Obvious Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Alright fellas with tax season coming up I’m able to write off a lot of my school expenses and will hopefully be investing in a reloading setup so I can reload .40S&W. Keep in mind I have just about nothing right now besides some brass I’ve previously shot and some harbor freight calipers. For a grand, what press, tools, components, etc would you buy? Is that enough to get me started or should I save even more? I’m looking to get a progressive press as that seems where everyone ends up anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furrly Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Dillion 650xl or 750 if your can't find a 650 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Put up a WTB ad in the classifieds for 650 or 750. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) what kind of volume are we talking about? (rounds per month/year). How much room do you have to dedicate to reloading? How mechanically inclined are you? Any other calibers that you may wont to load ? How much time do you have to load ammo? The answers to these questions and probably a few more need answers first. Edited January 15, 2022 by AHI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obvious Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) 23 minutes ago, AHI said: what kind of volume are we talking about? (rounds per month/year). How much room do you have to dedicate to reloading? How mechanically inclined are you? Any other calibers that you may wont to load ? How much time do you have to load ammo? The answers to these questions and probably a few more need answers first. Appreciate the clarification help! For reference in 7 months during the “bad times” of 2021, I shot around 4K rounds of factory ammo in just my competition gun in .40. I would LIKE to be up to around 10K or so a year but I just can’t afford that buying factory ammo. I could set up a small closet space or maybe a work bench for a reloading press/tools. The only other caliber I have right now is 9mm so I’d like to reload that as well, but don’t shoot nearly as much. As far as time, I could dedicate an entire day off to doing so while listening to music or something but it seems rather repetitive and I’d likely only want to do so for an hour or two at a time. As far as mechanical inclination I’d say I’m fine. In school for engineering and I tinker with my 1911, work on my own cars, built/fix my 3D printer. Probably could setup and operate/modify a press okay Edited January 15, 2022 by Obvious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obvious Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 38 minutes ago, George16 said: Put up a WTB ad in the classifieds for 650 or 750. Wouldn’t that be a bit cost prohibitive for shipping? Not sure if folks often offload hefty presses here lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 22 minutes ago, Obvious said: Wouldn’t that be a bit cost prohibitive for shipping? Not sure if folks often offload hefty presses here lol They sell here quite frequently. I would go with a 550. The press is cheaper than a 750, caliber conversions are cheaper, powder hoppers are cheaper, and they load great ammo. Drawback is reloading speed. With everything set up for 40, I can reload about 500-600 an hour on my 550 (if you don't have interruptions like a bad case, have to fill primer tubes, etc). So, a 550, Dillon dies, Lyman Pro 1200 tumbler, Hornady scale, and decent calipers would come in under budget, giving you either more money for components or for buying 9mm dies (9mm & 40 use the same shellplate, just different locator buttons). If you went this route, I would suggest another tool head for the 9mm dies and another powder hopper, that way when you wanted to change between 9mm & 40, it would take less than 5 minutes to change and be loading again (after the dies are set up the first time). The 550 is progressive, just not a full progressive. You have to manually turn the shellplate, and it is not as easy to automate things on the 550, but it will absolutely get you started and, in the future, if you decide to upgrade to a 650/750/1050/1100, you will probably get 90% of your money back for the 550. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) Grumpy one posted all most word for word what I was going to recommend. I have either owed or used every press Dillon has. The 550 is the most dependable / reliable. Currently have two Dillon presses a 550 and 1050. Could go back to just the 550 tomorrow and not miss a thing. Edited January 15, 2022 by AHI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Obvious said: Wouldn’t that be a bit cost prohibitive for shipping? Not sure if folks often offload hefty presses here lol Not really. Around $30-$50 depending on distance and carrier. I echo what AHI and Grumpyone said about the 550. I started with a 550 then bought a 650 when I decided to load 5.56. I eventually bought a Dillon 1100 mainly for the swaging capabilities and sold the 650 with a case feeder and a set of dies plus extra tool heads and parts for $1000 in the classifieds. Im still using the 550 in loading 45acp and .308 while the 1100 is setup for 9mm and 5.56. Edited January 15, 2022 by George16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obvious Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 16 minutes ago, GrumpyOne said: They sell here quite frequently. I would go with a 550. The press is cheaper than a 750, caliber conversions are cheaper, powder hoppers are cheaper, and they load great ammo. Drawback is reloading speed. With everything set up for 40, I can reload about 500-600 an hour on my 550 (if you don't have interruptions like a bad case, have to fill primer tubes, etc). So, a 550, Dillon dies, Lyman