Reloading setup opinions - Single stage or progressive press?

[coltfan3000]

Hello,

What kind of reloading setup do you have and recommend? Single stage or progressive press?
Ammo prices have gone through the roof and it is not going to get any better.

I have been looking at the Horandy Progressive press and the Dillon models. What are the pro and cons of
each press?

Thanks

Donald

[tombogan03884]

I'm using a single stage Lyman press, but I'm a beginner .

[ellis4538]

I have been using Dillon for years.  I met Mike Dillon at an NRA convention where he was showing his early progressive press.  People were impressed and I remain so.  Customer service and tech support top notch.  Have no experience with any other but I am sure others have and will speak highly of them also.

[m25operator]

I too am a huge Dillon fan, I have 2 550b's, 1 set up for small primer and 1 for large. I like their 100% no BS warranty. They don't  usually even ask for the old parts back.

I also started out on and still have an RCBS  Rockchucker, that I mainly use for rifle and load developement. Nothing wrong with it, just slow.

I also have a lee, turret press, and for the money, it has it's uses. I bought it before Dillon came on the scene.

For shotgun I still have a MEC sizemaster, it works very well once you figure it out.

One trick I'll share is that I mounted all my presses on 1" thick board about a foot square. Tap the holes that are already drilled in the press bases, and counter sink bolts from the bottom. glue some vinyl or felt on the bottom, and you can C clamp them to just about anything. When not in use, you can store them under a cabinet, as it puts them at a good angle for the powder not to spill, or you can clamp them to a shelf, to reclaim your bench space.

Since I don't load as much as I used to, another tip, I made up white cards with all my powder descriptions on them like ( ww power pistol ) when I fill the powder measure I drop that card in with the powder. Then if it's 2 months since I've been to the press, I still know what powder is in it

[tombogan03884]

Another tip I learned the HARD way, If you will be reloading differant bullet weights for the same caliber, or some other variable, , put a little note card with each batch BEFORE or AS you do them I have 4 boxes of .308, 1 is 200 grain Match king, 1 is 180 grain Game King,1 and 1 box each of 150 grn. Hornady and Seirra, I have NO idea which is which as I "as u me d"     I would remember and mark them when I was done....

[Sponsor]

[Marshal Halloway]

Single stage or progressive....

First thing to do if you are a newbie is to buy ABC's of Reloading or any other book covering the basics of reloading.

For a beginner, it is a good idea to begin with a single stage and use that one to get the basics sorted out (you can use it for rifle cartridges later in addition to a progressive press for pistol cartridges).

I am a Lee Precision guy, not because I consider it to be the best out there or because it is less expensive then Dillon, but simply because I started out with a Lee Turret back in the late 80s. I found no good reason to change brand after that.

When competition shooting forced me to reload a lot more than I did in the beginning, I upgraded to a progressive Lee Pro 1000, one with a set up for small pistol and one for large pistol.

I believe I represent most of us.... when you are used to a brand and don't have any problems to report, you stick to it.

Btw... I just came back from the reloading room, levering out 1000 rounds of 38 Special.

[JoshBull101]

Anyone use the Lee hand press?  I am just starting out and someone told me it was great for beginners.

[mtnscout]

I'd say start with a single stage now and upgrade when you need to and feel ready. I have to agree with the comment that you use what you're comfortable with. I started with a rock chucker 25 years ago and I still use it for precision loads but when I was shooting ipsc I upgraded to the pro 2000 and I've been happy with it. Service is good and no problems with their answering my questions.

[Grizzle_Bear]

I will concur with others here; you want a single-stage press to start out with.  When you have learned the proper procedures, or shoot enough of one caliber to make it worthwhile, get a progressive.


I actually have four presses, the little Lee, and RCBS, a Lee Turret, and a Dillon XL650.  They all have different uses.  Only bought the Lee Turrent recently to reload .56-50 Spencer faster.  Also have two lube-sizers, one for smokeless bullets and one for blackpowder.

Gosh, this makes me sound like some sort of collector!

 

Grizzle Bear

[Bill Stryker]

If you are reloading to save money, warning: You won't save any money! BUT you will be able to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money. I would also note that you can recover the cost of your press fairly quickly. And have lots of fun making different loads for different purposes.

I have had several shotgun and metallic presses over the years. I now have a Lyman Turret Press which I use for rifle and some low volume pistol ammo. For the pistol stuff I reload the most, 357 SIG and .45 ACP, I have a Dillon 650. I like it very much. I can also say that Dillon customer service has been very good. For shotgun I recommend progressive reloaders. One tends to shoot a lot of that stuff at skeet and sporting clays. I have progressive MEC loaders, either 650 or 9000s, for 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410.

In my opionion anything you shoot a lot of you want a progressive press. If you only shoot 200 to 500 rounds a year of a rifle or pistol caliber single stage is fine. If you only shoot 200 to 500 rounds of shotgun ammo, buy it by the case and forget reloading.

I have had good luck with the inexpensive Lee Shotshell loader. And I used an RCBS Rockchucker for years. I sold both of them when I rotated back from Germany to guys in my section. And upgraded when I got back to the states. My first reloader was a Lee Loader for 7 x 57 Mauser. It worked and taught me a lot about reloading.