I think I still like my single stage better.

[lgbloader]

Hey HR Crew,

I wanted to ask you all something but let me set up the question correctly. I am blessed with a fairly decent bench of goodies. At present, I have 3 Dillons (2 x 650, 1 x 550b) a Redding T7 Turret, and a Lee Classic Cast single stage "O" press. Today, after a weekend of shooting, I was doing some inventory on what I need to hand load for next weekend so that I can break down the chores for a little each night and have all the work done for range time next weekend. I decided to take the week off as I have enough loaded on all calibers that I will shoot next weekend except for 357 Mag. But hey, 200 rounds in my 550b will take about 30 minutes at the most, right. I decided to load them up right away since I had pre-prepped my brass already and as I started to get the 550b set up, I changed my mind and loaded all 200 rounds using the Lee single stage, charging H110 with one of my RCBS Uniflows, my old RCBS 38/357 carbide dies (I used my Redding crimp die, though) and my old RCBS 510 balance beam scale. I even used my old calipers. Probably the fact that I had time and could actually enjoy the task without feeling rushed by the clock as I listened to the local country music radio station, but I think that was the key and the big revelation... If I had the time, would I only use the single stage??And what about all the new hi-tech crap that I couldn't live without?? I had the feeling that as great and awed I am by my Dillons with all the bells, whistles and yo-yo's, if I had the time, I would really rather load on a single stage out of pure enjoyment. Or maybe it was just the moment...
Still, I can't forget the feeling in "The Cave" this afternoon.

Anybody ever feel like that??


Good night, HR Crew and I truly hope your Memorial Day weekend was a great one.

P.S.: No, I don't want to sell anything!!!

 

[Bullet]

I like reloading and I don’t have to hurry. So I sold my progressive and went back to my single stage. I find reloading relaxing and I’m the boss in the basement. I believe I can load more uniformly and see that everything is right, one step at a time. There was a time when I used to crank out the ammo but I find that taking my time is more fun to me now. Maybe I’m just getting older, I’ve seemed to go down in power from win I was a kid, more 44 Specials and less 44 Mags. I take time to let my granddaughters help reload when they come down to the basement to see what I’m doing. Maybe it’s just like the saying - sometimes you have to take time to smell the flowers.

 

[345 DeSoto]

Same here, with my single stage...I have the time now and like to "fuss" over each round...

 

[qajaq59]

Same here, with my single stage...I have the time now and like to "fuss" over each round...

I'm the same way. I quit hurrying when I retired, so a single stage works just fine for me.

But if I was 38, had to take the kids to baseball practice, work some overtime, rake the yard, and needed to load 500 rounds of .357 for Sunday, I bet I'd likely feel different.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Nope. I hate reloading, it's a tedious chore that I only put up with so I can afford to shoot. I have every labor- and time-saving device I can afford (short of my dream setup - a Dillon Super 1050 with the KISS bullet feeder. Mmmmm.) I can't imagine loading 15-20k rounds a year on a single-stage press. It would seriously cut into my range time.

FWIW, I started reloading on a Dillon 550B, and didn't get a single-stage until about a year ago. That might have something to do with my feelings about reloading.

- Chris

 

[ranger335v]

I shot a little competition rifle stuff in the mid 60s and I started reloading. First press was a Lyman turret, 6 station. When I quit the comp shooting I got my first single stage. First thing I realised was that the turret had NOT been a real time saver AND the concentriicity of my cartridges improved a little. The turret sits under the bench now, has for many years. Just don't need it.

Understand a progressive for continueing large quanities of pistol stuff but I don't shoot such volumes, never did. For a few hundred rounds a month the single stage is more that sufficent for me and its precision of alignment is better than any twist-head press.

 

[armoredman]

I have an RCBS single stage, and wouldn't trade it for a progressive, not now. I consider loading to be both a relaxing and productive hobby, and I enjoy every minute.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have a C&H Magnum press (single stage, holds 3 dies and shellholders at once) I enjoy reloading on it much more than on my progressive press. (I still use both.)

I bought an old 'C' press and tried it, and it was just too tedious -- especially priming the cases with the little arm thing. I'll dedicate the 'C' press to something though, maybe .30 Carbine case prep.

 

[Idano]

lgbloader,

Even though I have a progressive I still process all my brass on my single stage press. I don't like the lube dirtying up my case feeder with rifle and bottle neck pistol and besides I clean all primer pockets anyway. I have a old forgotten accessory mounted on my RCBS Rock Chucker called a Case Kicker and it really speeds up the process. If I could only have one press it would be my Rock Chucker hands down; for the past 30 years it has served me well.

 

[Griz44]

Let me get this staight LGB, you are reloading for the pure enjoyment of it? Nice, Really, Really nice. I thought I was going to reload to save money, which I am saving 60% over buying. I have reached the point that even if the money was an even draw, I would still reload. No better way to spend a quiet evening than listening to Shawn and Mark bash the libs and spending time preping brass and loading. My blood pressure is dropping, and stress levels become moot. Is that age creeping up on me? No way!

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Same for me. When I was big into shooting and building my skill set, I used a Dillon 550B and cranked them out. Now I use a single stage to size and prime, and my Lee turret on manual advance to build the rounds. The cave is set up for my relaxation and pleasure.

