What type of press do you primarily use?

[DocWagon]

What type of press do you primarily use? What was your biggest factor in deciding to buy that particular type? I currently use a single stage, with cost being the biggest factor. I intend to buy a progressive at the end of the month, but have been considering a turret as well.

[Edward429451]

I started out on a single stage. Got a Dillon RL550B a few years back and use it quite a bit but have not slowed down on the single stage either. In fact, lately I'm using the SS more than the Dillon. Last night while me and my buddy were loading I came to the conclusion that I really need a 2nd SS press!

I load more ammo on the Dillon but the SS is used just as much. The Dillon is a great press and I have no complaints with it. It did not however, obsolete the SS press as I thought it would. Some stuff should be loaded on a SS press rather than a progressive. I load mainly blasting ammo on the Dillon and the SS is used for high end loads, as well as specialty/accuracy loads.

Getcha a progressive if you want, but dont toss out the SS!

[mbott]

I started reloading a bit over five years ago when I picked up a Lyman T-Mag 2 Expert Kit from a local supplier. Then I inherited 5 extra turrets in addition to the three I bought. With it I reload 10+ rifle and pistol calibers at the moment and don't have to re-adjust dies at all. May not be the fastest, but it keeps me in ammo.

--
Mike

[dvdstdg]

I use an Old RCBS single stage bought new in 1976. Not the fastest but it is sturdy. I don't think it would spring if you resized a .50 cal to .223 (well, just a slight exaggeration may be :D

[DocWagon]

I'm giving serious consideration to a Lee 4-hole turret press instead of a progressive. After reading multiple reviews of progressives, they look like are either a) very pricey B) need tinkering c) unreliable or d) any and all of the above.

The only thing I don't like about the single stage is having to reset the dies. Having the turret disks would eliminate that, and I'd be happy for less $$$. :)

[Edward429451]

Doc, I wouldn't totally rule out the option of a progressive. Its not that much tinkering. Took me about two hours to set it up, from the box. I've been using my RL550B for about 5 yrs now and its never given me any trouble.

There's a little bit of pay close attention to whats going on when you use it, a lot is happening on each stroke (watch the powder measure to see it stroke, make sure the primer is right side up in cup, watch the case enter powder die to see that the case hits the expander funnel nice and centered, while guiding the bullet into the seater die nice and straight...) But even though this sounds like a lot to keep track of, its really not. It takes more time to explain it than to do it in practice. It takes fractions of seconds to glance your eyes around and watch all this stuff as its happening, once you get in the groove of it.

One thing I did do with the Dillon is to pull the sizer/decapper out and do that operation seperately, so I can clean pockets, trim cases, etc..I still load my near max and hand weighed loads on a single stage, but thats no biggie.

With extruded powders I'm getting +- .3 gr consistency with the Dillon measure, and +- .1 with ball powders, as a rule. I recently finished loading over 900 rounds in 223 with BLC-2 and throughout the entire operation, I'd occasionally check powder charge and for some reason (luck? good measure?) the charge never did vary from my setting, not one checked round.

They might be slightly pricey, but its money well spent when you see the pile of ammo versus the time spent loading. Dillons no BS guarentee is just that, no BS. Them people are on top of it and very nice.

[Sniper]

RCBS Rock Chucker. It takes a little longer but it's more precise. Plus it keeps me out of the other half's hair longer when I'm loading.

:sniper:

[Black Prince]

Boys

Edward 429451 has been telling you the absolute truth. I have a Bonanza B-2, a Lyman All American turret (it's an old rascal like me and you can't buy shell holders for it anymore cuz they quit making them about 25 years ago) and a Dillion 550-B. I have multiple tool heads for the Dillon and every up-grade they have ever made for it. The Dillon powder measure is the most consistant and accurate that I've ever seen anywhere and their gurantee is the BEST in the industry and they HONOR it too.

But if you're going to use the Dillon, (or most progressives) it's best to have all your cases prepared BEFORE you start because it doesn't like for you to stop and clean primer pockets or trim cases while it's doing it's thing and if you're not REAL careful, once you start the blue machine, (or most progressives) any stopping of the progression can get you in a LOT of trouble. It's not as bad as it used to be before Dillon came out with the double charge preventor, but it still isn't good to do it any more than you absolutely have to.

But if I'm wanting to load just a couple of boxes of ammo for my hunting rifles or for target loads, I use the Bonanza. I always have and I always will because I don't have to screw in dies or shell holders. Just pop in the dies (they do not screw in) and the WONDERFUL automatic adjustable shell holder grabs the case and you're ready to rock and roll.

It's not that the Dillon couldn't do just as good a job because it most certainly can. It's that I don't want to spend 20 minutes changing out shell plates and adjusting powder measures, especially if I have to change from the large powder measure plate to the small one or vice versa, and if I have to change primer sizes, then change and adjust that too. When I'm only loading 20 to 40 rounds of ammo, I'd spend more time changing and adjusting than I would loading.

