Doing Bulk Work on Single Stage

[lpsharp88]

I load on a Rock Chucker, and am working on loading 1k 9mm to have stored just in case. Are there any tips or tricks to speeding up loading on a single stage? I've already sized/deprimed and expanded all 1k. Please, no "buy a Dillon" responses, I have no desire, and don't shoot enough volume, for a progressive press (turret, maybe).

I'm afraid that I already know the answer, but just checking for ideas.

 

[Hangingrock]

This is not meant to be insulting, mean spirited and or dismissive but for $215.00 (shipping included) you could have a acquired 1000 rounds of Blazer-Brass 115Gr/FMJ. This ammunition has resale value at a later date where as reloaded has no value under normal circumstances other than to your self. I remember the single stage days which were tedious at best.

 

[edwardware]

I built a PVC junk sculpture chute so I could flick the brass out of the shell holder off the back of the press instead of pulling it out the front. It eliminates one movement for each

Just turn the shell holder around, and flick the done one out as you hook the next one in. Chute points to a bucket.

 

[lpsharp88]

This is not meant to be insulting, mean spirited and or dismissive but for $215.00 (shipping included) you could have a acquired 1000 rounds of Blazer-Brass 115Gr/FMJ. This ammunition has resale value at a later date where as reloaded has no value under normal circumstances other than to your self. I remember the single stage days which were tedious at best.

I understand your point, but I can also make those (not counting labor) for around $100 less than buying factory. I have all components on hand, just looking for ways to kinda speed up the tedious task.

 

[Damon555]

If I'm going to load bulk on my single stage press I always do it in batches.....one step at a time. Do a step one day and then another step the next.....it really breaks up the monotony

 

[lpsharp88]

If I'm going to load bulk on my single stage press I always do it in batches.....one step at a time. Do a step one day and then another step the next.....it really breaks up the monotony

That's what I was considering. After sizing/depriming and expanding all in one day, I was very bored to say the least haha. I do not plan to sit and prime or the rest of the process at once. Maybe do a hundred or 3 at a time. It will take around a week or two to complete I suppose. I didn't think there was anything to change to speed things up honestly, but it can't hurt to check.

 

[guns3738]

I load on a single stage Rockchucker as well. What i do is just get into a pattern and keep the ram at about half way up. Other then that not getting much faster. imo

 

[edwardware]

If I'm going to load bulk on my single stage press I always do it in batches.....one step at a time.

And then you don't have to skip actually looking into each case to verify charge!

 

[PapaG]

I size/decap a pile of brass. Then expand them all. Then hand prime while being bored by tv with a Lee tool. Then, set in trays that hold 100 each. Made them from some old walnut stock. Drop powder into all 100. Examine each with a flashlight for being charged and not doubled. Start bullets in all. Seat all. Taper crimp.
Now, some thousands of rounds later, I still size and deprime on a single stage, prime by and, but finish on a Pro1000 bought for a song from a disgruntled user. Changed the arrangement to a. Expand/drop powder on station1, b. seat on two, and c. Taper crimp on three. Takes a little time to get the rhythm but you're dropping a loaded found per pull.

 

[Paddy]

This is why I invented the sleazyject. But, unfortunately it only works on lee classic cast presses. So, my suggestion is to sell the rock chucker and buy a lee classic cast and a sleazyject and with the money left over have a nice lunch.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Precisi...830208?hash=item2816f4bec0:g:MH8AAOSwQNRXL1oz

 

[otisrush]

I once sized/deprimed 1,100 9mm on my Rock Chucker over the course of 2 evenings - because I wanted to see how many 9mm cases this one plastic container held. It got quite tedious, to the point my back started to ache.

The following only works if you're not in tight short-term time crunch from calendar/total elapsed time perspective, but I've found doing things consistently, but maybe not in long sessions, helps immensely in getting lots done over multiple days. For example, I wet tumble in the small Harbor Freight tumbler. I can only do 100 cases or so at a time. It is amazing how much I can get done, if I just consistently find windows of time that enable me to start a batch and then get them in the dryer.

So would it help to approach it from the standpoint of "250 cases / night. I'll have them sized, deprimed in 8 evenings." vs "1,000 cases sized/deprimed one tonight, 1,000 cases expanded another night."? Many frequent small sessions vs a handful of "OK...suck it up and get 'er done!" sessions."

 

[Bart B.]

Once the brass is ready for depriming/sizing, size the first one while you grab another between thumb and index finger. Remove the sized one with your index and middle finger then slide the next one into the shell holder. The other hand stays on the press arm to run the ram up and down. I size a lot more 9mm cases per hour this way on my Rockchucker. Same for belling case mouths. Seating bullets on readied cases bullets are stuffed in but you have to slow down else a case will tip then gravity takes control of its loose contents.

If you can walk and chew gum at the same time, this only 5.67% harder.

 

[Stubert]

I have found one of the slowist steps is adding powder, Find a powder that you can use with a Lee dipper or a homemade dipper. You'll be surprised how accurate they can be and a time saver not having to weigh every charge.

 

[mdi]

"There's only one way to eat an elephant, that's one bite at a time". I too batch load most of my reloads. I'll sit down and punch out primers/size in one step. If I'm using my turret I'll twist the turret by hand and flare the cases. Maybe at another sitting, I'll prime a bunch. Then normally I'll store the ready to charge brass for charging and bullet seating at another time. I have from 50-100 ready to go cases for each of the calibers I reload. When I find a load I wanna try or run low on loaded rounds, I'll grab some prepped brass and finish the load. Seems to go quicker that way. I have waaaay more time to reload than I have to shoot so I can stay "connected" to my hobby by reloading in steps whenever I feel like playing in the shop. ...

