Some "How Comes?"

[Stinger]

For those who use turret presses...why didn't/don't you go with a progressive?

I'm sure the answer will be the cost, but to me the cost is so minimal compared to the time saved, and when compared to the life of the press.

And for those who use progressives without casefeeders :banghead: ?

Why would you not?

Again, I am sure cost is an issue, but what about your time?

Just curious,

Stinger

 

[griz]

I've never tried a turret press but have read reports from many people about how the turret is ideally suited to the type of small batch experimenting they do. You can leave two calibers worth of dies set up and make small changes as you go.

I own a progressive without a case feeder. For me the cost vs time (and safety-quality) factor leaves me very happy to plod along at 3 or 400 rounds per hour. If time were the only issue they would only make fully automated machines that could crank out a years worth of ammo in short order.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

As long as I'm not taking time off work, my time is pretty cheap.

Right now I reload using a hand press, doing everything either in my easy chair, or at the kitchen table, with my family and the dog nearby. The pace is slow enough, and my technique safe enough that absolute, undivided attention is not necessary, and I can still be with the family while I reload. My wife is not a shooter, but she gets curious about the steps involved in reloading, and I explain it to her as I go. My son is a young shooter, and I use the steps of reloading to teach him about different aspects of what happens between pulling the trigger and a hole appearing in the target.

And I like reloading; why would I want to speed it up? I don't shoot so much that I need to.

If I had a progressive press, I would want it on a bench in a room that I could close off to the rest of the house and family, since I believe there would be enough going on so as to require my complete, undivided attention, uninterrupted by my family, etc. I just don't think I'd enjoy it as much. Maybe when the kids are older, and don't want to hang around as much, I'll change, but for now, my tools and methods work very well for me.

Do I drool over the latest in automated, powered reloading equipment, noting which ones appear best engineered to do whatever they do the easiest, quickest, most accurate way possible? Sure! But I'm not ready to run out and buy any of it (ok, I do have a tumbler, but that doesn't count!) anytime soon.

Andy

 

[Shoney]

Stinger, do you drive a Rolls-Royce, NO!! Well you should, because that little extra money to get one is well worth it. If anything goes wrong mechanically, they send out a mechanic, no charge to you. Look how much time that save you. I just don’t see whey everybody doesn’t own one.

 

[trickyasafox]

for large rifle. it allows me to throw the charges a bit more traditionally but still make the loading process a bit easier and quicker.

 

[mc223]

What about both? I use a turret for my hunting loads where i am usually only assembling a small quantity.
I use my Dillon for pistol and high volume rifle.

 

[caz223]

Let me illustrate something.
Here's a cost estimate to replace my 550s.
2 550s, $370 each, with 1 conversion each.
10 conversion kits at $40 each, $400
10 deluxe quick change kits, at $80 each, $800
2 Strong mounts and 2 bullet trays, $75 each, $150
----------------------------------------------------

$2090 plus dies

XL650 bare press, $480
11 caliber conversions, $68 each, $748
Casefeed assy, $190
strong mount and bullet tray, $70
11 deluxe quick change kits, $85 each $935
extra casefeed plate $36
extra priming system, faster changeover $75
----------------------------------------------------
$2534 plus dies, powder check dies, etc.

Remember, the top price includes two presses, do changeovers 50% less of the time, and when you do change over, it will be minor like just a toolhead, some locator buttons, and the shellplate.
It also is a much simpler machine, and less prone to go south.
But if it does you have a spare.....
See my point?
I realize that for that price, I could prolly have a loadmaster setup in every caliber I load, but that's way too much wasted space.
If they were lee classic turret presses, for real, you could set up one in each caliber for the same $$.

Now, a question for YOU......
How much would a 1050 set up with 12 calibers cost??????
I bet it's over $5000 by the time you factor in the extra priming system, casefeed plate, and all the powder check crap.

 

[caz223]

And I bet I could make 100 rounds of 9mm, 100 rounds of .40, 100 rounds of 10mm, and 100 rounds of something else, check 'em all, bag 'em up and be at the range before you could do that on a 1050, just because of the fast changeovers and having 2 presses set up.
If you're so hardcore, why not buy a ammoload and be done with loading all your ammo for the year in a week or two?
http://www.ammoload.com/
I guess what I'm trying to say is not everyone has the same needs, and some people will never need the throughput of a full progressive.

 

[temmi]

I agree with “BigJakeJ1s”… Reloading is a hobby… I spend hours of time prepping brass and weighing bullets and I enjoy it… As long as I can keep up with my shooting I am happy… I'm not a factory.

 

[enfield]

1) I really enjoy reloading

2) I'm retired, so time is not an issue.