Hi guys, new member here from the Denver area, and I just found tho forum.   I recently bought a Gen 4 Glock 20 and put 200 res of Underwood 180 grain XTP through it yesterday.  Those rounds are pretty warm but quite addictive.  Since I am not made of money and really would like to shoot more, I was thinking about getting into reloading.  Do you guys think I should learn on a single stage or turret style Lee (or similar) or just go to the Dillon 550.  The 550 kinda freaks me out due to no auto-indexing but I am also mildly paranoid so should be okay.  The 650 seems quite a bit more complex, unless I am just overthinking it. 

So conventional wisdom, I assume, says to start on a single stage, right? I could do that and just spend some time learning, though it is slow going to crank out 1,000 rounds.  I have other hobbies (Jeeping, mountain biking, hiking) so I don't want to spend day after day making ammo but if I go single stage, I still want to buy a really good one that will last, and then get a good progressive in a few months or next year.   

I also have a couple of 9mm Glocks- 26 & 9.  Ammo for 9s is cheaper so not sure if I would save a lot reloading for that.  My main goal is to reload 10mm range ammo to start.  Even the Underwood stuff gets crazy pricey though.  I'd like to shoot 500 rds per month to start.  That equates to almost $300 of ammo if I buy it at retail.  I don't like buying dirty cheap ammo made in the sewers of Chernobyl, so reloading may be my other option.  If this works out, I also like the .357 Sig round a lot.   

I'm starting to ramble a bit.  So which press would you guys recommend? Lee Classic Cast, some turret, or just say eff it and go to the 550?  I'll need to build or buy a bench (have not researched this yet) and everything else that goes with reloading.  Like I said, the only thing that worries me about the 550 is the likelihood of a double charge.  However, I may as well consider it too...especially if it is easy to do a visual powder check in 10mm.   I am open to Lee, RCBS, Forster, & Dillon.  Not sure about Hornady LnL.  Any thoughts and ideas would be appreciated.

I just started reloading about 4 years ago. I started on a Lee Turret, simple, easy to operate safely. Reloading is probably the second best thing I ever decided to do. All my calibers, are set up on their individual turrets.

Well, not new to reloading, but it was always revolver or rifle cartridges!  Thirty or so years ago my dad and I got a RCBS single stage press and I can crank out a couple hundred rounds in a few hours, but I normally process the brass in large stages until the powder drop and bullet seat/crimp.  So, several hundred rounds in the tumbler, then resize, deprime, prime, then expand for bullet.  I normally then only work on 50 at a time for powder drop and bullet seat.  This worked great for revolvers, but now that I have started shooting the 10mm again, I am seriously thinking about getting a Dillon 650!  Only reason I would get the 650 over the 550 is that I have several friends with the 650 and if I run into issues I have someone to ask...

Even the portable mount dad built from designs from one of the NRA mags still works 30+ years later!

I started on the classic turret a few months ago...manual indexing is the only way iv found to get a accurate as possible powder drop. It ain't much if at all slower and as long as you get a powder like longshot a double will be noticeable

I started with an RCBS rock chucker kit.  Little spendy, but a very solid press.  I now also have two Lee reloader presses, which are handy as heck.  Mine are mounted to 2' sections of 1X4 and I just clamp them wherever I wanna use them.  Makes it easy to load at the range to test rounds..

I also have a lee breechlock and it has been a good press, but is not in the same strength league as the Rock Chucker.  I have run a bunch of 357 and 44 mag on a Dillon Square Deal B, but I would not personally buy one.  It belonged to a friend who did not have a place to mount it so I gave it a home on my bench for a while.

If I were to buy a progressive today it would almost certainly be the Hornady Lock-n-Load AP, unless I had the money for a Dillon 1050.  The Hornady is priced less than the Dillon 550, but has features like the Dillon 650.  Solid press and Hornady has a good reputation of standing behind their product.

I would say go cheap until you know if you like reloading.  It takes a good while to pay for a $400 press, unless you cast your own bullets too.

Great info so far....thanks!  I need to look into some of these options again, including the turret.  Getting perspective from those with experience- is truly invaluable.  Also good advice to start cheap (though I'd still get a decent press).

