How many presses can I have?
- Thread starter Paddy
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Remember, you'll acquire stuff to quickly fill the available space. You should see the new shop I built in 2014.
You need a good single stage press. The Co-Ax, a Rock Chucker, or the Redding Big Boss II would nicely fill that need.
Any of the old discontinued progressive or semi-automated presses would be fun to have to fiddle with but I'm a gadget guy.
Personally, I see no value in a turret press not including the Lee. They cost more than a good single stage, I seen little or no operational benefit, and i could use the savings between the single stage and turret presses to buy other reloading goodies. But, many folks like them and that is great. (The auto-index feature of the Lee turret does have some advantages but it is still a turret press.)
I have several different progressive presses. I'm on the quest for the progressive holy grail for me but I have not found it yet. I have four different designs and like them. Each has strengths and weaknesses. Each has it's own primary tasks. But none of them do it all for me.
Finally, the one who dies with the most presses wins. Unfortunately, it seems I am woefully behind some folks.
dragon813gt
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How many of your presses aren't automated to some extent?
Paddy
member
Though I've only had the lee CC single stage a few weeks, I consider it a good single stage. Never really saw the point of a turret press, but still want the T7 so I can leave it loaded with odd ball dies like bullet pullers and push through sizers. Then again I can just use the lee CC for that instead.
"Green machine" very interesting. Looks like a watch, but the reviews are definitely not glowing. If cheap, I'd pick one up to tinker with.
"Green machine" very interesting. Looks like a watch, but the reviews are definitely not glowing. If cheap, I'd pick one up to tinker with.
You can have as many presses as your little ol' pea pickin' heart desires. Justification is for scaredie cats. Hike up yer britches and get the one you figger looks best on yer bench!
I have 5 beam scales. Too many? Mebbe, but I can't pass up a deal. Life long machinist/mechanic here and I have a 40+ year accumulation of hand tools (mebbe 30 screw drivers, 50 wrenches, 12 hammers, 3 multi-meters, 8 or 10 wire crimpers/strippers and at least 10 side cutters, plus 1.325 metric tons of assorted "one use/specialized" hand tools). Sometimes I tried to justify my purchases to the Snap-On man or the MAC man, but they always poo-pooed my whining...
I have 5 beam scales. Too many? Mebbe, but I can't pass up a deal. Life long machinist/mechanic here and I have a 40+ year accumulation of hand tools (mebbe 30 screw drivers, 50 wrenches, 12 hammers, 3 multi-meters, 8 or 10 wire crimpers/strippers and at least 10 side cutters, plus 1.325 metric tons of assorted "one use/specialized" hand tools). Sometimes I tried to justify my purchases to the Snap-On man or the MAC man, but they always poo-pooed my whining...
Now, that would be a good use for a turret especially if the price was right.
Offfhand
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Attached is photo of a Bob Dodd press. They are now manufactured by Jon Lo, who has fully maintained the quality of the original Dodd. Considered the Rolls Royce of reloading presses, they are mostly bought and used by benchrest shooters and similar minded accuracy aficionado. No reloading tool collection is complete without one.
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Morrey
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How many is enough?
You know you have enough presses when a buddy asks you which presses you have and you can't remember them all.
Well, I take that back......you can NEVER have enough presses, or guns for that matter!
You know you have enough presses when a buddy asks you which presses you have and you can't remember them all.
Well, I take that back......you can NEVER have enough presses, or guns for that matter!
jtap1957
Member
Two Hornady LnL AP presses. One set up for 9mm and one for 45ACP.
I stated above that I was thinking of adding the Lee Classic Turret, not sure if this was addressed to that quote or not, but, my thought process on this is as follows:
I currently load on a single stage and batch process everything. I decap, resize and clean and prep my brass in advance, I batch prime on my press and then set them aside. When it comes time to load (add powder and bullet) I do that as a single batch i.e. weigh the powder charge, pour it in the case, set a bullet, seat/crimp the bullet (for pistol/revolver) and the bullet is done.
But, I have recently been using the FCDs that come with some of my rifle dies when loading .223, .243, .270, 30-30, etc.
When using a single stage and the FCD, I have to powder and seat all the bullets then put them in a loading tray and after they are done, then I replace the seating die with the crimp die, and cycle all the bullets through the press again to crimp them.
I think it would be nice to be able to set up both the seating die and the crimping die in the turret, be able to powder, set, seat, then rotate the turret, and crimp, then that round is done.
