What is your suggestion?

[32_d3gr33s]

Right now i have a RCBS Turret press. I reload for 9mm, 38/357, 223, and eventually will be for 45. I really enjoy this press, but its not as fast as i would like. Not that speed is everything, but i have back problems and anything over about an hour of reloading, and i am in pain. I dont shoot a lot, but that may be due to the lack of loaded rounds i have. I load up a hundred or 2 over the course of a week, and go out about every other week and use them all up. I would love to shoot more, but need more loaded rounds to do it. So my question is what do i do next? I dont need to load thousands of rounds, but would definitely like to increase my output. Ive considered getting a lee turret, with auto indexing, which would speed me up a little bit. Or going full progressive. If i did that, i would keep the turret i have and load my 223 on that, but use the progressive for mainly 9mm which is the bulk of my shooting. for the price, the lee pro 1000 in 9mm is not a bad price. How hard is it to swap out dies for different calibers? Any other suggestions as to what to do? Thanks!

 

[blarby]

Well, you are on the cusp- and thats what makes it a little tricky.


Turrets are the midstep from SS to progressive. The next logical step in order of reducing your loading time would thus be, a progressive.

If progresives put you off the way they put me off.....at first.... You can simply run it in manual index, one round at a time mode until it does not scare you anymore.


Lots of people have positive experience with lee progressives- but you will be doing a lot of tinkering to get it to work "just so". And once you get it dialed in, if you want to switch calibers, you're going to be ripping that work out, and starting over, with your next caliber. Then doing it over when you switch back.

Don't get me wrong- I own plenty of Lee equipment, but i'm not buying anymore lee presses.

Thanks BDS- you killed my wallet for eternity, while saving my back and soul

Caliber conversions are still going to be a bit of a process on say, a 650 or 1050, but nowhere near the angst of the lee setup. You pay for the priviledge though, believe me.


You are still going to be FL sizing your rifle brass on a single stage, however- so keep those suckers handy

If you are going to be doing multpile calibers- go 650 or 1050. The toolheads will save you a lot of conversion time and angst.

 

[Wildbillz]

After loading on a single state (RCBS RockChucker) I stepped up to a Dillon 550B and wondered what took me so long to see the light. What use to take a full day can be done in a couple of hours. The pistol calibers go fast as long as your using carbide dies (not having to stop and clean the lube off the cases). My rifle ammo I still size on the single stage press, clean the lube off and do my prep to the cases. Then I use the 550B to prim, charge and seat the bullets.

WB

 

[Rule3]

It does not sound like you need mass quantities of ammo

The LEE Turret will produce 100-150 rounds an hour. Some may get more but that is a comfortable speed and priming on the press. There are some aftermarket Ergo Levers available for the Lee Classic which may help you back, LEE for some reason will not produce one, They have one for the regular turret but not the better classic

I like LEE stuff but their Progressive is not highly rated.

Stepping up to a good progressive like a Dillon or Hornady LnL will set you back money and for each conversion even more.

 

[jr_roosa]

I think that a progressive is the way to go.

I was spending more time reloading than shooting, and reloading isn't exactly family quality times either.

Got a 550b, and it makes life much easier. If I had back problems, I would find it hard to live without a progressive.

Swapping things out is really fast, and the only thing I do on the single stage is either quick batches for load development, long range precision ammo, or rifle resizing as described above.

Get a progressive, you won't be sorry. Consider a Dillon--they make a really nice progressive press.

-J.

 

[J_McLeod]

Having tried all those options, I think that the progressive is the way to go. I had a Lee turret but wanted more prodution, so I got a pro1000. I didn't have the patience to keep tinkering with it, so I sold it and got a Hornady LNL. They're only a little over 400 at Graf's right now and come with a lot of free bullets. I can change calibers with it in a few minutes. Progressives are great in that if you don't shoot a lot you can load all the ammo you need for a while in a short time.

 

[cfullgraf]

How hard is it to swap out dies for different calibers? Any other suggestions as to what to do? Thanks!

After I got a progressive after many moons loading on a single stage, i found they can be very flexible if you think a little outside the box.

At first I thought small batches, 100 or so rounds, would be inefficient due to set up time of cartridge changes, but small batches are quick and easy. I load 9 or 10 different cartridges on my progressive so I am always changing cartridges.

With progressives that have die plates, you can spin the dies in and out of the die die plate and save some bucks on cartridge changes, or get a die plate for each cartridge and make cartridges changes quicker.

