Question

[Brad]

My 550 is about 25 years old. Long since paid for in the time I saved loading. My handgun ammo is done in batches of a single load per cartridge. Every 38/357 in the house gets the same 38special load. Brad ain’t got time for one load per gun or multiple bullets per cartridge.

 

[RBHarter]

Long since paid for in the time I saved loading.

That's the deal there isn't it .

 

[fiver]

yep.
when i was working in the patch it started out as 21 days on and 7 off.
if i wanted to shoot more than 2-3 rounds a month i needed to find efficiency,,, and find it fairly quickly.
i already knew about Dillon stuff since i had some down at dads place.
so i bought my own, then another one so i didn't have to swap primer sizes.
then dad wanted another 550 and swapped me for the L/S-1000 i had been using down there for years.
i'd already bought a 900, so there i was with 2 Ponsess machines and 2 550's.
then one day Dad called and said come get your reloading stuff, when i got there his 550 was boxed up, his 650 was ready to go and the 550 i bought to swap him was still in the box.
he also made me take the 950 Ponsess he always used, plus all the powder,primers,dies, etc. we'd bought over the years.

so now i got 4 550's [gave away the 450 i had] the 650, 3 Ponsess warren shot shell loaders, and over a half dozen Mec's in various gauges.
plus the Hornady 366 i started with.
not even gonna start on the Various 0-Frame presses, Powder dumps and scales i ended up with over the years... LOL
most of them got passed along to new guys wanting to get started, and i still have more than 2 people need.

 

[Brad]

Sounds like the drunken monkeys will end up just fine

 

[Matt]

I find the small case size of the 9x19 makes it the perfect candidate for a progressive reloading. Handling the small cases is difficult for me especially once they’re charged. Being able to dump them in the case feeder and start loading is pretty nice. With several 9mm pistols and a carbine or two you can go through a lot of ammunition. I load my 9mm on a Dillon RL 1000 that I’ve had for 40 years. This machine removes the primer pocket crimp as part of the process and easily loads 800 rounds an hour. Several hours loads the family 9mm supply for a year. The Lee 124TL bullet cast with two 6 cavity molds really makes bullet production easy.

Progressive or not case prep and inspection is important because of the crimped primers. Worse are the Berdan primers that occasionally show up. I believe in lubing 9mm cases even with carbide dies because of the case taper. I also have made several loading trays just for 9mm load development to make handling this small case. But I confess I only load the Lee bullet and a stout charge of 231 or HP38 these days. Works in everything and is more accurate than most FMJ factory practice ammo.

Lots of brass and bullets and a cool gun to shoot is always a good problem!

 

[fiver]

if only any of them knew what to do in there.

the boy shoots a 98-11 and he has a basic Kit like Trevor has.
a LEE scoop, some unique, and a pile of bullets for his rifle.
someone will still have to help him with the shell holder selection and probably observe his priming.
but he knows all the steps down pat.

 

[waco]

My Uncle bought the 550 I use today sometime in the mid 80's
I got it in '99 and still runs like a champ. It's more the enough press for the amount of shooting I'm able to do.