Pro 1200 tumbler, Hornady scale, and decent calipers would come in under budget, giving you either more money for components or for buying 9mm dies (9mm & 40 use the same shellplate, just different locator buttons). If you went this route, I would suggest another tool head for the 9mm dies and another powder hopper, that way when you wanted to change between 9mm & 40, it would take less than 5 minutes to change and be loading again (after the dies are set up the first time). The 550 is progressive, just not a full progressive. You have to manually turn the shellplate, and it is not as easy to automate things on the 550, but it will absolutely get you started and, in the future, if you decide to upgrade to a 650/750/1050/1100, you will probably get 90% of your money back for the 550. Any idea what I should be expecting to pay for a used one here? It looks like they’re around $550 new so I’m guessing $450-500? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Obvious said: Any idea what I should be expecting to pay for a used one here? It looks like they’re around $550 new so I’m guessing $450-500? Again, put up a WTB ad in the classifieds to see what prospective sellers will be selling the 560 for. Keep in mind, Dillon has the “No bulls#!t lifetime warranty” with the 550. If a Dillon part gets broken, give them a call and it’ll be replace free of charge. Edited January 15, 2022 by George16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick303 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Scheel’s if you have one near you sells 550 and 750 in store, so you would not have to pay shipping fees. They also keep a good stock of parts. They are are a good source for reloading components when the reloading components are in stock. If not there check locally for other similar stores that may stock Dillon. Components are are going to be you biggest obstacle. I see powder on shelves for a couple of days now. You can find Bullets with little issue, but primers are another story. Good luck on your new venture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 9 hours ago, Obvious said: Any idea what I should be expecting to pay for a used one here? It looks like they’re around $550 new so I’m guessing $450-500? This was posted on the forum 1 hour ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badluck2 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Thanks Grumpyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudyVey Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 10 hours ago, GrumpyOne said: They sell here quite frequently. I would go with a 550. The press is cheaper than a 750, caliber conversions are cheaper, powder hoppers are cheaper, and they load great ammo. Drawback is reloading speed. With everything set up for 40, I can reload about 500-600 an hour on my 550 (if you don't have interruptions like a bad case, have to fill primer tubes, etc). So, a 550, Dillon dies, Lyman Pro 1200 tumbler, Hornady scale, and decent calipers would come in under budget, giving you either more money for components or for buying 9mm dies (9mm & 40 use the same shellplate, just different locator buttons). If you went this route, I would suggest another tool head for the 9mm dies and another powder hopper, that way when you wanted to change between 9mm & 40, it would take less than 5 minutes to change and be loading again (after the dies are set up the first time). The 550 is progressive, just not a full progressive. You have to manually turn the shellplate, and it is not as easy to automate things on the 550, but it will absolutely get you started and, in the future, if you decide to upgrade to a 650/750/1050/1100, you will probably get 90% of your money back for the 550. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Having had both the 550 and now the 650 for the last 10 years, I could recommend either one, but I would not go back to the 550 having switched, either. The 750 is just a newer version of the 650 with the priming system upgrade that the 650 should have had in the first place, but at the end of the day, all three of them make the same ammo. My evening time after work for loading ammo is relatively worthless to me and I shoot only a few thousand rounds a year, so I could get by with either one, but since I prefer to spend my time doing other things, I'm glad I have the 650. I would not consider any brand other than Dillon for practical shooting type reloading, although plenty of people use other brands, I am happy with my Dillons to a degree that I would not consider anything else, even if there was a drastic price difference. Normally I am not brand loyal; I drove a Ford for many years and there are GM products and a Ram in my driveway now. Not so with progressive reloading equipment--it's Dillon or nothing for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intheshaw1 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I started reloading 2 years ago with a used 550 I got here, shipping was $35-40 via UPS. Since then I've added a 1050 which as my plan the entire time. My 550 can crank out 500 rounds an hour if I'm hustling while my 1050 can do easily 1000 an hour at a leisurely pace. The other question is if you even plan to reload 223/556 I'd skip the 650 and add a 1050 in the future when you're putting that schooling to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 If he has nothing and hasn't reloaded before, I think the 650/750 is probably overkill and will bust the budget considering all the other assorted stuff he needs (tumbler, media, calipers, powder scale, etc.). Also, what good is a reloading press if you can't buy powder & primers? Have you shopped SPP yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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