BikerRN

I have no doubt that a Beavertail would be beneficial to you, but something leads me to suspect you may not be gripping the pistol correctly as well. Competent instruction by a qualified trainer can be worth it's cost as it can save on ammo trying to reinvent the wheel. That in turns saves on money and makes the shooting expirience more enjoyable. Biker

Very good advice. If you change too many things at once you may never solve the problem, or develop a whole new set of problems. I will just stress this one point, in relation to the sights and focus: FRONT SIGHT Good luck, Biker

Based upon the description given I'd venture to say that the Hi Power in question would fairly go for $400 between friends. Bear in mind, that's just one numbskull's opinion, and worth what you paid for it. Biker

Thank you all. While I was inclined to favor the SDB for my needs, after researching the subject matter a little more, I have landed firmly in the 550 camp. Biker

I'm a little late to the party, but would like to reiterate the necessity of establishing a good grip on the weapon while it is in the holster. As already noted, "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast." Worry about getting a good grip, go slow, and you will find that your speed will get faster because you are smoother by expending less wasted motion. If you waste time re-establishing your grip after you've already gotten the weapon out of the holster, you will find that this increases your time to make the shot you need to make. You will do this because of the extra wasted motion involved in re-establishing your grip. I like to tell people that they have one chance to get it right. Slow down and don't blow it. Biker

Flexmoney gave some really good advice that I think bears repeating: My focus in shooting is not competative in nature, but an old saying applies here: "Lead with the eyes." Biker

Thank you all for your input. More is always welcome. Looking at the final cost, which is a consideration at this point, and that I can be up and running as fast as Dillon can get the press shipped to me, I'm leaning more and more towards the SDB. While I may desire to load other caliber handgun rounds in the distant future, they are all quite common. 38/357, 9mm, 45 ACP, and 40 are all of my handgun calibers, and frankly I only desire at this point to load .45 ACP. I don't see myself putting out a lot of rifle rounds anytime soon, and was planning on having a second press, single stage, set up in the garage for such endeavors. The reason for that is, I want to go super slow with the rifle stuff, and probably only reload in the garage once per year once I get my loads dialed in. With the handgun my desire is to crank out enough ammo to train and shoot a match or two with every month. I'd like to go back to shooting weekly, but can't afford to at today's ammo cost. That leads me to reloading. I am not any more mechanical than I have to be, and really have no desire to reload, except for the number of rounds I can shoot for the same amount of money that I would spend on factory ammo. I hate adjusting things and tinkering. Given that the SDB is "pre-set" at the factory eliminates what I consider to be a major headache. In my simplified version I see it like this: "Bolt it down, pour powder in, start cranking out ammo." Is that too simplified of a view? The majority of my tinkering will come with finding a reload that approximates my POA/POI of my carry load, as well as the very subjective felt recoil, using a less exspensive JHP round. My reloaded ammo will either be JHP or FMJ, but I'm inclined towards JHP so it can be used as secondary defensive ammunition. Please sway me to one side or the other, as I have learned a lot from the various responses, and while it may seem to some of you that I'm only looking for validation of a pre-determined choice, I am actually reading and considering each reply. Thank you again for your help. Take care and stay safe. Biker

Howdy all, I'm planning to start reloading one handgun caliber soon. I've been shooting for a few years, but have been away from the reloading press for twenty years, so you could say I'm a newbie starting from scratch. I'm primarily wanting to load handgun, .45 ACP, and was considering a SDB. Space is somewhat limited, as my reloading bench will take the place of my desk in the spare bedroom, which was until recently the computer room. Being that the amount of space I have is limited, and that I don't plan to reload rifle calibers for at least two more years, I was strongly leaning towards the SDB. One of my buddies, a former licensed reloader, ATF Class VI License IIRC, has advised me to go with the 550. he makes a strong argument for the 550 and almost has me sold. Being that space is at a premium, and that I have no intention of reloading rifle calibers in the near future, I was wanting a SDB dedicated to just .45 ACP. My intention was to put a Lee Turret Press, or even a Rock Chucker in the garage to handle the much smaller amount of rifle ammunition I would reload. The rifle calibers I plan to reload are .223/5.56 and .375 H&H. The amount of rifle ammunition that I plan to produce is in the neighborhood of 500 rounds/year with the majority of that being .223/5.56. I shoot an average of 150 rounds/week, handgun, in training and now that my source of factory ammunition has "dried up", while I'm still wanting to shoot, I am forced to look at other avenues of bullet procurement. The opinions of the members here would be most appreciated, along with the rationale for their opinion. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in what, for me, is a most perplexing question. Biker

Howdy all, I just wanted to take a moment to say hello, being a new member here and all. I look forward to reading, making a few post, and learning from the members here. Take care and stay safe, as I shall try to do the same as I venture back in to reloading after too many years away from the press. Biker