Shell Holder(s)

[dav]

Do you need a shell holder for each position on a progressive press?

It looks obvious, but the press makers sell them individually (Hornady, anyway). They never say, "oh, if you are buying the progressive, get 5 of these". They just say "use shell holder #1 when using shell plate #2" (numbers made up).

I don't think it is safe to "assume" anything when dealing with reloading, so just want to verify this before I move to a progressive press.

Thanks.

 

[forquidder]

Shell plate

Progressive reloaders use what is called a shell plate which is a round plate with a separate built in shell holder in each position which aligns with a die. A turret press uses a shellholder which is used in the fixed position ram and the dies on the top turret are rotated.
You may have to buy different shell plates for your progressive if you reload calibers with differing diameters but should need only one plate per caliber and many of them can be used with multiple calibers.

 

[dav]

Thanks, forquidder!

The lightbulb has turned on!

 

[TooTaxed]

The shell plates are a big time saver, as once you get the individual dies properly adjusted to reload a cartridge, you can simply remove the shell plate without moving the dies and set it aside while you slip in another shell plate complete with adjusted dies for the next cartridge. Therefore you will probably get separate shell plates for each cartridge you load the most, and use a "general" plate on which you will switch dies for those cartridges you rarely load...

 

[Car Knocker]

TooTaxed,

You're thinking of a toolhead, not a shellplate.