i am just curious how many good rounds anyone can load an hour on a single stage press. i mean good quality loads well done. i am just curious more than anything. iknow there is personal preferance over what kind of press, and procedure each person uses. this just a topic for each ones ideas and preferance. not to start a range war. scooter-2
speed on a single stage press?
- Thread starter scooter-2
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I can get 100 pistol rounds (44 mag and 45 LC) in an hour, start to finish.
I have an RCBS RockChucker press and a RCBS Little Dandy Power Measure which speeds things up a great deal.
I started on a RCBS single stage press in 1975, and I've never had a reason to switch.
I have an RCBS RockChucker press and a RCBS Little Dandy Power Measure which speeds things up a great deal.
I started on a RCBS single stage press in 1975, and I've never had a reason to switch.
Smith357
US Veteran
I get about 20 well crafted .30-06 rounds in an hour on my single stage. All the time weighing trimming and fussing over every little detail of the loads helps my old M70 shoot sub MOA. I can do about 50 .45-70 in an hour and 100 .357s in about an hour, I don't take as much care with those as I do for the 06.
The Dillon 550 can do about 200-250 .45 acp per hour and the Lee 1000 will crank out about 350-400 rounds of .38 wadcutters in an hour.
The Dillon 550 can do about 200-250 .45 acp per hour and the Lee 1000 will crank out about 350-400 rounds of .38 wadcutters in an hour.
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da gimp
Member
We loaded for many yrs on A Rockchucker & using the RCBS powder thrower, but after the youngest daughter got into centerfire pistol & service rifle competition we bought a Dillon 550B set up.
The first night we used it, with me loading the primer tubes for them, my wife watching the powder level in the charged case & putting the bullets on , with my daughter running the press, they loaded 485 rds in about 1 hour of .38spec ammo...........& we've never looked back on using the RC'er for any pistol ammo, & use it for .223, .30-06 & .308 Win.too. Only rifle ammo intended for 1000 yd shooting is loaded on the Rockchucker.....
The first night we used it, with me loading the primer tubes for them, my wife watching the powder level in the charged case & putting the bullets on , with my daughter running the press, they loaded 485 rds in about 1 hour of .38spec ammo...........& we've never looked back on using the RC'er for any pistol ammo, & use it for .223, .30-06 & .308 Win.too. Only rifle ammo intended for 1000 yd shooting is loaded on the Rockchucker.....
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
If the brass is already preped I can load about 80 or more 30-06 rounds on a RCBS Rockchucker batch style loading. Remember though, that's only priming, dropping the powder and seating the bullets. The brass prep time will add to the loading time if you are asking about start to finish. That would drop the number down to maybe 30.
Like said above, for handgun rounds you can do about 100/hr safely...
Like said above, for handgun rounds you can do about 100/hr safely...
David LaPell
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Your press speed depends on how fast you can load powder. When I was able to I could load an easy fifty handgun rounds in under an hour with a powder measure. I have had three single stage presses in my life, an RCBS Rockchucker, an RCBS Jr, and a Lee Challenger and I have gotten the most speed off of the Lee believe it or not. I will tell you that while alot of people have used the bigger and better stuff, and I have but the Lee really works well for me.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Nothing at all wrong with Lee products. I have and use a Lee Classic Turret Press along with the RCBS press I mentioned above. Most of my dies are also Lee.
papajohn428
Member
I use a Lee 3-hole turret press, and prime with a hand tool. The press is neutered to single-stage, and if I start with prepped, primed brass (cheating, I know) I can crank out 300 rounds an hour. The dies stay in the turret so they never need to be adjusted and the flaring die also drops the powder charge. For such an economical setup, it's a very good system. I have dedicated turrets and powder measures for every pistol caliber I load, and I can change calibers in about 15 seconds. When my poor old tired Lee Turret finally got too loose after 30 years, I replaced it - with another one just like it. 
Beans
Member
I have never consider a single stage press as a press for speed. I consider it more as a precision tool and my progressive machine more for speed on less demanding rounds.
My single stage RCBS press that I have had since 1970 is used for single loading long range/precision rifle loads and the Dillon progressive machine is used for my IDPA pistol type loads and general pistol plinking loads. That is my choice and does not apply to everyone.
I have loaded some very accurate loads both rifle and pistol on the Dillon.
My single stage RCBS press that I have had since 1970 is used for single loading long range/precision rifle loads and the Dillon progressive machine is used for my IDPA pistol type loads and general pistol plinking loads. That is my choice and does not apply to everyone.
