DogmaDog Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 Hey all, OK, I decided to get a Dillon 550b to start reloading on. Thanks all, for your input! I chose the 550 instead of the SDB because it looks like I'll be getting back into rifle competition sooner rather than later, so I'll need to learn to reload .223. I'm getting an electronic scale and calipers, Speer's reloading manual, case vibrator and tumbler, and various odds and ends (little things, like a flip tray, extra primer tubes, case gauge, some consumeables). I also got a steel power tool stand from Home Depot to mount it on for $40. I'll let you know how that goes. Anyway, what am I forgetting? Is the Dillon instructional video a hot ticket, or not that helpful? How will you respond the first time you see me slinging home-made lead downrange? Thanks, DogmaDog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singlestack Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 Sounds like all you need is a Chrono. Which caliber are you going to start with? If it is .40, I recomend a Lee U die from EGW and a case guage. You will want a case guage for any caliber you reload. Its a real pain to dissemble your pistol to use the chamber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOtherErik Posted January 15, 2003 Share Posted January 15, 2003 Actually the video is really informative...It will show you how to set up the machine and it will also show you how to set the dies. if you havent done any reloading I recomend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogmaDog Posted January 15, 2003 Author Share Posted January 15, 2003 SingleStack, Oh yeah...I got a Pact MK IV for Christmas, so I'm set there I'll be reloading .45 ACP, and I did order a case gauge. ElOtroErik, hmmm...I've done exactly one supervised session of reloading. Maybe I oughta just plunk down the six bucks and get the vid. They should just burn it onto CD and give it to you for free. Lata, DD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 Ordering from BE? He has a video or two in his shop as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOtherErik Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 The two things I forgot to mention that you should get if you haven't allready is the bullet tray and the strong mount. THe bullet tray is really nice. It puts the bullets really close to the seating die. It lets you move your arm only a few incehs to grab a bullet and put it in the seating station. Although the strong mount is not necessary, it really gives the press a much more solid feeling. It can also make up for a lack luster loading bench. Again, I would get the video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 Also buy the Lyman reloading manual. It has the best instructional section for learners. Besides you can not own enough reloading manuals. Find someone who also loads 45acp at your club and knows what he/she is doing. He/she should be easy to spot, he/she is the one with the pistol that works all the time. Buy a Kinetic Bullet Puller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougBarnes101 Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 DogmaDog, The one accessory that I would not give up on my 550 is the Accessory Roller Handle. This makes long sessions seem alot shorter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singlestack Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 ooo-ooo-ooo! DougBarnes101 is spot on! I don't know why Dillon even makes the handle that comes on the 550! The roller handle is much, much, much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twix Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 A Dillion calender is considered a necessity by some. Good choice and good loading to you. (Edited by twix at 8:32 am on Jan. 16, 2003) (Edited by twix at 9:03 am on Jan. 16, 2003) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPSC CHIK1 Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 when i think of all the money i spent on other presses i could have bought another 1050! DVC SharonAnne L2387 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted January 16, 2003 Share Posted January 16, 2003 I get by with using akro-bins as a bullet tray. They are stackable, so I get the height I need. (You'll need lots of handi akro-bins anyway.) I also take a shop rag and fold it down to a quarter of it's regular size. I use this to grip the standard handle. This lets the handle "roll" thru my grip. Better? Probably not. Cheaper? For sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 Grab a set of ball-end hex wrenches if you've got a ten-spot floating around in your wallet. Makes life much easier as soon as you need to convert anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhgtyre Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 I use 3 cheap, plastic, bowls instead of the bullet tray. Each bowl holds a different bullet type, they stack(which saves space and gives the correct height), and I can rotate the angle of the bowls to get the bullets very close to the seating die. Cheapy Chinese restaurant type bowls seem to work really well. -ld Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimel Posted January 20, 2003 Share Posted January 20, 2003 I will second TOErik's suggestion on the Strong Mount. Worth every penny. The bullet tray is a nice feature but not a must have although you have to have the strong mount to use the bullet tray (at least on some presses). It got it and I like it but a plastic dish on top of a Lasercast bullet box was just about as effective and a LOT cheaper. One other thing is a good source of compressed air either canned or a compressor (with a water trap of course). This is especially important if you tumble your brass. The corncob or walnut media will end up in your press and the quickest way to get it cleaned up is with a blast of compressed air. Oh...you are going to tumble your brass...right? If not, you will eventually want a setup for this. Dillon, Lee, RCBS, Midway, and a host of others all make good vibratory/tumble cleaners. Media is cheap. See...there is ALWAYS something more you "need" in this hobby. Cheers! Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogmaDog Posted January 20, 2003 Author Share Posted January 20, 2003 Yeah, I bought a tumbler + separator kit from Midway for $75, that came with some media and polish. I also got an outlet timer for it, and have run a couple loads of cases through already. The press still isn't here, but I'll be ready for it when it arrives Midway's separator sucks compared to the dillon--the crank handle is one piece of plastic, and it slips on to the end of the axle, and easily comes off, or you lift the axle out of the groove in the bucket. It works better just turning the separator box by hand. But it does work, and it was cheap compared to Dillon, and a bit smaller. Anyway, I mentioned elsewhere that I had gone and reloaded a couple hundred rounds on an SDB under supervision from a guy at my club. Last Friday I went an shot almost all that ammo in a steel plate match. I must have done OK at the reloading bench because all the ammo worked fine, I won the match in my division, and moved up in class. The stuff was much softer shooting than factory ammo, or even ammo loaded for IPSC major. Thanks for your suggestions, all! DogmaDog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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