Bagger Joe

What bbvdd said. I also have a 550b and it is a great machine. I prefer the manual progressive over the automatic because I can control it. I can carefully load about 200 rounds an hour of 9mm and speedball 300+. Dillons are great machines no matter which you choose. As others have said, components (powder, bullets, primers) are in very short supply now.

I have a few S&W revolvers and love them all! I have an old Model 12 that I carry sometimes. I have it loaded with 38+P rounds. If you are looking to shoot 357s, I would consider a L frame.

I would also recommend starting with a Dillon. Their lifetime warranty cannot be beat. I have called them with questions before and they wound up sending me new parts. Great company to deal with. Check YouTube for some videos on Dillons machies and reloading in general.

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Here is an online manual that includes a basic how-to section and a section on loading for competitions:

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LINK

On page 147 of this manual, it gives a description of NRA Action Pistol shooting. This is my game. This manual was written in 1998 and since that time more than 90% (probably closer to 95%) of the guns that shoot this match are semi-autos with the most being 9mm in the Production and Metallic Divisions and 38 Super in the Open Division. I shoot 9mm in the Open Division and reload a 115gr bullet that goes about 1250fps. It combines speed with accuracy. I've been going to the Bianchi Cup for a few years now and am already registered for this year.

Not many I’m sure. He’s a pretty good speedway driver but with a new team this year. Had some good times in practice but never thought he would go that fast.

Fantasy Live

Some new rules this year. Check the link.

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Give it another five years and maybe you'll have it figured out

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Ha! Thanks but I’ve gotten it figured out just fine. Some people who shoot pistol and rifle competitions reload to tune the round to their barrel. Working up loads for accuracy like that can be fun and rewarding. Sometimes it’s not all about the money.

If you don't figure in the cost of your reloader and everything else that goes along with it, then you are doing it wrong. You can't just add up the cost of the components to load a round and subtract that from off the shelf stuff and say you are saving money because you have an initial investment that has to figure into the equation. The more rounds you load over time the price will go down, but it will take a long time to "save money".

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Didn't realize we had so many reloaders here.

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Yes. There are a few of us on here and we do enjoy talking about it. I'm a handgun loader myself so I can't add a lot of info about rifle. Loading a dozen or so rifle rounds just seems like torture to me. I loaded 500 9mm rounds this past weekend. I had a good friend (he passed last year from cancer) who loaded and shot rifle and pistol competitively and he enjoyed working up rifle loads. The only advice I might offer is use "book loads" as starting points to customize the best load for your gun. Tweeking a powder charge by +/- 0.1 or 0.2 grains may make a difference in the accuracy of your gun. As others have said, I would recommend investing in a chronograph, especially if your working near the limits.

Keep us updated on your progress.

So sorry to see this. Peart and Keith Moon were the greatest rock and roll drummers of all time.