Which Machine?

[Tophernj]

I have a buddy with an 07 FFL. He’s starting to build 1911’s, mostly in 9. Additionally, he wants to build AR’s both large and small frame. So he will be loading 223 and 308. He wants to get a machine that can do a fair bunch of all of those with a relatively easy swap between the calibers. 
He is saying he could get to needing 1k of each per month. 
What say the gurus of Big Blue? 
 

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. 

[m700]

Thats not alot. Lets say hes loading 9,40,45,223,and 308. 1000 each.

 

a 550 would take him 17.5 hours Figuring on once through for pistol twice on rifle(with mounted trimmer)

a 750 would take him about 8-9 hours(with case and bullet feeder and mounted trimmer on the rifle prep heads)

a 1050 would take him 7 hours

 

The inverse of the speed is the upfront cost. The caliber swaps/ toolheads are really cheap on the 550 get a little more expensive on the 750 and way more expensive on 1050

 

What I would do would be to go with the 750 fully loaded is about $1900 with bullet feeder and dies .a full toolhead swap is about 300

 

And instead of swapping out every 1000 load 5k of each caliber and then maintenance and swap the machine out

 

 

[m700]

Definitely. make sure the load is good before loading in quantity though.

[Tophernj]

Thank you. 

[Hi-Power Jack]

I'd ask whether it is worth reloading 9mm and .223 right now.

 

Prices are low, and very available.

 

The .223 is a PITA to reload for - lots of steps - 

 

Not sure it's worth it for 20 boxes/month.

 

Carefully weigh the upfront expense, labor involved and the cost saving 

before you decide.

[Bmans45]

44 minutes ago, Hi-Power Jack said:

I'd ask whether it is worth reloading 9mm and .223 right now.

 

Prices are low, and very available.

 

The .223 is a PITA to reload for - lots of steps - 

 

Not sure it's worth it for 20 boxes/month.

 

Carefully weigh the upfront expense, labor involved and the cost saving 

before you decide.

 

i agree . Maybe if you were going to shoot more it would be worth it or if you are going to shoot competition with the rifle . I would go with the 550 for rifle though is you decide and it easily knocked out pistol ammo at 500 plus an hour . I have done 100 every 10 min if you have plenty of primer tubes loaded up and clean brass .