Considering making a big change to my setup

[Rule3]

I have to respectfully disagree. Even moving the turret manually, doing three steps without touching the case definitely reduced the time required. I am not saying that auto-indexing wouldn't save a lot more time - just that a turret press can be faster than a single-stage.

True it is a bit faster but not as much as folks think.The main thing is it's way more convenient. I have both the Lee Classic Turret and the Breech Lock. Batch loading with the Breach lock is almost as fast but as mentioned you need to handle the piece of brass 3 or 4 times. They only "better" part about it is it's "mindless" or pretty much thoughtless. Resize, resize, flare flare etc etc. You can stop any time and really do not have to pay attention as much as completing a finished round.

 

[Rule3]

I have considered the Dillon, but the volume in actual rounds that I am doing doesn't warrant a progressive. Plus it seems like it would be even more expensive when I start adding a bunch of conversions. Which is why I was contemplating a turret.

Many, many Clams and some Oysters too That's what has prevented me from going Blue. I could probably afford the press but I load so many different calibers that all the extras would add up to more than I could afford or need.

 

[novalty]

Many, many Clams and some Oysters too That's what has prevented me from going Blue. I could probably afford the press but I load so many different calibers that all the extras would add up to more than I could afford or need.

Well Rule3, I figured it out. If I sell my guns I can afford to buy a blue press.

 

[Rule3]

That's pretty much it. I probably have less money in my 2 Lee Presses and all the dies and turret plates than in just a Progressive Press alone. Not just Dillon, all the "good ones" cost money. If I break down and get a progressive it will be the Hornady. But I do not really need VOLUME. I need diversity and enough to ammo to go to the range once a week or so.

Heck I am more inclined to shoot revolvers now. I take my time shoot less and do not break my back searching for brass.

 

[kmca1]

I would agree...keep the Rock Chucker. When I got a Lyman turret, I gave my chucker to a friend. A few months later, I bought another Chucker. My bench has 3 Dillons and the Chucker mounted. Unfortunately for now, I ran out of room and the turret had to go into storage.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Maybe something like the Hornady Lock-n-Load conversion bushings would help, but was thinking with the T7 I could condense the space used up on my bench and speed up the process.

I have the Hornady L&L Classic with a set of bushings for all my dies and have found they work very well. It's a little expensive at first, extra dies and bushings, but the convenience of changing dies in seconds is worth it. With the exception of my "misc" die set (with bushings) I haven't had to adjust a die since they were originally installed.

 

[H.Callahan]

I voted to stay with the RCBS, but I think I should have voted to switch and have you send your old stuff to me!

 

[Skip Sackett]

I thought you said you were going through a BIG change. Single stage or single stage isn't too drastic if you ask me!

Go with a progressive and quit fooling around. Volume or not. Once you get one, there will be plenty of volume. Even if you just fill empty coffee cans.

Big change? REALLY?

 

[Rule3]

I thought you said you were going through a BIG change. Single stage or single stage isn't too drastic if you ask me!

Go with a progressive and quit fooling around. Volume or not. Once you get one, there will be plenty of volume. Even if you just fill empty coffee cans.

Big change? REALLY?

Hey Big Guy, it's all a matter of perspective. I thought you filled mayonnaise jars?

 

[sar4937]

I have a T7 that I use as a specialty press. I use it more like a seven way single stage press. It is much better made than the RCBS, but is expensive to start buying extra heads for. I use mostly Dillon presses due to the volume needed, so the primer feed on the Redding seems awkward. I don't know of anyone that went the Dillon route that regretted it, and I would recommend the 650 because of the auto-indexing. If you stay with the turret press, you could buy another RCBS, and set one up for each size of primer.