I actually resize the cases shortly after shooting then store them away for a future reloading session. With my Hornady L-N-L, I install only the dies that I will need at the moment. Also, there is less going on doing it this way and easier to keep up with what is happening. I still load more ammunition than I can shoot.

Then, you can put the process back together later if you need to bump up production rates bait.

I prefer an auto indexing progressive, but the Dillon 550 with its manual indexing has advantages for those who do not need the auto indexing.

Hope this helps.

 

[arizona98tj]

Get a progressive.....you won't regret it. I waited over 30 years before I did and still don't know why I piddled around for all that time.

I have a Dillon but there are others out there. That being said, if you go with Dillon, the recommendations to get a 550 would be my recommendation for you too. I totally enjoy my 650.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Thanks for all the input. I just wasnt sure if the volume that i plan on reloading would be worth it to spend the extra money on a progressive. I suppose i could always load more, but i dont have a huge budget for components. Of the few progressives that were named, where do you suggest purchasing from? Midway only seems to have the lee presses, and the hornady which is out of stock...

 

[LiveLife]

Graf & Sons has Dillon and Hornady presses in stock (free shipping but add $6.95 for processing per order):
Dillon 550B for 38Spl $379.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3089
Dillon XL650 for 9mm $566.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3071
Dillon XL650 for 38/357 $566.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3062

Hornady LNL AP (with Free 500 bullets promotion) $414.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5988


Scheel's has Dillon 550B for $389.99 with free shipping - http://www.scheels.com/shop/SearchD...age=true&pageView=image&searchTerm=dillon+550


Many buy Dillon products from Brian Enos - http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.650.html


You can also buy direct from Dillon Precision:
550B $439.95 - http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/23594/catid/1/
XL650 $566.95 - http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/23803/catid/1/XL_650


Midsouth Shooters has Hornady LNL AP for $389.99 (same free 500 bullet promo applies) - http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00005095100&clicks=BOX1&clitem=00005095100


Natchez Shooters Supplies has Hornady LNL AP for $399.99 (Free 500 bullet promo) - http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=PC095100

 

[J_McLeod]

Graf & Sons has Dillon and Hornady presses in stock (free shipping but add $6.95 for processing per order):

Dillon 550B for 38Spl $379.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3089

Dillon XL650 for 9mm $566.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/3071

Dillon XL650 for 38/357 $566.99 -

Hornady LNL AP (with Free 500 bullets promotion) $414.99 - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5988

Midsouth Shooters has Hornady LNL AP for $389.99 (same free 500 bullet promo applies) - http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00005095100&clicks=BOX1&clitem=00005095100

I bought my LNL from Graf's and live just down the road from Midsouth. I've bought from them several times. I would buy from both companies again.

cfullgraf had some good points. I use my progressive for almost everything now. If I'm just working up a load I'll prime the cases before hand and it's easy to work with one at a time. If I just want to resize I'll only put that die in and the auto index and auto eject makes it faster.

 

[Sweet Agony]

I started with a SS press but a friend, who has a Lee, steered me away from the progresive. His reasoning was because the money he spent on parts and repairs. I hit upon on a good deal for big blue 650 with case feeder, one hell of a machine. I shoot a lot more and when I round goes off I can say well that was few penny's of pleasure.

 

[LiveLife]

I shoot a lot more and when I round goes off I can say well that was few penny's of pleasure.

Essentially, we have a hobby of expensive paper hole puncher in the tune of 10-20 cents per hole.

Since I started reloading, I have shot close to 400,000 rounds and probably will shoot close to 1,000,000 rounds before I die (averaging 20K/year JUST for pistol calibers) so progressive reloading will save me A LOT of money over shooting factory ammo (I think ).

When I told my wife I probably will spend over $150,000 in reloading cost over my lifetime, she gave me a blank stare saying, "honey ... really?" but I told her, "But sweetheart, I will save us over $350,000 by reloading ... really"

 

[Blue68f100]

Time, seams to be the main reason for needing a progressive. I too have a bad back and limited in my sessions. I went with the LNL-AP for it's a 5 station AP like the 650. But a lot cheaper. As far as switching calibers is as easy as swapping dies. I did add the brass feeder to mine a year later. At the time I had a broken wrist and was limited to 1 hand and this worked out well. Once you add the brass feeder to the LNL your within $100 of the 650. With the main difference in cost of conversions, LNL being cheaper. The LNL is a lot simpler press, less moving parts. I would not consider the 650 unless your going to have the brass feeder to it. The 650 was design to be run with the brass feeder. Both have lifetime warranties.

