Single Stage Press Advice
- Thread starter Obi Wan Reloadi
- Start date
Huh???? year old turret press I doubt is all that much heavier than single. And I don't know what other companies makes, so I will hold off a short spell for calling this.
ha ha, mine is not even 30 lbs with the stand.
.308 Norma
Member
Me too - except I stepped up to a Rock Chucker "Supreme" sometime in the '90s so that I'd have more room in the "O" for those tall, .45-110 Sharps cases I took up loading. Those 2 7/8" cases would fit in my Rock Chucker alright, but having a little more room in the "O" for my big, clumsy hands makes loading them a little easier for me.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
Yes.
That may or may not be important depending on the round and its intended purpose.
I would consider it a waste of time to load 9mm on a single stage press.
I also consider it a waste of time to set up a a progressive press just to load 20 - 100 rounds of rifle ammo.
PWC
Member
Yeah, cost of components does suck, and the price will never go back down even after inflation does because mfgrs and retailers have seen what the market will bear (what we are willing to pay).
I am retired, nearing the end of my shooting/reloading career unlike many here that are mid career or new to reloading. Without them we wouldn't have a sport supported by a hobby. Being retired I don't have the time and family constraints many of you do. I do understand how people want to effectively use their "spare" time supporting a hobby.
GeoDudeFlorida
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And that’s why you decided to troll the thread?
You do you. Don’t expect anyone to care about your opinions when you act like an idiot.
I mostly do rifles last few years, and I like doing it in a turret, using like a single stage press. I usually load around 20 a rifle, and I often do it during week for weekend. It is nice to grab a turret and switch over quick.
If the auto powers were not so expensive I would have 2. I bought my first with fleet farm points, one of the best things I bought. Got two uniflows cause I hate setting those up too.
For many of us, this grew into a hobby. I am not sure it is really saving money. Depends how much you shoot. Lately just hunting and practice rounds. Price of everything has gotten so expensive, plus seems I run out of time. Plus the mosquitos.
If the auto powers were not so expensive I would have 2. I bought my first with fleet farm points, one of the best things I bought. Got two uniflows cause I hate setting those up too.
For many of us, this grew into a hobby. I am not sure it is really saving money. Depends how much you shoot. Lately just hunting and practice rounds. Price of everything has gotten so expensive, plus seems I run out of time. Plus the mosquitos.
How am I a troll? Because anyone who disagrees with you is a troll? People like you believe they are smart, so if anyone disagrees they must be dumb and a troll. They sell a lot of turrets, and lot of people use them like single stage press.
Have a sense of humor, the prison comment, was saying its not a matter of time for me. I have the time, I just don't want to spend it setting things up.
This winter I decided to buy a back up press. So I started researching what to get. I see people with multiple singles, and was wondering if I should have one. Which is why I came in this thread. But so bar no one has told me why, for my needs I should not use my turret like a single. Keeping a spare turret for odd ball stuff.
Only reason I can think to by a single as a back up is they are cheaper than turrets. So maybe I will. But I would like to find a used turret or get one on sale. It can be hard to spend that much money on a back up.
Varminterror
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You have a fundamental lack of understanding of the equipment you are condemning.
Almost all current production single stage presses have means to “set and forget” the dies. But even before quick change die bushings, we’ve had locking die rings for generations. Nobody who actually knows how to reload has ever, for 40+ years already, had to reset dies in single stage presses if they didn’t want to do so. Quick change bushings just made the change over a bit faster and easier, but nobody has to reset dies just for owning a single stage press.
Captain*kirk
Member
Because you're not a moderator
The size is also something to consider, maybe not worth it to you, but some folks have limited space, I run the lct as my primary but have a lee classic cast single ready for processing small batches on my tiny bench, and is ready to be portable quick, not that the lct can't be portable, but it's certainly bulky for the job. The single taking up less space means easier storage, and yes saving a few dollars to put toward dies or components or whatever the case may be, but it's kinda like compact single shots, doesn’t hurt to have one, especially a good one, and the folks that love em have their reasons. I get that you're not personally sold on a single stage, and that's fine, no ill will at all. I'm going to kindly as possible point out that it's not your viewpoint that you don't see the value in a single stage that is troubling, but rather your belligerent approach. If you're genuinely trying to learn that's great. However, several of your posts have a tone of superiority, narrow minded attitude, and almost a combative outlook. Nobody is arguing you should replace an lct with a single, just making great points on why singles are bought and utilized. I personally detest hand priming, but I fully support those who chose to do so without nitpicking all of my perceived flaws to the process.
