CKweigand
Member
I’ve been reloading for a few years now. And I’m always trying to increase the efficiency of my workflow...By no means am I saying I try to take shortcuts or cut corners. Just simply stating I like to make my moves count..I’ve went from a RCBS single stage that when all was said and done maybe 300 rounds of 45acp or 9mm would take me 20 hours on a weekend to get done...and now I’ve moved to a Hornady LNL for about a year now and can produce just as much in a little over an hour I would say...
There has been some tricks I’ve picked up on my LNL and just some things anyone with a progressive would hone in on. And while I could simply load each station with a cartridge no problem and get a finished product every time the lever gets “thrown” I’ve seemed to regress in my effieciency....
I’ve caught myself instead of loading every station up and trying to “mass produce” in as little of time as possible, to actually just running one case at a time through all the stations...
Some things I’ve noticed right off the bat from doing so...
1.) load count is lower by the hour (whoop-de-do Basil.)
2.) I get a better feel for every station as one case goes through as opposed to all stations being loaded up.
3.) because I can feel one station at a time I can diagnose and troubleshoot any hiccups 90% faster.
4.) Quality control takes a more emphasized role by loading one at a time
I almost forgot how focused and attentive I was being on the single stage. Not saying I’m never concerned with quality or safety but I can definitely tell I was more laxed than I should have.
5.) this goes with no. 4 but I can easily verify that each station has been processed and not be distracted so easily by 5-7 operations going at once.
5 1/2.) The rounds being produced are more consistent going through one at a time. OAL very rarely differ by more than a tho’ and my powder charges never vary if at all.
6.) I’m enjoying the process a lot more by loading one at a time.
I got so distracted by looking at load count I forgot how enjoyable the process was. Going from single stage to full on progressive to now once again a hybrid progressive method. So I guess I had to re-train my brain and reset what I consider being effiecient really is.
Does anybody out there practice the same methods on a progressive or is it just full bore mass production? What methods do you implement that bring you the most satisfaction?
There has been some tricks I’ve picked up on my LNL and just some things anyone with a progressive would hone in on. And while I could simply load each station with a cartridge no problem and get a finished product every time the lever gets “thrown” I’ve seemed to regress in my effieciency....
I’ve caught myself instead of loading every station up and trying to “mass produce” in as little of time as possible, to actually just running one case at a time through all the stations...
Some things I’ve noticed right off the bat from doing so...
1.) load count is lower by the hour (whoop-de-do Basil.)
2.) I get a better feel for every station as one case goes through as opposed to all stations being loaded up.
3.) because I can feel one station at a time I can diagnose and troubleshoot any hiccups 90% faster.
4.) Quality control takes a more emphasized role by loading one at a time
I almost forgot how focused and attentive I was being on the single stage. Not saying I’m never concerned with quality or safety but I can definitely tell I was more laxed than I should have.
5.) this goes with no. 4 but I can easily verify that each station has been processed and not be distracted so easily by 5-7 operations going at once.
5 1/2.) The rounds being produced are more consistent going through one at a time. OAL very rarely differ by more than a tho’ and my powder charges never vary if at all.
6.) I’m enjoying the process a lot more by loading one at a time.
I got so distracted by looking at load count I forgot how enjoyable the process was. Going from single stage to full on progressive to now once again a hybrid progressive method. So I guess I had to re-train my brain and reset what I consider being effiecient really is.
Does anybody out there practice the same methods on a progressive or is it just full bore mass production? What methods do you implement that bring you the most satisfaction?