Recommend Press

[skim]

Hello, I'm new to High Power shooting and reloading. Sure would greatly appreciate any advise on what press to purchase. I want to load 223 and 308. What do ya think about the Co-Ax or Dillon 550? Thanks!

 

[rstreich]

Personally, I'd go with the Co-Ax as I love mine. However, a lot of High Power shooters love their Dillons for cranking out the large volumes.

robert

 

[cfsindorf]

Take some very well thought out advise. If you are going to make LOTS of rounds go with the dillon. it is easy to make lots of rounds of each calber. But if you are just going to be the average, I know what is average, compition shooter then save the money and get the COAX. Spend the extra money on components.

This will be really true if you already have a powder measure and a couple other tools of the trade. Now if you are starting out and you are going to get the entire rig, then maybe the dillon. This would be because by the time you bought a COAX for 210 or so and all the stuff to make the first round you would equal or pass the cost of the dillon 550b.

I have 3 dillons and a COAX and the COAX will be all my rifle and each dillon has its pistol use.

 

[savet06]

I don't use either one, but one of the members here uses a Dillon with a quick measure powder measure and achieves excellent results with it,+/- 0.1 grain powder accuracy). He cranks out some serious numbers of rounds from what he has written. I have heard nothing but good things about Dillons from the multiple sites I visit.

 

[reloader243]

Started like a lot of guys new to reloading, with a Lee single stage. It works. Then, again like most, I went looking for a bit more presision, so the Redding T-7 was looked at closely. Love it, no play in the turret,setup and install my dies in several turrets,never have to change setup. & stations allow room for anything I need.I use one station for powder charging,use a Lee charging die with a Redding powder funnelpressed into die top)no more need for fiddleing with loading trays.Just for low volume reloading. Also have an older RCBS press,love the auto shell holder this press has, no shell holders to change from cal. to cal.I also use a good frields Dillon,....I'd not part with the money for it,I'd buy componets)but if I had the extra money....THAT is one great press.It just works as advertised.

 

[skim]

Hey everyone, thanks for all your thoughts. I guess I've got some thinking to do as I'm sure all the advice given is sound. I'll let you know what I decide. Thanks again!

 

[Travelor]

First, welcome to high power shooting and hope you enjoy it.

The answer depends on how many rounds you are shooting at at which ranges. For XC shooting with a high volumn of ammo used the Dillon is THE ticket. For Palma or 1000 yard shooting the Forster Co-Ax is THE ticket.

I have both presses and both are QUALITY tools, but for different purposes. My wife and I shoot 1000 yard F-Class and need bery precise ammo. On a weekend we shoot 300 rounds total between us. I am fortunate to be retired and have a lot of time on my hands when needed. Loading 300 long range rounds on the Co-Ax press takes a WHILE even with a RCBS ChargeMaster doing the powder dispensing. But the quality is superb and the results are totally dependent on my shooting abilities.

If I were to load 300 rounds on the Dillon it would take under 1 hour! The only trade-off with the Dillon as I see it is the powder charging as I weigh every charge for this type of shooting.

If possible, try to bring a Junior shooter along after you get your feet on the ground.

Everything in this world seems to be a compromise.

George

 

[kimberguy2004]

I'm just getting started in reloading for rifles. I have a Dillon 650 that I started with, but i found that some of the extruded powders do not meter well through the Dillon. I ended up taking every case out of the holder and weighing the charge, since I didn't trust it to throw correctly. Using the Dillon as a single stage press and the constant removing and reinserting cases got to be a real PITA, so I ordered a Rockchucker to load rifle. I'm only going to shoot club matches and load varmint ammo, at least for now, but by doing it by hand, I feel better knowing that by trimming cases, chamfering case mouths, deburring flash holes and trickling powder, I'm at least putting together the most consistant ammo I can. I thought I would get impatient with the single stage press and swapping dies, but there's actually some theraputic value to it.