You're welcome (from all of us
) But keep reading....
After Newbuckeye's post I decided to go back and read the whole thread again (didn't know it was that good), as if I was new to the progressive scene. (which I was almost 4 years ago) Some interesting patterns came out. First there is the why and how we reload....let me count the ways.
Then there's the realization that some of that results from the press we bought, while some of it helped determine the press we bought.
For example jmorris buys two of everything so he doesn't have to change primer size. I bought mine because wanting to reload many calibers, and being limited to one press, ease in changing primer size was much more important. That operation is one screw simpler than changing tool heads on his 1050. 10 seconds is being generous. Would I rather have two presses? Of course....I'd rather have 10 powder measures too. But two Uniflows (or Hornady P.M's) with mics (one for each drum size) can accomplish the same work as many.
cfullgraf isn't alone as one who primes off his press. Many do. NOTHING is worse than to be cranking in full production, when a military case with a crimp remnant suddenly stops it cold. Been there done that. But I wasn't about to go back to hand priming with that super sweet APS system in my pres. After 2 months research, and an ongoing relationship with an RCBS R&D engineer viva email, it was decided that reaming pockets are a more "sure" procedure than swaging....don't care whose swager it is. Not all brass swages well, especially old hard brass. About that time RCBS introduced an improved reamer for their Trim Mate.
Boy does it work well....and no more over done bevels. Then a year later RCBS added a Dillon-like bench swager to their line up. Sigh! Yes I bought one....and yes I like it for most brass. Reamer is still king though, for ancient RC brass.
Then there's the high primers. A pocket reamer in conjunction with a pocket uniformer and a shell plate primer stop, does wonders for eliminating high primers, and any desire to go back to hand priming except for working up new loads on the single stage press.
My goal starting out with a progressive, was to eventually be able to production load every thing on it. I know, lofty, but I'm getting really close.
One more path I want to talk about and then I'll shut up. I'm older than a lot of you. Though I have 4 decades of experience loading single station, At not even quite 4 years, I consider myself a beginner at progressive loading....and I've changed my mind on the value of case and bullet loaders. Not the way you'd think. I'm more like cfullgraf on this one. I don't race...I don't even like to race .... never did. BUT feeders have been pushed a tools to speed hand loading toward "factory" speeds. IMO, that's a good way to invite disaster. Using my Hornady bullet feeder and home built case feeder (a project that started as a personal challenge), I found that can load more leisurely and safely and still fast enough to leave turrets in the dust. All the busywork is handled while my senses can focus on quality, and safety. That's the real beauty of feeders.
So do I wish I bought a press with expensive feeder options? Let's see, I did spend a bit on the Hornady bullet feeder.....but the home-bilt case feeder cost less than $50 and works fine with 9mm up to .308...so far. And I have a primer system to kill for. So...I think not.
