So how many presses do you have

[jmorris]

I understand your point but some of your examples are very different than buying 4 of the same exact very expensive tools just to save a few minutes.

Well it's only a few minutes every time you want to change something. I can have one 1050 loading 9mm while another one sizes/deprimes, swages and if needed trims and while they are cranking away i can load on another. I can get more done in an hour that a guy with one single stage could do in a day.

Average speed goes down very rapidly when you are at 0 production for 20 minutes or more swapping stuff around.

 

[bobinoregon]

I run 2 550's. One for large primers and one for small with around 10 quick change setups between them. The convenience makes it worthwhile to me. Also have a Rockchucker and RCBS Junior for the oddball stuff.

 

[Travtastik]

1 rock chucker
1 hornady lock n load AP
1 Dillon XL650

I will have another 650 to set up for large primer loading and I am thinking about a 1050 for 223 so I can swage on the press.

 

[cfullgraf]

Average speed goes down very rapidly when you are at 0 production for 20 minutes or more swapping stuff around.

Right, downtime kills average production rates.

 

[Osageid]

Two 650's one in large primer and one in small primer

 

[mstreddy]

I have a LNL and a RCBS Rock Chucker on the bench. RC is used mostly for rifle loading and sizing only on 223 and 308. I own a Hornady ProJector that's sitting on the shelf. I may set it up for large pistol primers and swap with the LNL for those. And, I own a Lyman All American turret that I loaned to a buddy.
And somewhere, there is a Lee something or other kit that is NIB, in storage. I need to pull that one out and see which it is, and if I can find a use for it.
OP - the idea of just getting some toolheads for your 550 is a good one. It will make caliber changes very quick.

 

[HexHead]

IMO spending all that money buying 4 Dillon progressive presses just to save 15 to 20 minutes changing things over is ridiculous! Really????

I agree. I don't get it either. It takes me < 5 minutes to change out the primer system on my 550b, which you need to periodically take off anyway for cleaning. It's all of two screws. It's more of a PITA to change the powder bar from small to large. An extra powder drop is on my to-do list, but not near the top.

 

[natgas]

2 650's; one large/one small primer; I load 45, 40, 38 and 9

 

[Nickb45]

2 550B's, one large one small primer. I load 9mm, 40s&w, 45 acp, 44 mag and .223. All have their own tool heads with powder measures.

I also run a rcbs rock chucker for sizing/de capping, and complete loads for the 30.06.

 

[Sound Dude]

1 Rock Chucker
1 Dillon 550B
3 MEC 9000s (12ga, 20ga & 28ga)
1 MEC 600jr (.410)

 

[cfullgraf]

3 MEC 9000s (12ga, 20ga & 28ga)
1 MEC 600jr (.410)

I find it interesting that several folks question the wisdom of someone having multiple Dillon presses yet no one has yet commented about some one having multiple MEC shot shell loaders.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I find it interesting that several folks question the wisdom of someone having multiple Dillon presses yet no one has yet commented about some one having multiple MEC shot shell loaders.

Because you can buy 3 MEC Jr presses for what you can buy one Dillon 550B for.
If you go to the 650 you could buy 4 or 5 MEc Jrs.
That being said, I don't question the wisdom of multiple Dillon presses. If I could afford it I would have several, I'm sure.

speaking of that, we have 8 shotshell loaders. Six of them are complete and ready to go. Two need some TLC. We decided to get into it and got them VERY cheap, so we ended up with more than we really need. Made some trades. I bet we don't have $200 in all 8 of them. 7 are single stage and 1 progressive.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I have one. Not sure if that is one too many or not enough. I think I need to err on the side of caution and buy more. So I'm waiting on the current crisis to subside...

 

[jwrowland77]

I just have one, a Hornady LNL Single Stage Classic and that's probably all I'll ever have. I load for 4 different rifle calibers and 5 different handgun calibers.

I have toyed around with getting a RCBS turret or the Hornady AP for handguns but just can't quite make myself buy another one, when the one I have does fine.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have toyed around with getting a RCBS turret or the Hornady AP for handguns but just can't quite make myself buy another one, when the one I have does fine.

I tell you the Lee Turret would be perfect for 5 handgun calibers. Its inexpensive and the extra turret heads are only like $12 each so you could have one for each caliber without taking the dies out. The press with priming feature and powder measure is less than $150.
Your production would increase to about 200-250 rounds per hour. I don't know if that is important enough to you to justify it or not. Only you can answer that.
I know old timers who have loaded everything on a single stage and have no desire to own anything else. You may fit into that category as well.

 

[Nite Ryder]

I have a Rock Chucker that I use mainly for rifles, a MEC 9000G for shotshells and two Dillon 550B's, one set up for any pistol cartridge that uses small primers, the other set up for large primers. I load more shotshells, 38 Special, and 45 Colt, and 45 ACP than any thing else. I have two sets of scales, various other needed tools, a lead furnace many sets of moulds, many sets of dies.

