GmanCdp Posted July 6, 2021 Share Posted July 6, 2021 Dedicated 650 for 38spl and one for 45ACP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38super Posted July 6, 2021 Share Posted July 6, 2021 Look for a 450 or 550 seller looking for the new hots, might get a bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskys2 Posted July 6, 2021 Share Posted July 6, 2021 13 hours ago, ysrracer said: I'm confused by the people that can't fully seat primers on 550/750. You and I seem to get it. OOOh, I don't always get nuanced views! I think most don't wish to spend the time delving that deep into the woods. But since I live the life as a Hermit, retired to boot. I'm comfortable deep in the woods! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FWSixgunner Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 I load my bulk .38s on an SDB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSGGlock Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 650. Never had an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belus Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 On 7/4/2021 at 4:19 PM, Toolguy said: I have 4 550s and load everything on them. No problems with primer seating. Many tool heads with powder measure. Why four? I can understand having a 550 for each primer size, but its so quick to swap tool heads I don't know why you'd opt for more. I load 38/357 on a 550 because it's not one of high volume cartridges. My wife expressed an interest in SASS this week though, so maybe the next few years will see a shift. I think the 550 is the best value press out there if you load a variety of cartridges, or want to include rifle rounds. If you only load 1-2 then I can see looking at the 5-station presses or a 1050/1100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskys2 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 7 hours ago, belus said: Why four? I can understand having a 550 for each primer size, but its so quick to swap tool heads I don't know why you'd opt for more. I load 38/357 on a 550 because it's not one of high volume cartridges. My wife expressed an interest in SASS this week though, so maybe the next few years will see a shift. I think the 550 is the best value press out there if you load a variety of cartridges, or want to include rifle rounds. If you only load 1-2 then I can see looking at the 5-station presses or a 1050/1100. At one time I had 2 for the Primer thing, but sold one and thought I'd never need another press. Replaced the Crank 3 times in 35 years too. Then got a hankering for "more" and chanced on a great deal on a used S1050. Have it set up for 38 Short Colt/9mm (highest volume I shoot) then 45 acp/400 corbon with separate Tool Head (will soon be higher volume as that's the primers I have left!) and everything for 40 S&W just have to swap a few die inserts (ultimately may get a Tool Head for it. Still use the 550 though, can't be beat for those 500 and under runs! 650/750 might be just as good, but a bit more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) I initially had 2 for the large/small primer thing. Then happened across a good deal on another one. I already was loading 12 different loads at the time, so picked it up as a spare. Then Tracy came along, and she had one, as well. They just sort of accumulated. Edited July 9, 2021 by Toolguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbreath Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 I ended up ordering a 750, which I found in stock for the pre-July-1st-increase prices. I'll use the savings over a bigger machine to buy some more brass and maybe get some kind of primer tube filler, and just pay a bit more attention to the upstroke primer seating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerMcFadden Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 9 minutes ago, Fishbreath said: I ended up ordering a 750, which I found in stock for the pre-July-1st-increase prices. I'll use the savings over a bigger machine to buy some more brass and maybe get some kind of primer tube filler, and just pay a bit more attention to the upstroke primer seating. How much is the price increase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbreath Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 From $593 to $670 for the press itself, and from $264 to $325 for the case feeder, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 13 minutes ago, Fishbreath said: I ended up ordering a 750, which I found in stock for the pre-July-1st-increase prices. I'll use the savings over a bigger machine to buy some more brass and maybe get some kind of primer tube filler, and just pay a bit more attention to the upstroke primer seating. Trust me, you'll be happy. Sometimes when my wife is really on my case, I'll go to the garage and load 100 rounds in a few hours... ....10 minutes to load, 1 hour and 50 minutes to drink beer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I always say- If you're going to be in the doghouse, make sure it's a nice one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMM50 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I've been using Lee Pro 1000 since the 1980s. But in the past year I've been having trouble with unreliable reloads. I bought a used 650 from a local fellow that was in great shape. Same dies, brass, primers, powder and cases. New powder drop and new loader body. My standard deviation went from 15-25 to 10. The Lee presses were just plain worn out. 40 years and probably 800,000 rounds. I'll pass them on to people getting into reloading, as some were given to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old558 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 38 minutes ago, GMM50 said: I've been using Lee Pro 1000 since the 1980s. But in the past year I've been having trouble with unreliable reloads. I bought a used 650 from a local fellow that was in great shape. Same dies, brass, primers, powder and cases. New powder drop and new loader body. My standard deviation went from 15-25 to 10. The Lee presses were just plain worn out. 40 years and probably 800,000 rounds. I'll pass them on to people getting into reloading, as some were given to me. Very nice of you to pass on your old loaders. I just passed on an old RCBS progressive to a friends son as he is now getting in to shooting sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verla Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 I have been loading 8 calibers on a 650 for years and never have had primer seating issues, as long as the machine is set up correctly. This includes two rifle calibers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbreath Posted August 19, 2021 Author Share Posted August 19, 2021 To follow up, I'm producing ammo at about 500 rounds/hour now, and trending upward as I get familiar with the system and learn what to watch. Primer seating hasn't been a problem on the new 750. I may order a bearing kit so I can tighten the shellplate down a bit more, and therefore get deeper/more consistent primer seating. I may someday try machining down the shoulder of the primer punch a bit for deeper seating, but that's a longer-range plan (and one I'd want to have a few spares for, before I try). Good ignition on all the ammo I loaded for the major match I shot/worked last weekend. Contra what I'd heard, it seems to meter Clay Dot pretty well, after dumping the first few cases to clear out any settlement over time. The extra-small powder bar is probably helping with that. At the match, I won almost all the parts for an AmmoMike 3D-printed bullet feeder off of the staff prize table, so eventually I'll get that figured out and integrated, and then I'll really be cranking things out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcflury Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 XL 650 about 500 rounds a month at this rate It going to pay itself off in 22 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 1 hour ago, mcflury said: XL 650 about 500 rounds a month at this rate It going to pay itself off in 22 years Have you priced .38 special ammo lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcflury Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 On 8/19/2021 at 6:13 PM, ysrracer said: Have you priced .38 special ammo lately? Naw I switch to .40 which is a little more reasonable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtYankee Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 I load on a couple of Lyman single stage presses. One is an old (1960,s or so) Spartan press and a new Ideal press. They're slow but cheap and they work just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRBerg Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 550 for all my pistol rounds 38 short colt - 38 sp -357mag- 9mm -45 acp except my 44 mag I use my rcbs single stage press Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synchronicity Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I handprime and use a basic Lee. I am in no hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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