So like Ed, I use the Dillon when I'm going to load 1000 45 ACP's or such. And like as not, if I'm going to load say 100 .357 magnums and the Dillon is set up for say 44 magnums, I just use the Lyman All American turret press. By the time I changed out the Dillon and then loaded those 100 rounds, I can do it on the Lyman turret press in about the same amount of time.

So it all comes down to whether you are going for VOLUME or not. With the quality of Dillon products today ( I don't know about others and they may be good as well) it isn't a matter of making good ammo or a lot of ammo because a Dillon progressive will turn out as high (or higher) quality ammo as any press out there. The choice is whether or not it is worth the extra bucks and set up time to use it.

Frankly boys, unless you are a competetive shooter where you shoot several hundred rounds in a match and that many or more for practice on a regular basis, (and that is why I bought the Dillon back in 1977 or 78.) I'd keep the extra bucks and get a good turret presss and use the extra bucks for powder or whatever you might need. That's just my 2 cents worth and I've been around this reloading block ( pun intended) a time or three.

More often that not, I'd just as soon use one of the other presses unles I'm going to load a bunch of brass cases. So like Edward says, DO NOT sell or trade your old single stage press if you go to a progressive or turret. They are like old friends and you'll find yourself using them more often that you thought you might.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the best. If you stay with top of the line equipment, no matter if it's progressive or not, it'll last a lifetime and you'll never be sorry you bought quality. Every time I pull the handle on that Dillon, I say it's worth every dime I paid for it because I get a good feeling just using it. But I can say the same for the Bonanza and the Lyman. They were all the best on the market at the time I bought them and for my money, they still are. They'll be bolted to my loading bench on the day they bury me unless I can get the under taker to let me take the big blue Dillon with me. :D

[Pdaddy]

DILLON RULES !!!! :usa:

Hi guys, was up..

Well i just have to say one thing, nothing beats a DILLON..
I have a Dillon square deal B and an 650 with casefeeder, the 650 is my lttle sweeety :D
Now i mostly load handgun ammo, but it's no prob with loading .223's in it, and it's exact and fast.

Naaa, must keep on tha reloading,,, C ya folks.. bye

MArcus

[DocWagon]

I bought a Lee 4 hole turret (auto indexing) and I am quite happy with it. The speed is adequate for the volume I shoot. Now that I'm getting used to it, I can make 150 rounds or so in an hour.

After reading all of your comments, I decided that the turret was the way for me to go. I didn't need the volume of the progressive, and wanted the convenience of not having to screw dies in and out more than anything else.

Thanks for all of the input!

[Black Prince]

Doc

You should have a good rig with the set-up you bought. I know some people who throw off on that Lee press but it's a dandy rig and it does not cost a fortune. It works very well and like you say, it'll load about as many cases as a normal shooter can use in a reasonable amount of time. I wish you all the best partner and how about giving us a report on how you like that Lee once you load enough on it to get the feel of it? I think some of the boys here need to know there are good tools out there besides the "BIG" names usually mentioned and you'd be doing everybody a favor by telling us about one of them.

[thtwit]

I know i can find this answer at Midway or Mid south, but since I am here I'll just go ahead and ask it.
When I set down to re-load I usually do several loads before I am thru. I use a single stage RCBS RockChucker, and the only complaint is changing dies.
I also have a 'lee single stage press, I picked up as a spare during one of their promotions.
My question: Is there a turret conversion for the rock chucker, or even the lee for that matter? Will my standard dies work in a turret press [never saw one up close and personal] I would hate to have to replace over a dozen sets of dies?
Homer

[Porkypine]

I have a Lee 4 Position turret and a Rock chucker, both have been used lots.....

There is no comparison between the quality of these two presses.....The old Rock Chucker is a whole bunch better and stronger.......But the Lee does just fine and is faster for my 22-250 and 223 where I shoot bunches. It isn't much good when you have to put some torque down, like when making 30-06 into 338-06, but that's what I kept the RC for......

I went to the Lee originally because I was tired of having to continously re-adjust dies......Then I found an adapter that lets you use Hornady Lock and Load snap ins for your dies.......That solved my resetting die problems for the Rock chucker....

I'm just too anal not to weigh every charge, so volume loading will probably never be one of my priorities......Either way, the Lee turret or the Rock Chucker with the Hornady Lock and Load adapter, I get good accurate ammo and I'm a happy old man....

John

[Black Prince]

Homer

I'm not aware of any conversions from single stage press to turret. Standard dies work fine in turret presses because they all have the same threads. I don't know about your part of the country, but every now and then, I see reloading gear in pawn shops. You might be on the lookout for that. I'll look out here and if I see a turret press, I'll call you and if you want it, I'll just buy it and send it to you.

[thtwit]

That will work, haden't thought of the pawn shops. I'll start watching.
I found my set up at a local gun store, it was a trade in and had the whole kit, with a lot of extra's including three die sets, I was wanting to re-load for my 30-06 and the store owner threw in a set of lee -06 dies in the deal. I paid less for the whole deal than the little dandy powder drop cost now.
Thanks for the heads up, I'll go to scouting.

