Reloading setup opinions - Single stage or progressive press?

[John McCreery]

I started with a Lee 1000 progressive and it took me a day or two to get it where I needed it.  I also have the lee shot loader.  They both work fine for the price.

I think single stage might have been a better way to start for me.  But, that's because I'm not as sharp as the most folks!

[SlickRob]

  I have a Dillon 550b.  I am exceedingly pleased with it.

  I started reloading a few years ago.  My mistake was that I did not start earlier.  When I decided to start I asked a lot of people what they thought.  Most told me to go for a progressive.  The one that tipped it for me was the guy who was going on about how great his single stage was, a Lee.   I asked him how many rounds he usually loaded.  He said that one time he got ambitious and loaded up a whole year's worth, 300 rnds.

  300nrds!  I go through that in a weekend.  I bought the Dillon that week.

  Here's the caveat.  A buddy of mine got one a few weeks before I did.  We went to the range one day, and he had box of loose ammo.  Turns out he had run out of powder and not noticed.  Somewhere in that box were 20 - 50 rnds without powder. Made for an interesting day!
 
  Which ever way you go, pay attention to what you are doing!

  BTW, you won't save money, but you get to shoot more.  I have been tracking my reload costs vs buying factory.  I have paid for my reloader four times over.


 

[coltfan3000]

Hello:

I appreciate all of the replies on this subject. I was leaning toward a Dillion to start with. For pistol I was thinking
about a square deal package in .45 acp for the Para I won in the giveaway. I am still waiting on the pistol from the
factory to ship to my dealer. I will post pictures when I get it.

Donald Coltfan

[Hazcat]

Hello:

I appreciate all of the replies on this subject. I was leaning toward a Dillion to start with. For pistol I was thinking
about a square deal package in .45 acp for the Para I won in the giveaway. I am still waiting on the pistol from the
factory to ship to my dealer. I will post pictures when I get it.

Donald Coltfan

Well you're gonna have LOTS of brass with that 1000 rounds!

[MikeBjerum]

I understand coltfan has come to a decision, but figured I'd throw my thoughts in anyway:

My first reloader was a Mec Jr. in 12 ga., and from there I went to a Mec 9000.  When it came time for handgun reloading I decided I didn't need the learning stage of a single stage and went right to the progressive Dillon 650.  It has been great.  However, I am now going to set up a single stage for working up loads.  You can do the small runs (12 rounds) for testing, but it takes some thinking all the start up and finish up steps with empty spaces on the press.  So, as I expand my calibers I am setting up a single stage press as well.

My thinking is to go with the best you can afford.  Just like any other tool quality is never money wasted.  I know guys that buy the cheaper/lighter tools, and they are a good value for the number of rounds they last for.  However, I'm willing to spend more for a tool I won't wear out and thus not have to deal with changing tolerances some day down the road before replacing parts or the whole press.

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

The square deal is a good little pistol setup, parts do wear out quicker, and Dillon is happy to replace them, I would lean more toward a 550 - 650. The 650 does take a little more learning curve to get started. As slickrob mentioned, you can get carried away on a progressive and forget to feed it. Dillon does sell a powder and primer monitor that beeps whenever you start running low. Make sure you get the video from Dillon, I believe it's free with a press purchase and will help you out quick. When I started reloading, no one I knew did it. Believe me, I did a bunch of stuff wrong or the hardest way. Met a guy at my local public range, who lived pretty close, and we had loading parties, We all had single stage presses then, and We would put 3 presses to work and a lee auto prime and load 600,700 rounds in one night with 4 guys doing separate operations. Your square deal or a 550 will do that with just you in 2 hours, 3 if your just taking it easy.

Best of luck.

[TAB]

If your only going to reload just 45 acp, you can't beat the dillon square deal.

[wisconsin]

I was't sure about Dillion or anyone else for that matter. Saying one thing (warrantys) and backing it up is another. So I made a choice and went with DILLION and their 650 and have not looked back. Great people to deal with. And no BS warranty is just that. They will even take time to figure out your problem even if its not related to thier press. When I go into the basement its the first thing I look at and when I leave its the last thing I look at  It will be money well spent. Its just that simple

[gunman1911]

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

Do not even think about it . Its a PITA. Go the Dillion if you have the experience for progressive . But if you have never relaoded before  have some one there that has  so that they can watch over you to make sure that there are no bad mistakes . Seen what happens when new people just get started and bad things happen and I mean BAAAD!! I am not trying to scare you just make you aware. STAY SAFE.

[tombogan03884]

I've been using a Lyman single stage press and it worked OK. But I was loading for a 300 Win Mag and a bolt action .308. Those are gone now and I have an AK and am going to start reloading for my .45. The lyman will work OK for getting started, working out loads etc, but I will need to upgrade to a progressive set up before long as what it takes me All day to load on the Lyman these guys are doing in an hour. I hope that helps with your decision.

LISTEN TO G-MAN, ALWAYS THINK SAFETY, YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH POWDER AND PRIMERS TOGETHER, YOU WILL BE FIRING THESE ROUNDS, SQUIBS AND OVER CHARGED CASES CAN HURT YOU BADLY.

One thing to try is using a bulkier powder, that way a double charge will overflow the case and be IMMEDIATELY noticeable