I’ve been contemplating acquiring one of these presses. I’m in no rush, but I think I’d like to start with .22 (or perhaps .30) and .357 calibers. I’m considering swaging and pouring my own slugs for practice and hunting. I’d likely like to learn to pour my own cores as well. In the meantime it’s helpful that NSA offers spools of lead now. I’d probably order the press with the expectation of at least a 6 month lead time and then purchase dies and other accessories whenever.
After becoming air independent I like the idea of having control over the size and weight consistency of my projectiles. Considering I’ve been trapping most of my lead for the last couple of years, I’ve got enough to recycle for a while. I’m not too concerned with the cost factor concerning a return on investment. This is more a convenience thing. It’s something to do that I think I may enjoy, another facet of the hobby. I’m thinking long term here.
I’ve been reading about presses, certain types of dies, and watching videos for around a year. I like the popular entry-level Corbin setup. I’ve just gotten to the point where I’m trying to learn the basics of ballistics (and I do mean the basics). Up until now I’ve been content with being able to hit what I aim at within the first two shots.
My questions are: Are there things that I haven’t mentioned that I should consider before purchasing? What are the pros and cons that you have found in producing your own projectiles as a non-competition shooter? For the competitors I think I understand why some of you do this. I don’t shoot nearly as much as many of y’all do. Which components or accessories have you found absolutely necessary to streamline your swaging process? What tips do you have to help others avoid purchasing unecessary things when putting together this sort of setup?
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