Going to start reloading mainly straight wall ammo. Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but what press do you recommend? Interested in a progressive press. Thanks!
Which Press?
- Thread starter Kanewpadle
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Dillon 550 has worked well for me for over 20 years. Started out on it see no need to have anything else. It will do any caliber I have (and a whole lot more) with great efficiency.
Hi,
I just started reloading a few months ago. Am on a tight budget and picked up the Lee 4 Hole Turret press (deluxe kit w/scale, powder feeder, case trimmer/deburring tools etc) from Cabelas. Also bought a tumbler and micrometer all in about $250. I took some of the advice from folks here and used the press in single stage mode, w/o indexing bar for several hundred rounds until I felt I had a good handle on the process and functionality of the press. The most beneficial items I purchased were my reloading manuals (Lyman & Lee). I am really glad I delved into the world of reloading. I finding it rewarding, relaxing and enjoyable.
Be well...
I just started reloading a few months ago. Am on a tight budget and picked up the Lee 4 Hole Turret press (deluxe kit w/scale, powder feeder, case trimmer/deburring tools etc) from Cabelas. Also bought a tumbler and micrometer all in about $250. I took some of the advice from folks here and used the press in single stage mode, w/o indexing bar for several hundred rounds until I felt I had a good handle on the process and functionality of the press. The most beneficial items I purchased were my reloading manuals (Lyman & Lee). I am really glad I delved into the world of reloading. I finding it rewarding, relaxing and enjoyable.
Be well...
Last edited:
scooter123
Member
IMO, you really can't go wrong with a Dillon 550. However, progressive presses and Control Freaks who are mildly OCD are not compatible.
So, my choice is an RCBS single stage Rock Chucker. That way I can have the control of hand priming each and every case after insuring the primer pockets are spotlessly clean, get to inspect the powder charge in each and every case by lining all 50 up in a loading tray, and placing each bullet by hand one at a time.
Sometimes I really envy you guys who can trust your progressives without question and load all that ammo in such a short time. But when you start bragging too much I'll ask you how you can be absolutely certain you aren't throwing an occasional heavy charge if you don't tray up all your charged cases and inspect them visibly.
So, my choice is an RCBS single stage Rock Chucker. That way I can have the control of hand priming each and every case after insuring the primer pockets are spotlessly clean, get to inspect the powder charge in each and every case by lining all 50 up in a loading tray, and placing each bullet by hand one at a time.
Sometimes I really envy you guys who can trust your progressives without question and load all that ammo in such a short time. But when you start bragging too much I'll ask you how you can be absolutely certain you aren't throwing an occasional heavy charge if you don't tray up all your charged cases and inspect them visibly.
Bkreutz
US Veteran
A lot depends on the volume of ammo you are going to need weekly, I used a Lee turret (non self indexing) press for years and still use it for low volume calibers. It is basically a single stage press that you can manually change the stations without readjustment of dies. You still have to pull the handle once for every stage of the reloading press per round. I use a Dillon 650 for 9mm. I load around 1000 rounds a week (sometimes more, depends on how much I shoot that week) On this press, every time I pull the handle, a completed round pops out the other end so it's 1/4 the operations of a single stage or turret. It is more complex to set up and monitor what is going on but it's like anything else, you just have to pay attention to what's going on plus Dillon has warning systems built in to help prevent low or double powder charges. Which Dillon do I recommend? Again, that depends on what you want to accomplish. The Dillon website has videos of the different presses in operation and a "build it" type deal where you can see what a press will cost set up the way you want it. (adds up fast once you start hanging the do-dads on them). Hope this helps some.Going to start reloading mainly straight wall ammo. Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but what press do you recommend? Interested in a progressive press. Thanks!
Biginge
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Dillon 550 has been doing the job for me for years.
You first need to decide how much ammo you are going to need on a weekly or monthly basis and how many calibers you plan on loading.??
Do you shoot competition and need 500 rounds a week or month,? Or just a few boxes of 38 special to shoot at the range?
A progressive is not only more expensive it has a bigger learning curve if you never loaded before.
You also need to add on all the other items essential to reloading so what is your budget.
Yes there are many. many threads on this but it's all based on the individual. You will get a 100 different replies and go into information overload shock!
Do you shoot competition and need 500 rounds a week or month,? Or just a few boxes of 38 special to shoot at the range?
A progressive is not only more expensive it has a bigger learning curve if you never loaded before.
You also need to add on all the other items essential to reloading so what is your budget.
Yes there are many. many threads on this but it's all based on the individual. You will get a 100 different replies and go into information overload shock!
fredj338
Member
I agree, need vs want should be examined. Most of us, maybe 90% of us, just do not need ay progressive. They are time savers though, especially if you shoot 500rds a month or more. My 550 will easily do 400rds/hr so 30min a week gets me enough ammo to shoot a month.
