Question for those who own multiple presses

[learn2shoot]

I have been reloading more often than before, and have been looking at posts in the reloading forum more often. I see there are many people who own multiple progressive presses of the same type - (3 Dillon 550s and 2 650s) I see that the process using a tool head makes the process of switching between one caliber and the next pretty easy. I understand having two because you upgraded.... but two of the same press?

So I guess my question is this-

How do you justify to your wife the need for two or more identical presses?

 

[TAB]

How do you justify to your wife the need for two or more identical presses?

with dillon presses... have her change primer sizes.

 

[taliv]

using multiple toolheads means you don't have to set your dies to the right height every time you swap calibers

 

[dagger dog]

The next time your wife sees a cute pair of shoes say: Hon I think you ought to by two pair , and make one of them red I just like the way you look in red shoes.

You'll either get your second press or be rubbing that big knot on your head!

I'd take the chance!

 

[Spartacus451]

Because I want to sit down and load immediately. Adding a fifteen minute caliber change to a 45 minute reloading session is a huge percentage increase. When cheap progressives like the Dillon SDB are available for calibers that I don't shoot as often I don't see a reason to bother with caliber changes. I only load three pistol calibers so that is the best option for me. Caliber changes are also silly expensive for some models.

All the extra time is spent with her so she is very understanding.

 

[neal7250]

I have a 650, Square deal, and two 550s. One of the 550s is used as a portable, so that I can take it to the rifle range, or where ever I'm shooting, and really fine tune some rounds.

 

[JGAreddog]

+1 for taking a press to the range. If you are going to do some real hard core load development, it is a must.

And you may be able to talk your wife into loading with you ....nahhh

 

[xring44]

I have two XL 650s , I have one dedicated to small primers and one to large, switching the tool heads and shell plate is a breeze, so caliber changes are quick and painless, I have arthritis and the primer change caused me alot of neck pain, I have one case feed that I also switch from machine to machine, made simple by running a live power cord with common female plug up the unit to just below the case feed assembly on each XL650, a short male plug on the case feed simply plugs into the machine I am useing at the moment. Besides that I am the man of the house and I make the rulesActually I'm divorced, imagine that!

I have two other presses that are used occasionally, all mounted to one island loading bench that works well for me. I like the island bench as it allows you to work all the way around it.

 

[ilbob]

the primer size change is a big one with most progressive presses. changing the shell plate and dies is pretty easy. the primer systems tend to be a pain.

 

[Shoney]

I have several presses, but only two progressives, the Hornady LNL AP and the 550. As has been stated earlier, time saving is the biggest factor for owning two or more progressives.

Since it only takes 3 to 5 min to change over on the Hornady, the 550 is dedicated to only one cartridge. I often change off loading sessions with a friend who has a 650 and he is a rabidly dyed in the wool Dillon man.

The other day he told me with a sheepish grin that he was ordering the LNL, because it was only going to cost him under $100 once he got the 1000 free bullets (that was the sales pitch he sold his wife on). He sold himself on the facts that we had done exensive runout testing on the ammo from all three presses and discovered the LNL produced much better ammo.

 

[Constrictor]

You dont justify it to her, you get what you want and let her get over it. After all we wear the pants! I'm pretty sure she wil get over it.

 

[Master Blaster]

I've been married 22 years, I don't ask her permission, but I dont buy what I truely can't afford either. I am unusual among my friends for the length of my marriage, and the size of my gun collection. Most of my friends needed permission, were never given permission, and are no longer married.

 

[lgbloader]

I have 2 XL650's also dedicated for my main pistol calibers, 9mm and 45acp, also for primer reasons. I have a couple of single stage as well (Well, 1 single stage an 1 turret) and as of yesterday, I now have a 550b.I know I could probably get by with just a single stage, but I choose not to.

Cheers...

 

[David Wile]

Hey Learn2shoot,

I don't know how to justify any of my stuff to my wife or you to yours. To tell the truth, I can't justify most of my stuff to myself. I have a lot of stuff I use little or rarely.

