time to start thinking in terms of components. Primers, lead, powder, brass, and of course a progressive press. Varget works well I'm 223 cases. I have a hornady lnl progressive, it's a real nice press for the cost. Don't waste your time on a lee. Dillons are very good but expensive, customer service second to none. A dillon 650 compares to the hornady.
I can load 100 rounds in 15 minutes on mine. My at will take brass 2-3 times before trimming. Usually.
By the way you can buy the federal black box 500 rounds for about 200 bucks. I won't use wolf myself.
Rio,
What is a Varget?
For short cases, the Lee does great for the money. If only loading 9, 40 and 45s I would have no hesitation with recommending it to anyone. I made 10's of thousands of 9mm with one. Once I moved up to .44mag, though, that was a different animal. Too much slop in the turntable and the cases would get shavings peeled off. But since my 629 did not hold 15 at a time and I ain't near burley enough to rip out a couple hundred in a couple minutes...Rock chuckers rule for the big brass
My Dillon 550 is a dream come true. Spits out .40 S&Ws like a factory. Making 30-06 upto .300 Win Mag specs, almost...I'm not blowing up any more guns in my face..twice was enough.
I'll temp the Fates twice...3rd time could be the charmer. Ouch!
Oh yeah, I'm set up with a dozen die sets and enough components if all assembled could supply an invasion....
Varget is a Rifle powder made by Hodgon, meters and shoots a real nice ar 15 load in 223.
We might have to differ on the lee. I had a loadmaster it was a trotline weight at best. Their O frame press is good for the money, but I have no experience with the other turret presses. Dies are alright for the recreational shooter.
I like the 550 for it's versatility, although caliber changes are a little expensive, but that is the price you pay for loading multiple calibers. I almost bought a Dillon 650 last year but I bought the Hornady LNL AP instead. I have been real happy with it for the cost difference.
I will say If money and quality are tops Dillon is it, they put a lot back into the shooting sports.
What powder do you use in your 40 S &W ? I use Unique and Hp 38, versatile and meter well.
Rob
Now that the kids and ex's are gone, my thought process on the Dillon, (Browning, Swarovski etc.) is... as long as you get the best, you'll have fewer regrets. I just returned to shooting/reloading after a 10 year lag...so I'm not experinced yet with the new stuff. In the old days, (as is now so far) my main powder for small pistol is Unique (9mm 3.8 gr. 147gr with magnum primer is xlnt sub-sonic for a "hush-puppy" with some Ft./Lbs at the far end) The Thompson Contender .44mag H110 and H4227 for the XVR .460 S&W.
I made zillions of cartridges with that old Lee Turret bought it in 1984. Even a few .300 Win Mags, Ok I said a few then I found a heckuva deal on a RCBS
I see that Hp38 is a W231 clone which like Unique has a broad spectrum for hand guns. Since I'm familiar with and don't have any 231 on hand, might have to give the hp38 a try.
When you get ready to shellout for that new Dillon, go to www.brianenos.com, he is very knowledgeable and will steer you to the right Dillon. I have a buddy that has both 550 and 650, the 550 is manual index, casing inserts left side, take your hand off a handle insert bullet left side. I just didn't like a the fiddling. Seems like an over glorified turret press to me. Makes damn good ammo though. You can't get a rifle shell case feeder for it though only pistol.
The 650 is the caddilac though. It will be my next one more than likely. If you bought it and didn't like it you will still get your money out of it. Dillons have incredible resell value.
It's already here in my office. I rather prefer to have some "hands on" with my reloading to maintain focus. To date, I've never had a DUD or an unintentional hot load (made some screamers, locked up some actions...how else ya gonna know when to back off on the powder?).
Fortunately, I only have 1 rifle, a 30-06 and it rarely gets shot and never hunted with it. It is a Belgium Browning from the early '70s, closest thing I got to a collector.
I'll know when I'm rich because, I'll have a car I don't want to drive and a gun that's never gonna get fired.
But, yes, all the things you mentioned + and - were the reasons I weighed my choices and went for the 550. Money was Not a factor. And another thing is I always size/decap, polish, then use a hand primer and feel for the proper seat depth. I mainly just like having all my dies preset on their own individual tool racks ready to go with just minor adjustments when changing bullet shapes.
BTW...did I tell everyone Wolf ammo SUXXXX!!!!!!!
knew it would, but just had to prove it for myself
Wolf ammo is sold to people to prove to themselves they should buy good ammo. Seriously, why put that crap through a good high dollar rifle.
Did I mention my new custom built at will be ready in two weeks? Varmints better be ready. Help let's all go shoot, seems there is nothing else to do.
Rio,
Gonna break it in with some Wolf?? (ark,ark, ark...)
What caliber? action? BBL length?
Come on out to Billings, Mt... got more dirt dogs than people!
My next project don't start till 1st of March.
I might take up on that. Likewise if you get down my way.
I stayed with 223, 20" stainless, full float round fore end, full stock, all rock river parts. Lots of 20 round mags. I almost got it in 260, but I can load some pretty raunchy 223's.
My whole take on the wolf or other economy stuff was to gain familiarity with the gun, and this baby will quaff the ammo like a salted herd of cattle on the way to market!
The lacquer was probably used to prevent rust on the cases and to moisture-proof the powder and primer seals...military thing, but not U.S. specs for sure.
As far as reloading, I found a heck-uv-a deal on 1000 once fired 9mm brass for the bench-n-press work (Dillon 550 or similar progressive is the only way to go for hi-capacity "ammo eaters" and probably has enough push for .50BMG's).
Definately do not wish to spend the time prepping for Berdan Primerpockets.
Newest challenge will be Customizing 9mm loads for a carbine length barrel burns ie. slower powder. In the past, I made hundreds of test loads for 30-30 to pislol (10"barrel) and .44 mag to 10". Both. calibers eventually performed with hunting acceptable accuracy out to 300 yards, and yes the Thompson Contender did put meat in the freezer. Pistol hunting combines the stalk of the bow hunters with the knockdown power you only get with a well placed powerful bullet! Plus, the single shot gun means one shot, one drop...if not 10000% sure, I don't pull the trigger.
Ammo and reloading components are being priced to an inconvienient level (just whining, please do not turn this into another incessant political rant!)
Back in the '90s, we used to partner up and buy 1100 rnd lots of Norinco .223 for $105 bucks. After about 10 minutes with AR 15 and Mini 14 barrels smoking, the 3 of us would look at each other and say "That sure was FUN...now what?"
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