 

[.308 Norma]

And then you don't have to skip actually looking into each case to verify charge!

I still look. After I set 50 or 100 cases in a loading tray, I hold it under a desk lamp I mounted on the back of my loading bench and peer into each case, one at a time.
Because I really enjoy my time at the loading bench, I've never wanted a progressive press. I used a single stage press even back in the days when my wife and I were shooting IHMSA competition and going through sometimes 300 rounds of handgun ammo every week. We DID have one advantage though - one of us would run the Rockchucker, while the other wiped off and inspected cases, cleaned primer pockets, and generally helped out by keeping bullets and powder handy and our coffee cups filled.
But to answer the OP's question, I do as Damon555 does - I do it in "batches." Especially priming. I like to use my RCBS hand priming tool to prime a tray full of fifty or a hundred cases while sitting in the living room in front of the TV. Now don't anyone get all worked up and tell me the TV is a distraction - the primed cases all get inspected, before, during, and after they're primed.

 

[shoebox56]

I bought Inline Fabrication case ejection system. I was skeptical before buying it, but was shocked what a difference in speed it made.

 

[FROGO207]

When you get into a system or method that works and you chug along it goes easier it seems. When I do a large amount ahead the following happens. My goal is a batch of 400 cases a session, sometimes more than a session a day. first step is to deprime on the universal die and wet tumble clean.Then I do it the same way as Bart B, trying to minimize my movements until I have several containers of brass prepped. I may stop here and wait to load the brass as explained below, if not. Then hand prime a bunch, often times 800-1000 to a session. Then back to 400 to a session for powder drop, inspect all 8 trays and then drop and seat/crimp the bullets. I find that breaking a chore up in manageable sessions with the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" makes things less tedious at least for me. Then I get up stretch or get a snack/use the bathroom and decide if I'll start another batch. If you need to work with smaller batches then do it. My goal is to do as many in a batch as I can without starting to make mistakes or get my back hurting and I have worked it up to 400 over the years. I will sometimes prep all my cases for a particular caliber first and stop there so that I can just go ahead and load whatever I need when I need it for the next day/week and be able to shoot them without tying up my components. Brass prep is the longest part of the reloading process IMHO.

 

[lpsharp88]

Thanks for all of the replies. It looks like breaking it up into smaller batches is the way to go, like I was figuring.

 

[mstreddy]

In single stage loading, you need to do it in batches as you've been. As some have suggested, maybe work with smaller sized batches to give you the break points.
I'm now loading pistol rounds on a progressive, but when I was loading on the single stage, I would do the batch methods.
Size/deprime a bunch of cases, whatever container full I had, then flare, then work in smaller chunks for the priming - 100 at a time. Then for powder and bullet seating was typically 50 at a time -- what fit on my loading block.

I work a somewhat similar way with my higher volume rifle loading, 223, 300 Blackout and 308. I size/deprime a container full. Take care of primer pockets (crimps). Check for length, needs trim or OK. Trim the batch. Then for these calibers I go to the progressive for priming, powder and bullet. These processes will happen over several days as time permits.

 

[clearcut]

I prep the lot of cases then load 100 at a time.

CC

 

[TrickyDick]

When you drop the powder, seat the bullet immediately afterwards. This will, IMO, speed things up. It also ensures you don't double charge.

Just a thought.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

What's the rush?
I understand for someone who is competing or is shooting a lot of ammo at a time then time is important. But since you're loading to " have stored just in case" why not make it enjoyable. Do lots of 25, 50, or 100 or whatever works for you where you can make it relaxing and something you enjoy instead of a chore?

I do 50 or 100 a weekend and some evenings and take my time. I have a Lee hand press and a Turret and could crank out a bunch at a time if I really wanted to but I see no hurry and really enjoy the reloading process. So I do things in batches as described above and use the Turret similar to a single stage in some of the steps.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
As others have said, process and load in batches.
I tumble or wash brass in large numbers, then re-size and de-prime in one step on my Rock chucker.
I prime in batches on a bench- mounted RCBS APS priming tool. I usually do about 500 cases at a time.
Do the same with flaring the case mouth and then I can reload in batches of however many I feel I need to do.
I drop powder in batches of 25-50 at a time and then seat and crimp the bullets.
I taper crimp auto pistol rounds in a separate step.
When the cases are primed and flared, I can usually find enough time in an evening to load about 250 handgun rounds.
I have tried progressive press reloading and truly prefer using my RockChucker.

 

[hdwhit]

I do pretty much all of my reloading on a single stage press (RCBS Reloader Special) working in batches of 50 cases at a time.

If I have a large quantity (i.e. 200, 400, etc.) I will generally go ahead decap and clean all of the brass at once. I will then resize, tumble and expand all of it working in batches of 50. I then charge the case and seat the bullet separately, also in batches of 50. I know the reasons behind suggesting that the charge/seating operation be done together, but with everything I load (other than 38 Special which has its own procedures), a double charge would more than fill the case. I prefer instead to charge all cases in the batch, tilt them about 30 degrees from the horizontal, vibrate them slightly and inspect the charges for uniformity using an automotive trouble light. With the block on an incline, an over- or under-charged case reflects the light differently making it easy to spot.

 

[z7]

Before i got a progressive i would do 200 at a time. I may get bored and process a lot but the priming and loading stage happened in batches of 100 or 200. I have 2 loading trays, so i would prime up 10p pcs and fill the loading tray. Set my powdet drop and fill all 100 cases. I would way a few of the drops, maybe 4 out of 100, but i dont have a problem with BE-86.
After a visual inspection i would seat and crimp in one step. I did things in 100rd increments so i had a stopping point in case the wife and kids needed/wantes something

With a progressive i still do 100 or 200 at a time, i am just a littlw faster with less effort involved