Suggestions for reloading 45 acp

[Schandler]

I have all rifle reloading equipment but would like to reload some 45 auto ammo and wanted to ask For opinions Suggestions on a press and dies. I have areas on benches set up for ppc/br and then others for 223 204 22-250 and then another area for hunting ammo. I’m thinking about another smaller bench and cabinet just for handgun ammo reloading and wanted suggestions for press and dies. I. Not talking Dillon stuff here - don’t mind one at a time but some of the self indexing might be ok but seem kind of cheap ? I use a forester for ppc br and I have a turret press i use for 223 204 and others and different heads for different calibers - this may be ok for pistol ? but have to ask about the auto indexing cheap lee stuff or others I’m not aware of. I don’t mind priming and loading powder one at a time or measuring each time for powder. I’m not reloading 1000 rounds at one sitting so with that in mind I’m looking for suggestions but it would be nice to have all dies set up so i won’t have to change for each stage once set up. Thanks for any info.

 

[El Matador]

I use a Hornady LNL for most of my handgun stuff. Even without the case feeder you can reload 5-10 rounds per minute once you're set up. I have tried it on a single stage but it takes so much time I don't think it's worth doing for bulk plinking ammo. Loading up a few hollow points or specialty rounds isn't a big deal on a single stage though.

 

[tominboise]

I've loaded thousands of handgun rounds on a single stage press, using a turret press and on Dillon equipment. They all work. If you have a turret press, you should consider using that unless you want more equipment.

I am primarily using a Dillon 550B for handgun rounds at this point in my reloading career. Note that I prefer the non auto indexing of the 550B as it allows me to make sure I want to move, or even go backwards if I want.

I load smaller runs (like 44 mag 300gr) on my Lee turret press. A smaller run to me is 50 rounds or less and also depends on my attitude regarding changing the Dillon to a different cartridge. The lee turret press has allowed me to set up all my dies once and then change quickly. Same with the dillon but the shell plate also needs changed and maybe the primer feed if going from small to large or back.

 

[Schandler]

Tom which lee turret press do you use ? And does it auto index or can you turn by hand ? Thanks

 

[tominboise]

I have the Lee 4 hole Classic Cast press. It has an auto index function but I have never set it up. I just index by hand.

At one point in my life I had 4 Dillon Square Deal B presses, for 4 different cartridges, as they are a bit involved to change over from one to another. I finally said the heck with it and sold them all. But I missed the capacity of the progressive press, so I traded into a Dillon 550B.

If looking for a progressive, I would look at the Dillon or the Hornady presses, based on what I have used and what I have read about.

But if I could only have one press, it would be the Lee Classic Cast Turret press.

 

[nicholst55]

I owned nothing but a Rock Chucker for many, many years. Loading pistol ammo on it got real tedious, real quick. A turret press is the absolute minimum that I would even consider using to load pistol ammo. Remember that with most rifles, if you shoot more than 40 rounds in one day, that's a lot - well, perhaps not if you compete, but you get my point. With a handgun, you may burn through 200 rounds (or more) in one range outing. I would much rather spend 20 minutes reloading those 200 pieces of brass on my Dillon than I would a few hours, reloading them on my single stage press!

As for dies, they all load serviceable ammo. Dillon dies do have advantages for use on a progressive machine (and disadvantages for use on a single stage press). I prefer Redding, RCBS, and Dillon dies for handguns, but I own and use many other brands.

 

[drano38]

Hornady LNL AP is what I have for pistol and .223
Since you already have a single stage, buy a set of dies, and a powder measure. That's about all you should have to add.
Then if you start burning thru lots of handgun ammo, upgrade to a progressive of some flavor.

 

[std7mag]

I use the Lee Classic 4 hole turret press for everything from 380 Auto through 338 Win Mag.
I also use the Lee carbide 4 die sets. No lube needed, and comes with the proper crimp die.

I use the auto indexing for pistol cartridges.
Twist & lift turret off, and swap for another turret for a different caliber in literally a matter of seconds.

I remove the indexing rod (literally lifts right out) for my rifle reloading.

I also use it when doing some light forming/necking up or down. Example would be 7X57 Mauser to 257 Roberts.

As long as you keep the cartridge anealed, i've done 7mm Rem Mag to 6.5mm Rem Mag.

