Does anyone prefer a single stage press

[hdbiker]

I bought my Rock Chucker in 1972. I got the press a set of .308 dies and a shell holder for 42.00. Two of us ordered them so we got free shiping.I load for .243, .270, a couple 30-30's, a couple .308's, a 30-06, .45ACP, .38 - .357 , and .44 mag. The press has been flawless, except for a broken plastic spent primer tray. I E-mailed RCBS and they sent me a new one, NO CHARGE. I took it apart a couple times to clean and lube the ram and pivots. I do shoot all my guns quite a bit in warm weather and still hunt some. My Rock Chucker is all the press I'll ever need. hdbiker

 

[Shaq]

Shag, I have had Lyman, Hollywood, Redding, Ponsness-Warren and Texan turrets in the past. I tried both ways, but unless I was making up just a small handfull of ladder loads, processing the cases in batches was by far the best. That way, the main advantage of the turret is your dies are all set up and adjusted.

Thanks. So, the time saver is the fact that all the dies are already adjusted & ready for use.

 

[sugarmaker]

No doubt my single stage makes quality ammo and since only ont thing at a time happens, the pace is relaxed and with a good process there is not much chance for error. With a high mix/ low volume it is what I prefer.

However... I try to standardize my loads once I find the most suitable load chain. I have an lnl ap and I installed an adapter bushing in my rockchucker that is screwed in to match the die settings on the lnl. Once I'm done developing a load, I can just transfer the dies into the LNL. I keep die sets/powder measures etc as a set for each favorite load, so very short change over. Often my time is short, I'm out of ammo, and I'd rather shoot than load when time presents itself on some sunny afternoon. That's where the LNL really shines, I can crank out 100 rounds in a half hour without hurrying and go shoot. I always use a powder check die, either rcbs lock out or dillon alarm.

 

[waffentomas]

I had a progressive for a while and decided it wasn't worth all the trouble, so I went back to single stage. I have two presses set up side buy side so if I need a little more volume I can charge primed brass and seat the bullet without changing dies. That's as complicated as I get now. It's a hobby that I love, so it's not about the volume any more, and I shoot about 1000 rounds a month. I'm not even retired, and have a family, but I work in the time.

 

[murf]

that is all i have ever used.

murf

 

[Reeferman]

Sugarmaker that is the exact setup I have and use.

 

[Kaldor]

I load 308 on my SS. But I do all my priming on my LnL so I dont have to deal with handling primers. Everything else gets run on the progressive. For me its a time thing, I never have enough,

 

[hdwhit]

Anyone prefer using a single stage press

I don't know that I prefer it because a single stage press it all I have every used.

If you're in a hurry, get a turret or progressive press. If you're handloading to relax and craft some ammunition you will know inside and out, get a single stage press and enjoy getting your hands on each component.

I only load when it strikes my fancy to do so, so I don't load to a schedule. When I do load, it is generally over the course of a lazy weekend and I will do 100 rounds at a time, and that's well within the 100-200 rounds a month figure that you predict.

Regardless of the type of press you buy, establish some reloading procedures (preferably in writing, better yet a checklist) so that you don't have any accidents.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I load under 500 a month, I prefer the single stage, I'm in no hurry, will be retiring in a year, so I will have time on my hands. I find it therapeutic to load.

 

[GBExpat]

...
If you're in a hurry, get a turret or progressive press. If you're handloading to relax and craft some ammunition you will know inside and out, get a single stage press and enjoy getting your hands on each component. ...

Cost being not too unequal, if I had a choice between getting a single stage-press, which only operates as a s-s press, and a Lee Classic Turret which can operate equally well as either a turret or single-stage press, I would choose the LCT (with which, btw, you also "get your hands on each component" ).

 

[Jimster]

I went from a Lyman 310 tool for 45-70 (exhausting) to a LCT press. Now I reload several other calibers as well. I've never used a single stage press but it sounds like it has merits that I never thought about.

 

[Shaq]

I've never cared for progressive loading. I used a friend's progressive for an hour. I didn't like it; too much happening at the same time; too much room for error or malfunction & unpleasant range surprises.

Maybe that's why I've never had a problem in 45 years of shooting my handloads.

