Which progressive press?

[Jeff H]

Yes I concur. I have two Starcraft boats. One 21' with Berkeley jet drive and 18' with outboards. Both set up for saltwater fishing. I tell you, boating/fishing makes shooting/reloading look like a cheap hobby.

Don't know about fishing, since I don't participate, but as far as boating goes, I can commiserate. I spend a pretty penny on watercraft hobbies. More than guns certainly.

 

[LiveLife]

Don't know about fishing,

Let's just say one "average" ocean fish finder can cost more than a Dillon 550. And I recently bought two (One for each boat) along with 6 new seats (4 seats for 21' boat are Polaris RZR seats), two Cannon downriggers (To catch Salmon in the ocean at specific depth), aluminum plate decking, galvanized twin axle boat trailer (Yes, salt water makes everything rust and aluminum trailers cost too much), etc. etc.

Even one Shimano reel (I have the TLD 20 among others like Penn) can cost more than a Lee press - https://www.cabelas.com/product/Shimano-TLD-Casting-Reel/743862.uts?slotId=0

So feel better about shooting and reloading hobby as it can be more "economical" than other hobbies like fishing/boating and quads/4x4s.

 

[GW Staar]

I hope not, I don’t need lots of stuff I have.

Collated case and bullet feeders just make things so simple. All you have to do is watch everything happen and stroke the handle.

Have to agree. There isn't anything about reloading I need.....it's all pure and simple "want"! My wife says, irrational want.......kind of like her infinitely revolving 20 plus pairs of shoes, and yards and yards of quilting material she's going to use.....someday!

When I first bought my Pro 2000 press (with no feeders), I thought I would never have a need or want for feeders. That ended when I found that my pea brain had a hard time juggling all the procedures (six with every pull counting primer inserts) all occurring at once. First came the Hornady bullet feeder....for speed? Nope for one less thing to juggle. Then I started working on building a case feeder. I didn't think I needed one, I just love to tinker....my favorite hobby (reloading/shooting is second) and people said my press couldn't use a case feeder and I thought I'd be fun to see if I could prove them wrong.......so I did.....and it was.

You know what I found out? I didn't care that it made loading faster (although it did), I found out I could finally just focus on the one most important part of reloading that might keep me safe......powder. No more spreading my concentration thin between all the steps......just make sure the powder is dropped in the proper amount for each and every case. The rest, the automation takes care of.....and reloading became funner and more simplified and I feel much safer.

Boats? Thank goodness I have neither the need nor a want for one of those money pits. When I was young I wanted an airplane..........came to me senses before I got to the stage of buying......those are the #1 money pit. I found a cheaper yet adequate outlet for adrenaline highs......motocross. Got over that too with age.

So now with only tinkering, shooting and reloading hobbies, I can afford 2 singles and 2 progressive presses (all green), and the goodies to make them safer in spite of the inevitable constant in my life.....birthdays....69 and counting.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

What ever the OP does on his reloading machine, I hope it turns out well.

I got one of those multi-colored reloading benches. It's blue, dark blue, red and green. Monday I'm gonna order a Master Caster. Yet another shade of blue. You do what you want...I'm having a ball. Will be seventy-seven next birthday.

 

[LiveLife]

What ever the OP does on his reloading machine ... I'm having a ball.

And that's what it boils down to, having fun.

 

[Elkins45]

When I moved on from my 25 year-old Pro1000 my decision was between Dillon and Hornady. I went with Hornady because of two features: auto indexing and 5 die stations. The manual index and 4 station Dillon didn’t meet my needs or workflow. I’m sure the Dillon had better resale value...guess my widow can curse me when she sells my LnL after I’m gone.

I got one of those multi-colored reloading benches. It's blue, dark blue, red and green. Monday I'm gonna order a Master Caster. Yet another shade of blue. You do what you want...I'm having a ball. Will be seventy-seven next birthday.

My current press inventory is a Hornady LnL, Redding Big Boss 2, RCBS Reloader Special 3, two Lee Pro1000’s and a Lee Turret press. Like Christmas my bench is red and green. It’s also gray, green and orange if you count my two Lyman and one RCBS lubrisizers.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I forgot. In my color wheel are also three or four Lyman in the old Orange color. We better let the newer people know how much of this stuff came used. To think, all this gear started with the Lee Loader set a hammer.

 

[Elkins45]

I forgot. In my color wheel are also three or four Lyman in the old Orange color. We better let the newer people know how much of this stuff came used. To think, all this gear started with the Lee Loader set a hammer.

Mine also started with a Lee Loader and a hammer.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

I'll stick with the Dillon: I share this and probably get seriously flamed. One of the members of the rifle club passed and there was an estate sale. Included was a Star Loader for 45 ACP. The machine was in good condition and appeared complete. After buying it, on the way out the club president asked me where did I plan on buying dies and other parts. It looked like scrounging on the auction sites. I really did not see the advantage of that machine in this day. Backed out of the deal. Bought a mother load of bullet molds instead. Yes, the Star Loader does have a cult following but I've got enough upcoming learning curves. Some of this current crap has insinuated itself onto my bucket list!

 

[Azul69]

I just picked up the Lee Loadmaster on amazon for $238 with free shipping. Still working through the setup, and prepping cases as I go, but it seems to be a good little press for the money. My only con is that they don't make a bullet feeder for and caliber under .30 by Lee. I'm not gonna spend more on a Dillon bullet feeder than I did for the press!!