I have loaded some very accurate loads both rifle and pistol on the Dillon.
I tend to agree with beans opening comment, however with a smaller caliber like a 380 or 9mm, just doing my normal routeen stuff, I guess I can put out around 100 rounds, sometimes more sometimes a bit less.
Single stage press... I have a LEE Classic Single Stage press, works just fine for me.
Single stage press... I have a LEE Classic Single Stage press, works just fine for me.
Last weekend I loaded 300 rds of 45 ACP on a RCBS turret press.The brass was new so it didn't need tumbled. It took me 5 loads of laundry. Only 3 loads got to the dryer. Rifle cartridges take much longer as I really get fussy on the RCBS Rock Chucker.
Actually I relax and enjoy sitting at the loading bench and I never time myself. Wifey doesn't complain when I gun shop, go shooting, buy shooting stuff etc. so I help by loading the washer and dryer.
Actually I relax and enjoy sitting at the loading bench and I never time myself. Wifey doesn't complain when I gun shop, go shooting, buy shooting stuff etc. so I help by loading the washer and dryer.
Just for the heck of it, I timed myself once, to see what I could do w/a SS press "from scratch", trying for speed. But, safety was always first and foremost. Cleaned, un-prepped brass. I did 200 complete rounds in 2hrs, 15 minutes. Checking the powder drop every 25 cases.
With prepped cases, primed, belled...
I load about 200 an hour.
I don't load from scratch any more. I always have between 100 and 500 prepped cases in any given caliber.
With prepped cases, primed, belled...
I load about 200 an hour.
I don't load from scratch any more. I always have between 100 and 500 prepped cases in any given caliber.
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Using my Bonanza single stage and processing my brass in batches I get about 100 rounds per hour.
tomuchiron
US Veteran
I Win- 30 bullets/Minute on my single stage
I hope the video is good enough tto figure it out.
SDC11208.AVI - YouTube
Lee resizing die, old lyman c press
I hope the video is good enough tto figure it out.
SDC11208.AVI - YouTube
Lee resizing die, old lyman c press
Gee, I never considered reloading a race, never had pressure to make so many loads in a limited amount of time.
Then again, I don't shoot 200/300 rounds of pistol ammo every week.
More like in a month or six weeks
Then again, I don't shoot 200/300 rounds of pistol ammo every week.
More like in a month or six weeks
ruger-p94
Member
I get about 50 357 rounds in one hour on my Lee. I weigh each round with my digital scale. Retired, relaxed, and not wanting to work up a sweat......decaping and sizing already done on the day before...
I reload .45 Colt.
I bulk inspect, prep, and hand prime my brass in batches ahead of time so its ready when I go to reload.
I use a Lyman T-Mag Turret. I've got a Lyman Multi-Expand and Charge die in it with a Lyman Acculine Powder Measure screwed into it so expanding and charging is one step. I seat and crimp in seperate steps. All three steps are done in batches using reloading blocks. I take a split second each time I handle each piece at each step to make sure it is correct. I also look over each charged case in the blocks with a flash light and visually re-verify the charge level of each case before setting a bullet on it and moving on to seating.
Using that method I'm good for 100-150 rounds of excellent never gives me a lick of trouble always goes bang never had a squib ammo.
I've never timed it exactly. When I reload I'm not on the clock or a quota, I'm looking to make good quality ammo.
It also helps that I reload through the winter so that by the time shooting season rolls around I've got all my ammo done and ready and there's no need to rush if I am planning on going shooting.
I bulk inspect, prep, and hand prime my brass in batches ahead of time so its ready when I go to reload.
I use a Lyman T-Mag Turret. I've got a Lyman Multi-Expand and Charge die in it with a Lyman Acculine Powder Measure screwed into it so expanding and charging is one step. I seat and crimp in seperate steps. All three steps are done in batches using reloading blocks. I take a split second each time I handle each piece at each step to make sure it is correct. I also look over each charged case in the blocks with a flash light and visually re-verify the charge level of each case before setting a bullet on it and moving on to seating.
Using that method I'm good for 100-150 rounds of excellent never gives me a lick of trouble always goes bang never had a squib ammo.
I've never timed it exactly. When I reload I'm not on the clock or a quota, I'm looking to make good quality ammo.
It also helps that I reload through the winter so that by the time shooting season rolls around I've got all my ammo done and ready and there's no need to rush if I am planning on going shooting.
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