upgrading to a Progressive press

[Wilki713]

I currently load 40sw and .308 on a RCBS turret press because that is what a friend advised while I was deployed and I have only been doing it for about a couple thousand rds. But out of curiosity when did you upgrade to a Progressive Press(ie how many rounds/how many years). not that I am looking but it did cross my mind at what point did you take the plunge into the heavy wieght division of reloading?

 

[helg]

Considering savings of $.15/round for handgun ammo when reloading, going from single stage (50 rounds/hour) to progressive (400 rounds/hour) raises your pay rate from $7.5/hr (=50*0.15) to $60/hr(=400*0.15). If you still consider $7.5/hr rate working on progressive, the $230 progressive press will pay back in less than 4.5 hours of work time or after 1752 rounds.

The numbers may vary. Ballpark, if you do not plan to shoot 2000 rounds in foreseeable future, you may not need progressive for time/money savings.

And keep in mind, hobby and savings are not always in line.

Edit: Oh, you have turret, not SS. The above numbers need correction for this.

 

[Macca38]

first progressive press came when i started pistols and went from shooting once a month to a minimum of twice a week.

I'm now loading several thousand a month on my dillon square deal, and at the rate things are going...now that Im getting into WA1500.....an upgrade to a dillon xl650 is becoming inevitable...I just don't have time to load every week, and when i do have time i may need several thousands out of only a few hrs....plus the stupid ball tipped handle sometimes gives me blisters.

 

[loadedround]

If you are planning to load both pistol and rifle cartridges on a progressive press, I would strongly consider buying a Dillon 550B press. You could also consider the Dillon 650B but cost is rather prohibitive each time you switch calibers. I run two Dillon 550B's to load multiple calibers and consider them to be the best progressive on the market. However if I were to load just one caliber(say 45 ACP), I would definitely buy a 650B just for it's production speed. Just my two cents worth after 45 years of reloading.

 

[Floppy_D]

at what point did you take the plunge into the heavy wieght division of reloading?

When your current press can't keep up with your shooting habits. A turret isn't a bad press to have, though. If I'd started with one, I'd probably not have a progressive right now.

 

[Walkalong]

I switched to a progressive a few months into reloading. I still use my single stage for some things.

 

[SASS#23149]

How long does it take you to load 1 round on your turret?
Using my dillon 550,I think I can load a single round in about 15 seconds,25 seconds tops.Some turret setups are about that fast,not that speed is important to me,but if it is to you,then there may or may not be an advantage to 'going prgressive' depending on your current setup.

WARNING; speed in loading ammo can and will lead to blood loss
btdt

 

[UltimateReloader]

Here's my factors for deciding what equipment to buy:
1. Does it do the job?
2. How efficient does it do the job?
3. Do I enjoy using it?

I like using both a progressive and non-progressive depending on the task. (for both rifle and pistol).

 

[helg]

Using my dillon 550,I think I can load a single round in about 15 seconds,25 seconds tops.

This is 140-250 rounds per hour, which is on par with turret press speed.

On my loadmaster with auto-indexing, case feeder and a quick way to refill primer tray, I can easily quadruplicate the above performance even considering time to refill. There is no reason to go that fast though.

 

[Radaray]

Progressive loaders

I started on an RCBS Jr. single stage press, and used it exclusively for many years. I still use it for loading rifle rounds, mainly .223 for my AR. I purchased a Dillon 550B about 6 or 7 years ago, and use it only for handgun reloading. Once set up for the caliber and load you want, you can crank them out pretty much as fast as you can put in another case and bullet, and pull the handle. However, I don't try to set any speed records with it. I ALWAYS check to see if THERE IS POWDER in the case as it is indexed from the charging station and is on it's way to the bullet seating station.

I still like to use it as a single stage loader when working up loads that are near maximum. Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I like to measure each powder charge when doing this, especially if I'm loading flake or extruded powder.

You can realize enough increase in production, and still be safe without getting into too much of a hurry. Safety should be your most important consideration when handloading. We get enough bad press already without someone "blowing their hands off" by careless use of firearms.