I know I could set the resizer, expander, seat and crimp dies up all at the same time on the turret, and I may do that at some stage, but right now, being a beginner, I like my process, I am fully confident with the method I use that I will not double-charge or zero charge a case, because I weigh, load powder, add bullet and seat each round individually in one batch step. Adding the crimp die in a turret, allows me to rotate the turret, crimp, and be done.
This is just my thoughts on this. I could buy another single stage instead of a turret, but, maybe sometime in the future I will want to change my process or speed things up a bit and I think having the turret gives me that next phase option. I cant ever see myself with a progressive press, too old fashioned maybe, or I just dont load more than 50-100 rounds at a time so I dont see the value in it.
Dave
webrx - In my opinion, the Lee turret offers a small advantage over other turret presses with its auto index feature. Plus, it is bargained priced for those on a budget.
You still have to pull the handle for each operation one case at a time. Unlike a single stage press, you do not handle the case between operations.
I prefer the batch process of a single stage press or the "one loaded round per pull" of a progressive over a turret press. But many folks like the way turrets operate and there is nothing wrong with that.
You still have to pull the handle for each operation one case at a time. Unlike a single stage press, you do not handle the case between operations.
I prefer the batch process of a single stage press or the "one loaded round per pull" of a progressive over a turret press. But many folks like the way turrets operate and there is nothing wrong with that.
AnselHazen
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Pretty much why I went with the LCT. I have 3 turrets so far, populated with my dies, a universal decapper is in one hole, the RCBS swager die for crimped is in another etc. I move stuff along in batches. The turret lets you do what you want that day. Maybe I have time to size some cases, or another time to flare the case mouth. Just spin or swap the turrets based on available time and do whatever you feel like.
For it's price, one that rivals a good Single Stage, the LCT gives you the ability to jump to loading a different round in a snap.
oldfortyfiveauto
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I bought a Redding turret a couple of years ago after 40 years of reloading. Should have done it 40 years ago
I load over 20 calibers and usually have 2 or 3 different ones in different stages of batch processing at any given time. It has saved so much time in not having to swap and adjust dies that I don't know how I got along without it. One stage has become reserved for a universal decapper. Still have all the other presses around, but they don't get the use they once did. Now I have more room on the bench too.
I load over 20 calibers and usually have 2 or 3 different ones in different stages of batch processing at any given time. It has saved so much time in not having to swap and adjust dies that I don't know how I got along without it. One stage has become reserved for a universal decapper. Still have all the other presses around, but they don't get the use they once did. Now I have more room on the bench too.
loadedround
Member
Dillon SL900, Dillon XL650 (dedicated to 45 ACP), 2 Dillon 550B's and a Redding T7 turret press. Do I need more?
I have a 6 position Herter turret press, When loading and forming cases I find many advantages to using the turret over a single stage press. I also have the two ram Herter press. The only press better than a single stage press with one ram is a press with two rams. Then there are shell holders, my Herter shell holders came in sets of two.
F. Guffey
FROGO207
Member
OP--- Have fun figuring that'un out. As long as the bills are paid and the belly is full go for it. So I have 10 presses but 5 are MEC 600's. All are single stage. I always batch process as well. IMHO spending a bit of extra time on each round assures there are less chances of a mistake. I value my life and body parts more than an exchange for a little speed.YMMV
So I have 10 presses but 5 are MEC 600's. All are single stage. I always batch process as well. IMHO spending a bit of extra time on each round assures there are less chances of a mistake. I value my life and body parts more than an exchange for a little speed.YMMV
thomas15
Member
I have three presses mounted, an RCBS Rockchucker, an RCBS turret and a Hornady LnL progressive. My next press is going to be another LnL progressive.
While I would normally answer this question with "collect 'em all", the ease of caliber changes on the Hornady is a major selling point. Still, handloading is a hobby for me and hobbies cost money. I would like to have on LnL set up for 9mm, the other for 38 special. I can load as much 45 acp on the turret press as I need and all my rifle is loaded on the Rockchucker. I consider the Rockchucker the be a must own press for the serious handloader.
While I would normally answer this question with "collect 'em all", the ease of caliber changes on the Hornady is a major selling point. Still, handloading is a hobby for me and hobbies cost money. I would like to have on LnL set up for 9mm, the other for 38 special. I can load as much 45 acp on the turret press as I need and all my rifle is loaded on the Rockchucker. I consider the Rockchucker the be a must own press for the serious handloader.
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