New here, 1st post

[Don_M2]

Hello all,

I used to help my dad reload on an old Lyman or RCBS single stage press (too long ago to remember which). He used to reload all the practice ammo for his department and I would be 'volunteered' to de-prime & resize brass.

Fast forward many moons and I've taken a new interest in shooting, to where rolling my own has become relevant to help curtail the cost of practice ammo since I'm shooting multiple times per month. I recently upgraded from a 9mm S&W M&P 9c to an M&P 2.0 10mm and the cost of factory ammo also increased.

Since I don't need copious amounts (50 to 100 rounds per range session), I'm looking at an RCBS single stage press and set up and figure it shouldn't be too big of an ordeal to put out a few hundred rounds a month. I've already ordered a 2025 reloading manual and a friend is going in with me to reload 9 and 10mm ammo. My goal is to load 124gr 9mm to about 1,100fps and 155gr 10mm to 1,300-1,400fps to mimic our carry ammo (155gr Underwood @ 1,500 fps for me and 124 gr Federal HST for him).

I'll be using matching weight FMJ slugs in each caliber to work up the loads. I'm also looking forward to learning from you all.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Welcome.....

 

[brokeasajoke]

Welcome. It's a slippery slope. Before you know it, you'll be loading for everything with a lot more money in equipment and gadgets than you initially intended.

 

[Don_M2]

Welcome. It's a slippery slope. Before you know it, you'll be loading for everything with a lot more money in equipment and gadgets than you initially intended.

Don't I know it!
My intentions are simple (but we all know about good initial good or simple intentions). I'm just shy of 60 years old and I only own a few handguns (3, 9mm and one 10mm) so I only INTEND to get the 9 and 10 dies, but things always seem to change.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Welcome to the forum!
If one of these Lyman turret presses is anywhere close to your budget I would go that way. You can set up all your dies including a taper crimp and can completely load one round at a time this way. I don’t take time to use the primer tube deal and just place one primer in at a time when it comes to that rotation.https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/76257

 

[Don_M2]

Welcome to the forum!
If one of these Lyman turret presses is anywhere close to your budget I would go that way. You can set up all your dies including a taper crimp and can completely load one round at a time this way. I don’t take time to use the primer tube deal and just place one primer in at a time when it comes to that rotation.https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/76257

THANK YOU!!!!

That's awesome and perfect! Will be ordering it soon.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

THANK YOU!!!!

That's awesome and perfect! Will be ordering it soon.

15% off and free shipping here.https://www.brownells.com/reloading...s-smith-8-station-turret-press/?sku=539000084

 

[Don_M2]

15% off and free shipping here.https://www.brownells.com/reloading...s-smith-8-station-turret-press/?sku=539000084

If that thing holds 8 die, then I'll be able to set up for 9 AND 10mm and be good to go, needing only a shell holder swap to switch!!

 

[Cnsane]

Get handgun dies in carbide/titanium. Running a manual press for 200 rounds a week so you can shoot well is like having a nice lawn to look at. I remember when I thought mowing was fun. Welcome

 

[John Beauchamp]

Try Rocky mountain reloading for bullets. Been using them for years, good prices.,

 

[Don_M2]

Wow! My first post and I've already picked up some really good info!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

If that thing holds 8 die, then I'll be able to set up for 9 AND 10mm and be good to go, needing only a shell holder swap to switch!!

It does, I leave 38 Special and 9mm set up in mine.
The only slight drawback is the locking rings will be fairly close to each other and tightening the little cross bolt screws on them may take a modified Allen wrench. You could probably get away from that by using Lee’s locking rings.https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011199541?pid=334374

 

[John Beauchamp]

Welcome to the forum!
If one of these Lyman turret presses is anywhere close to your budget I would go that way. You can set up all your dies including a taper crimp and can completely load one round at a time this way. I don’t take time to use the primer tube deal and just place one primer in at a time when it comes to that rotation.https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/76257

I can't argue with this as I've never used one, might be confusing as to which die is which. I now use a dillon 550 but years ago I used a single stage and 3 coffee cans. first one was fired brass, second was sized third was primed. I had lots of brass and would just move it from can to can. Sometimes I would only have a few minutes to work and only when I dropped powder would I need to finish a shell. I use tite group powder in both 9 and 10mm.

 

[John Beauchamp]

Other than Dillon I've never seen a press mounted priming system I liked. I use an RCBS bench mounted priming tool. But I haven't used them all either. I'm 83 and been loading since 1958 so I've been through a lot of trial and many errors

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Other than Dillon I've never seen a press mounted priming system I liked. I use an RCBS bench mounted priming tool. But I haven't used them all either. I'm 83 and been loading since 1958 so I've been through a lot of trial and many errors

The one on that Lyman press works okay. There’s a little bit of a trick to it that helps, grab the shell holder between your thumb and finger on your left hand and center it with the ram each time when priming.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Wow! My first post and I've already picked up some really good info!

You'll not find a better more helpful bunch of like minded gun nuts.

 

[Don_M2]

15% off and free shipping here.https://www.brownells.com/reloading...s-smith-8-station-turret-press/?sku=539000084

I just might order it today.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

I would take a hard look at the Dillon Square Deal B. You will spend more time shooting and less time loading.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Welcome.

That's a lot of ammo for a single stage press! I suggest that it may soon become a drudgery or a full time job. Go for a Dillon. I have 2 550B's and I don't load for pistol ammo. You will soon appreciate the ease of using a progressive press and turning out 150 rounds of quality ammo in a hour or so - without the need of separate priming/sizing and seating operations. For your pistol needs, a Square Deal press is ideal - but should you want to load rifle ammo too, go for a larger press - a 550C would be fine.

 

[Don_M2]

@Pawnee Bill and @NZ_Fclass

I looked at the Dillon Square Deal B, and unfortunately it's WAY out of my budget. $750 is more like my entire budget.

I already know that a single stage press is more labor intensive with all the separate steps, but if I just do one step per day - resize/deprime then bell the case mouth and finally seat and crimp the round (all while watching YouTube), it shouldn't be the drudgery you might think. That's how I did it all those years ago helping my dad (no YouTube then, just a small black and white TV and a rerun of "The Green Beret" with John Wayne).