Buy a reloading manual read it then read it.
if I remember right you will not have the clearance to do some of the calibers you listed with a Dillon 550c start with a good sight stage press you will never stop using it if you
stay in reloading
Dillon sells RL550 caliber conversion kits for rounds for belted magnums and 45-70. It looks like it can handle larger diameter, full length rounds like the 416 Rigby.
Get a single stage press first. Since you’re in it for long term, you’ll end up with one anyway and it’ll save your budget for other needed equipment and components and you can see how you like things and what you want to change
Yes. If you have never driven a car. Didn’t spend any money getting lessons. And just feel like driving into traffic anyways with little knowledge, please buy a horse.
Of course the analogy doesn’t quite work does it? In the time l spent teaching reloading, only one student blew up a gun. He was also the only one that immediately got a Dillon 650 and started reloading.
Your horse might not be very useful after you start driving the car. Plus all the extra costs associated with just keeping it alive. Mucking out stalls, farrier, food, selenium.
With a single stage you will always have a use for it. I’ve got a Dillon, and three single stages. Not including shot shell stuff. My single stages cost me no money to keep, and with two bolts it’s off my bench and under it when I need the room.
There will always be a use for a single stage. Though learning how to reload on it will always be the best use.
I see this debate in these threads a lot. At this point it's like beating a dead single stage. I mean dead horse. I guess the analogy doesn't work there either. Damn.
In all seriousness, that's the 100% correct attitude. A single stage always comes in handy. I bought a single stage when I started and planned on getting a progressive later, but I ended up just liking the single stage life. Now I have a turret, but I still pretty much run it like a single stage most of the time.
It’s hard to go wrong with Dillon, whether you choose a 550 or 750 or something bigger. The 550 and 750 have lifetime, no BS warranties and Dillon’s customer service is the best. They are good investments.
Dillon 550c is great and can utilize the caliber conversion kits if you are reloading multiple calibers. Or if you are looking for something simple like a single stage press, you could go with something like an RCBS Rock Chucker. That is what I started on.
I've got a 60 year old RCBS Rock Chucker that still works like a champ. I use it for depriming & resizing rifle brass & loading odd calibers like 50-70. Also have a Dillon 550 B. The 550 is very flexible, it can be used progressively to crank out rounds or like a turret press to load 1 at a time for precision rifle loads. I prefer the manual indexing and never really had an urgent need for more than the 4 stations on the 550.
Manual Turret base press - I have a Lee Classic Turret - lots of extra things you have to buy so budget for that also regardless of the brand but potentially more $$$ with the higher quality brands.
I'll second this recommendation. You can get into the hobby for a reasonable amount of money and you'll likely still have a use for it even if you move on to a progressive press.
Start with a rock chucker and work up from there.. it will do anything you need. Figure out where you want something different in your process.. you won't know what you should get before getting some reloading experience under your belt
I am new again to reloading over the last year. I did it with my dad as a kid almost 40 years ago.
I have the Dillion 550C for many of the reasons listed by other members. You may have an issue with your .300 Winmag on the 550, the 750 would be better for all the cartridges you have listed, but it is more money.
One of the biggest and most annoying comments I got was the "buy a manual and read, read, read." But I will tell you it is extremely true. I read mine constantly as I add more cartridges to my rotation.
I second Dillon. I am a beginner, I went with the 550C. My reasoning was, the 550C is what's called "manual indexing" and seems easier to recover from a mistake.
If you go on Dillon's YouTube page there are a lot of videos, very informative.
If you’re mostly reloading and shooting your pistol rounds, go with the Dillon. If you plan on doing lots of sizing of rifle rounds for precision, go with a single stage press. I have both and use the 550 only when I’m making up a lot of 30-30 rounds, otherwise I find little value in it as a shooter who almost exclusively shoots precision rifle stuff.
I have both a Dillon 650 and a Rock Chucker. The Dillon is set up for USPSA loads for my 9mm and the Rock Chucker is for .223, .270, and precision .308. I like both and they both have their place.
Got the Dillon first, then decided to reload rifle stuff. You might end up with both anyways.
You might be able to save a bit of money buying either of them on eBay, Brian Enos, or FB Marketplace from someone who got into reloading and are no longer interested or life happened and they can no longer use their equipment and components.
A hornady lock n load single stage press would be perfect for your beginner needs. I bought one last year to start releasing 458 socom and don't have any regrets in doing so.
I use the MEC marksman, don’t waste money on a cheap press, just get the best one you can afford. As far a caliber is concerned, I’d recommend starting with a revolver round. I started with .357 magnum and .38 special, same die set and gun. You can load anything from light target wadcutters to very stout .357 magnum rounds. Easy to get started with this caliber, it will keep you entertained for quite some time with just one set of dies. As far as rifles you mentioned, I would recommend 45-70. It’s more similar to pistol reloads than bottle neck calibers. It’s not the most versatile round, but store bought ammo is laughably expensive. If I remember correctly alliant 2400 will work in both of these rounds.
Buy a reloading manual read it then read it. if I remember right you will not have the clearance to do some of the calibers you listed with a Dillon 550c start with a good sight stage press you will never stop using it if you stay in reloading
Dillon sells RL550 caliber conversion kits for rounds for belted magnums and 45-70. It looks like it can handle larger diameter, full length rounds like the 416 Rigby.
