Reloading speed?

[beardman2]

I'm considering releading. My dad has an Unused RCBS rock chucker kit he got a couple years back. He is more than willing to let me use it. Which means I'll have to learn how for both of us. RCBS has a nice general how to on their site so I have the basics of the steps. My question is how many say 40S&W can I expect to be able to relead in an hour once I learn the loads and get the hang of it? Am I better off looking into a dillion that can crank out 500 an hour?


I've become way to addicted to shooting so I need to lower costs! If I can get a decent rate out of the rock chucker I'd be happy to stick with it. I realize it won't be nearly as fast as the dillion.

[ampleworks]

Easier to learn the ropes with single stage. Learn with the simple stuff then progress into harder things.

Its like going out and paying $15,000 for a HK94 converted to full auto yet having never shot a gun in your life. (I hope you understand what I meant by this simile)

[The Knight Of Light]

GET THE DILLON!!! I just got done loading 490 rds of 40 in about 1:15 . I had about 6 rds that did not come out right. dents or stuff I did not see before I put the round in. I have a rockchucker and I use it for match 223 loads, and larger rifle rounds. that is it. Dillon will make you so happy . Loading pistol rounds on a single stage is so crappy. You will be fed up in about one hour of loading.

[one-eyed-fatman]

Originally Posted by beardman2

I'm considering releading. My dad has an Unused RCBS rock chucker kit he got a couple years back. He is more than willing to let me use it. Which means I'll have to learn how for both of us. RCBS has a nice general how to on their site so I have the basics of the steps. My question is how many say 40S&W can I expect to be able to relead in an hour once I learn the loads and get the hang of it? Am I better off looking into a dillion that can crank out 500 an hour?


I've become way to addicted to shooting so I need to lower costs! If I can get a decent rate out of the rock chucker I'd be happy to stick with it. I realize it won't be nearly as fast as the dillion.

That RCBS rock chucker is probably upgradable to a progressive press. Learn how to use it single stage then upgrade it to a progressive. That's a lot cheaper way to go.

[mullanman]

Just loaded 500 rounds of .40 in 30 minuteson my 650.

200 of .45 min 25 minutes on my 550.


Progressive is the way to go for pistol ammo.

You'll soon outgrow the rock chucker, don't bother tooling up for it.

[The Knight Of Light]

Do not upgrade the Rockchucker to progresive. The Piggyback system is a waste of money. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=893867
$269.99 and a dillon is only 100$ more with the right accessories.
Get the 550B with the Strong mount. You can use any dies you want as long as they fit the machine(most do). I have Lee dies cause they are cheap. 21 for a set. 43-50$ for dillon dies. I use once fired brass from my gun and I got some from Midway(non-nickel) and I also use the EGW guns 40 die you can find it here http://egw-guns.com/catalog/product_...products_id=40
It helps with Glock brass. Make sure you get the right conversion kits to go with your machine. If you have a Sportsmans Warehouse nearby they sell Dillon Products. There you can get a look at the machine, and what you need.

[WyoBob]

When I got back into pistol shooting, I fired up my 30 year old Rockchucker. Way too slow for the amout of ammo I was shooting. It would take me an hour to load 60-70 shells. So, I bought a Hornaday LNL AP (no case feeder). Much, much better.

WyoBob

[beardman2]

yuck 2 1/2 hours of reloading to do an hour of shooting doesn't sound like any fun to me. I'm assuming the dies would fit the rockchucker and dillions? I can at least learn the ropes while I save... then again that dillion is about the price of another gun... damn this hobby!

[one-eyed-fatman]

Originally Posted by WyoBob

When I got back into pistol shooting, I fired up my 30 year old Rockchucker. Way too slow for the amout of ammo I was shooting. It would take me an hour to load 60-70 shells. So, I bought a Hornaday LNL AP (no case feeder). Much, much better.

WyoBob

Are you talking a progressive RCBS press? With 60 cases ready to go I can reload 60 22-250 in an hour to an hour and a half single stage.

Of course if I was loading for semiauto I think I would go with a Dillion.

[WyoBob]

Originally Posted by one-eyed-fatman

Are you talking a progressive RCBS press? With 60 cases ready to go I can reload 60 22-250 in an hour to an hour and a half single stage.

Of course if I was loading for semiauto I think I would go with a Dillion.

The Rockchucker is a single stage. The Hornady is a progressive.

WyoBob