How useful is a single stage press?

[rcmodel]

If I could only have one, I would take the single-stage. In fact, I did!

Just too good for a lot of things.

rcmodel

 

[Doug b]

I started on a Lyman turret and advanced to a Lyman single stage when the turret started flexing.Never had a kaboom,never had a squib/ftf/hangfire,or had to pull bullets in anything loaded on either press in 30+ yrs.Darn lucky and a good mentor I reckon.

Clark I have been considering a co-ax for sometime now just to see if it will do a better job.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Clark is right, once you get a co-ax, you'll kick yourself for not getting one sooner.

Andy

 

[The Bushmaster]

I use a Lee single stage press for resizing/decapping all rifle and handgun cases. I use a Lee single stage press to prime all cases. I accomplish all other reloading operations on a Lee turret. I also use a Lee single stage press for special operations. Yes...A single stage press is an asset to any reloading bench. I would go with one of the "O" presses...

 

[Eric F]

If you have a specific single taks for it then it is quite useful but if you do everything with it then it is a drag but still useful. I load BPCR and my 4 hole lee classic is 1 hole short so I am looking for one to do my powder compression stage. I also need one to size bullets.

 

[callgood]

Clark is right, once you get a co-ax, you'll kick yourself for not getting one sooner.

Andy

Another vote for the Coax. I got one three years ago and loaded approximately 5400 rounds of various pistol/rifle ammo. As my shooting increased I got a Dillon Square Deal B to load my pistol ammo and am slowly adding conversion kits for other calibers.

I still load .223 Remington and .308 Winchester on my Coax, as well as a bit of 7.7 Jap. I also use it to prep my brass for my SDB.

Since I started out reloading with sizing/decapping on the Coax and priming with my RCBS hand primer I found I prefer this arrangement. I like to prep all my brass before I reload it later in a marathon session. I have plenty of time in the evenings listening to the news or financial programs when I can use the Coax in my den and "multitask."

Then, when I set up my Dillon, I don't have to worry about loading the primer tubes or any associated glitches they might have. It's just 'mount a case, seat a bullet, and cycle.'

I don't have a dedicated area for reloading. I use the Dillon in the garage and unclamp it to store inside away from the moisture, grunge, etc. If I pick up brass at the range, I can prep it on the Coax in the comfort of my den, prime it and add it to my ready to load brass. Works for me.

ETA- I still use the Coax when working up a load for pistol. It is easier/faster to set up.

 

[jlficken]

I think I would choose my Dillon 550B. It can be used as a single stage, turret, or progressive. Since it doesn't auto-index it is up to you how you want it to run and a quick look for conversion kits shows that you can load up to a 45-70 Govt on it as well as all pistol rounds. That being said I still like my single stage for depriming brass for swaging or rifle rounds as well as loading precision rifle rounds.

 

[lgbloader]

Dave in a flower,

You are right about costs when you want to add a caliber to a progressive, When I made my decision to buy the Dillon 650, I was going to get a couple of quick change caliber "thing a ma bobs" and realized that for a $175.00 bucks more, I could just get another XL650!!!

So...
1 XL650 for 9mm
1 XL650 for 45acp
1 Redding T7 for everything else... (I will add a 550b soon for .223, 38 spcl, and 357 mag)


...BUT... I still use my single station press (LEE Classic cast replaced my now retired old Rock chucker) practically every day. Decapping, mostly. and for holding the Uniflow when running batches of 38 spcl, and 357 mag)

I could get by without all my presses EXCEPT one, my single stage.

 

[R.W.Dale]

When seating and resizing for the highest precision possible down to the nearest 0.001 nothing else but a quality single stage press will do. I've loaded on turrets and for me they don't offer nearly the same degree of repeatability and precision.

Turret and progressive presses are for the person making ammo to go shoot. The single stage press is for the HANDLOADER. There is a diffrence

 

[lgbloader]

I agree with you, Krochus.

What can I say, I live to shoot, not to reload so I guess that makes me a shooter, first and foremost. Don't get me wrong, I love reloading but it's just that I love shooting way more... I reload so that I can shoot
And like I said before...

* * I could get by without all my presses EXCEPT one, my single stage

Drinks all around...

 

[The Bushmaster]

That seems to have answered your question. I have two presses on my bench. A single stage and a turret. I use both every time I sit down to reload...

 

[280shooter]

Co-AX?

I have a pro 1000,does that count as a press as it sits under my reloading table.and not on my table,
I have a old Lyman, its ugly, grey,and its a C type,I been using that for 9mm-38s=357s-221 fireball,44 mag,8 mm, 30-30-30 Herrett,I use that old press to form cases for the herrett,I load 280s,223s,One thing about the single press,they work,No indexing,just yank on the handle,'I love to get a bigger press,loading them 280s seem to be getting harder on the joints lately,Whats the co-ax you guys talka bout,?

 

[280shooter]

I found out what that co-ax press is

that should do a nice job on my 280s,

 

[Essex County]

Put my turret press away when I stopped loading for handguns. I currently use a Redding single stage, since my son scoffed up my old Bonanza Co-Ax. I'm retired and I have plenty of time on my hands....Essex

 

[taliv]

i load
>blasting ammo in 223 and 45acp on a 1050
>my precision FL ammo and misc calibers on the aforementioned co-ax and i highly recommend it
>50bmg on a big ammomaster
>my neck-size-only precision ammo on an arbor press with hand dies

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Essex,

At least your co-ax has a good home...

I don't think I could go back to a regular press; I like my co-ax too much.

Andy

 

[coyotehitman]

I have a single stage and a progressive and I wouldn't want to be without either. So far, the single stage has been the workhorse of the two.

 

[DWARREN123]

I use a single stage press for reloading 40 S&W. Great press for what I do.
Lee Anniversary Kit.

 

[hawkeye1]

I use a Lee 3 hole turret press for the majority of my reloading chores, but have a single stage Lee that I use for the Factory Crimp Die after I seat the bullets. This works great for me.

good shooting