Dillon gear will be my breaking point

[Armyjimbo]

Man, does upgrading to a Dillon 1050 from a 550 ever cost. Thanks to BUDGET SHOOTING for getting me set up with primer tubes 110$ to my door. Dillon Precision got me the first of many conversion kits (.223 Rem), as my press is coming in 9mm. FYI tool heads are roughly 30-50$ for a 550, a toolhead for 1050 400$ ish. Conversion kits are about 100$ for the 550 vs the 105s0 200+$

I pickup my Dillon 1050 on Friday , but will be getting my brother on Saturday . So no loading until Monday probably .

Don't forget I live in Kanuckistan not USA

[Tugaloo]

The expense is my reason not to upgrade to Dillion or a modern presses.

During the BLM and Anti-FA era reloading equipment prices went off the radar. Even worse, some people knew more than the reloading manuals.
One I know collects late 1880s Winchesters. He decided to use magnum primers, At a 7 yard or so indoor range, his groups were huge and I'd bet the pressure spike was huge. With 10 or more holes in the target, he'd circle the 3 closest and claim that was his group..


I watched Port Protection, a show about people who live in Alaska. One was reloading with one of the old school Lee Loader kits. I didn't know people still used them..

[Garand]

My motto is that "8 months of shooting season, is followed by 4 months of reloading season". I have had both a Dillon Square Deal B & a 550, my brother in law has a 550. I had a squib load in the mid '90's which destroyed a good 1911, he had a squib load 2 weekends ago during the middle of a match. I'm still using a RCBS RS3 that I bought in '86 for making rifle ammo and a Lyman T Mag turret press for 6 calibers of straight walled cases. I just like the better control that I have over the quality of the ammo I produce.

[Armyjimbo]

We sold a few of the lee loader kits at the Kamloops gun show. Very popular still, I guess.. As a retired guy i find it's nice to hang out in the room of infinite evil as lieberals would name it. But now I can spend time organizing too, and boy do I need that without outside stressers

[Tugaloo]

Open the safe and make them cry. rofl!

For some people, they fit for them. I still have one; obviously, I never throw anything away. If I was the people at Port Protection, I'd buy a reloading scale and check loads online.

[Armyjimbo]

http://www.barnesbullets.com/Copper_Manual4/

Manual #5 Updates: http://www.barnesbullets.com/Copper_Manual5/
I've got some shelves, but need to close it in and sort it out.

[Tugaloo]

There is always work to do to get to where you want to be and IMO, it is worth it..

I have one reloading press mounted; however, it is a royal pain to dig out everything except empty cases.
It sounds as if we both have some serious sweat equity in our future. LOL

I have a detached garage with its own 200 amp panel.
I insulated it with R-13 and closed cell foam for the door. I still have to blow in R30 above the ceiling except it is way too hot now. It is over 90°
When we added an addition and converted the whole cabin to HVAC. As a result, I had a Mitsubishi mini-split system leftover. I installed it and had an HVAC tech vacuum the system and charge it.

[Armyjimbo]

I'll be adding a 5k 12vdc diesel heater from EBAY to my shop. So that will help in the winters.

[Tugaloo]

With your harsh winters, that will be a great upgrade. It will not only keep you comfortable, it will protect what needs protected.
I keep the garage cool in winter and let it stay warm in summer to avoid condensation from a cold night for NE Georgia and a 40° temperature rise during the day.
As we live on a mountain, to keep runoff from wetting the wood, the garage has two rows of concrete block to protect it. Then 8' studs as a result floor to ceiling is about 10' .

The gun safes have golden rods and desiccant cans. Initially, the problem was the concrete drying out. Slowly, the plan is coming together.

[Armyjimbo]

That mess is in my basement, That's why theres a break in the window plate. If theres a fire 2 of my neighbors who know me can warn the FD to mist that area, and save some excitement.

[Armyjimbo]

So here's what 3500$ Cdn gets. A Dillon 1050 with a whole bunch of spare parts, multiple things that cost a fair bit to get. So now I'm set with multiple primer tubes to allow a lot more uninterrupted running, as I now can prefill them. But I won't be getting one of the ridiculously priced auto fillers. (1000$ +). So I'll be bored out of my mind stabbing primers into the tubes.

[Tugaloo]

A Dillion is not only a press; it is the best press, period.

AFA, the auto fillers? Rome wasn't built in a day. It took me decades to have what is required to load all the calibers, I own. Today, I can. You will do well, my friend.

PS,
Set it up.

[Armyjimbo]

Yup it will be a bit before I'm as well stacked for calibers as I was with the 550. I've got a total of 4 toolheads for this. But right now I've got 3(4) conversion kits calibers. I'll be trying to add 1 conversion kit a month until I've got all I reload on the Dillon.

[Tugaloo]

I look at reloading as a WIP or work in progress. To attempt to minimize expenses, I try to avoid buying new calibers. The exception is if I buy another firearm in the same caliber or a RF.. There is always a way to get around the rules. LOL

Same as Garand, I have enough to last a lifetime.

[Armyjimbo]

I look at reloading as a WIP or work in progress. To attempt to minimize expenses, I try to avoid buying new calibers. The exception is if I buy another firearm in the same caliber or a RF.. There is always a way to get around the rules. LOL

Same as Garand, I have enough to last a lifetime.

Same here, for my single stage RCBS I have one of everything. But that's for precision bolt action stuff, but for the semi's & pistols. I like not having to consume spare time, that I could use to look at my belly button. I completely feel you on more calibers, while I don't have an elephant magnum caliber I do have the odd six and x54r. I have calibers from .22lr to those, but with the Grendel I don't need much more for what I hunt in BC.

So while i may get caliber envy, I'll come to my senses before I drag the wallet out. Much the same with this press, I now know I don't need anything but a couple conversion kits. With Dillon's outstanding warranty, I won't be buying parts I may wear out.

Correction one of these, for filling primer tubes.

https://www.amazon.ca/Hornady-050098-Lock-N-Load-Primer-Filler/dp/B00S3U0Z22

and one of these as this wasn't included. As the guy I purchased this from used it to prep ammo for sale, not reloading.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/primer-system-early-warning-kit_8_6_23628.html