single stage vrs progressive

[ralphthebuilder1]

I am a new reloader and I bought a Rock Chucker. About a month after I bought it I saw the Dillon 650. I also found that I could convert my press into a turret. Where do you suggest I spend my money?

How well does the Rock Chucker conversion work?

I shoot 3 calibers of pistol and one rifle.

 

[ralphthebuilder1]

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[Mccarty]

Progressive for pistol and single stage for rifle unless something high volume like 223. Also single stage for precision.

 

[Sport45]

I don't know what the conversion for the Rockchucker costs, but I'd be surprised if it was less than the cost of a Lee Classic Turret press. Then you’d have an excellent single stage and an excellent turret press. Down the road you could pick up a Hornady L-N-L AP and win the trifecta.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Every reloading bench has need for a single stage press. There isn't much you can't do with one, so my suggestion would be to reload for awhile and once you get the swing of things, then look for something with more production.

Doing tasks in batches makes things go faster with a single stage press. Spend one evening sizing and depriming. The next session cleaning primer pockets and priming & belling. Then when you're ready to actually put some rounds together, you start with primed and prepped brass, and the final stage goes fast.

My bench has three single stage presses mounted on it, plus a Hornady LNL progressive. They all get used all the time.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[cfullgraf]

I agree with ReloaderFred. A single stage is useful in the reloading room even if you do loading on a progressive. Reload by a batch process.

I do virtually all my rifle on a single stage press except 30 Carbine. I have dabbled with 223 Remington blasting ammunition on the Hornady L-N-L but it does not ring my bell.

No comments on the conversion kit for the RCBS press, but I suspect the act of installing and removing the conversion might be inconvenient. But, I will admit no direct experience with it.

The Dillon 650 is a good press but I chose my Hornady L-N-L over the Dillon when I bought a progressive. After 30 years of single stage press reloading, it fit my style better than the Dillon. But, I do have two Dillon SDBs set up for 45 AVP and 9x19 respectively.

But, I would also recommend loading on a single stage press for a while to learn the reloading process before investing in a progressive. You will make a more informed decision. But, lots of folks will disagree.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[rfwobbly]

Where do you suggest I spend my money?

Learning how to reload on the Rock Chucker. Learn to walk before you try to run, OK ?

When the time is right, your shooting habits will dictate what you next move should be.

 

[dsm]

I agree, use the single stage awhile to familiarize yourself with the reloading process. There is alot going on with a progressive, so a simple mistake can be very costly. Anyone new jumping right in on a progressive would most likely be a little overwhelmed.

I've loaded many years on a single stage. I have 4 single stages, Dillon progressive and a progressive shotshell loader. I basically precision load all rifle on single stages and pistol and shotshells on a progressive.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice.

rfwobbly is right. Your experience loading on the RockChucker will do two things, both very good for you.

1) You will learn the loading steps, how to adjust your dies, what loads to use (what your gun likes, or not), etc

2) You will learn something about the quantities you will want.

In the meantime, we know nothing of your current shooting habits, nor your goals.

We could target our advice better is you shared some information about yourself: (What I use has no relevance to you if our needs are not similar.)

What calibers will you be reloading?

What quantities will you be reloading for those calibers?

How much time will you be willing to devote to those quantities

What is your budget?

Will you be putting your gear away after each session or leave it set up permanently?

How much space will you devote permanently to a loading area, if any?

Do you want it to be portable?

What are your shooting goals? Cheap ammo? Ultimate long-range accuracy? Casual plinking, Serious competition - what kind? Cowboy Action Shooting? Strictly hunting?

In the meantime, every serious, long-time loader I know has a single stage press (and a large number of those are RockChuckers, a fine, venerable and very strong press). Conversion kits, however, are not so good. If you want a progressive (capable of 500-700 rounds per hour), get a Dillon 650 with all the accessories for $1,000 or Hornady L'n'L AP for a little bit less. If your needs will be satisfied with 300-500 rounds per hour, a Dillon 550 or Square Deal for half that. If you only need 200 rounds per hour, you can't beat a Lee Classic Turret, or for 75-150 rounds per hour, any other turret press. (All production estimates are estimates based on others' reported experiences and my experience with single stage and turret presses).