 

[larryh1108]

I only use a single stage press. I load for 10+ pistol calibers. Each die for each caliber is set in one of those quick change bushings so all I have to do is pop in the bushing/die and off I go. Everything is set and ready to go.

I find the process therapeutic. No hurrying to pound out numbers. I weigh each charge "just because". The loads are very consistent.

I clean all my brass when needed. I then prime each piece and package them in bags of 100 for when I wish to reload. If I want 100 .45 rounds and 100 10mm rounds I can put them out in an afternoon or evening because the cases are cleaned and primed and ready to go. It works for me and it is a relaxing way to enjoy the hobby.

 

[mikey98e]

I bought a single stage RCBS reloading kit 40 years ago. It is the only reloading equipment that I have. I still use it every week to load rifle and pistol ammo. My OCD is so bad, I weigh every powder load on the scale that came in the kit too.
-mike

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

People that shoot a lot tend to go progressive or turret for mass production.

People that shoot less tend to use a single stage or turret.

Some like loading more than shooting and may use a single stage for mass production and even many calibers.

I don't have time with the amount of rounds i shoot, bullets i cast and coat, and the hours i work to pull a lever 3-4 times per round. So i run a progressive for pistol mass production. I have a single stage for sizing, working up new loads, and low quantity detailed loads.









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[sbwaters]

Got a Hornady Single Stage Classic kit for my first press and like it.

The Twist-in bushing make changing dies without adjustment a snap. I put in the Inline Fabrication handle and bins to pick up some speed and ease of use. I do about 100 rounds a week.

 

[newfalguy101]

I do. And I type text messages with one finger

Sounds like me, except I will also occasionally is my thumb along with my one finger....

 

[JonB]

I use a Lee Hand Press and RCBS Summit for everything. Hand press is indeed 'handy' for easy stuff like flaring pistol brass, deprive/resize 9mm, etc. Last night my 7yr old was flaring the cases with the hand press while I did powder/seated bullets with the Summit loading 9x18 makarov.

Like others, I prep brass in large batches so anytime I have an hour I can load up about 100 rounds. Right now I have about 2500 9mm cases done and another 1200 .223 done and ready.

 

[Average Joe]

Been using single stage press for years. works for me.

 

[Hangingrock]

I have (3) progressive presses and one single stage press. I differentiate between Handloading and Reloading. A Handloader enjoys the process. A Reloader tolerates the process in order to shoot, thus the advantage of the progressive press employment.

Each to their own Handloader's and Reloader's.

 

[tcoz]

I'm curious about something. I've been considering the Redding Turret. Do you take each round through all the steps, turning the turret to complete each round or do you do one operation to many cases?

I also use a Redding T-7 and love it. I think anybody, myself included, who uses one would be batching. I perform each operation to 50 cases at a time. In order to take any movement out of it, the press has a pretty strong detent and it takes a little bit of force to turn the turret. It isn't something that I would want to do after each pull if the handle. If you're familiar with the Lee Turret and how easy the turret is to turn (with the indexing rod removed), the T-7 isn't anything like that.

 

[north east redneck]

I graduated from Lee whack a mole to an RCBS JR that was made in the '60s. I load a couple thousand .38 specials, maybe a thousand .357 mags and a few hundred .45 Colts a year on this press.
It works for me and gives me something to do on cold winter nights. It works just fine and I doubt I will invest in a progressive press anytime soon.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Haven't used a single stage much since I bought a LCT. I still use one a little for load workups where I'm changing OAL's and powder loads often.

But with "established" load recipes, I use the turret. And I don't understand those who say if you only load 200-300 rounds a month the SS is the way to go. It's all you need, but you can still spend 4-5 hours for that number of loads on a SS (even batch processing), or you can do it in 2 hours on a turret press. Heck, I've been thinking of a full progressive so I can cut it even shorter.

 

[Coldfinger]

I have a turret and single stage. I prefer the single stage for all my rifle needs.

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[wally247]

I shoot several thousand pistol rounds a year so I have a square deal for that. All of my rifle is done on a rock chucker. I would like to get a 550 or 650 for 223 though since I shoot a lot of that compared to other rifle calibers.