This is great advice. Progressive presses are too expensive to buy practice machines with the intent to replace later.You can disable the auto index if you want or learn it one case at a time. That's like buying a kids bike with training wheels when what you want is a motorcycle. Just buy the motorcycle, take lessons, and learn responsibly. Buying two machines is a waste given the learning curve delta is negligible for a reasonably intelligent person.
I started with a 550 progressive, the learning curve isn't that bad.
Anytime I’m working a new load, I do a run of 10 individually and test shoot them before any serious production begins.
I appreciate all the advice. I have been researching and thinking about it, and an inexpensive single stage may be the way to go. I have the tendency to get too excited about something and go all in quick! Probably why a year ago I didn’t own a gun, and now I’m at the range 3X a week. I was looking at the Lee, and the kit with the press, powder measure, and primer tray isn’t that much, and die sets are only $50. And even if I eventually got a better press later, I could always keep the Lee set up for a caliber I don’t shoot a whole lot. One question I have is, are the dies interchangeable between presses? Or would I need all new die sets if I went to a Dillon?
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Besides the press, I’m getting a list of stuff I will need. I know I will need dies, a tumbler with tumbling media (my workspace is in my garage so I’m getting a dry tumbler with corncob or walnut shell media), small pistol primers (gonna start with 9mm reloading), bullets, powder, and a digital scale. I have digital calipers. Ive heard people mention case trimming, and cleaning the primer pocket, but on the videos I have watched it looks like they just clean the brass, and start loading. Does the brass need to be trimmed and the primer pocket cleaned on 9mm brass?
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Hope your garage is air conditioned. I don't think anyone trims pistol brass. Lyman has a little inexpensive kit with a deburr, primer pocket swag and cleaner. I do run that in the primer pocket. Lets you physically check the brass and remove pieces of media that may be stuck. When you do .45ACP it's nice to be checking that primer pocket as there are small and large primer pockets and you need to separate them out.Besides the press, I’m getting a list of stuff I will need. I know I will need dies, a tumbler with tumbling media (my workspace is in my garage so I’m getting a dry tumbler with corncob or walnut shell media), small pistol primers (gonna start with 9mm reloading), bullets, powder, and a digital scale. I have digital calipers. Ive heard people mention case trimming, and cleaning the primer pocket, but on the videos I have watched it looks like they just clean the brass, and start loading. Does the brass need to be trimmed and the primer pocket cleaned on 9mm brass?
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Besides the press, I’m getting a list of stuff I will need. I know I will need dies, a tumbler with tumbling media (my workspace is in my garage so I’m getting a dry tumbler with corncob or walnut shell media), small pistol primers (gonna start with 9mm reloading), bullets, powder, and a digital scale. I have digital calipers. Ive heard people mention case trimming, and cleaning the primer pocket, but on the videos I have watched it looks like they just clean the brass, and start loading. Does the brass need to be trimmed and the primer pocket cleaned on 9mm brass?
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