What volume of shooting warrants progressive press?

[jtcarm]

I'm getting back to shooting regularly and reloading after a long hiatus and there's no question I'll go progressive, probably a Hornady as soon as LOML gets her new countertops. 100-rounds per week = 5200 per year. Shooting DA revolver the way I love to, I can easily burn through that much. If I can crank that out in 12 hours, that's awesome. What's the rate on a SS press, 50-75 per hour?

Another reason is I need more time to cast. I am extremely picky about bullets. Jacketed are too expensive and commercial cast generally suck. I had disposed of all my casting equipment, but no loss, they were all double-cavity molds. I just purchased a 4-cavity .44 HBWC mold. 4 holes will be my new minimum and a 20-lb pot is coming next.

I also plan to start shooting Service Rifle competition, which requires a lot of ammo for practice. If the Hornady doesn't work out for that, I'll probably invest in a Lee Turret.

No half-a--ing this go around. Life is too short.

 

[old&slow]

I agree with some of the statements about starting / learning on a single stage. I think it's a Good idea.
But , no matter if it's a single stage or a progressive one has to pay attention and watch what they are doing. You can't be too careful when reloading..
I've been using a progressive since the late 80's and wouldn't be with out it.. But,I started on a single stage.. And kind of glad I did.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I just purchased a 4-cavity .44 HBWC mold.

I have a 148gr HBWC mold for casting .38 range fodder ammo. It's great but make sure you preheat the mold just right and keep your melt temp up with a good rhythm so the mold doesn't cool between drops. If you don't keep everything hot enough then you run a serious risk of having the HB skirt break off from cooling too slow during the casting process. Then you have a bore obstruction for the next shot even though the bulk of the bullet shot out end of the barrel. I use a casting thermometer to make sure my lead stays above 700 and if I get a bullet hung up in the mold then I pour the next few batches and just dump them right into the scrap heap for remelting.

Just a few tips and warning if you haven't heard all that before.

 

[blujax01]

...

To those that look down on handcrafting using a Forster, Lee or any other single stage as a waste of time, that's fine. You see, I look at not producing the best round I can as a complete waste?

...

I haven't read one response where anyone disparages single stage reloading. You will probably find quite a few of us who own both types.

 

[leas327]

I am the type that makes ammo as I need it. I started with a single stage and would reload 50-100 rounds a day during the week so I had enough ammo for practice on Friday and matches on the weekend. I would spend about an hour a day reloading. I was shooting 200-400 rounds a week.

I stepped up to a LNL. I still make ammo when I need it but now I go downstairs and spend and hour on Friday making ammo. I do not have a case feeder or bullet feeder yet and can still hit 300 rounds an hour fairly easy. I have seen well setup 650s with prefilled primer tubes and case and bullet feeders that could hit 700 rounds an hour.

This is all pistol stuff. I am not a bullseye shooter but I can make just as good ammo on my progressive as I did on my single stage.

I still make all my rifle ammo on a single stage. But with that I feel the case prep is the bigger time eater. In the last two years I have probably shot less than 200 rounds of centerfire rifle.

I also load for 44 mag but do not have a shell plate to run it on my lnl. The last time I was loading up 50 rounds on the single stage I finished up and went directly to the computer. I was going to order the shell plate but it was out of stock.

So for me...more than 50 rounds of pistol ammo and I want to load it on my progressive.