Time for a Press

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Takem406

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
260
I've collected just about everything to reload however I've been borrowing presses over the years.

Just bought an AR and with gopher season weeks away I can't see spending 50+ cents a round for factory ammo.

I'd kind of like a progressive press that I could set to load handgun too. Plus not having much time to spend reloading, it would make rifle ammo faster to pump out.

Is there a huge accuracy difference between a single stage and a progressive?

Would the Dillon 550B be a good press?

What single stage is best? Rockchucker?

Thanks guys.
 
I've loaded a lot of .223 on a 550. The thing you will have to do is first use it as a single stage to deprime and size the brass. After sizing, trim as necessary and take care of any crimp that may be present in the primer pocket. Once this has been done you can run the brass through the press using it as a progressive press with one modification. Put the brass into station one after the handle has be stroked and there is now a primer ready to seat, seat the primer, and advance the shell plate. Doing this bypasses running the brass into the sizing die a second time. Not only would running the brass back into the sizing die a second time not be necessary, you will probably get it stuck in the die. If you chose, you can just remove the sizing die from the tool head and not worry about it but I find it easier to simply put the brass in after the stroke and then seat the primer.
 
The Dillon's are great progressive presses, best factory service around.

The Rockchucker is generally the press all others compare to, one of the best around. Warranty, well if you break it they will fix/replace it.

Called RCBS for replacement die parts several times, they sent parts asap and never a charge.
 
I would second the suggestion for a Lee Classic Turret, especially if you are trying to decide between a single or a turret. The Lee Classic is cheaper than almost all (maybe all?) the decent single stages.

You can use it as a single stage if you want with the added convenience of having all the dies you need for that caliber loaded on the turret.

I generally do my reloading in a couple combined steps with the turret. I size and expand the case mouth (and prime on the way back down from that step).

I usually have cases left at this stage if I don't need ammo immediately as I do a lot of different loads (different bullets/powder) especially since it's tough to get what you want sometimes.

Next step I charge/seat and crimp combined. When I say "combined" I mean that once the shell goes in the holder, I finish those step before I take it out, so most of the time i am doing sort of a hybrid single/turret style reloading.

Not that there is anything wrong with Dillon, just out of my price range. I guess it really depends on how much you shoot. RCBS makes great presses if you do decide to go single stage route.

I do de-prime brass usually as a separate operation only because I like to take the primers out before I run them through the case cleaner. After using the Lee turret for several months if I had it to do over I would have never bought a single stage. It's very handy to have turrets loaded up with the dies you reload frequently and just pop them in and not worry about something being out of whack and having to re-set up dies. The turrets are also very cheap (bought a new one for < $10 shipped on eBay a couple weeks ago) compared to other brands.

Only down side on the Lee I have seen is that the turrets are relatively small diameter and if you have dies of another brands (such as RCBS) they screw in fine, but the locking rings are larger diameter than the Lee dies and it's tough to impossible to get 4 loaded at once. There are ways around it, you can swap out a couple locking rings with a set of Lee dies and with 2 large and two small I think you can get them to fit OK. I was hesitant in the past to buy Lee dies as they are so inexpensive, but the quality seems great, I love the 4 die set's Factory Case Sizer, and all their dies include a case holder which makes them even more of a bargain.

Not sure what you have been using for equipment but whatever you do, if you end up reloading pistol spend the $ and get CARBIDE die sets no matter what brand you go with. Good luck.
 
Unless your shooting competition at 600yrds + there will be very little difference in ammo done on a progressive or SS.

It's always best to learn on a SS. Beside the 223 you will be dealing with crimped pockets which will require another step to remove.

Since you said time is of limited use. A progressive will serve you but the learning curve on a progressive is longer. You can run them in SS mode which is what I would recommend for starting out.

Don't over look the LNL-AP as it's a very good press. Nothing wrong with Dillon but being over priced and have not been updated or improved on in 20+ yrs. So the same problems that was 30 yrs ago is still there and have not been fixed.
 
Sounds like you have reloaded before. If you have the means to buy the Dillon then buy it! You will still want to buy it later. Ive been reloading for 10 years and wish I would have bought my 550 years ago. The quality is unbelieveable. Very impressive. You could start out loading 1 round at a time till youre comfortable then go to town. A single stage press will not give better accuracy to 99% of people. Brian Enos is a good man to deal with. Free shipping over $400. One order of mine i forgot to add dillon die lockrings and I emailed him and asked if i could still add it and he replied no the order already is in dillons shipping dept. He said that since the item was only $4.15 he would just send me some on the house... How can u beat that??
 