As far as finding back up presses, if you're patient and watching carefully for details, over the years I've helped friends score amazing deals on single stages, turrets, and progressive presses by watching ebay, Gunbroker, and fb marketplace. The best manufacturing companies will help repair/upgrade used presses at a tiny fraction of the cost, my favorite example is a friend who picked up an outdated hornady progressive in need of minor repairs for ~$75, sent it to hornady under their upgrade program and had a fully functional progressive press for just under $200 all in. Be careful and watch for similar items and it should be easy to land a backup press at a very affordable cost.
GeoDudeFlorida
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The topic of the thread is:
“Single Stage Press Advice”
The OP asked,
You responded,
Unhelpful, confrontational, counterproductive. Yes, trolling. You were trying to divert the discussion and encourage disagreement. That’s trolling.
Go away.
barnfrog
Member
OK, so tonight I came up with one way in which my RCBS Reloader Special is superior to my Lee Value Turret press. I have to pull some bullets, and if I'm going to use my RCBS collet puller, it means tightening the collet on each bullet. To use the Lee press that means I have to keep the turret from turning clockwise as I'm cranking on the collet handle. The only way I can see to do that is to turn the turret as if I'm going to remove it from the press and raise it partway out so the lugs are in the grooves of the press head. Then I have to do the same to loosen the collet once the bullet is pulled. I don't have to go through that wrangle with the single stage. Other turret presses may have a means of locking the turret in place. The Lee does not. Could I still use the Lee? Yes. It's easier to use the single stage RCBS, though. Is it worth buying both? Probably not.
ballman6711
Member
OP got his press.
I hope he gets many years and much enjoyment from it. I suspect he will.
chris
I asked why do people use single stage presses. That is an excellent question. What is the advantage? How is that confrontational? A person should be able to explain why they do something. I asked why you do use a product. How is that confrontational? What lilly world do you live in, that is confrontational? Why does it upset you? A person should be able to explain why they do something.
One reason I have read is forming brass. Older and maybe current turrets are not heavy enough. But I also read, older turrets were not as robust, but not the case now.
I have a lee press. I removed the rod and just turn it by hand. Great deal of turret press users use it like a single stage press. Which is why I am trying to figure out what the advantage of single stage is.
As for tiny reloading benches this is where my press is mounted. Very portable. I do have bench to one side, and small kitchen table to the other. But size wise it does not take up more room than single. A person could still put their dies back in what ever container they want to, and then just set them up in a turret. But I keep my common ones set up and just have spare turrets. But I am also starting to by doubles, I know have two 30-06 turrets and will use a spare for loading stuff I don't commonly use.
Loaded turrets, are bulkier to store. So putting them back in their boxes would save some room.
Loaded turrets, are bulkier to store. So putting them back in their boxes would save some room.
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Horskinator
Member
My first press was a RCBS Rockchucker (1996) and it is still in use today. However, I am playing with a lot of magnum calibers due to my hunting in Africa and would say if I were to do it all over again and the budget allowed I would have purchased a Redding Ultramag in the beginning, which is my third press I purchased. I do have a Hornady LnL AP for my bulk ammo reloading which is pistol and 223 for my ARs. All my presses have the LnL bushings so I set and forget my dies and quite often they get set up on the Rockchucker which is also where I adjust my powder measures to verify the charge. So that is a vote for the Rockchucker or the Redding Ultramag for single stage press IMHO.
Highland Lofts
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It lools like this thread is done.
The op bought his press and no need for further discussion..
The op bought his press and no need for further discussion..
thump_rrr
Member
Lee Classic Cast Breech Lock.
Why ruin a good thing.
I still have my Lee Challenger sitting on the left end of my bench and my Forster Co-Ax sitting on the right. If mine ever goes out that’s what I’m getting.
red rick
Member
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- Aug 11, 2009
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- 3,806
I like my Lee Single Classic Cast Breech . I also have a Classic Turret and a Challenger Breech press . I can load a little faster on the turret , but I really like the single stage Classic Cast Breech press . The Challenger is just a little smaller and less heavy duty in comparison to the classic cast presses , but it works fine for pistol and is a good price if you are just getting into reloading . I bought my Challenger recently used for $35 dollars and it’s in excellent condition and I bought my single Classic Cast for $85 dollars from the same guy getting out of reloading . I didn’t need them , but I just couldn’t pass up that price . He still had the boxes that they came in .
Threads live on forever, and he is not the last person to buy one.
