I'm going to start reloading... - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Reno82 · 07-14-2007, 04:56 PM

Should I buy a Lee single stage press, Dillion 550R or a What? A gun shop owner has a used Dillion 550R... but with lots of other stuff with it. All I want to do is reload 45acp. He wants $400 for every thing.... I'll get a list and you tell me if it's good or not?

scalce · 07-14-2007, 06:02 PM

Welcome to the club.

Do you mean a RL 550B?

I am not sure if Dillon had older 550 models but depending on what it comes with it may be a good deal.

I got a 650 new because I wanted to turn out large amounts of 9mm and 45. Maybe 40 down the road.

jeepinbanditrider · 07-14-2007, 06:06 PM

I just bought the Lee aniversary kit from Midway. Less than 200 bucks had me a lot of stuff. Everything that came in the Lee kit plus :

.45ACP carbide 4 die set
10 45ACP 50 round plastic boxes
300 plated 185grain bullets
Frankford Arsenal 6" dial calipers

I would suggest getting a digital scale from them also. The lee kit comes with a balance type scale but takes forever to measure a powder charge the digital scale would have sped up my reloading process by a significant amount.

I just got my kit in at the beginning of the week and just got done reloading 300 rounds.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=149097

**jnclement** · 07-14-2007, 08:37 PM

I use the Lee Anniversary Kit for my rifles. A buddy just gave me a 550B, but I haven't set it up yet, so I'm no help. Maybe when it's going I'll be one of the blue kool-aid drinkers........

Reno82 · 07-15-2007, 03:18 AM

jeepinbanditrider... how long did it take to do 300 rounds?

jeepinbanditrider · 07-15-2007, 10:22 AM

If you add up all the time it took 6-8 hrs or so. It was my first batch I had ever done so I was carefully feeling my way through the process. I'm sure I could pick up the speed in the future as I get more experiece. Also at the begining I resized and punched the primer on 500 shells but only had enough bullets for 300. I'll be loading 200 more here shortly.

After I got about 200 of the 300 done I loaded up a magazine full in my wife's 1911 and they all fired and cycled just fine.

Mercmar · 07-15-2007, 10:30 AM

If you can afford the Dillon 550, get it, assuming that you're sure that you want to reload. If you have some doubts about whether you really want to reload, then get the Lee Anniversary Kit. (That's what I started with; wish I'd gotten a 650 from the beginning.)

fredj338 · 07-15-2007, 02:11 PM

That's a decent price for the 550B. If anythign is wrong w/ it, Dillon will fix it for free. Hard to beat that. You can easily load 400rds/hr on a 550B. If you like pulling the handle alot, pay attention, you can get 550rds+/hr.

Reno82 · 07-25-2007, 03:06 AM

Order some extra parts from dillon(came in yesterday.. put it altogether... no problems..) and total cost so far is $700. Been reading two reloading manuals and the dillon manual. Tumbled some brass. Deprimed some.... made some dry runs without primer or powder. All looks good. Going to reload 20 tomorrow morning. Going to try them out by noon time and I'll let you know what happens. Using 185 speer bullets HP with pistol power or bulleyes power. I'll take some pictures of my reloading bench. Wish be luck????

jdavionic · 07-25-2007, 05:34 AM

I've got the Lee Anniversary Kit. Although I reloaded a LONG time ago, it has served as a great tool for learning the basics again. If you want volume & speed, the Lee kit is not the right choice. If you want an inexpensive introduction to reloading and a single stage to learn the basics, it's a great choice. For an idea on volume, I made 200 rds in a little more than 2 hrs. Someone with a Dillon 550 can easily exceed that volume in a fraction of the time.

07-14-2007, 04:56 PM	#1
Reno82 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,404	I'm going to start reloading... Should I buy a Lee single stage press, Dillion 550R or a What? A gun shop owner has a used Dillion 550R... but with lots of other stuff with it. All I want to do is reload 45acp. He wants $400 for every thing.... I'll get a list and you tell me if it's good or not? __________________ XD-45acp Service, Ruger Mark III 22/45 Kimber SS Custom Target II 10mm, Walther G22 (FUN GUN), XD-45acp Tactical,XD-9 Sub-Compact, DPMS AR-15: 9mm, RRA CAR A4 Upper 223/5.56, S&W 642 38 special w/ CT grips, Upper ALEX ARMS 19.5" 6.5 GRENDEL (in order of purchase)