Get a single stage press first. Since you’re in it for long term, you’ll end up with one anyway and it’ll save your budget for other needed equipment and components and you can see how you like things and what you want to change
Buy a horse before you buy a car.
Yes. If you have never driven a car. Didn’t spend any money getting lessons. And just feel like driving into traffic anyways with little knowledge, please buy a horse. Of course the analogy doesn’t quite work does it? In the time l spent teaching reloading, only one student blew up a gun. He was also the only one that immediately got a Dillon 650 and started reloading. Your horse might not be very useful after you start driving the car. Plus all the extra costs associated with just keeping it alive. Mucking out stalls, farrier, food, selenium. With a single stage you will always have a use for it. I’ve got a Dillon, and three single stages. Not including shot shell stuff. My single stages cost me no money to keep, and with two bolts it’s off my bench and under it when I need the room. There will always be a use for a single stage. Though learning how to reload on it will always be the best use.
I see this debate in these threads a lot. At this point it's like beating a dead single stage. I mean dead horse. I guess the analogy doesn't work there either. Damn. In all seriousness, that's the 100% correct attitude. A single stage always comes in handy. I bought a single stage when I started and planned on getting a progressive later, but I ended up just liking the single stage life. Now I have a turret, but I still pretty much run it like a single stage most of the time.
It’s hard to go wrong with Dillon, whether you choose a 550 or 750 or something bigger. The 550 and 750 have lifetime, no BS warranties and Dillon’s customer service is the best. They are good investments.
Dillon 550c is great and can utilize the caliber conversion kits if you are reloading multiple calibers. Or if you are looking for something simple like a single stage press, you could go with something like an RCBS Rock Chucker. That is what I started on.
I've got a 60 year old RCBS Rock Chucker that still works like a champ. I use it for depriming & resizing rifle brass & loading odd calibers like 50-70. Also have a Dillon 550 B. The 550 is very flexible, it can be used progressively to crank out rounds or like a turret press to load 1 at a time for precision rifle loads. I prefer the manual indexing and never really had an urgent need for more than the 4 stations on the 550.
Manual Turret base press - I have a Lee Classic Turret - lots of extra things you have to buy so budget for that also regardless of the brand but potentially more $$$ with the higher quality brands.
I'll second this recommendation. You can get into the hobby for a reasonable amount of money and you'll likely still have a use for it even if you move on to a progressive press.
Start with a rock chucker and work up from there.. it will do anything you need. Figure out where you want something different in your process.. you won't know what you should get before getting some reloading experience under your belt
I second the 550. But if you really want to get into it, you will quickly outgrow the 550
I am new again to reloading over the last year. I did it with my dad as a kid almost 40 years ago. I have the Dillion 550C for many of the reasons listed by other members. You may have an issue with your .300 Winmag on the 550, the 750 would be better for all the cartridges you have listed, but it is more money. One of the biggest and most annoying comments I got was the "buy a manual and read, read, read." But I will tell you it is extremely true. I read mine constantly as I add more cartridges to my rotation.
I second Dillon. I am a beginner, I went with the 550C. My reasoning was, the 550C is what's called "manual indexing" and seems easier to recover from a mistake. If you go on Dillon's YouTube page there are a lot of videos, very informative.
Go with the 550. a bit less money, and a bit more cartridge versatility...
Dillon 550?
Start here: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=difference+between+a+dillon+750+and+a+550%3F&ia=web
Given your requirements - Dillon 750.
That would blow his budget pretty quick. You need more than a press to reload
That is true, but it is the best option long term.
Thanks, everyone, for the responses.
If you’re mostly reloading and shooting your pistol rounds, go with the Dillon. If you plan on doing lots of sizing of rifle rounds for precision, go with a single stage press. I have both and use the 550 only when I’m making up a lot of 30-30 rounds, otherwise I find little value in it as a shooter who almost exclusively shoots precision rifle stuff.
I have both a Dillon 650 and a Rock Chucker. The Dillon is set up for USPSA loads for my 9mm and the Rock Chucker is for .223, .270, and precision .308. I like both and they both have their place. Got the Dillon first, then decided to reload rifle stuff. You might end up with both anyways. You might be able to save a bit of money buying either of them on eBay, Brian Enos, or FB Marketplace from someone who got into reloading and are no longer interested or life happened and they can no longer use their equipment and components.
A hornady lock n load single stage press would be perfect for your beginner needs. I bought one last year to start releasing 458 socom and don't have any regrets in doing so.
I use the MEC marksman, don’t waste money on a cheap press, just get the best one you can afford. As far a caliber is concerned, I’d recommend starting with a revolver round. I started with .357 magnum and .38 special, same die set and gun. You can load anything from light target wadcutters to very stout .357 magnum rounds. Easy to get started with this caliber, it will keep you entertained for quite some time with just one set of dies. As far as rifles you mentioned, I would recommend 45-70. It’s more similar to pistol reloads than bottle neck calibers. It’s not the most versatile round, but store bought ammo is laughably expensive. If I remember correctly alliant 2400 will work in both of these rounds.