I've got test rounds I built just for the fun of it I have yet to shoot.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Over twenty years of reloading and I have never seen the need to "move up" to a progressive. I resize/decap on a single stage and prime on a single stage. All other procedures are accomplished on a Lee 3 stage turret. Rifle are done soully on a single stage...I listen to my favorite music, drink a little coffee and RELAX...

 

[Halo]

No I don't think it's age creeping up on you guys. I first got into reloading when I was 22 with a Rock Chucker, and now at 30 it remains the only press I use. I use it to reload 9x19 and 45 ACP mostly, and those are two rounds that many would consider tedious for single stage reloading. On the contrary, I find it supremely relaxing and enjoyable going through all the preparation and assembly of each individual cartridge. Like someone said above, even if the cost savings weren't there I'd still reload. I really don't have any desire to move to a more complex machine. There's something satisfying in that simple hunk of cast iron.

 

[scrat]

Guilty Single stage press. I like it. Enjoy the fact that i handle every round. That i know whats going on. Its a labor of love. You have to have the time. Even when i dont. i might deprime and size them all tonight. Then tomorrow its prep time. Thats where i spend some quality time. then the next night prime, charge, press in the bullet. Then the last night Crimp and final inspection. After that i know im ready ready to enjoy the fruits of my week. Now if im off or have the time i will do it all in one sitting. Same way though enjoy the music. Have a good cup of coffee next to me and do my job. For me its about accuracy and quality not about speed.

 

[igpoobah]

It's my understanding that one can use a turret like a single stage. Is that true?

 

[gloriavoxdei]

Just don't index the turret and voila you have a single stage. I have to agree that turning on the radio with a fresh cup of coffee and running a few hundred pieces of .40 through my sizer is suprememly rewarding. My wife doesn't get it but I think it's the best way to take your mind off a hard day at work. Next time I have a chance I'll prime 1 or 2 hundred and then the next time it's all the way to the finished round. You have to love the satisfaction of assembling the entire round yourself and being responcible for every step, kinda makes it hard to shoot it all off..................YEAH RIGHT!!

 

[floydster]

I have the Lee Classic cast turret and the Lee Classic cast single stage, I use the turret as a single stage for my handgun rounds and the single stage for my rifle rounds.
I tumble, then prime all the rounds,
then charge all the rounds, seat all the bullets and crimp, I like to do it this way on the turret, indexing by hand for my handgun rounds.
I do the same on my single stage also
for my rifle rounds.
Floydster

 

[Seafarer12]

I have 3 single stages and reload in stages. Deprime, clean, resize, prime, load. I just do about 200 per stage. Except cleaning. I use a ultra sonic at work so I clean a lot of brass in a batch. I am not in a rush. I load some when I have the time. I have plenty of ammo built up.

 

[lgbloader]

Hey HR Crew,

I pondered my post at work a few times today and could not wait to get back and check the responses. Before I checked, I decided to go to The cave and for the hell of it and do a little comparison. I put 100 primers in my 650 set up for 9mm, loaded the hopper with Power pistol and proceeded to crank out 100 rounds in under 7 minutes from the first handle pull without even breathing hard.

In my busy schedule, this definately has it's place in my life but I honestly think that my favorite press in the whole wide world right now is that Dirty Red Lee classic cast single stage on my bench.

Cheers, Mate.

Left picture as is now, center when built my new bench about 4 months ago (I kept my old one and now stores all my bullets, powders, tumbler, case cleaning media supplies), and right Pictures is also when I built my new bench and before I added the 550b between the Redding T7 and the 1st Dillon XL650. (I had to spread them out a bit).

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

My favorite press is my Lee Classic Turret press. Provides the most enjoyment/speed compromise of all my presses, single stage, turret or progressive.

Regards,

Dave

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Forty year loader here. I started with single stage, about 15 years ago I tried the piggyback on the Rockchucker, not my cup of tea. This winter I purchased the Square Deal B for .45 acp only. Tried it but still prefer the single stage. IPSC and SAS keep me out of ammo.

 

[aloharover]

Yes single stage is the only way to go.

LGB go ahead and box up those Dillons and send em my way

 

[Dumpster Baby]

All I've ever had or used is a RCBS Reloader Special non-compound-leverage press bought in the late 1960's. I've used it to load tens of thousands of rounds in thirteen calibers since. I full length sized rifle cases thousands of times, and the only gripe I have with it is the lack of compound leverage like the Rock Chucker has.

It's too late in life to replace it with a new one, as much as I would like to sometimes after getting a workout full length sizing a bunch of LC brass.

I constantly read posts about problems with turret and progressive presses - how do I adjust this, why did this happen, this thing broke, this other thing doesn't work like it's supposed to. On and on and on.

The problems I've had with my simple press - ZERO.

 

[JeepGeeek]

I've thought about buying a complex automated press-- but just can't see why I'd need it. Honestly, come to it, add two more singlestage Lee presses and any time savings is probably negligible if I were to go with the multi.

 

[.38 Special]

Well, when I'm headed to a match with a big round count, the Dillon gets the nod. You couldn't pay me to load up a thousand .38 wadcutters on the single stage press.

But mostly I've gotten away from competition these days, and really enjoy a day in the woods, shooting pine cones and tree stumps with a good sixgun. That means I can cast and load up fifty or a hundred .44 Specials and be good for a week or two.

So lately, I find that the single stage press is a wonder; very relaxing and a great way to unwind after work. I've even gotten to the point that I will occasionally make a quick trip to the local range, not so much for the enjoyment of shooting but more to "make some empties" that I then get to reload!