Shot my first reloads today...

What a satisfying feeling. Lower recoil, and they seemed more accurate. Still new to the 45, shot my best 5 shot group at 25 yards (maybe 6")? Got a ways to go, but this is fun!

Dave

Which and how much powder, and bullet?

Mixed brass, zero 185 LHPSWC, Winchester primers, with 6.4>7.2 gr Accurate No.5 (it's what was available at the lgs). 6.4 cycled the gun just fine (series 70 Gold Cup w/ 12# spring), and wasn't as dirty as expected. I wouldnt call it clean, though. No leading whatsoever. Loaded up some 6.0 and 6.2 to try.

Probably switch to bullseye, imr target, or wst after I get through this powder.

Dave

And so it begins.  Just keep telling yourself that 1000 rounds of Federal 185 gr Gold Medal cost $700 and a new Dillon XL650 will pay for itself very quickly.    

How right you are.... my wife got me an RCBS single stage for Christmas.... and I'm already thinking how a progressive would be so nice...

I cranked out 500 rounds last night in under 2 hours on a 550 without rushing. Progressive loading rocks.

I cranked out 50... in an hour. But they're really nice 

Dcforman wrote:I cranked out 50... in an hour. But they're really nice 

I shoot with guys who are very happy loading single stage and have no plans to change. Neither answer is wrong. Loading is fun and I think is another aspect to shooting bullseye that I like.

Powder puff loads are fun, and accurate.  I use 3.5 gr Bullseye with LSWCs. Lighter recoil spring, I think I have an 11# in my Gold Cup.

Ha ha. I agree 100%. I've actually really enjoyed it so far, and I actually like repetitive, solitary things (I run a lot!). Right now, I've got two little girls at home that prevent me from shooting more than a couple times a week, so a single stage is more than enough. I can definitely see how a progressive might beneficial in the future.

If you get into rifle reloading, the first time you cook up a load that gives you less than 1/2 inch groups, it will be memorable. I still have the target when I did it. 5 rounds at 100 yards measure 0.44 inches out of a $300 rifle.

FWIW, I still use a old Lee turret press with a custom bullet seater I bought off Ebay for lead SWC's.  I can get ~ 80 rounds/hour when focused.  The setup is very good for load development, and 60 rounds/hour is typical. 

I'm still contriving my Dillon XL 650 setup for 45 acp.  I'm looking into a temporary table or bench to load 1000 rounds in a day (afternoon), then store the unit since it will be only for one caliber.  That will probably happen a couple of times, then I'll set it up permanently after getting tired of disassembly and storage.

Yeah, I definitely have some room to speed up. I'm seating and crimping in separate steps right now, and I only have a combo die, so I have to dial each in between steps. I also need a stand for my powder measure, as I'm just mounting it on the press right now and can't get the entirety of my loading block under the dispenser. 

With another die and the stand, I think 60-80 rounds per hour is very doable without making mistakes.

A simple step up from a single stage is the turret press. Allows you to set all your dies once..

Never sell your single stage...

You also might consider using a RcBS Little Dandy powder measure and hold it in your hand over each shell in a loading block as you dispense the powder. It uses fixed cavity rotors so making powder adjustments is expensive. Or just hold your powder measure over the cases in the block though this is awkward and can be hard on the measure.

I will second Wobbley's recommendation of the RCBS Little Dandy powder measure if you are using a single stage press and cartridge blocks.  I find it really easy to just hold the measure over the case mouth and fill them one after another.  You can then look at all the cases to confirm that you have not missed any and or double charged one.  I use wooded cartridge blocks because they hold the cases further apart than the plastic ones (plus I have a drill press and lots of scrap hardwood).

Thanks for the advice guys. The RCBS powder stand is about half the cost of the little dandy, and I already have the uniflow measure, so I'll probably just go that route. I built myself a giant workbench, so space isn't really an issue. As an update, I had a couple FTF on my first batch. Gonna start a new post.

I still remember the day when I smoked my first skeet target with my first hand loaded shell.  In time I tweaked the shot pattern by adjusting the powder used.  Helped many shooters pattern their shotguns.  Even with metallic I get so much more satisfaction out the shooting sports by hand loading.

Over 150,000 shot shells loaded on a single stage MEC.  For handgun and rifle I still use single stage (Redding turret).  Never a bad shell or cartridge.  I never load for speed, always quality.  No way can I do anything like 60 an hour (metallic).  If I ever need a lot of HG cartridges I will consider the Dillon 550C.

The only way to make quality 3/4 oz 12 ga trap loads is handloading....

Dcforman wrote:Thanks for the advice guys. The RCBS powder stand is about half the cost of the little dandy, and I already have the uniflow measure, so I'll probably just go that route. I built myself a giant workbench, so space isn't really an issue. As an update, I had a couple FTF on my first batch. Gonna start a new post.

Make sure you have their 50 grain rotor in the Uniflow.  It comes with a 100 grain rotor for rifles and you'll get much better consistency with the 50 grain rotor.  I think Midway has them for about $40.  Reloading is a blast...pun intended.

Bigtrout wrote:

Dcforman wrote:Thanks for the advice guys. The RCBS powder stand is about half the cost of the little dandy, and I already have the uniflow measure, so I'll probably just go that route. I built myself a giant workbench, so space isn't really an issue. As an update, I had a couple FTF on my first batch. Gonna start a new post.

Make sure you have their 50 grain rotor in the Uniflow.  It comes with a 100 grain rotor for rifles and you'll get much better consistency with the 50 grain rotor.  I think Midway has them for about $40.  Reloading is a blast...pun intended.

Interesting. I didn't realize they had different rotors. I'm using the 100, but the throws have been pretty darn consistent. Been checking every 10-15 throws....

On a side note, I'm using the RCBS beam scale that came with the kit. The balance has 3 marks on the left, with the middle being the "target". Does anyone know how far "off" the other 2 marks are? Like a tenth? Or less? I suppose I could find out pretty easily myself, but I'm now home right now...

Dave

Just want to add anytime I have a question I am on the telephone to Redding.  Not sure about other companies supporting their products but worth a try.  I am sure others will contribute with their experience.

Zepp wrote:Just want to add anytime I have a question I am on the telephone to Redding.  Not sure about other companies supporting their products but worth a try.  I am sure others will contribute with their experience.

Good point.   My calls to RCBS were very informative and put to good use.

weber1b wrote:

Dcforman wrote:I cranked out 50... in an hour. But they're really nice 

I shoot with guys who are very happy loading single stage and have no plans to change. Neither answer is wrong. Loading is fun and I think is another aspect to shooting bullseye that I like.

I have both, and honestly  use the single stage (Co Ax) more that any other,

I also have a habit of prepping and loading in steps,
as in clean, lube, size, decap a pile
the prime with a RCBS table mounted primer  and put in holders,

then at my leisure I'll load (add primer and bullet)  50/100/etc that I need,  .

when I get a free moment I may be doing either of the above steps, just to have brass ready to load