Too be a student of reloding

[Pat D]

It is very interesting how much I have learned over the last few years with reloading. I got a Dillon press in 1995 and I have been using it ever since. I have had the time to research on the inter net lately and I can see that I should work on up grades for the press and possibly having it rebuilt because i notice the press is getting more slack in it. I truly believe it is important to be a student with what we love to do and with life.

[Nuclearcricket]

As a student of reloading there is a vast amount of information to learn if you want to. The biggest thing to learn is if you are not sure about anything, step back and look again, if your still not sure, lean to the side of caution and work up from there.
You don't say what model of Dillon you have. I have one I have had for over 30 years and it still works just like it did the day I unpacked it. If its getting sloppy contact Dillon as they have one of the very best warranty's in the industry.
If you are considering taking the step into reloading Black Powder ammunition I would suggest you take a look at the Co-Ax press. Its a good sturdy press and offers some advantages over other presses, but its not perfict as it has a few drawbacks as well. The big plus I have found with the press is that the dies can float a little to allow everything to align and be a bit more concentric. The down side is the priming system on that press is a bit of a pain and is slow. However you can use a different method to prime your cases that is faster.
On my loading bench I have a lyman press, a Co-Ax and an old Dillon 450. The Lyman is about brand new as I really don't use it. For volume stuff I will use the Dillon and everything else goes to the Co-Ax.
If you get into casting your bullets and such, reloading can be a very rewarding practice. If you have to buy all of your components, I am not sure any more if reloading is a cost savings, but its not a practice I am going to give up any time soon.
Best of luck to all your adventures. And welcome to the site.
Sam

[Fogman01]

Pat,
Years ago when I lived in Tucson, Dillon's son was in the National Guard with me. He invited me to bring my Dad up to the Dillon factory. My Dad was a big reloader and he loved their factory. The Dillon family is as nice as they can be. They treated him like a king with a personal tour of the factory and their airplane hanger. I have one of their 550 presses and so does my brother. The powder measure on it is the most accurate I have ever used. I have nothing but respect for Dillon and all they have done for reloaders. Hope you study loading black powder - very satisfying!

[Tom Herman]

Frogman,

Thanks for the Dillon story!
I am a fan of blue products... I also have the RL-550, and have put well over 100,000 rounds through it and it's still going strong.
I use it for my high volume work, and the Rockchucker for my larger, older cartridges.
I don't shoot competition, or go through much ammo, so the Rockchucker is more than adequate for all of the BP rifle work.
As an aside, I called the Dillon folks up maybe ten years or more ago and asked them why they don't do larger cartridges like the .50/70, and it turns out that there is an upper end diameter wise that can accommodate cartridges, so I have that answer.
Again, no biggie!

-Tom

[Fogman01]

Tom,
I haven't got my Dillon out since we moved into our present house years ago - When I started shooting black powder cartridges I started loading them with the Rockchucker and never quit. I haven't loaded smokeless in a very long time. I could get the Dillon out and put my dies into the interchangeable blocks and never have to unscrew another die again. I have several calibers to load for so it would save time. But I have the time and I don't mind going slow and being very deliberate with each cartridge. I loaded 400 cartridges for the Ben Avery 1000 yard matches last year and will probably finish up with 500+ for this year's matches there... all on the Rockchucker. Besides I think my wife doesn't mind if I spend more time instead of less time in my loading room downstairs.

[Old Jim]

My first generation Rockchucker press has been fastened to a bench somewhere in these USA for about 40 years or longer. These days, I have thought about a new one, but then why. There has been 1000s upon 1000s of white-powder and black-powder loads made to order on that old press.
Just keep it clean and replace a worn piece once in a while and its good for a life-time. Thanks RCBS for inventing so many fine tools for all the reloaders around the world!

Jim

[Kurt]

I'm with you Jim on the Rockchucker press. My press started to get a little wobble with the ram so I just ordered a new one and use the old for cutting wads or seating primers. I could put a new bushing in the old one but it's still running as it is.
I also have a Big Max that I use for forming cases and swaging pistol bullets with the CH-4-D dies.