Guys,

I've only occasionally loaded for my pistols because of cost/time issue but now that the wife has her own 9mm and the prospect of shooting them a lot more I'm thinking I might need to start loading her 9mms and my .45s.

I've only got a single stage press and my primer is pretty slow and cumbersome. I do have a powder drop so that can help but what else can I get at a reasonable price that will speed things along here?

Anyone care to share your process? Show me your setup?

Thanks,

Mel

I use a single stage on all my reloading but I don't have the primer attachment, mine is RCBS primer press that I clamp in vise. I load everything from 223 to 30/06 with single stage but I don't get in a rush about it.

A digital scale--or a dillion-- if you shoot a lot, you'll never look back.

When I got my 9mm and really liked shooting it is when I got a Dillon press. I was going to get the square deal press just for pistol but a friend told me to get the 550b and that was the best advice he could have given me. It is so much faster than a single stage press and that is what you need for pistol rounds. I still load some rifle on my RCBS but most are on the Dillon.

I use a single stage for 9mm,40,and .45. It takes some time but I just do all the different steps while the kids play out front(my set up is in my garage).

A hand primer if you are going to continue to load on the single stage press.

To make it worthwhile you need a progressive. I would do the math on 9mm because unless you get good deals it's not worth it.

I have made my money back on 45. For the amount I shot my press has payed for itself

Really, how much are you payng for your 9mm ammo and what quality is it? I am currently loading 9mm for $110.50-138.50 per thousand depending on which bullet I use. Regardless it is all high quality and shoots great.

I've always used a single-stage. It's much slower, but the payoff is that I value each shot that much more and I don't like to burn through ammo. I think that's saved me some money over the years. Hmmm...come to think of it, it's probably saved me enough to buy a Dillon 550 or 650. Maybe I should go ahead and---whoa! Never mind.

After loading pistol on a single stage, you feel like you are driving a Ferrari when loading on a good progressive!

I have no doubt that is true, and I have no doubt I'd never be motivated enough to look for the keys to my F150 ever again!

I use a a Lee Classic Turret. It will triple your speed over the single stage. I have been happy with mine.

This is what I'd recommend.

I load 9mm on single stage and it's really not that slow. I resize deprime all my brass I have, then prime all of it. I have 3 reloading trays so I do 150 a time when it comes to powder and seating. I'm sure everyone does it like this but just throwing it out there.

For the price of factory 9mm a Dillon is not even close to money ahead unless you are loading hundreds per week.

As stated above, hand prime for single stage loading. It's likely five times faster than on press priming. The RCBS unit takes standard shell holders unlike the Lee that requires a specific set.

RCBS Hand Primer CLICK HERE

I haven't used my Classic Turret for 9mm but it's about a 300-400 per hour machine on .357 once set up, probably closer to 500 if you hand prime first (I usually don't for that machine).

Lee Classic Turret Press CLICK HERE

(I paid $220 shipped for a kit with the above press plus a bunch of other stuff I use or traded/sold so the accessories in the kit were essentially free, check eBay)

I disagree as I am a metric junky on price. Assuming you get a smoking deal of 9mm shipped w/o shipping or tax to your door for $219, again a big if.... that is 21.9 Cents a round

Brass- Free in my case

.03 primer
.065 on bullet
.015 on powder

That is approximately .11 Cents a round

Assuming you only buy a 650 for 9mm and not incremental cost across other platforms

-$566-650 Cost New
-$65 9mm Dies Cost NeW
-$200 Misc Reloading crap

Total

$831

Factory Bought $219/1000 Reloaded $110/1000

Reloading Savings $119 per 1000 Payback period is 8300 rounds for 9mm only. That on 9mm is 1.5 years for me. That does not count the huge cost savings on 300BO or 7.62.

Bobs numbers are spot on. If you shoot very much there is a definete payout. I just finished loading 2900 rounds of riffle ammo (204 ruger, 22-250, 6mmbr)for a PDog shoot for me and my daughter. At todays prices on components I would have saved $1879. In reality most of my components are 3-5years old so my savings are substantially more!

Yup. Load everything, save no money, shoot waaaaaaaaaaaay more.

We go through a 1000 rounds an evening shoot, like a buzz saw.

You say you disagree but it looks like we're on the same page. I (and many others) likely won't shoot 10K 9mm the rest of my life.

100's per week would imply a qty over 100 all the way up to 999. 999x52 would equal 51,948, which the payback period would be 6.25 Weeks.

Reloading pays... In accuracy, frequency and killing time. Need to go swage some LC brass.

Great stuff! Thanks guys!

This has made me think about getting a turrent press....

A Dillion 550B would be a good option. Good luck with your
decision.