OK, so you reloaded 1000 of .45 ACP. Please tell me about your setup, and in particular, what you might change if you had to start all over again with handgun reloading.
...I am still semi-paralyzed with all the Dillon options...
Also, would love to know hear about .45 ACP recipes.
Strange timing--I've loaded about 1200 .45 ACP rounds over the last week or so.
I slum an ancient 550b that I bought used. I've loaded probably 15,000-20,000 .45 ACP rounds on it. As a far as the average "Dillon Owner" goes, I'm a pretty low volume reloader, so I manage just fine on a 550. I have watched videos of the bigger/faster Dillon models in action and have thought about how cool it'd be to have one, but I really couldn't justify the expense, given my low volume of rounds and what I paid for my current setup.
What I'd change: I'd go back in time and buy Deluxe Quck Change Conversion Kits for several calibers rather than waiting. Changing dies is kind of pain; it takes longer than you'd think. Slapping in the new head with the dies and powder hopper all ready to go is the only way to fly. I also wouldn't have bought bunches of MTM 100 rd plastic boxes--they're great, but it's better to store ammo in bulk containers and then load ammo boxes for trips to the range. I could get by on about 3 of them. My favorite container is from WalMart; it's a 1.2 qt Sterilite with a secure snapping lid. It holds 200 rds and they stack nicely. I also use the 2.4 qt which holds 400 rds. The containers all stack interchangeably. I can't really say there is much else I'd change.
As for load data, everything works with the .45 ACP. In horse-land, the .45 would be known as an "easy keeper." It's well-behaved, not picky, eats everything, and has no vices. I load almost everything with Titegroup even though it's a popular powder to hate. It's accurate, meters perfectly, and generally gives more speed for less powder, making it very economical. The last time I bought it, I was getting 4 lb jugs for $80. My bowling pin load is 4.7 grains of Titegroup for either a 230 plated round nose or a 230 cast lead truncated cone. Both work fine. For lighter loads for my wife to practice with, I load 5.1 gr of W231 for a FMJ or plated bullet (any profile). That load runs a 5" 1911 fine, but can fail to cycle a 3" 1911 with stiff springs. It's pretty light. Finally, for light target loads, probably everybody who's ever loaded for the .45 ACP has loaded 4.0gr of Clays over a 200 gr LSWC. That load is just sweet. I don't load it anymore simply because I like to practice with my bowling pin load.
Good luck!