 

[Schandler]

Fellas i appreciate the suggestions. I believe the lee classic will fit my needs and pretty inexpensive compared to some. I have the 3 die carbide set from lee that i purchased here when buying some spent brass. From looking at the advertisements i think all i will need is a way to prime the cases because i have a good set of scales. Anyone suggest the primer that goes on the Lee 4 hole or should i use a hand primer ? I have rcbs lee Sinclair - Also for pistol cartridges and 5 1/2 +- .01 gr will the powder dispenser be pretty close or would you just measure on the scale ? FWIW i don’t mind priming and measuring each by hand but looking for opinion

 

[SSL]

Back when I used the Lee turret press, I used a hand priming tool. I would size and de-prime and then prime while watching TV. I had fewer flipped or crushed primers than with the priming arms and that also gave me a chance to give the cases another good look before proceeding. I have long since moved to the Lee Loadmaster progressive and am glad I did. I had started shooting in informal matches and have three kids that love to shoot .45s. It was sort of self-preservation on my part since I didn't want to spend every waking moment reloading. Mine has the spare die heads and shell plates for .38 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP and .45 Colt.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Dillon Square Deal-B and don't look back.

 

[JTEX]

^what he said.

 

[MislMan]

For loading 45 ACP I use the Lee Classic Cast with the Lee Pro Auto-Disc powder dispenser. This uses round discs with holes of different sizes to dump powder. Select a hole size and dump a powder load. Weigh on your scales. Try different size hole(s) until you get to the load you want to use. Use that disc/hole From then on for consistent (+/- 0.1) drops from then on. This dispenser is self-resetting and drops powder every rotation. The Classic Cast is self-indexing and operates fairly quickly. I load primers by placing in the brass by hand/finger-thumb in cycle versus using the primer attachment (very simple). I can easily load 100 rounds in under 1 hour operating at a very moderate pace. Plenty fast enough for my needs. Also need the riser attachment for the powder dispenser.

 

[Cemetery21]

Some folks have trouble with the Lee primer feed on the Turret. With just a little fiddling, mine runs very well with both large and small. I also use the drum measure so a case never leaves the ram for four strokes.
Yes, I know a progressive would have completed 4 rounds in 4 strokes, but I have not needed the volume or time savings they offer.
I do appreciate the time savings in changing calibers. I load at least 3 calibers regularly.
After 40 years on a single stage, I'm satisfied with a turret for Pistol and some case forming that takes multiple steps. I would go with a progressive if I shot more of a single caliber.

 

[Schandler]

I’ve been looking at the 550 bl and the 650. The square deal might be an option too. Originally i wanted to measure my own powder each time but from what I’ve read the powder measure is pretty good especially for weighing 5. +- gr so I’m more open to progressive even one that indexes for you. I say I’m only loading for one cal but once i get started i may load for 40 and 9mm Too so the thoughts of easy change with each cal - that is pretty nice with not touching the dies or powder measure. Seems the 550 650 would be best option with changing to different cals so I’m leaning in that direction. Regardless of press i think i will prime by hand on all. Two problems though - Dillon site says 2 to 6 week delay and used is hard to find. I’m not in a rush for it but i keep taking the 45 out and shooting it because i can’t help myself. It’s like a smooth canon and I’m not planning on buying much more factory ammo even if i can find it on sale. If i am patient i still don’t think a used one will appear so maybe i should go ahead and pull trigger on a new one from Dillon. Used prices that i did find aren’t that great and they go for high on fleabay as well.

 

[TIMO]

The Dillon 550 works for me. I mostly use RCBS dies but added the Dillon seating die instead, I like the seating stem setup and ease of cleaning since I load a lot of lead bullets.

Tim

 

[spaniel]

Unless one is only loading a couple boxes I can't imagine using anything but a progressive for pistol ammo. I often do 44Mag and similar on the single stage, for a couple boxes of hunting rounds. But all bulk pistol ammo goes through a Hornady LnL. It's plenty fast for much less than a Dillon. And not overly complicated to change over.

I typically load 1-2 50cal ammo cans of each chambering (9mm, 40SW, 45ACP, 10mm) over the winter and that's enough to get me through to the next winter, then I reload them all.

 

[Dub]

A Dillon 550B has done all of my pistol loads for many years. I do 45ACP, 9MM, 38spl, 45 Colt and some 44-40. The quick change feature is so nice and easy.The small to large primers (or vice versa) is a bit of a PITA but still not bad.

 

[alintx]

550, all day , every day. I went thru all the others mentioned and finally bought what I should have in the first place!Does excellent on 223 also

 

[Schandler]

Done - 550 ordered but will come in pieces 2 to 6 weeks behind in orders and out of stock on a lot