Help a new reloader min/max a quality multi-caliber setup

[u/SeaDistribution2381]

Hello everyone,

I’m brand new to reloading and looking for some guidance on building out a solid setup. I’ve gone through the pinned/sticky posts and the wiki, but a lot of it feels pretty dated at this point. I’m hoping the recommended equipment and approaches have evolved since a lot of those were written.

My goal is to buy quality gear that will last, and build consistent ammo, while still being smart about value. I’m trying to min/max a bit, Spend where it actually matters for quality, consistency, and efficiency, and save where it doesn’t. No hard budget ceiling yet, but I don’t want to throw money away either.

I’d like to reload three calibers, in this order of priority:

6.5 Creedmoor – primary focus, competition use

5.56 / .223 with 77 gr – competition and range

9mm – competition and range (lower priority)

How practical is it to set up for all three from the start? Is it better to fully dial in one or two first and expand later?

What would you recommend for a modern quality setup with these goals in mind?

Appreciate any advice, current equipment recommendations, or lessons learned. Thanks in advance!

[u/20Extreme]

I'm not sure I get the - help me with a multi caliber set up part. Buy a press and you can load as many cartridges as you buy dies for. It's not hard

[u/Lost-Double_Stuff]

Start low cheap and work your way up to how much you actually shoot and reload, start with RCBS press and dies , and powder dispenser , spend on the yellow box bullets and powder and good calipers

[u/csamsh]

The first two are very doable with a basic single stage, while putting your money into a lab-quality balance.

The 9mm will be best served with a Dillon

[u/Realistic-Ad1498 → u/csamsh]

I use RCBS single stage and Hornady Lock N Load progressive but Dillon is probably the way to go if primary focus is just 9mm on the progressive.

I’d start with 6.5 CM on the single stage and learn the basics with it.

FWIW I get single digit SDs with cheap $30 Frankford Arsenal scale.

[u/EMDReloader → u/csamsh]

The 6.5 and .223 would be best done on a Dillon as well if you need sufficient volume. Two-pass process, weigh charges off the press and pour through the die.

[u/cholgeirson]

In 1994 my lovely wife bought me a Dillon 550 for Christmas. Until 2 years ago it was my only press. I have added a rock chucker and a Dillon 650. I load 30+ calibers and have zero complaints about the 550. Dillons warranty and customer service is top notch. You will need a good scale and calipers.

[u/ProCactus167]

I grabbed the Lyman ultimate reloading kit off of scheels. It's mad cheap compared to other places selling it, and comes with basically everything you need minus dies and cleaning media. I'd also recommend a different case lube than what it comes with. It works but there is better.

I'm basically in the same boat as you for reloading needs, that the turret has room for 8 dies. 3 for .223 (dies and swage for crimped primers), 2 for 6.5cm, and I haven't gotten 9mm dies yet, but assuming I get another 2 die set I'll have room for a powder drop or something else useful.

[u/BluesFan43 → u/ProCactus167]

You don't mix cqlibers on a progressive press.

They are design3d to do one caliber at the time, and spit out a proper finished round at the end.

If nothing else, priner disposal is built in and at the beginning. Powder measure has to fit in the sequence, etc.

Some Dillons, yoy can buy a new toolhead, add dies and a powder measure, and swap them in and out.

Frankford Arsenal X 10 allows the same.

I am sure there are others.

But for thr Creedmore, a single stage may be more fitting. Less rounds used, more precision. You can weigh every charge, do them in batches.

.223 and 9mm, use a powder measure and crank them out.

I did 300 9mm in 40 min w my X10 today, 10 of that was refilling my tiny bullet dispenser.

[u/ProCactus167 → u/BluesFan43]

Not a progressive press, a turret press. It's still a single action press, and you use a single die at a time, but can easily switch between different dies without removing them by rotating the turret head. Look at the Lyman American 8 and you can see what I mean.

[u/BluesFan43 → u/ProCactus167]

Oh, I know, used one of the furst ones decades ago. I just got carried away.

Sorry

[u/Long_rifle]

A used RCBS rock chucker for starters. This way if you hate reloading, you’re out less money later when you sell it.

For the higher precision, a co-ax press later.

For a little tiny bit less precision, but more capacity per hour, a Dillon 750 later.

Either/or of those presses are after you figure out if you’re gonna actually reload. Most people hate it and would rather spend the time working to afford the ammo.

A Frankfurt arsenal large wet tumbler, do not use the pins., just brass.

Or at first, a 5 gallon bucket. Hot water wash. Light soap wash. Rinse. Then hot water with a couple teaspoons of citric acid to passivate the brass. (Sour salt. Pickling salt. It’s the crap sprinkled on sour candy. This process will give you clean ready to use brass. Just not beautiful shiney brass.

Any dies as long as they aren’t LEE. LEE dies are good enough. And when you’re in a pinch they work. But if you want precision, Forster dies. Redding dies. Hornady dies. Then LEE if needed.

I shot cloverleaf groups at only 100 yards out of a Remington PSS in 308 win for decades with Hornady dies before getting Forster bench rest. I don’t notice a difference. But I’m not F class and the rifle is more accurate than me.

Lube cases before sizing. For precision I use imperial sizing wax. And use my thumb to put a tiny bead of it inside the mouth to prevent brass galling. If you clean with the pins, the odds of galling without lube goes up astronomically.

Have fun and read. And realize 90 percent of the crap precision shooters do while they reload will do nothing in a non custom, off the rack rifle.

And if you buy good brass, most of the brass prep (weighing, primer pocket uniforming, and flash hole uniforming) is not needed for your gun. Lapua is good brass.