Idle musings about the number of stations on a progressive

[Peter M. Eick]

I was loading with my pro2000 today and was thinking about the correct number of stations for a progressive. The pro2000 has 5 stations, resize/deprime, bell, powder dump, bullet seat, and finally crimp. I was loading 357mag with titegroup and I was irritated at not being able to see the powder charge in the case. I have a powder check die, but where to put it???? I know that I have read someone else uses the pro2000 without the belling die and puts the powder dump die in its place which opens up the space for a powder check die, but I have not tried it.

What I have decided is is that one needs at minimum an 10 station progressive. This way you could:
1) universal deprime
2) swage military brass primers
3) resize
4) bell
5) powder dump
6) powder check/lock out die
7) bullet seat
8) crimp die
9) lee factory crimp
10) a spare for me to use later.

Did I miss any?

Also, it occured to me that if I ran my rounds through my pro2000 TWICE I could have the powder check die in station 4 and bullet seat in 5. Then on the second pass (with the powder dump out) I could crimp and Lee FCD the rounds easily. Anyone ever tried that?

 

[Black Snowman]

Of course your post is ment to be light-hearted but if Dillion, the kings of over-kill, don't feel the need for more than 7 I'd say more than that is pretty hard to justify

IIRC the Dillon Super 1050 will swag primer pockets, has 7 stations and I don't think you need the extra crimp die if you're using the Lee FCD. I've never felt the need for more than the 5 stations my Lee LoadMaster has but I like to follow the progress of my ammo pretty carefully and aren't shooing for Rounds Per Hour.

Of course, it's better to have them and not need them and need them and not have them

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Yes the 1050 is a nice unit, but I understand that it does not have the "no BS" warantee that the rest of the units have. That would be a issue with me. I was just idly musing about what I would really like to have all the time.

I did think of what I wanted in #10. It was the dillon trim die with the electric trimmer. NEAT idea.

 

[HSMITH]

The 1050 is primarily a commercial loading machine, that is the warranty concern for Dillon. At 1000 rounds per hour, and that is EASY to do, it does not take long for several million rounds to pass the plate of a 1050. One MILLION rounds would only take one standard work year to make, and that is only loading 4 hours per workday. When you KNOW the customer is going to use the machine up in several years the warranty must be adjusted accordingly.

I am happy with 4 stations in my 550. I have never needed more, but seperate seat and crimp would be nice. Someday a 650 will sit next to my 550 and then I will have my 5 stations.