I reloaded a long time ago in NY than move to GA in 85 and got away from shooting and reloading -6 years ago I started to get back into it. I jumped right into it by getting a 650 before I even had my 10mm glocks - thinking ahead about the cost of 10mm amo - I than proceeded to buy powder and brass ( still no glock yet ) it took 2 years before I bought my 10mm G20sf
to make a long story short I love my 650 but picked up a single stage RCBS press because there is so many things I found out I had to do to the brass to prepare it for loading - to me you can't survive with out a single stage press.
You need it first - not like me and did it backwards.
I went progressive so I couldn't double load a round but walk before you try to run you need so many things to get into reloading and it can get you down, just get a good single stage press kit with the goodies and work your way up - when you get to the 650 you'll be set and off and running - and it will make you appreciate the 650 when you get it.

Doug

Long time loader here too. I still mostly use a single stage REDDING press...  I like to build loads on it then once I have a load down, Ill switch to my 550 and load a BUNCH!

NOTHING wrong with a SS press, IMHO all should start with one. NOT a progressive...

CW

I started my handloading on a RCBS Jr. press, mounted on a 24' x24" piece of 3/4" Ply mounted on folding table legs.  It worked great and it was portable enough to bring to work...This little press served my needs for very well as it does still to this day for over 36 years.

I will say that I did get a RCBS Big Max because I realized I wanted more leverage for sizing of rifle brass and possible jacketed bullet forming. (never got into that yet)   Never the less this press is super strong and has worked very well for the heavier chores such as sizing.  I use it for my pass through sizing operations as well.

I acquired a Dillon 550B fully setup for 38/357 and 44mag and then added things necessary for doing 10mm/40S&W/357Sig and 9x25Dillon...However I find myself doing these on the Original RCBS Jr. single stage because I like the feel and feedback I get when working on this little press.

Because of all the things I have experienced over the years, I usually recommend the RCBS Rock Chucker Kit as a starting press, it has the strength and leverage for the difficult task, but also has the working feel for delicate stuff.  The kit comes with many things to help get you started including the Large Speer Manual that is packed with info and loading data. 

Also when you spend $300 for RCBS equipment you get a $50 REBATE, that usually will be about the price of Carbide die set and shell holder.

Most of the name brands, RCBS, Dillon, Lyman, Redding, Hornady have great customer service & Lifetime warranty is usually no questions for replacements.

Yes there are cheaper presses & dies and that is what they are...

Hornady LNL. BUT any progressive press has about a one year payback. More or less, depends on how much you shoot.

I started on a dillon 650, just takes time to set up and attention to detail to run.  As others have said you want to make sure you like to reload and it also depends on volume of shooting.  Shopping and buying are fun as well.  As far as choosing which progressive that is Pandora's box on opinions.  Hornady and dillon makes quality presses

Very useful information to think about and do more research.  I also need to look into a solid bench and all the other things that I will need and create a list.  For the 10mm anyway, it seems you either get really hot rounds or really weak rounds.  Reloading is a must if I want to shoot this gun like I want to.

For reloading 10mm a kitchen counter or desk works fine with my Lee Reloader press.  It cost $30 or so.  Not so good for resizing bottleneck rifle rounds, but for straight wall pistol cases it works great.

I highly recommend the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading kit. RCBS has Several kits, but that is the one that you want.

There are plenty of good presses,  but the unique thing about that particular kit is the other gear that comes with it. The powder throw, scale, priming tool and press are all great gear. It is stuff that you will want on your bench for the long term even if you end up with a progressive press. I also have a progressive press, but I still use all of the other gear for a lot of things.

Likely, you'll start with 10mm, then the bug will hit, and you'll branch of to other cartridges.  Virtually none of the gear in that kit will go unused (if you never load rifle, you won't use a few of the case prep doodads).  Not a big deal.

The Rock Chucker is a nice press. Learning on it is a great way to intimately learn the intricacies of seeing up dies. I now load 10mm, 40, 223 and soon to be 9 on a progressive, but I still regularly use the Rock Chucker.  If I had to go back and learn again, I would do it the same way.

I repeat myself! 

QuoteAlso when you spend $300 for RCBS equipment you get a $50 REBATE, that usually will be about the price of Carbide die set and shell holder.

http://sporting.myonlinerebate.com/10060/