turret vs single stage?
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GBExpat
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I have 2 beam scales, the Bonanza Model C that my Dad bought ~50 years ago when we started the reloading hobby and the Lyman D-7 that I acquired about 10 years later.
For the past few years I have been using a Frankford Arsenal DS-750 digital scale. I have learned its little idiosyncrasies and it fits in very well with my particular setup & technique.
For powder drop operation I have my old '70s Ohaus Du-O-Measure mounted on the bench (used for creating test loads) but I have mostly used Lee's Auto-Disk and Pro Auto-Disk systems. Last Fall I got the Lee Auto-Drum system ... it is inexpensive and with the limited testing that I have done looks very promising to me. It will almost certainly end up replacing my Lee Auto-Disks.
For the past few years I have been using a Frankford Arsenal DS-750 digital scale. I have learned its little idiosyncrasies and it fits in very well with my particular setup & technique.
For powder drop operation I have my old '70s Ohaus Du-O-Measure mounted on the bench (used for creating test loads) but I have mostly used Lee's Auto-Disk and Pro Auto-Disk systems. Last Fall I got the Lee Auto-Drum system ... it is inexpensive and with the limited testing that I have done looks very promising to me. It will almost certainly end up replacing my Lee Auto-Disks.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
There's nothing you can do on a single stage that you can't do on a turret. For learning, there is no difference. Of course, my turret is an RCBS so I do everything on it in batches, just like a single stage, without all the die adjustments.
GBExpat
Member
<chuckle> Since getting my LCT, that may be THE hardest old reloading habit for me to break ... still working on it, though.
tcoz
Member
Mauser69, while I agree with your basic premise that a new reloader should start with single stage processing, I don't necessarily agree that it has to be a single stage press. I started with and continued to use my Lee Classic turret press as a single stage press for processing rifle rounds for many years. There was never a "temptation" to use it as an auto indexing turret because there a too many steps involved in rifle processing in between the die processing stages. It just isn't practical to do so. Pistol reloading however is so much less involved that I started with it in auto index mode and never had a problem.
Another thing to remember is that a number of turret presses don't even have the capability to auto index (eg Redding T-7) so it's nothing more than a single stage press with a holding area for your dies.
I absolutely agree with you though that progressive presses should be avoided by new reloaders. There's too much going on at once for someone who isn't familiar with all of the steps and processes to safely and adequately monitor simultaneously.
Another thing to remember is that a number of turret presses don't even have the capability to auto index (eg Redding T-7) so it's nothing more than a single stage press with a holding area for your dies.
I absolutely agree with you though that progressive presses should be avoided by new reloaders. There's too much going on at once for someone who isn't familiar with all of the steps and processes to safely and adequately monitor simultaneously.
judgedelta
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Well, I drank the Kool-aid today and ordered a LCT. Tried to order a auto-drum powder measure from Midway and had no luck. I'll have to call tomorrow when a live person is available to take the order. Is the quick-change powder measure drum set worth while? Seems like a good idea, unless it is junk, which I don't find Lee stuff to be usually. Thanks.
funds are very limited and I don't want to or have the money to buy a single and turret later. I will not be using the turret index. the main reason I want it is so I don't have to mess with dies and speed up 9mm loading. I figure I can do one function, turn it by hand do the other and in the block then do bullets last in batch.
horsemen61
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LCT
That is the best way I have found to reload and why a turret is so important.
The most time consuming thing about a single stage press is inserting and removing the brass for each step/die. If you reduce or eliminate that you will be loading faster. For example, I put the brass on the press and run it through the sizing die then rotate to the expander die and run through it. Then the brass is removed for primer pocket cleaning, priming, and powder charging. Then the charged case is put back onto the press, bullet seated, rotate to crimping die and crimped. This way I have the most control and still produce as fast as possible.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Plus, having all the dies already mounted, adjusted and available at the turn of the turret is a big advantage and time saver. (like probably already mentioned)
If you load several cartridges or "recipes" the drum set is great. You can set a drum for a particular load or powder and makes changing your press set up a breeze. The drums in the set are the same as the ones included with the AutoDrum.
I've posted before--good sources for the AutoDrum are: Midway, Titan Reloading (web site and on eBay), Amazon, and fsreloading.com
You'll have to see which source is the best deal including shipping. Also, the AutoDrum tends to sell out rather quickly, so just keep checking!
JohnMc
Member
In regard to starting on a single stage, I re-started out as an adult about 4 years ago on the LCT. I did reload as a kid (in the 70's), using Lee Loaders, FWIW. MY LCT mostly runs without the indexing rod in place, though for 9 mm and .45 indexing was the way to go. If you go the LCT route, do yourself a favor and buy a couple of spare square ratchets (Lee SKU# TF3567). Buggering up a couple is usually part of the learning curve, me included. Plus, as is typical of Lee, the parts that are most likely to break are cheap/inexpensive. They are like 50 cents each, so it's handy yet cheap to have a few on hand.
As for the Lee AutoDrum, I recently went for the other red Kool-Aid in a progressive; the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP (500 .308 pills tossed for the price helped make the slight flavor difference go down easy!). While the included powder measure is very nice, I'm thinking of getting an AutoDrum because those quick change inserts look really tempting. According to a couple of Youtubers, it handles stick powder well.
Plus, as is typical of Lee, the parts that are most likely to break are cheap/inexpensive. They are like 50 cents each, so it's handy yet cheap to have a few on hand.As for the Lee AutoDrum, I recently went for the other red Kool-Aid in a progressive; the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP (500 .308 pills tossed for the price helped make the slight flavor difference go down easy!). While the included powder measure is very nice, I'm thinking of getting an AutoDrum because those quick change inserts look really tempting. According to a couple of Youtubers, it handles stick powder well.
judgedelta
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Midway has a good price on the Auto-drum. Just about made up for the shipping.
There is very little reason or incentive in buying a SS press these days unless you are loading a lot of big rifle(And the LCT can handle most big rifle anyway). SS presses are simply obsolete for 99% of typical reloading needs.
The LCT has been a game changer in modern reloading.
There isn't anything comparable on the market.
The LCT has been a game changer in modern reloading.
There isn't anything comparable on the market.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The RCBS turret doesn't autoindex so that makes it easy. Plus, I talked to the folks at RCBS and they said they did intend for you to still do all operations in batches, rather than constantly switching stations. Although the ability to quickly switch stations makes small batches an absolute breeze compared to a single stage. I recently did some testing that involved loading 13 small batches with 13 different bullets in .44Mag and .45Colt and the turret made it real easy. Only adjustment I had to make was with the seater plug.
If I were just getting a LCT, I'd take a hard look at Inline Fabrications for their cool additions for that press. Besides the obvious Ultra Mount, especially useful are the Ergo Handle and the Cases Ejector system
Also look at buying additional turret heads when they go on sale. I find them useful for die storage on handgun rounds--after you have found your desired bullet seating adjustments and flaring etc.-lock your dies down and simply remove the turret head with the dies.
I also have one head that I do nothing but deprime and resize pistol rounds with. With a four hole turret, I get 9mm, .357, .45, and .38 special resizing dies on one head. I use the newly available space on the .38, .357, .45 and so on the turret heads for the four handgun rounds that I load to add a powder checker die.
I also have one head that I do nothing but deprime and resize pistol rounds with. With a four hole turret, I get 9mm, .357, .45, and .38 special resizing dies on one head. I use the newly available space on the .38, .357, .45 and so on the turret heads for the four handgun rounds that I load to add a powder checker die.
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