Reloading Equipment

If you are curious about reloading equipment, read on. I have tried to create an information base, beginners to be sure, here for any interested parties. I will not say everything here is absolute. Among other reasons, such as the variability of the systems available, differences of definition which occur from user to user and manufacturer to manufacturer or even one field of science to another within the scope herein, is the fact that I am fallible. If you are not interested in a study of the general material, and are more curious how this involves me, then skip to the “***”. I will get on with it there.

What am I discussing? Fair enough, a good question for most people. I wrote the article below, starting at the “***”, and then realized many people have no idea about what I discuss in this piece. Reloading equipment is an equipment system used to reload (make ready to fire through a firearm again) already fired ammunition or it may be used to construct new bullets from new components so as to actually manufacture virgin ammunition. The primary piece of the system is called a press. This piece literally uses a pressing action in order to do a variety of tasks in the ammunition manufacturing process. For nearly each caliber of ammunition, a group of dies, powder dispensers, powder checking systems, capping devices, and other equipment may be used for a variety of those and other processes. The processes include actions such as: reforming the brass so that the bullet will fit properly; decapping/capping (removing the old bullet primer then placing a new one into the brass); adding the powder to the newly capped brass; adding the bullet to the brass, then pressing that into the brass to a specific and necessary depth. There are other potential steps in the process. As well, some men perform some of these steps by hand (using alternate equipment of course) while others use the press itself for everything, depending on the type of press to personal preferences.

There are four types of reloading equipment systems, only 3 of which are what I consider press based. The oddball is the “hand press”. These are little units one may build ammunition from with equipment which fits in the palm of one’s hand. It is very slow, and there are other difficulties with it. However, once I get going on this, I may consider such a thing because of it’s portability. Perfect for backwoods camping and hunting trips. Of the presses, there are three types. Single station presses, which allow only one function at a time to be completed. With this press, the manufacturer must, for example, resize all of his brass at one time (or whatever of his stock he wishes to work with). Then, he will need to reset to decap/cap (some presses allow the decapping and capping in one step). Each process will need to be run one process at a time, generally speaking. It is laborious, time consuming just because of the need to change out processes, and with those problems, the chances of interruption (not a good thing) increases. The next two types of presses have multiple process stations. How the processes are arranged and what processes are set in the system, beyond the necessities (decap/recap before adding powder by necessity of needing a new cap in place to hold the powder and the fact that once the powder is placed, removing and recapping would be unwise in more than one way, as an example), is quite up to the artist. Next is what is called a tower press. It usually has a set number of stations (often four or five process stations) which may be set to do the various processes involved. Sometimes it is automatic, meaning a pull on the press’s lever or handle will not only lower the press systems, activating the various processes, it will rotate the plate upon which the ammunition sits after the processes have been completed and the systems disengage the under-construction bullets, moving the ammunition to the next station for that station's process. Some of these presses do not do this, requiring the artisan to manually rotate the bullet plate. The next type is called the progressive press. These are always automatic (though they may have the option to be set to manual rotation of the bullet plate). These last are, by far, the fastest. They have their drawbacks, but few in my opinion, cost often being the turnoff for most.

Beyond the mainstay of the press, yet still equipment used in the process, one finds the need for everything from scales (for powder), calipers (to ensure the brass has been correctly formed and that the bullet is properly seated in the brass, to dozens of more and less essential additional equipment. Finally, the bullet components must be considered. Everything from caps (which ignite the powder in the bullet) to brass to powder (among several other consumable products), many types and manufacturers of these items must be considered, and then compared by firing the final constructed bullets with these various consumable goods, as one attempts to find the best shooting, least expensive, ammunition ingredient for the shooter’s purposes. I hope that helps.

***
I have been researching equipment which will allow me to load my own ammunition. After looking at the actual base equipment, types of equipment, and options of those pieces which are directly applied to the process, I find that the research only starts there. To give you an idea of how complicated it is, think of buying a car. Now, imagine if you bought the body, engine, tires, and interior components separately, down to the window handle (or electric window opener, with various speeds to choose from). As well, imagine that before you could use your car, you actually needed to buy or build a garage (garage = reloading station bench in this case, which is not vital, it is necessary for reloading). Ok, sounds complex right? Now consider that every single component I just spoke of can be economic to deluxe, often with several variations between the top and bottom rungs; that each company can make parts that work for both their and other manufacturer’s systems, though neither absolutely nor equally; that everyone says their products are the best (of course); and every end user believes the systems they have purchased is the best, or good enough, or foolish to spend more or less than what they have spent.

I have done years of research, as I said. And, yes, I could probably get into a functional system for $600 dollars. That is the minimum for a complete system, including press, dies, a press bench, and all non-consumable and minimal bullet equipment. However, like anything else, buying the cheapest is not wise, satisfying, or probably necessary. When the cost is spread over a lifetime, as these systems really will last that long, even double the cost is not unreasonable if the system works better and would be more enjoyable and practical to use, especially over a lifetime. The system I am considering, with every bell and whistle I see as truly worth my time, and within the parameters I absolutely must have (though not including bullets, powder, etc either) will cost about $1200 plus the cost of a bench.

This system will allow me to produce bullets by the piece or realistically scale production to near mass production of up to 4-600 bullets an hour in just about any caliber I would have interest in producing. It has a lifetime warranty unlike any other system, and that warranty is transferable, meaning if I gave it to a son or sold it to a friend, the company still warranties the press. The warranty is good, if something breaks (usually a minor piece, gaskets, o-rings, and typical culprits such as those being the huge majority of difficulty from what I have found), they will trouble shoot on the phone if necessary, then send (free) what is needed or suspected to be the problem. The press I am looking at is the Dillon 550b, initially set for the .45 acp. I also have plans for other calibers, namely the .500 S&W magnum and the .308. It saves a great deal on ammunition, allows for a far greater accuracy and regularity of ammunition, and it is definitely a nerdish activity, blue collar and yet as technological as I might care to engage. It is right for me, for a great variety of reasons.

Oh, any opinions are welcome. Any advice, as well, is more than welcome. I will have to see how money is this coming month, but I believe I am at the point where I will be buying this item as early as February, though as late as May. It would have been guaranteed this month, but because of the elimination of a chance for school funding, I am having to re-evaluate everything financial. As well, I did spend a bit more, thinking I would be a bit more set, so there is that too (Counting chickens before the eggs hatch and whatnot. Hush, You!). I will get there, but I am excited now.