What kind of press(es) do you use?

What type(s) of press(es) do you use?

  • Mass Production Progressive

    Votes: 29 14.8%

  • Simple Progressive

    Votes: 71 36.2%

  • 4-6 Head Simple Turret

    Votes: 58 29.6%

  • 6-8 Head Complex Turret

    Votes: 11 5.6%

  • Single-Stage Press

    Votes: 111 56.6%

  • Multiple Single Stage Presses

    Votes: 43 21.9%

  • Lee Loaders! (there's something else?)

    Votes: 8 4.1%

  • Lee APP + Other (post what "other" is)

    Votes: 17 8.7%

  • All of the above

    Votes: 1 0.5%

  • I use an Ideal loading tool made in 1928 and nothing more is needed! Herrumph!

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    196
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
I use my RCBS Rock Chucker for rifle and test loads. If I eve want to make a large quantity of bullets, I have an old Piggyback I can attach to the Single Stage that I actually use as a turret press because the unit doesn't function too well.
 
I've got a Dillon 550 set up for small primers and a Dillon 550 set up for large primers. I also have a 1970 RCBS Jr out in the shed. That's where I deprime, and do my casting and bullet sizing.
 
I have a Dillon 550. When I was shooting competitively I was loading a large quantity so progressive was the only answer. Now it's used more as a "fast" single stage with the rifle rounds I load.
 
9mmepiphany said:
I'd be interested in knowing which progressive press doesn't utilize a case activated powder drop or primer feeder?
Click to expand...
Read the reloading forum. I see posts from guys who say they drop off the press and don’t use a press mounted drop. I’d be interested to know which presses require the powder drop be mounted on the tool head or they won’t work at all. Can you name a few please? I’m just asking questions not presenting myself as THE expert. So I will yield to THE expert and await an answer.
 
I still need more choices than 3! could we add 6! picks? I don’t have a Mass Press or a 1934 German press
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Read the reloading forum. I see posts from guys who say they drop off the press and don’t use a press mounted drop. I’d be interested to know which presses require the powder drop be mounted on the tool head or they won’t work at all. Can you name a few please? I’m just asking questions not presenting myself as THE expert. So I will yield to THE expert and await an answer.
Click to expand...

I think you will find there are a fair number of folks who prime off the progressive press but still charge the case on the press.

The reloader sizes then expands the case in operation allowing him to do some case prep before loading the case. In addition, I prefer to prime off the press.

Then, when loading the cases, the sizing dies are left off the press.

I guess if priming off the press, one could also charge the case off the press as well but I can’t say I’ve heard anyone operating a progressive that way. Someone might.

Dillon offers a powder measure die that a manually operated powder measure can be installed in. It allows the use of different powder measures.

I have progressive presses from three different manufacturers and all of them were delivered with primer feed/seat systems and case activated powder measures.

None of my progressives still have the priming systems on them, I got them out of my way since I do not use them.
 
I have them from automated, fill with primers, powder, bullets and brass and they stop if there is a malfunction or one of the above runs out, all the way to the Lee, beat with a hammer loader. I guess the largest turret capacity I have is 6 though and don’t have an APP but a few of their other presses.
 
jmorris said:
I have them from automated, fill with primers, powder, bullets and brass and they stop if there is a malfunction or one of the above runs out, all the way to the Lee, beat with a hammer loader. I guess the largest turret capacity I have is 6 though and don’t have an APP but a few of their other presses.
Click to expand...
That seems to be the dominant trend: almost everybody still uses a single stage press and lots of folks only use them. I also still use the old Lee Loaders and the nutcracker hand press but not as often as just the little RCBS Partner.
 
I started many years ago with a Rock Chucker reloading kit. It served my needs for a couple years. Then I started shooting USPSA matches and my ammo appetite grew exponentially. I soon tired of loading for 3 hours and shooting for 1 hour. I then bought a Dillon 550 which serves my higher volume needs. The Rock Chucker works just fine for my lower volume and precision needs.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Not what you own but what you use. Be honest and multiple answers are allowed but changing your votes is not.
Click to expand...

"I use a RC II for reloading and a RC IV for depriming and swaging. With the Hornady L&L bushings on all my dies, I just never felt a turret press would offer much of an advantage."

I pasted this from Livelife's poll just to give you equal time.

Retired and too cheap to buy a progressive.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Read the reloading forum. I see posts from guys who say they drop off the press and don’t use a press mounted drop. I’d be interested to know which presses require the powder drop be mounted on the tool head or they won’t work at all. Can you name a few please? I’m just asking questions not presenting myself as THE expert. So I will yield to THE expert and await an answer.
Click to expand...
No need to, you've seem to have mis-read or mis-understood what I posted.

We're discussing presses here, not how reloaders use them. You original post was addressed to the difference between two delineated types of presses. I'm not quite sure why you would insert the tangent of how they are used as it wouldn't be a property of the press
 
I have 3 presses, two of them shotgun-a MEC 600 Jr. and a MEC 650. I use the 600 more, but use the last crimp stage on the 650 after crimping on the 600, it tapers the top of the hull so they load in autos and pumps easier, and more importantly, keeps them from having that hole in the center that pellets like to escape from. :)
My metallic press is an RCBS Jr. 3. This and the MEC 600 Jr. are the two I learned on, my Dad gave them to me a while back. I tried to get my sons interested in loading, but they are more interested in emptying them. ;)
 
Lee 4 hole turret for 9, 357, 357 Sig, 40 and 223. Lee Classic for 22-250, 6.5 Grendel and 30-06. Lee Loader for Wadcutters (so I don't have to change the seating depth on my turret press - though I do size the cases on the turret press). For all of them, I prime off press with a hand-held RCBS tool.
 
My first and only press is the Dillon 550. It does what I need it to do loading for my pistols.
I would say that it would be called a "simple progressive". No cartridge or bullet feeder.
 
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