Going back to a turret after a few months of progressive

[Stefan A]

I noticed an interesting thing today - at least to me.

For the past 2.5 months or so I have been loading with my Pro 6000 and all of my thoughts have been on it. I might be approaching 1000 rounds at this point. I bought a quick change mount for it as well as my turret press. During this time, I'd look over at the turret press and think how I don't see any reason to go back to it. But, today, I wanted to load up some 45 colt and I am out of the bushings that I need to set up the pro 6000 for 45 colt. Well, I still had my turret all set up for 45 colt, so I went ahead and switched out presses. It was like riding a bike - it all came back to me. The little habits I had developed to make things go smooth just happened. But most surprising was the relaxation and ease of the whole process. Everything from the caliber changeover to the powder weight testing was so much easier. The actual loading was a snap - easier to pull the lever because of only 1 thing happening. Getting to pay attention to each step and not worrying about looking at 5 different things at once. Sure, I didn't have a case feeder or a bullet feeder and I was making 1 round for 4 pulls. But there was just something about it that made me realize that there are definitely reasons to go back to it.

The only thing that will stop me is that once I set up my dies for the pro 6000, I won't want to reset them on the turret. I could always buy another die set, but that seems a bit excessive to me.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that realization. It was kinda neat!

 

[Shivahasagun]

I can understand that.

I do alot of switching out. Load 200 rds of this, 300 rds of that, then just 100 of some other thing.

Lee Turret makes that fairly easy.

But I can certainly see the appeal of progressive if I loaded alot of a thing and maybe one day I'll feel the need.

 

[JO JO]

I have considered the same thing

 

[Nuke8401]

Same here. Granted my progressive is a Lee Pro 1000. In years past when shooting a lot of IDPA and 3-gun I would load 9mm and 5.56 with it but reloading range brass was a pain. Priming was my main issue and in the end I either bought bulk prepped brass or I would de-prime, swag and trim to length (223/5.56) off press and then finish on the progressive. At the volume I reload now my Lee Classic turret gives me the opportunity to inspect each case and clean/prep primer pockets if needed. If a primer didn't go in on the progressive it was all stop with some recovery time.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Do you have the room to have both press's set up Stephan? If so that would be an option.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I could always buy another die set, but that seems a bit excessive to me.

The right tools for the job. That’s what matters.

 

[Zendude]

I like reloading because it’s relaxing. If it felt more like work, then I probably wouldn’t do much reloading.

 

[RandyP]

I have my Sic Pack and my Classic turret mounted on those great Inline Fabrication plates. Makes swapping very simple on my tiny reloading bench. My plan has always been to load the smaller quantities of various calibers on the turret.

 

[Bartojc]

I like reloading because it’s relaxing. If it felt more like work, then I probably wouldn’t do much reloading.

This is why I bought the progressive in the first place. I was too the point that loading 9mm in order to keep myself in ammo was beginning to feel like work and not fun. It slowed my shooting time down which is also fun.

My plan has always been to load the smaller quantities of various calibers on the turret.

Today I load 9mm only on the SPP. I load rifle and other low volume pistol on my Turret. Like the rest of you the Inline quick change make this painless.
Jeff

 

[mdi]

I never got as far as purchasing a progressive press. A friend was shooting 45 ACP in competition and had a Dillon (number?) with auto everything. All he had to do was load primers, bullets, powder and pull the handle. I helped him a couple times. Didn't like it. I wasn't reloading, I was pulling the handle on a manually operated reloading machine, over and over and over, ad infinitum. I felt very removed from reloading, so I stuck with my Lee turret...

 

[Shivahasagun]

9x19?

Just buy it unless you shoot alot of something special.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

9x19?

Just buy it unless you shoot alot of something special.

When the price of 124gr FMJ goes below $5/50 w/ tax, S/H, all inclusive, I’ll buy a couple of cases… to hold until the next shortage. Then I’ll sell them to non reloaders for $10/50 after adjusting for inflation. In the meantime, I’ll keep shooting my hand loads… because I can.