 

[GBExpat]

So how many presses do you have

After Christmas morning I will have 2.

I bought a cheap ($28) Lee Reloader Single Stage to use with the RCBS JR that I have had since the mid'70s. I gave the Lee to my sister to wrap up as a present for me.

My initial plan is to use the Lee to set bullet depth prior to crimping with the RCBS. I have never liked the idea of seating & crimping in the same motion, so up until now I have always done these as 2 separate processes on the RCBS.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have never liked the idea of seating & crimping in the same motion, so up until now I have always done these as 2 separate processes on the RCBS.

I didn't like the idea at first, but got tired of running the cases through again. Now I do both at the same time. Once you get your dies properly adjusted, its easy. But I know where you're coming from.

 

[jwrowland77]

I tell you the Lee Turret would be perfect for 5 handgun calibers. Its inexpensive and the extra turret heads are only like $12 each so you could have one for each caliber without taking the dies out. The press with priming feature and powder measure is less than $150.

I might have to take a look at the Lee Turret. Especially since I'm getting close to getting a new revolver that I want for deer hunting.

 

[GBExpat]

I didn't like the idea at first, but got tired of running the cases through again. Now I do both at the same time. Once you get your dies properly adjusted, its easy. But I know where you're coming from.

Actually, my concern is focused on when I reload lead as opposed to jacketed handgun ammo ... tormented by the Inadvertent Swage Boogieman, dontchaknow.

Intellectually, I realize that a properly set-up die can handle both ops at once, I just haven't been able to completely free myself of that persistent, nagging little itch ... so I finally decided, after 40+ years of reloading to do something to somewhat expedite my double-work process.

Since I never reload in large volumes and I find it to be relaxing, I figured, "Why not?"

 

[cfullgraf]

I didn't like the idea at first, but got tired of running the cases through again. Now I do both at the same time. Once you get your dies properly adjusted, its easy. But I know where you're coming from.

Being able to crimp in a separate step and not handle the cases a second time was one of the main reasons I bought my first progressive.

Increased ammunition production was merely a by-product.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I might have to take a look at the Lee Turret. Especially since I'm getting close to getting a new revolver that I want for deer hunting.

I can tell you one thing, I'm extremely happy with the Lee Classic Turret Press.

The Cast Iron base on the Classic turret press is solid and the linkage is very heavy. The ram is thick and the classic handles spent primers much better than the Deluxe turret press. With the Lee turret press I can safely load between 180 and 200 handgun rounds per/hour. (sometimes even more when I'm on a roll)

You can also load rifle ammo on the same press. I remove the auto-index rod and use it like a single stage except all the dies are set on the turret and available all the time. That press is easily heavy enough to load 30-06 ammo. (I have loaded 30-06 ammo on it) When I'm loading 30-06 hunting ammo I usually load it on my Rockchucker but when I want to bang out a bunch of 30-06 ammo for the M1 Garand I usually use the 4 hole turret press...

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Maybe the reasoning is similar to the fellows that will not reload because their time is too valuable.

For a Dillon SDB, the cartridge change kit including a powder measure is about half the cost of a whole SDB. For the couple of cartridges that I load the same thing year in and year out, and the low cost of the SDB, it makes sense to me.

But then, I do not size cases at the same time as loading and I use a hand primer for my progressives.

I consider my time to be a valuable commodity. Any time I spend reloading will be time away from the range but the experiences of this past year has forced me to become a bit more flexible if I intend to keep shooting. That means reloading is something I'm forced to get into to ensure I can continue to shoot a full match schedule. Thankfully I've been moving slowly toward this option over the last 3 years by saving my brass, buying some new brass, bullets, powder, primers a press, dies and other items.

 

[stavman11]

1 have 3 lee Pro 1000's

1 for .223 with case feeder in use
1 for 9mm with Bullet and Case Feeders in Use
1 for .357 and a separate Turret for 38s.... the only swapping out I do.. and Thats just a Turret and Powder Disks...


I like all 3 sitting and waiting to get used as needed, which is about every other day

As much as i shoot, 1-2x a week, I find it hard to get too far ahead of my shooting.... so before i go to the Desert... ill double check my supplies of Ammo and load what i am short on....

ya I could swap out stuff in like 15min.... But for the little bit of xtra $$$ I dont have to.... and That is Important for me.... they are always ready ta bust out some Quality ammo when ever i feel like doing it

Im sure if i get another handgun with a different Caliber Ill get another Press..... but again... thats just me

Been Looking at a Dillon... But not sure i really need One since my 3 Lee Pro's work so well...

 

[moonzapa]

I've got two...

I've got two, Bonanza Coax and RCBS. The RCBS I use for all the jobs that requires leverage and force. The Coax press can do the same Job the RCBS can do but I would rather keep it in a more pristine condition for seating bullets to more exacting tolerances.