Nothing wrong with a good turret, just slower, like 150rds/hr, probably more than good enough for the 90%. I also load on a 650, great machine, 700rds/hr easily, but more costly & complicated to run & convert. If you need speed though, a 650 w/ case feeder is a heck of a machine.
Nothing wrong with a good turret, just slower, like 150rds/hr, probably more than good enough for the 90%. I also load on a 650, great machine, 700rds/hr easily, but more costly & complicated to run & convert. If you need speed though, a 650 w/ case feeder is a heck of a machine.
fredj338
Member
This is really a function of just understanding your equip & being diligent. On my 650, I look into every case prior to seating a bullet & can still get 700rds/hr sustained, faster for 100rd runs. It's no diff than actually queing up all your brass in a loading block & inspecting, it's just faster. In 25+ yrs of reloading ona 550 & 650, never had a squib or over charge, but then I pay atention.
geddylee10002000
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I would vote for a Blue One!
For a beginner, I would recommend a single-stage press. I've been using an RCBS Rockchucker for ~30yrs without difficulty. I've never felt the need for a progressive, but I think a beginner should become proficient with a single-stage before moving up to high volume.
JMHO
Larry
JMHO
Larry
Twoboxer
Member
It's pretty easy actually. In fact, I'll bet my way gives superior control compared to your look-see.
Station 3's die shows me the depth of powder in the cartridge, and compares it to the level I weighed and set for that charge.
I know whether its way off or way under . . . just like you . . . but I can see a tenth off easily because I'm not looking down into an unmarked cylinder and judging.
Of course, my single stage is better for accuracy and precise control because each charge is weighed. But any time I'm willing to run the progressive and charge by volume, that powder checker does the job.
Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but what press do you recommend? Interested in a progressive press. Thanks!
Well we made it all the way to Post #4 before the Single Stage folks ignored the question and derailed the discussion. I love you guys.
Kanewpadle, welcome to the "Ford vs Chevy vs MOPAR/car vs truck vs motorcycle" argument. While I find it highly entertaining, it never ends...
The best advice I can give you is to find out if you have a brick-and-mortar store near you that carries a particular brand and stocks pieces and parts for that brand. You will be needing them and it is much easier to hop in the car and get what you need instead of waiting for days on the UPS guy. All of the well-known brands have their plusses and minuses, and price ranges. Generally speaking, customer service for all the major brands is good-to-excellent. There are deals to be had if you are buying kits from Hornady and RCBS as well as Lee. Check for rebates, too.
Oh and one more thing:
DILLON!
LoadEmUp
Member
Well we made it all the way to Post #4 before the Single Stage folks ignored the question and derailed the discussion. I love you guys.
Kanewpadle, welcome to the "Ford vs Chevy vs MOPAR/car vs truck vs motorcycle" argument. While I find it highly entertaining, it never ends...
The best advice I can give you is to find out if you have a brick-and-mortar store near you that carries a particular brand and stocks pieces and parts for that brand. You will be needing them and it is much easier to hop in the car and get what you need instead of waiting for days on the UPS guy. All of the well-known brands have their plusses and minuses, and price ranges. Generally speaking, customer service for all the major brands is good-to-excellent. There are deals to be had if you are buying kits from Hornady and RCBS as well as Lee. Check for rebates, too.
Oh and one more thing:
DILLON!
I agree with this advice , but would change one thing.
Hornady!
I own (and recommend) one Hornady LNL Classic press and two Hornady LNL AP presses.
jfp357
Member
I have about 1000 rounds under my belt. So I am new to this too. But a Lee Turret was my choice. It has worked well. By the way I drive a Chevy.......hahaha
Rickkster
Member
I have a Dillon 550B and a Redding Big Boss 2. I use both of them but have to say as I have gotten older and have started to handload maybe just a little more for relaxation than I did in the past; I use the Redding single stage slightly more than the progressive.
My eldest son is getting interested in reloading and I suggested a single stage press for him. I think they are great to learn on. I started with a Lee Loader back in 1976. I really didn't find that much fun, interesting but not much fun.
I have gone through two Lyman single stage presses and just got the Redding a couple of years ago. I have had my Dillon for maybe ten years. It started as a 550, and I did the upgrades to a 550B.
So all that said to say, I like to recommend a single stage press or possibly a turret press to a new handloader. Just my opinion, but like I said, I think they are great to learn on. After you have more experience with reloading, add another press or two.... You are likely going to "need" more than one press anyway
Cheers,
Rick
My eldest son is getting interested in reloading and I suggested a single stage press for him. I think they are great to learn on. I started with a Lee Loader back in 1976. I really didn't find that much fun, interesting but not much fun.
