High Volume Reloading

High volume reloading has its own challenges, primarily time and money. There are some basic principles to remember like speed costs money, brass management is important and small cost savings per round adds up fast. How fast do you want to go? If you have plenty of time you can manage with less equipment. If time is scarce you need to invest in more equipment. When I took up IPSC competition I had been a reloader for almost a decade. My reloading tool was a C-H single-stage press. Back then I had more time than money. I struggled gamely on, adding bits and pieces of gear as I could afford it. The three most appreciated accessories were a carbide sizer-die, RCBS automatic priming tool and an RCBS Little Dandy powder measure.

Mike Dillon transformed volume reloading, first by developing the excellent RL-450, then by going to direct marketing. The original 450 was a good buy at $365 and an incredible bargain at $185, factory direct. Today it’s called the 550 and costs a bit more, and it’s still a bargain. Other makers like Hornady, RCBS and Lee offer progressives at various price points. One of these progressives probably gives the best “bang for your buck.”

Top of the line is the great, the mighty, the magnificent Dillon 1050. Brilliantly designed, beautifully made, smooth, fast, reliable, durable — I can’t say enough good things about this wonderful machine. If the time taken to load magazines is included, I can load ammunition with the 1050 about as fast as I can shoot it.

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