How fast is your progressive really?

[joed]

I think you win!

LOL, that's what I said too when I read it.

 

[GT1]

This is a hobby, not a production based profession. I don't get all worried about production rates. I enjoy my time working my press to unwind after a crappy day at work...

For some reloading is not the hobby, it is a means to an end, which might be shooting 1000-2000 rounds a week for uspsa practice. Output is very important in that case when it comes down to getting it done in one or two hours, or six.
Many work, have families, and precious little time to sit at their reloader reminiscing about how enjoyable it is feeding bullets powder and primers into a machine.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Not a race, but rate is important

Paying attention to your rate does not automatically mean you are in a race.

I used to do 50-60 rounds per hour on my RCBS RockChucker single stage, including die installation, primer tube filling, setup and teardown (I keep my gear boxed up and stowed between loading sessions).

With my Lee Classic Turret, I can set up, load 100 rounds and have everything cleaned up and put away in less than an hour. Way less.

Without setup and teardown (but keeping the primer feed and powder measure full) I can load 150 rounds per hour.

With my Lee Pro-1000, I could load 150 taking all operations into account. If I didn't count filling all the tubes and things and clearing jams, I could probably have doubled that. Granted, I did not have the case collator, which would have sped things up some.

My main problem with the Pro-1000 (which I would have with ANY progressive) is that trying to monitor multiple operations simultaneously was difficult for me. I slowed down to be careful. Stroke, stop, check this, check that, place a bullet, stroke again, stop, check this, check that, place a bullet.

I am much happier with my turret.

You may be more comfortable with a progressive than I was. More power to you.

About the race for rate: I monitor my rate as a curiosity. Not as a competition (not even with myself). Loading is a relaxing activity which I enjoy as much for that feature as I do for its output.

Shooting is a relaxing activity, too, but a different kind of relaxation. I am blessed that they complement each other.

Lost Sheep

 

[Waldog]

The only time I ever timed my LNL with a case feeder, I got 100 rounds in 9 minutes?

 

[Claude Clay]

square deal makes 400 an hour but adjust it to 300 to include time spent loading the primer tubes, sorting and preping the cases.
rifle on the lee 4 hole turret is about 75///hour with everything in place to start. i also use the lee for small runs of handgun ammo--38 S&W, 7.62 x 25, 32-20.

very seldom does it actually feel like work. working up a load for a new gun or type of exercise is fun. making by the 500 for CASS or IDPA practice is more likework. but of the kind i choose.

 

[HankB]

I have a Dillon Square Deal B; when loading .45 ACP, a box of 50 rounds takes me almost exactly six minutes, for a cyclic rate of 500 per hour. For the SDB, both cases and bullets are inserted manually, and this is a good, comfortable rate. I probably could speed up by 30%-50%, but rushing things like that would increase odds of a mistake.

Now, that's the short-term cyclic rate; add in all the other parts of the process like refilling the powder hopper, occasionally checking the powder charge, refilling the primer tubes, inspecting and boxing the ammo . . . and my overall cyclic rate drops to somewhere around 300 per hour.

 

[Lost Sheep]

square deal makes 400 an hour but adjust it to 300 to include time spent loading the primer tubes, sorting and preping the cases.
rifle on the lee 4 hole turret is about 75///hour with everything in place to start. i also use the lee for small runs of handgun ammo--38 S&W, 7.62 x 25, 32-20.

very seldom does it actually feel like work. working up a load for a new gun or type of exercise is fun. making by the 500 for CASS or IDPA practice is more likework. but of the kind i choose.

Claude Clay,

I am curious. 75 per hour on the Lee Turret? Are you using the auto-indexing and the Auto-Disk powder measure and continuous processing or are you batch processing (or a mix of batch and continuous processing)?

Does the loading of rifle cartridges vs handgun cartridges make a big difference?

Thanks, and thanks for sharing your information.

 

[cfullgraf]

My main problem with the Pro-1000 (which I would have with ANY progressive) is that trying to monitor multiple operations simultaneously was difficult for me.

Ths is one of the reasons, not the only one, I decoupled the resizing process from the loading process on my Hornady L-N-L.

I can load 100 rounds in an hour on a single stage press, lights on to lights off. The cases are resized and prepared. I really did not need the volume of ammunition that a progressive makes. I wanted a new toy to play with and to reduce some of the multiple case handling required on a single stage.

If I were competing and needed tons of ammunition, I would have a dedicated press with all the bells and whistles to crank out the most ammunition in the least amount of time.

After a lackluster start with the Hornady, I am pleased with the rates I got using the process that I use.

Finally, I am finding the Hornady very flexible and I am doing small batches, 50 to 100 cases, on it efficiently as well as large batches.