 

[noylj]

All the T-7 is is a press to store dies. It is not faster than a Lee Challenger or Hornady L-N-L classic with the die bushings, and is slower if you need to switch out dies from the head. It isn't strong enough, as far as I know, to swage bullets--but then, not many swage bullets.
The order I see is:
1) inexpensive Lee SS press
2) Forster Co-Ax SS press
3) Hornady L-N-L AP (progressive)
4) Dillon Super 1050
Each of these steps makes the largest improvement in the process for the money.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Hey Big Guy, it's all a matter of perspective. I thought you filled mayonnaise jars?

You forgot to add that they aren't your regular little mayonnaise jars, bub!

Industrial mayonnaise jars to be exact. Much bigger than a 3lb coffee can. And, yes, I do fill those frequently!

 

[novalty]

Noylj, I had considered the Forster Co-ax as well, but I don't believe it will do anything to assist me with production speed.

To the Blue press fans, I don't have anything against the press itself--besides the cost. I cannot afford the press and be able to buy components. So if I bought one I wouldn't be able to start purchasing components til next year, hardly worth the benefit of speeding up production if I have to give up shooting for a year.

Skip, I though completely changing my reloading set up was a big change.

Going from this:

To something like this:

Seems like a big change to me.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Noylj, I had considered the Forster Co-ax as well, but I don't believe it will do anything to assist me with production speed.

To the Blue press fans, I don't have anything against the press itself--besides the cost. I cannot afford the press and be able to buy components. So if I bought one I wouldn't be able to start purchasing components til next year, hardly worth the benefit of speeding up production if I have to give up shooting for a year.

You need a second job then!

Something my dad always told me. Buy the best the first time out, you will never be sorry.........

 

[novalty]

You need a second job then!

Something my dad always told me. Buy the best the first time out, you will never be sorry.........

I'm just happy to have the job I have now, with this economy.

The "best" is subjective, to need. For example the Forster Co-ax is subjectively the "best" single stage press for bench-rest shooters, probably not going to be considered the "best" for people competing and in demand for high-volume production.

 

[Skip Sackett]

The "best" is subjective, to need. For example the Forster Co-ax is subjectively the "best" single stage press for bench-rest shooters, probably not going to be considered the "best" for people competing and in demand for high-volume production.

You can have my job. I have all the stuff I need now. That would give you an annual salary of $80,000 or so, more with the overtime.

You just have to get out of the "single stage" mentality.......

 

[Skip Sackett]

p.s. There are some good red presses out there too. Not throwing stones at them........Just as good as the blue ones...........

 

[novalty]

You can have my job. I have all the stuff I need now. That would give you an annual salary of $80,000 or so, more with the overtime.

You just have to get out of the "single stage" mentality.......

Very nice of you to offer your job. Took me 16 months to find the job that I have now. Sent over 80 resume applications, was nice hearing when I applied that my resume was 1 of over 60++++ received.

Who knew posting this question, would get me a job offer of over $80,000 in just a few days.

 

[Skip Sackett]

WOW, 16 MONTHS?

I have been working steadily for 35 years. 3 weeks off with no pay is it over that span of time! 16 MONTHS! WOWSERS!

Not a dime of unemployment received in that amount of time either.
Well, the things you learn on a gun forum are interesting, that's for sure!

 

[novalty]

WOW, 16 MONTHS?

I have been working steadily for 35 years. 3 weeks off with no pay is it over that span of time! 16 MONTHS! WOWSERS!

Not a dime of unemployment received in that amount of time either.
Well, the things you learn on a gun forum are interesting, that's for sure!

Skip, I worked for my previous employer for 5 years (started there 2 days after getting my bachelors degree), was diagnosed with oral cancer (non-smoker) at the age of 27. This on top of the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis I was diagnosed with at age 7. Underwent a 10 hour surgery that removed half of my tongue, and replaced with part of my left forearm. Underwent 4 treatments of chemo, and 30 treatments of radiation that burnt my mouth so bad, I was on a feeding tube (PEG tube) for 6 months. When I was finally recovered enough to go back to my job, my previous employer told me my job had been eliminated. Was on disability that helped keep me from loosing my house--not one cent of unemployment.