07-14-2007, 06:06 PM	#3
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,979	I just bought the Lee aniversary kit from Midway. Less than 200 bucks had me a lot of stuff. Everything that came in the Lee kit plus : .45ACP carbide 4 die set 10 45ACP 50 round plastic boxes 300 plated 185grain bullets Frankford Arsenal 6" dial calipers I would suggest getting a digital scale from them also. The lee kit comes with a balance type scale but takes forever to measure a powder charge the digital scale would have sped up my reloading process by a significant amount. I just got my kit in at the beginning of the week and just got done reloading 300 rounds. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=149097 __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

07-14-2007, 08:37 PM	#4
jnclement XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,613	I use the Lee Anniversary Kit for my rifles. A buddy just gave me a 550B, but I haven't set it up yet, so I'm no help. Maybe when it's going I'll be one of the blue kool-aid drinkers........ __________________ Contrary to what sells magazines, not all of us are, or want to be SpecOps, SEAL, Recon, Delta, CQB, Ninja, firearm-knife-tactical-death-touch instructors.

07-15-2007, 03:18 AM	#5
Reno82 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,404	jeepinbanditrider... how long did it take to do 300 rounds? __________________ XD-45acp Service, Ruger Mark III 22/45 Kimber SS Custom Target II 10mm, Walther G22 (FUN GUN), XD-45acp Tactical,XD-9 Sub-Compact, DPMS AR-15: 9mm, RRA CAR A4 Upper 223/5.56, S&W 642 38 special w/ CT grips, Upper ALEX ARMS 19.5" 6.5 GRENDEL (in order of purchase)

07-15-2007, 10:22 AM	#6
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,979	If you add up all the time it took 6-8 hrs or so. It was my first batch I had ever done so I was carefully feeling my way through the process. I'm sure I could pick up the speed in the future as I get more experiece. Also at the begining I resized and punched the primer on 500 shells but only had enough bullets for 300. I'll be loading 200 more here shortly. After I got about 200 of the 300 done I loaded up a magazine full in my wife's 1911 and they all fired and cycled just fine. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

07-14-2007, 06:02 PM	#2
scalce XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,415	Welcome to the club. Do you mean a RL 550B? I am not sure if Dillon had older 550 models but depending on what it comes with it may be a good deal. I got a 650 new because I wanted to turn out large amounts of 9mm and 45. Maybe 40 down the road.

07-15-2007, 10:30 AM	#7
Mercmar XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,963	If you can afford the Dillon 550, get it, assuming that you're sure that you want to reload. If you have some doubts about whether you really want to reload, then get the Lee Anniversary Kit. (That's what I started with; wish I'd gotten a 650 from the beginning.)

07-15-2007, 02:11 PM	#8
fredj338 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,449	That's a decent price for the 550B. If anythign is wrong w/ it, Dillon will fix it for free. Hard to beat that. You can easily load 400rds/hr on a 550B. If you like pulling the handle alot, pay attention, you can get 550rds+/hr.

07-25-2007, 03:06 AM	#9
Reno82 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,404	OK...got it. Order some extra parts from dillon(came in yesterday.. put it altogether... no problems..) and total cost so far is $700. Been reading two reloading manuals and the dillon manual. Tumbled some brass. Deprimed some.... made some dry runs without primer or powder. All looks good. Going to reload 20 tomorrow morning. Going to try them out by noon time and I'll let you know what happens. Using 185 speer bullets HP with pistol power or bulleyes power. I'll take some pictures of my reloading bench. Wish be luck???? __________________ XD-45acp Service, Ruger Mark III 22/45 Kimber SS Custom Target II 10mm, Walther G22 (FUN GUN), XD-45acp Tactical,XD-9 Sub-Compact, DPMS AR-15: 9mm, RRA CAR A4 Upper 223/5.56, S&W 642 38 special w/ CT grips, Upper ALEX ARMS 19.5" 6.5 GRENDEL (in order of purchase)

07-25-2007, 05:34 AM	#10
jdavionic XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: GA Posts: 5,105	I've got the Lee Anniversary Kit. Although I reloaded a LONG time ago, it has served as a great tool for learning the basics again. If you want volume & speed, the Lee kit is not the right choice. If you want an inexpensive introduction to reloading and a single stage to learn the basics, it's a great choice. For an idea on volume, I made 200 rds in a little more than 2 hrs. Someone with a Dillon 550 can easily exceed that volume in a fraction of the time.

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