 

[rikman]

A lot faster than my turret press. But it's not a race for safety sake.

 

[Hunter125]

You guys are making progressives sound really attrative. Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage? I have had my eye on a turret press for a while now as well.

 

[rikman]

Hunter,

My plan was to start out with just a turret press, but I bought one off a club member at a good price and started out with both. I have 2 Dillon 550B's.
IMHO as long as you take your time, figure out a rhythm and quirks of a progressive press they are fast and safe. If I feel like I might have messed something up, I just pull the shell holder pins and pull out the case and dump my powder and start over...

 

[cfullgraf]

You guys are making progressives sound really attrative. Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage? I have had my eye on a turret press for a while now as well.

There is alot going on with a progressive but that does not mean you could not limit the operations at any one set up until you learn each step of the process.

My opinion, single stage presses are handy to have around. There are several tasks that they do better than any other press. I feel it is better to learn on a single stage, but loading can be learned safely on a progressive or turret.

Except for the the press itself, virtually everything you use for single stage loading can be used with a progressive, except for Dillon SDB. So, you really would not "waste" any money. I am talking about dies, scale, powder measures and so forth.

The Lee turret press can be set up to load as a single stage and switched to auto index once you are comfortable with reloading. With a single stage, you do things in batches.

Welcome to reloading.

 

[CGT80]

My 1050 with bullet feeder will crank them out at a rate of 2000 rounds per hour, but I usually only do a couple hundred at a time. I run montana gold jhp bullets and check my brass thoroughly before I put it into a drawer at the bench to be used for loading. I have hang ups sometimes, but not often. I can walk up to the press, load a few primer tubes, throw bullets in the feeder, spray lube cases and load that feeder and start cranking out ammo. In 20 minutes I could crank out 300 rounds without killing myself. That would make a real world number of 900 rounds per hour of 9mm. I leave the 1050 setup for only 9mm. Three of us use it for our race guns. My old 550 is much slower and more prone to having problems. I load everything but 9mm on it, but in much smaller volumes, so speed isn't everything, but it still beats the crap out of single stage loading.

 

[Lost Sheep]

You guys are making progressives sound really attrative. Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage? I have had my eye on a turret press for a while now as well.

You can teach a babe to walk wearing roller skates but it is a lot easier in shoes.

You can learn to load on a progressive, but it is a lot easier on a single stage.

You can easily make a turret act JUST LIKE A SINGLE STAGE. Just leave the turret stationary.

You can easily make a progressive load very much like a single stage. But it requires more fiddling around, which is distracting while you are supposed to be paying attention to the primary tasks of sizing, priming, charging, belling, seating and crimping, not where the cases are moving around.

It is more complex and requires a bit more attention, but it can be done.

I do not recommend it unless you have a mentor/tutor in the same room with you and the press. If you are learning on your own from books, videos, over the internet or on the phone, I recommend single stage or turret.

Like I said in my earlier post. Progressives have too many things going on for my comfort level. That applies even if you only have one case and one station working at a time. Shell plate rotate automatically, primer feed drops one automatically. Distracting.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep.

 

[fiftybmg]

I have the LnL. No case feeder or bullet feeder. It takes 20 minutes to produce 100 rounds, without rushing, and eyeballing every case charge on the press. This includes filling the primer tube. If you had to change from small to large pistol primers, give yourself a leasurely ten minutes extra.

 

[joed]

For some reloading is not the hobby, it is a means to an end, which might be shooting 1000-2000 rounds a week for uspsa practice. Output is very important in that case when it comes down to getting it done in one or two hours, or six.
Many work, have families, and precious little time to sit at their reloader reminiscing about how enjoyable it is feeding bullets powder and primers into a machine.

Well said, there are reasons people move up to a progressive. I did it when I started shooting 300 rounds a week. My progressive freed me to spend time with family and friends, it was not some kind of mechanical therapy.

At one point I was shooting 500 rounds a week at the range, now I doubt I shoot 500 in 6 months. But I'll keep those presses ready should I start shooting again.

 

[CraigC]

Without a case or bullet feeder, I run around 400-500rds per hour on my Dillon 650. I'm sure I could double that with a bunch of primer tubes, case and bullet feeders.

On the RCBS turret, 100rds.

You guys are making progressives sound really attrative. Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage? I have had my eye on a turret press for a while now as well.

I can't stress strongly enough how important it is to learn the process, one step at a time, on a single stage or turret before moving to a progressive. You will need one anyway. Some will say, "but I'm mechanically inclined, I can figure it out". Well I'm mechanically inclined too. Have always done most of my own gunsmithing, mechanic work and put a V8 in an S-10. I'm analytical by nature and a perfectionist and I couldn't imagine learning how to handload on a progressive. You need to learn how to drive in momma's station wagon before you get in a race car.