Note: If you will load for more than one caliber, turret presses are easier to swap calibers that progressives, so if small runs of multiple calibers are your style a turret's the thing. If long runs are your thing, the time involved in caliber swaps is less important.

Lost Sheep

 

[jmorris]

Welcome to the world of reloading. Learn to load excellent rounds on what you have. If once you do that, you find that your production is too slow, move to the other more complicated machines that can deliver higher volumes of excellent ammunition.

 

[splithoof]

I started reloading on a Rockchucker in 1982, and after many thousands of rounds moved to a Dillon SDB, and then a 650. I have all three machines anchored to the bench, and have a distinct use for each, as several members have indicated. I use the RCBS primarily for load development, and then crank out larger batches on the 650 after I find a component combination that works for my purpose. The 650 is very capable of loading rifle calibers such as .308, .30-06, etc., as long as you don't rush the production rates. As with most progressive machines, ball-type propellants meter easiest, and using a bullet tray greatly helps. I have found that boat-tail type bullets make the whole operation smoother. I also prefer to use brass that has been tumbled/polished until very clean, bright and shiny.
Another advantage of the Rockchucker is that it is excellent for forming operations, and bullet swaging if you ever get into that. It is a very durable, solid tool that will last several lifetimes.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Keep the Rockchucker for rifle. Buy a Hornady LnL AP for pistol.

 

[41 Mag]

I have several single stages that I use for different applications, a turret and a RCBS 4x4 that I have had since back in the early 80's. All have loaded plenty of ammo except the turret which I only recently picked up.

To be honest with most calibers with a cases an or longer, I usually just use the Rock Chucker and be done with it. The shorter stuff however is WAY easier to run through the progressive with my fat fingers not having to mess with them so much. It's not so much having a hard time with the cases, but mashing my finger or thumb when seating bullets that gets me. LOL

As the others have mentioned the single stage is the way to go when starting out. It just gives you the chance to inspect each case and each step along the way where the progressive doesn't. When I made the step over to mine, I though WOOO HAAA, now we're cooking with gas. IT only took a short while before I had half a 1# coffee can of rounds with primers seated sideways, bullets seated that didn't quite make it into the mouth and caught the side of the case, and rounds with no primers, or powder.

Like mentioned there is a lot going on with the progressive. Each case adds another thing to watch. While there are things and gidgets which help to curb things like no powder, or primers running out, there is still plenty of room for user error. With a loading block and by keeping track of which step your on by flipping the cases your not going to have NEARLY the chance of screwing the pooch.

Set up 50 rounds in a loading block case head up and size, flip them as you do. Now when your done they should all be necks up. You can check for any that have split necks or any other issue at this time. Then as you prime them flip them all primer up. When your done with this step you have all the primers looking at you and you can quickly see if any aren't seated properly. Set up your powder scale and/or measure and start pouring powder. As you do your cases will now be mouth up, so when your done you can inspect them all to see if there are any eye catching differences in the height of the powder. Now your ready to seat bullets, and when done with that, package, store, or head to the range.

Using that procedure it is not impossible to mess up, but it is way harder than when running a progressive.

 

[Searcher4851]

In response to your question, I would stick with the single stage, and spend your money on components. You appear to be new to reloading, so a solid background built up on a single stage will be invaluable as you progress. It's always nice to have the big fancy wizbang thing, but if you have no real need to load vast quantities of ammo at a time, that money will get you a lot of components to work with, allowing more shooting.

I've been reloading for over 30 years, and the closest I have to a progressive press is a Lee classic cast turret press, and it's only a few years old. COme to think of it, I still use it as a single stage press a good part of the time. I don't get to shoot nearly as often as I would like to, so I have no trouble keeping up with my ammo needs with either the single stage or the turret. I enjoy loading almost as much as shooting, so I have no problem being patient, and reloading in a nice relaxed manner. I think that reloading on a progressive press, for me, would probably take some of the relaxation and enjoyment out of the process, since I'd be so busy trying to keep track of everything going on with the press as I load. I'd probably get a lot more loaded, but would probably feel like I'd been working, instead of enjoying a pastime. If you have a need for vast quantities of ammo on a regular basis, by all means, go progressive, at least for pistol, but only after you have a firm grasp of everything involved in the loading process first. Better safe than sorry.
Welcome to the hobby (addiction) and the forum.

