mentioned reason for even looking at a progressive press is being a real time saver. A progressive press like the 550 (650) are in my mind a real long term solution for your reloading needs. These are not a quick fix, certainly you will have to invest your time & money into a press like this but what you get will pay dividends far into the future.
Everything in this post, including Fred at the bottom is spot on the mark:cowboy:
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