[Black Prince]

I'm just too anal not to weigh every charge, so volume loading will probably never be one of my priorities

John

You might want to read what Julian Hatcher had to say about weighing charges and accuracy. In all of the experminting that he did, the most accurate lots of ammo were those whose charges had NOT been individually weighed.

I used to weigh each charge because I thought consistency was what it was all about, and to be sure, it is important. But I've discovered that hatcher was right and now I spend my time loading instead of weighing. I weigh the first and last charge and that's all.

But I understand that anal business. Once anal, always anal so they say but it isn't true.

I used to be anal but not I'm just ain't. :D :D

[Porkypine]

Davy, I've read what Hatcher and a number of other people have said on the subject.......Bench rest shooters have been using volume, not weight on accuracy loads for quite a while...... I've thought about going that way on a number of occasions but old habits die hard.......I guess it comes with the curmudgeonhood.....

John

[Black Prince]

Wal, I reckon so son. But hey, this is the Church of the Painful Truth and we gotta lotta sinners here who LIKE to keep on sinning with the curmudgeonhood and you are right in the middle of that bunch.

So jiss make yourself comfortable thar inna pew or get up and preach. It doan matter none. But if you gonna preach, make sure you let Dub know he's going to hell.

Oh. And brang them weighed charges to the nexx annual. We ain't used to hearing a shooter's rifle doing the same thing every time. Most of ours go bang the furss time . And BANG the second time And BANG the thired time and bang the fourth et cetra. :D :D :lol:

[Sixgun]

Volume of powder remains constant, weight changes with humidity. It just doesn't amount to a hill of beans, untill you try to shave of fractions of a fraction.

[Porkypine]

Sixgun, do ya think we oughtta tell Ol' Reverend Dave that he's wandered out of the church again?????

Sometimes when the spirit of Evan is upon him and he's inna parallel universe he gets a trifle confused.......I guess we're OK as long as he don't get invisible......

John

An anyway, we don't got no steenking humidity in Northwest Colorado.....

[Black Prince]

Well, I'm sorry. I won't do it no mo. Ya know I doan know nuthin' about this here loadin' stuff no way. I been loadin' so long now till I'm loaded an when I getta snoot full, I doan know where the church is so I wonder off and fall in wiff a buncha sinners. Law hep me.

I moan go have me a little talk wiff ole bro Evan an grill sum chicken breast onna grill outside so y'all sumbitches can jiss go get . . . ahhhhhh, I hope you boys have a good evening. :rolleyes:

[Sixgun]

Dave did you sneak over here to get "re-loaded"?

[Steel_Talon]

Hello All,

For me the primary reason for my single stage press, is its much easier to teach my chidren how to handcraft loads. They all started helping me at age 6, decapping sizing belling etc. The single stage afforded them the time to learn, and the allowed me to focus thier teaching one step at a time. :)

All The Best
Steel :samurai:

[swanky1]

Started on a lee ss 20 plus years ago. It was all I could afford, I know I have loaded over 15000 rounds on that press and it still works well, Just moved up to a turret and its a lot nicer not having to change each die, one at a time. Just my 2 cents. Swanky :sniper:

[Old Judge Creek]

I been reloading since the mid 1950s. I started on a Rock Chucker and I still have a single stage RCBS press. I most recently used it... oh, maybe 5 years ago (and I reload and shoot about 10,000 per year). So what do I use?
a Dillon RL550B and a SDB.

Buy a single stage and use it for a year to get the basics and then get a Dillon 550. It's "almost" all the press you'll ever need.

[Robert D. Lyons]

I bought my Dillon 550B 10 years ago. Right after I bought it, I got rid of all my other single stage presses. The 550B is a very simple press to use. It can be used as a progressive or a single stage and it loads ammo just as accurate as any plain single stage.

[oldolds442]

one word......DILLON

I have a 550 and a 1050....nothing can touch them for speed and precision...more competitive shooters in all types of shooting use dillon...enough said... :sniper:

[Deputy Al]

New guy here.......I use a Rockchucker for most rifle stuff, but use a Ponsness-Warren P-200 for most of my handgun ammo.

The P-W machines are much better known in shotgun circles, where they are THE progressive machine in that venue. The company's metallic cartridge machines are really semi-progressive set-ups similar to turret presses, except that the shellholder moves on a swing arm under stationary dies and powder measure in a tool head.

The REAL plus for me was this--I already had a LOT of money tied up in die sets and shell holders, and the P-W system uses your existing die sets and shellholders. There is NOTHING ELSE to buy if you already have everything for single stage loading--no shell plates, no specialized dies, NADA.

The other advantage the P-W system offers is the ability to interrupt the reloading cycle at any time for (e.g.) primer pocket cleaning, case trimming, etc. I can reload 200 rounds per hour easily with this system.

Ponsness-Warren also has a machine for rifle calibers that offers these same attributes. This company doesn't get a lot of attention in mainstream gun rags, and they don't do the nice ads that Dillon puts out--but their products have a lot to offer, and filled a niche for my needs that no other company's products did.

Website is <www.reloaders.com>

No endorsement meant or implied--I just like their equipment, and good stuff needs a little positive commentary once in a while.

Deputy Al