When it comes to why folks have more than one progressive press for metallic cartridges, I can at least claim innocent there; I only have one Hornady L&L progressive press, and I have had it for nearly a dozen years. However, I do have four single stage presses (one RockChucker, two RCBS Jrs. and an old massive Wells "C" press) and several Lyman 310 Nutcracker tools. I really only need one single stage press and shoulg get rid of the others.

In all honesty, I have never felt a need for multiple progressive metallic presses. The Hornady L&L is very easy to change dies, and I often do not use the L&L bushing function as it was designed. For those calibers where I do use the L&L bushings regularly, I usually only use the bushings on the sizing dies and maybe a neck belling die. I find I make too frequent changes to the bullet seating dies to ever put a bushing on one permanently. I also do not find changing the shell plate or changing from one size primer feed to another to be a problem. I never did buy the L&L to make die changes faster. My sole reason for buying the L&L was to make one completed round with each operation of the handle.

Loading shotshells is a different thing entirely for me. I have three Hornady/Pacific 366 progressive presses: 20, 16, and 12 Ga. You can actually change die sets on shotshell presses, but it is way beyond what I am willing to tolerate. It simply is not practical to change die sets on shotshell loaders whether they are progressive or single stage. In addition to my three 366s, I also have single stage MEC Sizemasters for 20, 16, and 12 Ga. Even with shotshells, I find it very helpful to have a single stage loader for special loads.

If I die before my wife, she is really going to be ticked off when she sees all the different presses and other stuff I have. Then again, I won't be there to hear it.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[Jeeper]

I have one 650 to load my 40 and one to load her 9mm. No arguments there.

 

[esheato]

I have one 650 and I'm not left wanting more. I did buy a second primer assembly though. In all seriousness, the primer assy is only held in by two screws. It takes thirty seconds to swap them out.

Ed

 

[jmorris]

I understand having two because you upgraded.... but two of the same press?

“Lazy”, would be my wife’s first guess, “gamer” would be my competitors first guess. Get into it and you’ll understand.

 

[1911user]

Some people have a lot of money to put into the hobby and sometimes they like multiple press setups. What would you think of 4 dillon 1050 presses in a garage (worth over $1000 each) just so the owner doesn't have to change press settings yet still load 1000 rounds an hour when the mood strikes him? What if that same person would buy 1-2 more 1050s instantly if the price was right? I've seen it. It's not like he's going to lose money if he ever sells any of them. It's cheaper than buying a new bass boat and much more useful IMO.

Part of the problem is trying to justify everything to the spouse; you've got to get over that quaint idea.

 

[Furncliff]

“It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.






After 31 years with the same women, I can attest to the veracity of that statement.

 

[Idano]

I have multiple presses; a Rock Chucker and L-n-L AP. I don't have any use for multiple progressive presses they just take up bench room, but I do have multiple case activated power measures. Changing my AP and case feeder from one caliber to another or converting from large to small primers takes me less then five minutes but dialing in a powder measure takes more time. I always leave my press stripped so that when I go to reload I turn on my digital scale and while it is warming up I setup the press and then calibrate the scale. I am usually running my first round through the press ten minutes after I walk into the room

 

[xring44]

Here's a shot of my loading room.

Sorry, wrong picture. I'll try to locate later.

This shows my loading bench, a island affair with work space a full 360 degrees, the two XL650s, a Rockchucker and little Lee turret.

 

[jmorris]

Some of you guys need to start hanging out with some bachelor friends. Blame it on nothing to do at home. Guess what you’re getting for Christmas.

If that is out of the question you are going to need to get on a spousal embezzlement program.

 

[ocharry]

i have two 550's,,and several single stage,,,as for why i have two progressives,,,,well one of them is her's,,,she just loves reloading shells,,,,sometimes i have trouble keeping them unloaded,,,so she has some to put back together

when we were cowboy shooting i never had to worry about shells for a match

i just love this woman

 

[SR_]

Some people wait until they see a great deal on a used press then grab it.

It seems to me that first folks get a second so they do not have to change between large and small primers. Then they move to one for each caliber that they frequently load.

Besides having enought $$$ to afford multiple presses, one must have enough space.

 

[Idano]

SR those dies are about the cost of a MEC 600, holly cow!