I prefer to do rifle rounds on the turret rather than the Dillon.
Take a look at the Lee Classic Turret. Probably the most bang for your buck out there.
 
I believe everyone should have a single stage press just because you will need it at some time. That said I moved on to progressives mostly for pistol though I have loaded lots of .223 with it. The trick to a progressive is finding the right powder that the powder measure likes.
 
You can operate a 550b just like a single stage press any time you want. In fact, that's a good way to start and get used to working the press.
 
I was asking the same questions about three years ago. I highly recommend spending some time watching the videos on UltimateReloader:

http://UltimateReloader.com

Pay particular attention to the videos that detail what's involved in caliber changes.

You will also find my biased opinions here:

http://www.shootandreload.com/category/reloading-presses/

I know you are considering a 550 and not a 650, but here is a write-up by a guy who ran the Dillon 650, Hornady LnL, and Lee Loadmaster side-by-side for a year:

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf
 
I have loaded Rifle one the Pro1000 & Load Master but I prefer to do may rifle cases on the the Lee Classic Cast BL SS. It really seems just as fast to me. I usually only do about 500 at a time tho.
 
Add my vote for the Lee Classic Turret. Great for running off small quantities (50 to 200 rounds) of several different calibers. Changeover to a different caliber is quick, easy and near fool-proof. Not very expensive.

With powder being so hard to find, you have to ask yourself if reloading has a future. The best progressive won't be of any value if you can't get powder or primers. Something like the LCT would be a good hedge until the situation sorts itself out.

Yes, a progressive is the way to go if you're going to shoot 1000 rounds or more every month, but who can do that with uncertain supply lines? Keep in mind that most of the old-time reloaders who are also high-volume shooters have built up a stash of powder & components that will last them for years. Their supply line is already on a shelf in the basement. I expect that's not true for you.
 
Reading your post carefully, you did not make it clear what your reloading experience is with what type of press with either rifle or pistol loading for each type do press?

As a general rule, rifle is best learned on a Single Stage. And Progressive Press learning is much easier learned with Pistol.

All of the current brands of Presses make good quality ammo with the exception of one (Smart loader- pure Chinese Junk!), the thing is ; Speed cost money. How fast do you want to go?
 
I have a rcbs summit press and like it a lot for single stage use. It's very open, and I've converted it to use hornady quick change bushings, so it's fast as heck, and with a custom ring shim, I can swap dies back and forth between my progressive hornady press at will without adjustment. Very convenient! However, for doing varmint rifle loads, I wouldn't use my progressive, just the single stage. More control, more inspection and just as fast because each step has an in between step anyway, at least in my process.
 
I use a Dillon 550 for my pistol stuff and 223. Using the RT1200 makes sizing and trimming 223 a snap.

I just picked up a Forster Co-Ax single stage press to do my precision stuff.
 
Rockchucker. It just works. And works, and.....

Regardless of what you buy to support this hobby in the future, you will continue to use the RC time after time. I promise.
 
Reinz said:
Reading your post carefully, you did not make it clear what your reloading experience is with what type of press with either rifle or pistol loading for each type do press?

As a general rule, rifle is best learned on a Single Stage. And Progressive Press learning is much easier learned with Pistol.

All of the current brands of Presses make good quality ammo with the exception of one (Smart loader- pure Chinese Junk!), the thing is ; Speed cost money. How fast do you want to go?
Click to expand...
Other then threads being a bit rough I've read there not bad presses. However the price of the ones I seen cost just as much as the real Lee press.
 
I have a Rockchucker and a Foster CO-AX, I seem to use the RCBS for .223 and the CO-AX for everything else....

I only load for rifle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Single Stage vs Turret Press
Replies
18
Views
2K
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
S
  • Locked
WHICH SINGLE STAGE PRESS SHOULD I CHOOSE?
Replies
22
Views
1K
BIGR
B
V
  • Locked
New Press Question....
Replies
23
Views
950
ranger335v
R
MCMXI
  • Locked
Moving a known good rifle load from a single stage to a progressive press
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Toprudder
Toprudder
9mmepiphany
  • Locked
Depriming as a separate step
2
Replies
37
Views
4K
Crashbox
C
Back
Top