Is it bad I don't think I'd like a progressive press?

[AzShooter1]

I gave up loading on a single stage press many years ago when I switched to a Dillon 300. It saves a lot of time, I don't examine the spent case primer pockets, just put the cases in my case feeder and away I go. Switched to a 650 a few years ago with case and bullet feeder and have loaded in excess of 500 rounds per hour. You can't do that on a single stage.

I shoot competitively so I need lots of ammo.

Accuracy wise, the top benchrest shooters are also using Dillons now. Getting to the range and only having to worry about your next shot relieves a lot of stress from the competition.

 

[JohnMc]

So for you guys loading bottleneck rifle rounds in progressive mode, how do you deal with need for case trimming after sizing?

I resize single stage and trim off press. I usually prime with a hand priming tool. The parts done progressively are powder drop, bullet seating, and crimping if needed.
The only bottleneck rifle cartridge I load on the progressive is .223 Rem, FWIW.

 

[westernrover]

No it is not bad...Targa answered your question in post #2..."high volume" is the need for progressive press.

"Low bar" is more like it. For IDPA, USPSA, IPSC, 3-Gun, you just need the ammo to make power factor, function and hit a big steel or cardboard target at short range. There's no reason to fuss about it more than what a progressive press will do in one cycle through.

I gave up loading on a single stage press many years ago when I switched to a Dillon 300. It saves a lot of time, I don't examine the spent case primer pockets, just put the cases in my case feeder and away I go. Switched to a 650 a few years ago with case and bullet feeder and have loaded in excess of 500 rounds per hour. You can't do that on a single stage.

I shoot competitively so I need lots of ammo.

Accuracy wise, the top benchrest shooters are also using Dillons now. Getting to the range and only having to worry about your next shot relieves a lot of stress from the competition.

Sort of. Top shooters in any discipline have bigger budgets. Bench rest shooters can use a Dillon for some of their processes, but they're not using them to load a cartridge from start to finish. Erik Cortina has videos demonstrating how he uses a Dillon -- he showed using it as a single stage press using a single shell holder at a single station. Even then, he would only seat a bullet part way. Then he could take the cartridges to the range and seat them to the desired depth at the range. Traditionally, bench rest guys used something like a Hood press at the range. Now they're just as likely to use an arbor press, probably with a hydraulic gauge (21st Century) or a pressure transducer (AMP). Again, if they have the means, I'm sure they'll have a Dillon to do what they can on it, but it's not the source of their precision cartridges.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

"Low bar" is more like it. For IDPA, USPSA, IPSC, 3-Gun, you just need the ammo to make power factor, function and hit a big steel or cardboard target at short range.

I believe the majority of competitors on the line at precision pistol championships are using progressives to load ammo. Mine throws N310 and WST +/- 0.02gr and COALs the same as bullet variance (with some mods)

 

[jmorris]

I'm sure they'll have a Dillon to do what they can on it, but it's not the source of their precision cartridges.

The dies, components have more to do with the results than the press they are used in.

That said, I know people who simply couldn't get along with progressives, too much going on at once, for them. Some don't even stick with reloading at all.

We are all different, with different skill sets.