One At A Time

[Griz44]

Perspectives are always interesting. Points on both sides are very valid. I chose a progressive (well, one of the reasons) because I read a lot of opinions and the auto rotate feature AWAY from the powder dump seems a very effective way to NOT double charge. Like everyone else here, I take my time and check all the steps. I installed some tiny white LED lights on my press, (I think that idea came from Shadow Dog). Walgreens has a book reader LED that you can pick up for $3.00 a pair. I used hot glue to mount them. One LED resides over the primer trough and the other over the bullet seating station. On each downstroke I watch the primer feed, it has a window that you can see to verify a primer has been fed, and take a peek down the case waiting at the bullet seater. After a few strokes, you can tell at a glance that the powder has dropped, and the quantity looks right. I pull one off every couple of dozen and weigh it, and have never had a light or heavy one except when I ran out of powder in the dispensor hopper once. The visual check caught it immediately. After a few dozen rounds, it becomes second nature to watch those two items and is no hassle at all. It takes less than 12 or 15 minutes to crank out a hundred rounds being very careful and checking every round. For rifle, I use the progressive but in semi-single stage mode. (I run them through one at a time) Either way, for me reloading is not as much of an economic issue as a quality and sense of self satisfaction issue, knowing that I did it and that it is as near perfect as possible. I have given up watching the trash on TV and spend a lot of time tinkering in the gun shop, (once called a den by my wife) reloading, reading or cleaning my guns. I shoot a few hundred rounds a week of .45 acp, .223 and 30-06. Mostly .45 acp. I have several othe calibers, but don't shoot them much. For them I use a Lee handloader since I don't have shellplates for them to fit the progressive yet.

 

[lgbloader]

I have said this before...
'I could do without all my presses except one, my single stage.'

Drinks all around.

 

[digger658]

I have 3 singles setup.

 

[YodaVader]

For my match bullet .223 loads it is single stage. For my handgun calibers I use my Dillon progressive. Although I resize a lot of my handgun brass in the single stage.

 

[rg1]

Forster Co-Ax, RCBS Big Max, RockChucker, AmmoMaster 50, all single stage for me. I still drive nails with a hammer rather than a nail gun. I do several inspection steps during the process, that a progressive just can't fit into my reloading. Plus I can't imagine lubing rifle cases and cycling them thru the entire process coming out loaded with lube still on the loaded round. Then tumbling loaded rounds later, getting media and dust stuck in the case mouth area. I appreciate that some shoot a LOT more than me and a progressive is the only way to go. Single stage press only for me though. I do use 2 presses with different operations for each press that is handy when loading pistol rounds.

 

[Eb1]

Lee Hand Press here.

 

[Griz44]

Yoda, do you full length re-size or just neck size?

 

[tasco 74]

i load from two single stage presses too.. i have a lee reloader press and my old bair cast c-press(kind of an antique).... but i use a lee speed die with an extra die body and parts so i can load off both presses at the same time... works great! my reloading is also kind of a hobby to use up some time so i'm not in any kind of hurry either.......

 

[SSN Vet]

I load one at a time....

one cartridge, from clean brass to crimped bullet.....one by one.....and I inspect that one cartridge several times before it's done....usually measuring COAL every time.

I don't start the next one, untill the one I'm working on is done. To me, this is loading one at a time....accomplished on an auto-indexing turret press.

What you single stage guys are describing sounds a lot more like loading 50 at a time to me.....

with "several" inspections out of the batch.

 

[Flash!]

RCBS Rockchucker.... I like the single stage press because I can check and double check every step of the process..... my main double check is that I want to look into each and every case to see that the correct amount of powder was dispensed.....

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Rock Chucker, RCBS Jr., (just purchased a Square Deal B) MEC for 12,20,28.

 

[ar10]

I am still pretty new at it but after looking at the Dillion 550 I realized I had much more time than money. (Hornady single stage on sale from Cabballa's).

 

[inserthumorhere]

I'm a single stage loader too. I went with a turret to keep from having to change out the dies...like to keep everything consistent. I could go progressive with it but I don't see any point. But then, I only load rifle...for now.

 

[P5 Guy]

I bought a progressive press first off and never was able to warm up to it. So, I sold it to a fiend and used the money to buy a single stage press. Now I've put together more ammo "one at a time" than I ever did with the progressive. I have more fun too.

 

[jhansman]

My Lee Challenger does it slow, but does it well. I am, however, beginning to think about a turret for mass .223 loading.

 

[deadhawg]

Single stage only here. I reload in my spare time and I'm never in a hurry. I keep enough loaded ammo around for several trips to the range, besides my SHTF stash. Also, using a single stage press gives me a chance to handle and inspect every case several times, and reduces the chance of a double charge or no charge in a case. I've loaded many thousands of rounds this way, and I see no reason to change now.

Ron

 

[Bullet]

I started with one Rock Chucker and then bought a progressive, sold the progressive and bought another Rock Chucker. I now have two Rock Chuckers. I get my brass all ready ahead of time so then all I have to do is powder and seat and sometimes crimp (depending on what I’m loading). I use the first press to seat with and the second to crimp. Once I have the brass prepped the rest goes pretty fast except for some of my rifle cartridges that I dribble. I believe if you want to load fast a progressive is better but I have time to do each step one at a time. I find reloading fun and relaxing (takes my mind off of everything else). Besides I’m KING of my basement (guess you can tell I’m married).