Would you buy a two stage progressive/ turret hybrid press?

[Comrade Mike]

I've been working on designing a two stage progressive press based on my needs. My idea came about from my single stage reloading process when I would make hand gun ammunition. I wanted to resize, decap, flare and prime all in one operation, but I didn't want to make the large investment in a large progressive press. I like measuring each powder charge on my scale to maintain a QC step. I also wanted a press that would auto eject into a bin at the end of the stroke.

So positions for two dies, a progressive style loading platform, auto ejecting at the end of the desired operation. Ideally priced significantly lower than a progressive press and probably in line with a turret press.

I'm still working on the design, would there be demand?

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

no, because you could just buy a 4 or 5 station press and only run two dies. for the most part, progressive users want to start with fired brass and end up with loaded rounds.

 

[44vaquero]

No, because Lee already makes the 4 station Classic Cast Turret press which some people refer to as a semi-progressive already. @ a 103.99+ S&H that's a tough price point to beat!

 

[silicosys4]

Yup, I personally see no use for a progressive that won't send out finished ammo. Just not enough advantage over having two single stages.

 

[Jon_Snow]

I'd be curious how you're going to resize and flare in one operation. I haven't seen any existing die sets that do that, and requiring customers to buy proprietary dies is a sure way to kill the market before it even starts.

 

[Comrade Mike]

Well this is what happens when I get too much time on my hands. I really like that lee press! Guess I don't need to reinvent the wheel. Thanks guys.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm still working on the design, would there be demand?

I do not think so.

While I separate my case resizing/mouth expansion from my reloading process, loading the prepared cases still takes 4 stations on my progressive (powder measure, powder check, bullet seating and bullet crimping).

When I am resizing the cases, I install just the resize die and the mouth expansion die, leaving the powder measure and other dies off the press.

The press indexes the cases automatically and ejects them into a bin. No handling once the case is in the press.

Of course, the Hornady L-N-L with the individual die Lock-n-Load bushings makes it easy to install particular dies but this could be done on presses with die plates by screwing in and out dies like a single stage or have multiple die plates.

As a final note, when I do resizing on a progressive press, it is only on the Hornady due to the ease of installing single dies. I also have a Dillon SDB and RCBS Pro2000 and I only charge and seat bullets on those presses. No resizing.