Some people should not use a progressive press

[bigdaa]

What got me with the progressive I had is I am a stickler for three things:


I want clean, shiny cases



I want clean shiny primer pockets



I want to crimp cases that are not exactly the same length


Those drove me away from the progressive and back to the Rock Chucker.



I did buy the powder thrower. That was an absolute must.

But, I do it one at a time still (or 60 as that is how many will fit in the loading block)

I just felt "dirty" leaving the primer pocket skagged out and not cleaning the cases.


If anyone is wondering why I did not clean the cases in the tumbler, the reason is that a grain of media may get stuck in the case and included in my powder. Also, it could misdirect the primer punch pin and cause it to bend the rod.

So..........it's been and is now.....size and de-prime. Clean primer pocket.

Polish brass.

Prime and bell.

Charge with powder 60 rounds.

Grab loading block and put under light source to check load uniformity.

Seat bullets to proper depth.

Back out seater plug when all rounds loaded and adjust crimp ring to proper height.

Crimp all by feel.


Now, if I was like this guy I know who is a quick shot Single Action expert who goes through ammo like nobody's business, I'd have his Dillon RL650 in a heartbeat! And who cares about the cases being dull and the primer pocket with skag in it?
This guy shoots thousands of rounds each month. I mean many thousands in 45LC and 44mag!


I have to know that my ammo is ready to stay in a can for 15 years or more!
I want it to be sterile if I can because I am an A**hole! (just joking.....but I am anal about the quality)

I eventually had to do all the polishing and primer pocket cleaning seperately and before hand when I had my progressive. Then I had to go with a straightened out paper clip and poke any stuck pieces of walnut out of the primer flash hole. Then I could go with the progressive up til I had to crimp at which time I would go and adjust the seater/crimp die to give that "feel" crimp I wrote about and run everything through again.


Well: That bored the crap out of everyone so I will shut up now......

 

[bigdaa]

I hope I didn't kill this thread...............................

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I use a Dillon 650 to load almost everything, what it's done on the 650 a Redding Big Boss II takes care of. I too like clean shiny brass with clean pockets. Throw the brass in the tumbler for about 45 mins to clean the skank off then run them through the 650 with a universal de-prime die. Then back into the tumbler, the primer pockets are not completely spotless but I've got a stainless setup for that coming.

 

[Aged 1]

This thread has made my day.

As user name implies I've been around this shoot, load, hunt,etc interest for over 50 years. Don't have a large safe packed with guns, but a few. Recently I added a Sig P226 to the inventory ...now I need to get set up to load 9mm.
I own a Hornady loc-n-load. I load 357 ...mostly for the Henry Big Boy rifle...fun shooter, also bought A high wall replica in 38-55 also fun gun, and load for that. Close to 50 years ago I put together a custom bolt rifle in 22-250, and that rifle has never seen a factory load...and a long time ago we used to shoot till we couldn't touch the barrel. In that era I had many friends with presses , etc, and I only had to get my own dies, and components.
I've been a bit hard on myself with the L-N-L learning curve. I only load that 38-55 single load...lots of lever yanking.. Straight wall thin case mouth is VERY demanding . Seems like I fumble and bumble ...but I see here ...it happens..
As soon as new dies come I start making 9 mm. Now I know I am in good company with equal challenges.

 

[Springfield0612]

I started reloading about 5 years ago and took the sage advice of starting on a single stage press. The reasons are simple:
1) Feel each stage and learn and become an expert at each stage so you know when something goes wrong and how to fix it. This is very difficult to do for a new reloader starting on a progressive press. Once these skills are mastered you can transfer that knowledge over to a progressive and if you have any issues on a progressive you immediately know the issue. You need to crawl before you can walk, etc..
2) If you find that reloading is not for you, or you don't have the time to focus on it your not out hundreds or thousands of dollars.
3) If you cannot multitask reloading on a single stage you have no business even thinking about a progressive.
4) Because it takes more time to load rounds on a single stage you are more apt to take pride in that round and take a sense of ownership in it. You will be more likely to make that round count as you send it down range because you've put the time in to create it. You reload them slower so you shoot them slower, you become more accurate and proficent with them.
5) The most important reason to start on a single stage? Once you out grow it and move on to a turret or progressive, you hand it to a new reloader so they too can learn the correct ways to reload by crawling.

I've recently upgraded to a progessive, and about every 20th round I look over longingly at my one remaining single stage press and ask myself do I really need this progressive?. But the one single stage press I have left(the other is with a new reloader, who I had to talk out of blowing $500 on a Hornady Progressive that he had no business even considering), I've got my kid(s) using to de-prime brass, and as they are sitting next to me working hard I'm teaching them the other aspects of reloading and just having good quality time with them!

 

[hang fire]

Distraction can lead to mistakes for sure. Son-in-law wanted to reload some 45 acp on my Dillon Square Deal. Could not get the cases reprimed and I got frustrated, checked and his brass was the Wally world Federal Champion using the small pistol primers.

After that episode, seemed everything went wrong with the reloading. When found I had double charged two cases, I pulled all the reloads and called it quits for the night.

I normally do not want anyone even around when loading, let along them talking and asking questions, it is too easy to mess up.

 

[CMD-Ky]

After two months and several hundred rounds with the Redding T7, I know that I made the right decision for me. I like watching and feeling each die do what it does. Then taking each round off after the crimp, looking at and feeling each round for crimp and primer depth then placing it into the ammo box. What a way to end a day of stress and conflict, slow relaxing with concrete tangible results. Thirty minutes to an hour of this and I am refreshed ready to enjoy the wife's (Granny Oakley) and dogs' company (with a touch of Jack).
Thanks for all the comments.

 

[arizona98tj]

Seriously now I don't have any desire to go progressive at this point in my reloading career. I'm really anal about my reloads especially when family and friends shoot them. Dropping the powder charge is probably my biggest concern. I want to see it with my own eyes before a bullet is seated. Dunno, call me weird.

OK....you are weird.

I have three presses....one is a Dillon 650. Is it the only progressive press on the market that lets the operator visually verify the powder level before setting a bullet in the belled case mouth? If so, that is nothing short of amazing! How could I've gotten so lucky to purchase the only progressive press that allows me to safely reload?

For the people that state you can't see the powder charge in the case when a person can, why do you say it? Are you just trying to BS someone or is it out of ignorance?

 

[RainDodger]

Well, there are handloaders and there are reloaders. Subtle difference. Some of us do it for the joy and satisfaction of loading, and some of us do it simply so we can shoot for less money (maybe!) and/or to have ammo when no commercial ammo is available.

Personally, I enjoy reloading just about as much as shooting!