For some reloading is not the hobby, it is a means to an end, which might be shooting 1000-2000 rounds a week for uspsa practice. Output is very important in that case when it comes down to getting it done in one or two hours, or six.
Many work, have families, and precious little time to sit at their reloader reminiscing about how enjoyable it is feeding bullets powder and primers into a machine.

That's me. I've never really enjoyed handloading and envy those who do. It's always been a means to an end and I'm always looking for ways to streamline the process. There are lots of other things I'd rather be doing. Which is why I will probably never cast my own bullets. Just not worth my time when I can buy them relatively cheap.

 

[MtnCreek]

........I can't stress strongly enough how important it is to learn the process, one step at a time, on a single stage or turret before moving to a progressive. You will need one anyway. Some will say, "but I'm mechanically inclined, I can figure it out". Well I'm mechanically inclined too. Have always done most of my own gunsmithing, mechanic work and put a V8 in an S-10. I'm analytical by nature and a perfectionist and I couldn't imagine learning how to handload on a progressive. You need to learn how to drive in momma's station wagon before you get in a race car...............

+1. When I started loading on a progressive, I already knew how to reload and I thought I was really good at it, until I found this site (thr)... If I had started on the progressive, I would have still figured it out, but I feel I would have missed out on a lot of the finer details of reloading. For me, a progressive is a good tool to get high production for an already proven load. I have a couple of single stage presses for the hard work.

 

[jmorris]

You guys are making progressives sound really attrative. Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage?

That really depends on you more than anything. A lot of folks think reloading is just pulling a handle and are unhappy when they learn that there is a lot more to learn than that. Its not rocket science but just look at the thickness of "The ABC'S of Reloading" and you can gather there is more to it than yanking a handle for a few minutes.

That said you can run any of the progressives "single stage" by only putting one case in it at a time (with the 650 you'll want to add primers one at a time if you do this) that's what I did 27 years ago when I started loading with a progressive.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage?

No and Yes. A single-stage or a turret is safest as it forces you to go slow and take your time. It's also easier to double-check everything at each stage and correct mistakes.

Baby steps, Weed-hopper.

 

[Waldog]

I have two progressive presses that are busy loading straight wall pistol cartridges. I still use a single stage press for 99% of my rifle cartidge loading.

 

[beatledog7]

I studied this diligently before I bought my single stage press.

I concluded that the speed advantage of a progressive press materializes to its fullest only if you're willing limit how much you process the brass. Step one sizes and deprimes on the down stroke of the handle and reprimes on the upstroke. The case moves to to the next station for powder, then to next for a bullet. All this means that no brass processing beyond sizing can occur.

I like to do more than that to the brass: primer pocket cleaning, trimming, chamfering...

Sure, I could do some of this then start the progressive process at the powder charging station, but then a large part of the speed advantage is already lost.

So I use a single stage.

 

[REL1203]

I do about 400/hour on my LNL without a Case or Bullet Feeder going at a decently safe pace that I am comfortable with. Any faster and I start to feel unsafe. I am extremely happy with my LNL over my Lee Turret for Straight Wall Pistol, i still use it for all rifle except 223.

 

[fields]

I have access to both a LNL and a single. I use both to load 9mm. The progressive takes a lot of concentration for me (beginner), and is unfortunately set up outside because of the room necessary. The single, I set up on the kitchen table with C clamps. I work on either to fit my needs and/or the weather. It is easy to "feel" what is happening on the single. I can do some of the steps of the single while watching TV, or talking to the wife. Love to keep about 3,000 cases ready for powder and bullet, so I can then quickly load them however I want. I have taken the ready cases out to the LNL for the final processing. I think you should get a single, as it is a lot of fun to play with, its easy to load 5 like this, 10 like that, and any other combination you would like. Will never sell it. During the loading stages, I like to have no distractions.

My actual thru-put on the LNL is about 150 an hour placing bullets and cases on the machine. I probably have only run about 2,000 thru the LNL, so I am a beginner. Usually I only make about 200 or 300 at a time
.
My biggest trouble with the LNL is getting them primed. Read a lot if you get the progressive- I made ALL/HAD the mistakes/problems discussed here.

 

[gahunter12]

You guys are making progressives sound really attrative. Would you suggest one for a first time reloader, or would you start with a single stage? I have had my eye on a turret press for a while now as well.

I started on a Dillon RL550b. My first 200 rnds I used it as a turret press one case at a time. Then I started running progressive, but taking my time. It took me about 2hrs to crank out 200 rnds. I can easily crank 300 rnds per hour with it now. I could go faster, but I look in every case before placing bullets. Also the RL550b is a manual index machine where the Dillon 650, 1050, and Hornady are auto index.