Why not consider a turret?
Operational differences between single stage and turret presses.
Short answer:
A single stage can only do batch operation, turret can do continuous operation or batch almost equally well.
Thus, there is this factor, which some loaders find important and others do not:
Batch operation is slower than continuous operation because with batch processing you insert and remove the cartridge case for every step. With continuous processing you only insert and remove the cartridge case once per completed cartridge case. Saving multiple insert-remove cycles, a Turret can be 2 to 4 times as fast as a single stage.
edit: Batch operation provides the opportunity for batch inspections (e.g. viewing 50 powder charges all at once, permitting easy detection of any powder level anomalies - THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT and requires extra care to compensate if loading in continuous mode)
So, there are pros and cons to each operation mode and devotees of each have legitimate reasons.
Long answer:
A turret is a single stage with multiple die stations. That is the only operational difference. But that difference allows a turret to do either continuous operation or batch where a single stage is practical only for batch processing.
Single stages tend to be (but are not necessarily) stronger and stiffer. This is mostly because single stages' frames are usually of one casting where turrets are of at least two parts assembled, and they move, which pretty much requires some clearance. In practice, the difference is vanishingly small. But we still argue over it.
Like a single stage, a turret press does only one thing (operation, like size/deprime, belling case mouth, seat/crimp) at a time, but switching between those is nearly instantaneous. This makes continuous processing practical. (In contrast to progressive presses do multiple different steps simultaneously.)
Batch processing, you are familiar with. You can do your batches in 50 as I do or 20 or 100 or 1,000. But the operations are the same. (For pistol) Size/deprime and prime 50 rounds, then switch dies and bell and charge 50 rounds. Inspect the charges in a batch and switch dies. Seat and crimp 50 rounds. Batch is done. Move on to the next batch.
Continuous processing: Put the empty case in the press and do all the operations (size/deprime, bell/charge, seat/crimp) and remove the finished cartridge only when all the steps are done. This saves a lot of handling the cases (at least three insertion-removal cycles) and amounts to a lot of time saved.
If the press indexes the dies automatically, this saves a LOT of time. If you index the die stations manually, it is a little slower, but still much faster than batch processing.
Turret presses can do either batch processing (as a single stage) or continuous processing with equal facility.
Because many loaders of bottleneck (rifle) cartridges do manual operations or inspections in the middle of the loading process, they often choose to break up even the continuous process into smaller groupings of operations, making loading a hybrid of batch and continuous. Other loaders of such cartridges use the continuous process, but temporarily interrupt the process to pull each case from the press before continuing.
I suggest you view the many (almost too many) videos showing the operation of various presses.
Whatever method(s) is(are) you choose, if the production algorithm is well designed for the cartridge and your temperament it will work and is, by design, perfect for you and your production needs. So, you could use the press one way for pistol and another way for rifle. You don't have to do pure batch or continuous processing either. You can devise your own hybrid method, a combination of the two.
Lost Sheep