I have gone through two Lyman single stage presses and just got the Redding a couple of years ago. I have had my Dillon for maybe ten years. It started as a 550, and I did the upgrades to a 550B.
So all that said to say, I like to recommend a single stage press or possibly a turret press to a new handloader. Just my opinion, but like I said, I think they are great to learn on. After you have more experience with reloading, add another press or two.... You are likely going to "need" more than one press anyway
Cheers,
Rick
BennyS
Member
I bought a lyman expert kit from bass pro. It's a 6 stage turret, came with a digital scale, their 55 powder measure and their universal case trimmer. paid $349 but well worth it. Good quality and works great even the auto primer feed it comes with. Also came with a primer tray, case lube and pad,
Lou_NC
Member
I've been reloading 30+ years, and own both a Rock Chucker (my first press) and a Dillon 550 (my 2nd press).
Here's what I recommend for you:
Unless you're ABSOLUTELY certain you will NEVER want to own a progressive press, get the Dillon 550.
Why? Because what folks sometimes fail to realize and mention is that YOU CAN OPERATE THE DILLON AS A SIMPLE TURRET PRESS when you're learning. Heck, you don't even have to use the Dillon automated powder measure if you don't want to, but it ain't rocket science to set up. The instructions are EXCELLENT, written in English (by Americans), and well illustrated!
To operate a Dillon 550 as a turret press, follow these instructions:
Put in a fired round, size/deprime and re-prime, then advance the shell plate to station 2, without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Expand and charge, then turn the press to station 3 without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Seat a bullet in station 3 without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Advance the press to station 4 and crimp, without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Advance the plate and dump your finished round into the blue box.
There, you've just used your Dillon 550 as a turret press!
If you decide to start off with a single stage, no problem, many of us have done that. I keep my Rock chucker because I prefer to resize and re-form rifle brass in my single stage vs. my Dillon.
Good luck,
Lou
Here's what I recommend for you:
Unless you're ABSOLUTELY certain you will NEVER want to own a progressive press, get the Dillon 550.
Why? Because what folks sometimes fail to realize and mention is that YOU CAN OPERATE THE DILLON AS A SIMPLE TURRET PRESS when you're learning. Heck, you don't even have to use the Dillon automated powder measure if you don't want to, but it ain't rocket science to set up. The instructions are EXCELLENT, written in English (by Americans), and well illustrated!
To operate a Dillon 550 as a turret press, follow these instructions:
Put in a fired round, size/deprime and re-prime, then advance the shell plate to station 2, without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Expand and charge, then turn the press to station 3 without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Seat a bullet in station 3 without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Advance the press to station 4 and crimp, without putting another cartridge case in station 1.
Advance the plate and dump your finished round into the blue box.
There, you've just used your Dillon 550 as a turret press!
If you decide to start off with a single stage, no problem, many of us have done that. I keep my Rock chucker because I prefer to resize and re-form rifle brass in my single stage vs. my Dillon.
Good luck,
Lou
hotrod150
Member
x2. I don't think this recommendation "derailed the discussion". Even if you shoot a lot, IMHO it's best to start with a single-stage press. After all, didn't most of us (us older guys anyway) learn the basics of shooting with a single-shot 22 rifle? Learning to handload on a progressive to me is like learning to shoot with a machine gun instead of a 22. Learn the basics, correctly, then worry about volume/speed. You might even find, like lebomm & myself, that you don't really need a high-volume progressive after all.
Personally, I would start with a progressive press and I would make sure the one I bought auto-indexed (the cases rotate with the action of the lever.) Since an auto-progressive press automatically circulates the cases through the stages, the chance of a missed powder charge or double charge is nearly impossible.
I started with a Hornady Lock N Load AP and I like it quite a bit. I reload 500 - 1000 rounds at a time. The Dillon 650 is another press worth looking at, the Dillon 550 is a step below the Hornady LNL AP as far as features go.
Honestly reloading ammo is not rocket science and there aren't any really "bad" presses out there. Personally I would steer away from LEE since they seem to cater to the value minded reloader. That being said, the LEE universal decapping die and their line of Factory Crimp Dies are great.
Chris
I started with a Hornady Lock N Load AP and I like it quite a bit. I reload 500 - 1000 rounds at a time. The Dillon 650 is another press worth looking at, the Dillon 550 is a step below the Hornady LNL AP as far as features go.
Honestly reloading ammo is not rocket science and there aren't any really "bad" presses out there. Personally I would steer away from LEE since they seem to cater to the value minded reloader. That being said, the LEE universal decapping die and their line of Factory Crimp Dies are great.
Chris