 

[PWC]

38 yrs using Pacific single stage press + Pacific powder balance + Lyman 55 measure + retirement + background music + sitting down = reloading mellow fellow.

 

[Soonerpesek]

38 yrs using Pacific single stage press + Pacific powder balance + Lyman 55 measure + retirement + background music + sitting down = reloading mellow fellow.

I like it..........................!!!..................

 

[Crosshair]

This is why I have stuck with my Lee Turret and never gotten a progressive after almost 20 years.

The extra speed of a progressive isn't worth the extra headache IMHO.

 

[Thomasss]

he only thing that will stop me is that once I set up my dies for the pro 6000, I won't want to reset them on the turret. I could always buy another die set, but that seems a bit excessive to me.

Do you have more than one gun in the same caliber? If so multiple dies sets and presses might be better. Often bullet seating is different and/or the bullet type is different and re-setting depth can be a pain in the neck. Then multiple dies or presses can solve quick and easy reloading.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have turrets with every caliber i load set up with the dies in them for my Lee turret press. Same for my Lyman's.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I have turrets with every caliber i load set up with the dies in them for my Lee turret press. Same for my Lyman's.

Same. 7 so far.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I'm on board with having extra dies for what ever I'm loading.
When I get my reloading shed finished I'll have a seperate progressive press for every caliber that I shoot the most.

 

[JEBruns]

This is why I have stuck with my Lee Turret and never gotten a progressive after almost 20 years.

The extra speed of a progressive isn't worth the extra headache IMHO.

I would disagree. A well setup, good brand progressive press should not give headaches. My Dillon RL1100 is a joy to run. But I fully understand that folks get different things out of reloading. If going single stage, turret, or whatever feels right to you, more power to you.

 

[Crosshair]

I would disagree. A well setup, good brand progressive press should not give headaches. My Dillon RL1100 is a joy to run. But I fully understand that folks get different things out of reloading. If going single stage, turret, or whatever feels right to you, more power to you.

That "Well Setup" qualifier is where the problem lies. In addition is the materiel being fed into it. The fresh mixed range pickup brass and cast bullets tumble lubed with a mix of paste wax and Vaseline that I use will probably make any progressive press have a seizure.

 

[hoardingthemanual]

Through your YT videos and posts I see you’ve been having progressive problems for a while. This post sounds nothing like your past threads so you may have found your gear. What’s that saying about dogs and tricks? Like all of us old timers say, if the old razzle dazzle still pays the bills, why change anything at all?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have been using a Lee 4 Hole Classic Turret Press since 2005 and I have no intention to change that. I load all my handgun all and most times .223/5.56mm ammo too. The old and trusted RCBS Rockchucker still loads my rifle ammo.

I can usually Safely load 180 to 200 rounds/hour on the Lee turret press. I agree, it is relaxing and the output is more than enough for my needs.

Of course if I were shooting competitions and needing 1,000+ rounds a week I would have to change but I don't compete. Well, other than for lunch with my shooting buddies lol...

 

[JEBruns]

That "Well Setup" qualifier is where the problem lies. In addition is the materiel being fed into it. The fresh mixed range pickup brass and cast bullets tumble lubed with a mix of paste wax and Vaseline that I use will probably make any progressive press have a seizure.

Are you saying you run "fresh" uncleaned range pickup brass through your loader?

I have a bunch of range pickup brass, in 9mm and .223. Runs through my RL1100 great. Actually, that's one of the reasons I upgraded from a Dillon 650, to get the swaging station for the crimped pickup brass. But I always clean and prep the brass before putting it through the machine.

I have an older RCBS progressive press that is somewhat finicky. I loaded with it for a lot of years before upgrading to Dillon. Seemed like I was always tweaking something on that press. Dillon stopped all of that for me. There was some minor tweaking to the Dillons when they were new, but now it's just loading components and pulling the handle.

 

[mavracer]

I've never used a turret press. I've got my dad's old Rock Chucker that's at least 50 years old that I've been using for close to 45 years now. Nearly 30 years ago now I got a Hornady Projector. For the most part I load rifle calibers on the single stage and pistols on the progressive.