Best reloader for moderate skill?

[Lightsped]

What is the best reloader for someone who has moderate skill at reloading? Mostly interested in reloading 9mm, 40, 45, and 223. Budget is around $400-$500.

Is the Hornady "Lock N Load AP" any good?
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-AP

 

[JBKnifeworks]

Yes

 

[dial1911]

Nothing wrong with Hornady presses, but I was raised on RCBS. And regardless of skill level, you can run any press but it does take care and attention to detail. Just check dimensions and weights at every step and you will turn out good ammo. Don't get in a hurry to start with and check everything. Once you have a good feel for what your equipment will do, you can start reducing the "quality checks"... but be sure of what you've got before you stop checking things.

Regardless of how many rounds you turn out, it's worth checking every so many rounds- screws sometimes get loose and pulling bullets is a huge pain.

 

[Slim Chance]

The very first thing you should buy is a good reloading manual. The ABCs of Reloading is a good book to start with.

 

[bulletpaluza]

Depends on the quantity of ammo you plan to crank out.

 

[blazedawg87]

For what you plan to do you may want to find a cheap single stage to "get your bearings about you" before trying to crank out ammo. Progressive is going to yield maximum numbers. I started loading this year (6 months) and im not comfortable enough with the process to dive into a progressive. Next step will be a turret for pistol rounds. Nothing can replace a single stage for absolute precision in my mind.

 

[Lightsped]

The press isn't for me.

A friend of mine does our reloading. He is using an old 1970s era RCBS press. He cranks out one bullet at a time. He says he can do about 25-35 in an hour. He is fairly knowledgable about the different primers, powders, etc.... He had mentioned several times that he liked the Hornady LNL AP press. This will probably be his Christmas present unless there is another press that would be better suited to him.

 

[bulletpaluza]

I just got a dillion 550 I have years of loading experience and once an odter gave me a hand setting up since there was no instructions it is a breeze.

 

[blazedawg87]

For that money get a Dillon.

 

[dial1911]

Oh- that's different. Personally I wouldn't let (almost) anyone else shoot my reloads. I'd feel way too bad about a problem round damaging their gun or worse, hurting someone.