 

[marksg]

I would stick with the single stage, and spend your money on components. You appear to be new to reloading, so a solid background built up on a single stage will be invaluable as you progress.

That's the exact advice i was given when i started reloading. It has helped me get a good understanding of each process.

 

[ATLDave]

Because turrets aren't handling multiple rounds at the same time, they really aren't any more complicated to run than single-stages... they just have a different work flow. Rather than doing 100 de-prime and size, then 100 charge, then 100 seat and crimp (as with a SS), you do 1 de-prime and size, then 1 charge, then 1 seat and crimp, and repeat 100 times. They're a little faster than SS's, but there's no reason you cannot learn on them. You have the same amount of manual control over every step as with a SS.

Progressives are a whole 'nother thing. In addition to learning reloading itself, you have to learn how to make a miniature factory run.

 

[fiftybmg]

You have a number of options, and it will come down to a balance of personal preference and budget.

The Rockchucker can be upgraded, but don't do that. No matter what progressive setup you end up with, keep the old RC as is. You will always regret not having it once you don't have it anymore.

For multiple caliber reloading, the Hornady LnL is a much more cost-effective option than the Dillon 650, and the quality of machine is no different. Caliber changes are quicker on the LnL, and require less additional equipment = very much cheaper.

Hornady also give excellent after-sales service.

If you are considering a Dillon 650, check the price of the Hornady LnL, including all the accessories for loading 4 different calibers, and it'll be very close to half the price of a 650 without any extra toolheads.

 

[rikman]

I agree with the other replies. I use 2 550B's for my "high volume" pistol calibers. My turret is very useful. So far I've only loaded my precision loads and some pistol calibers. I recently upgraded some turrets with a Lee auto disk which helped speed things up. Even though you can load rifle on the 550B I haven't yet, though with prices climbing I'm considering it. Though it hasn't been that bad to load 223 on my Lyman turret press.

Just remember, if you get a progressive, it's not a race. Learn the quirks. Usually with my Dillons it's the occasional primer fubar. Often I'll just start over and double/triple check loads on press when these things happen in order to avoid a squib or double charge.

 

[PJSprog]

Yep...have to agree with the majority here. Learn the ins and outs of the process on your single stage, then decide down the road if a progressive will better suit your volume needs. Right now, you'll be spending plenty on components anyway (and waiting on lists like the rest of us).

Honestly, I think you might come to enjoy loading one step at a time, especially if you don't require high volume output. After 23 years, I'm still using my Lee single stage, and have no plans to change that.

 

[TonyT]

I still use my single stage RCBS A-2 press from the 1960's for rifle reloads but opted for the Dillon 550 for reloading pistol.

 

[silicosys4]

I went the opposite route many here have gone, and recommend going. I bought a Lock n load AP progressive for my first press, and a single stage rock chucker press later. I went that route because it all came together as I was buying...I knew I wanted a progressive for pistol cartridges, and the LnL was on sale at the time. It was not a terribly complicated thing to set up and learn to use, but I will say...the margin for error is MUCH higher with a progressive for a newbie.
I would definitely recommend going with a single stage first, as you can take the time to learn each step intimately instead of watching the machine do it and trusting that it is set up correctly, by yourself and the factory....without knowing how to tell or the warning signs that it's not.
Also, I broke more than a few parts on the LnL learning about reloading....what a misaligned case feels like vs a sticky primer (2-3 decapping pins later) or tight resize....how much force I can expect to use in seating a primer vs. something being wrong with the primer system.....etc
You don't want to learn on something like a progressive with its linkages, moving parts, pawls, all those good mechanical things that can break, vs a single stage that will just happily crush cases and snap decapping pins all day long until you figure out whats wrong, with no ill effects.

 

[BYJO4]

I would invest in a second press. The 650 is a great press as is the Hornady LNL AP which is what I use.