 

[LiveLife]

i have back problems and anything over about an hour of reloading, and i am in pain.

Have you tried reloading while sitting down? Even though I have a stand up bench in the garage, I now reload sitting down at a portable castered bench in a comfortable office chair with good back support. I even have heated back massager that I use on the chair from time to time.

Also, processing brass (resizing rifle cases, trimming, hand priming, etc.) and reloading while sitting down in the comfort of heating/air conditioning also allows me to be functional for other activities even after several hours of processing brass/reloading.

 

[Walkalong]

The Lee turret can load a lot of rounds pretty fast, but obviously cannot keep up with a progressive. I started with a single stage RCBS, traded for a Lee turret press, and then moved to a progressive. (The old Projector)

I agree with cfullgraf, as in the LNL can be used to load small batches (I sometimes load one round with it), or anything you have the stamina and components for.

When reloading rifles calibers I batch it. Size all the cases. Tumble and prime them. Load them. Sometimes this is only one die when loading. If I am crimping, it might or might not be two. .458 Win mag is two, the expander and the seater/crimp die.

The LNL is very versatile. Only you can decide if your volume means it's time to move to a Lee turret or a true progressive.

If I went with a Lee progressive, I would get a Lee Loadmaster. It has plenty of good videos showing how to tweak it and get it running smoothly. I also like the fact that the seating goes on in front where I could see the powder charge when seating a bullet, just like my LNL. I am seriously considering buying one for my son.

 

[BYJO4]

Going to a progressive press makes sense since to want to load more plus reduce the time spent doing so. Dillon and Hornady are both excellent. I presonally use the Hornady LNL AP and it has been perfect for my needs.

 

[Rottweiler]

Take a drink of the blue kool aid. The 550b size glass. And when you do....welcome to the dark side...er... I mean blue side. You won't even want to look back.

 

[sexybeast]

Well I read this twice rather quickly. If you are using a turret now there is only one way to go. Up to a progressive! Auto indexing is nice but not much faster. I have a Lyman Turret and a Lee turret, even though its a "little" slower I usually use the Lyman.
From what you said about less press I'm assuming you are looking for an inexpensive and easy to use press.
For pistol and .223 I use a Lee Loadmaster. Its a good and strong five station press with a terrible priming system. I can crank out 300+ an hour of pistol and changing calibers is a snap! Changing over the shell plate and turret with the pre-set dies is less than a ten minute exercise. And shell plates are twenty bucks and turrets are eleven.
I know for a fact that I have loaded 60,000 rounds on mine and it still runs like new. I load from 250 to 600 rounds a week.
Stay away from the Pro 1000. Its only three station and I know so many people who have had problems with them. [big kabooms]
I have found that I like to handprime. Everyone should inspect their brass and sitting in a comfy chair priming is not a big deal. I primed 2k 9mm shells last night for example.
Last time I looked Loadmasters were less than $250 with dies.

 

[Walkalong]

He is using an RCBS turret press. The Lee turret will be a step up in speed. Whether it is a big enough step seems to be the question.

 

[blarby]

He is using an RCBS turret press. The Lee turret will be a step up in speed. Whether it is a big enough step seems to be the question.

Once you factor in the time for parts, swearing, and re-adjustment of the prior two- I doubt it

 

[Walkalong]

Then I must have been using mine wrong.

 

[sexybeast]

I should have made it short and sweet: He is using a turret and he wants to upgrade to "another turret"?
Time to upgrade to a progressive. Lots of good ones out there, the Loadmaster works great for my needs and they are cheap.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Thanks for all the input guys! Very helpful. I guess now it's up to me to decide what press I want to go with. Looks as if I'll be ok with either hornady or Dillon. I haven't looked at either too much yet, but do they both have bullet and case feeding options? I know I had looked at the rcbs progressive at one point and I'm pretty sure there was no case feeding attachment for it. I didn't realize the lee pro was only 3 stations. I need at least 4 but prefer 5, at least for my .357. Size/deprime, flare, powder, then I seat and crimp in 2 steps.
Anyway, thanks again for the help.

 

[sexybeast]

I thought you were on a limited budget when you mentioned the Pro 1000. If you can afford a Dillon 650 then go for it. Best press overall for the price [which is substantial] but you will neveer have to buy another press for the rest of you life, ,,,and kids lives,,,,,and grandkids lives,,,etc,,,,.
I wish I had bought one long ago.