Am I crazy

i have been loading pistol on a single stage for space reasons currently (i do have 3 pro1000's) and it's not all that bad. i do 200 rounds of 9mm at a time and 100 of 45acp and 100 rounds of 38/357mag.

i did how ever just start reloading for rifle (7.62x54r and 7.5x55) and it's alot more satisfying to reload that with all the work that goes into!
 
Spawn-Inc said:
i have been loading pistol on a single stage for space reasons currently (i do have 3 pro1000's) and it's not all that bad. i do 200 rounds of 9mm at a time and 100 of 45acp and 100 rounds of 38/357mag.

i did how ever just start reloading for rifle (7.62x54r and 7.5x55) and it's alot more satisfying to reload that with all the work that goes into!
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I reload for my 7.5 x 55 too :) (you are gonna love that caliber k31 or?) You probly already know...but just in case...did you know 284winchester brass works great as an alternative?
:)



It's good to hear from you guys about your methods and finding out that I am not alone..thank you very much for your responses :)
 
I use a single stage for .357 and rifle rounds. So far that's all I load for, but I did buy dies and bullets to try loading .45 ACP. If I can't get significantly better accuracy than the Norinco factory stuff I have, I will just buy more and keep saving my brass for a rainy day.
Kristian
 
I tend to deprime everything with "nutcrackers" then clean the brass, size with a singe stage press , hand prime, use a digital powder scale, and seat with a singe stage press.
 
silen said:
No kidding..don't think I know anyone that makes shotgun slugs interesting hobbie !!
Radio or gun ..you're serving and with the day approaching let me thank you for your service :)
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Thank you, it means a lot to us.

For the slugs, I made my own mould from a co2 cartridge (I took the idea from a youtuber) it doesn't make accurate slugs so it needs improvement. However I can shoot slug for cheaper. I buy a birdshot value pack, melt the shots and pour the melted lead into the mould and there are my cheap slugs.
 
I am not a big volume shooter ... no handguns, no semi-autos other than rimfire. Like several others here, I do all of my reloading (I think 14 different cartridges) with a single stage. I weigh every powder charge individually on a balance scale. A recent concession has been the use of a Lyman brass tumbler gifted to me by a couple of my kids. Actually, I think my son just didn't like spinning his brass with scotch pads/steel wool with my Lee trim die outfit in order to clean it up. I enjoy my time at the reloading bench, and being retired, can usually go at it in an unhurried fashion. We are not alone ... but we might be a small minority.
 
I load all my ammo on a rock chucker single stage. 223, 22-250, 308, 30-06. It may take a bit longer but the results speak for themselves. I enjoy spending a few hours peeping the brass, measuring the charge, and measuring each round to get it all as consistent as I can. That said when I'm shooting its not a matter of putting as much lead downrange as quickly as I can and hope I hit something.
 
I've always used a single stage press. In fact, I now have two of them to speed up the operation! I mostly do small batches of rifle ammo though. About 50 rounds at a time normally. I loaded pistol ammo for the first time this summer. That kind of volume makes me want to go progressive.
 
Your not crazy and if you are your far from being the only one. Up until a couple years ago I did absolutely everything by hand including case cleaning. Since being retired I shoot more so the jokes over. I now have a case tumbler and one of them new fancy digital RCBS charge master powder measure's, new RCBS case trimmer and I am giving the greasy eye to an RCBS power case prep station. I am starting to get arthritis in my hands so the machines now have to do some of the work.

If I was doing any high volume pistol shooting I would definitely be looking a something like a Dillon 650 press. Something can really crank out the rounds. When I shot a lot of skeet years ago, there were several years I was pushing 15K per year. Did it all on two Mec 600 juniors, one set for 12ga the other in .410. I couldn't do it now

There is nothing wrong with keeping it simple.
 
As mrgoat can tell you, I load for upwards of 100 rifles and do it all on a RCBS Rockchucker single stage press. You're not crazy, you're one of the sane ones and reloading on a single stage press keeps you that way. You want to go crazy, buy a progressive..............
 
silen said:
I reload for my 7.5 x 55 too :) (you are gonna love that caliber k31 or?) You probly already know...but just in case...did you know 284winchester brass works great as an alternative?
:)



It's good to hear from you guys about your methods and finding out that I am not alone..thank you very much for your responses :)
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Yes a k31, and no I didn't know I could use 284win brass, good to know, thanks! At the moment it's not hard to get ppu brass.
 
I just got into reloading this summer and I measure every round for my 223. Since Im new and STILL enjoy it :p I do every round. Next summer Im looking at trying a bunch of different rounds and powders.
 
silen said:
So here goes, after a long conversation with my friends about reloading it would appear I am the only one who hand loads every round.instead of a progressive press.

They all think I am crazy..but I enjoy the precision and results involved than just pulling a lever
-hand clean brass
-ram prime
-no power tools for case prep
-hand measure powder
-resizing/seating/etc..all done on a few lee hand press'


Am I the only one?
Do any of you guys prefer to do it more manually?
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I do everything manually. I use a Lee hand press just like you do.

Space was a huge consideration for me as there was no place to put a bench. Even so my multiple toolboxes of dies, brass, molds etc. take up more space than I would like.

One thing I like about doing it by hand is the confidence I have in my cartridges. I would not hesitate to let a friend shoot my reloads. I am sure that all are as safe or better than anything factory.
 
I use a single stage press for everything in a misguided attempt to save money. The more I load, the more components I buy, and the more I shoot. Doing it slow and steady means that I'm not going to go out and spend another thousand dollars on components again.
 
at the moment I only am loading 45acp 230gr. recently had hip replacement surgery and don't expect to hit the range again for a few months.

1. run through tumbler
2. lee turret press to size and de-cap
3. ream primer pocket
4. hand prime
5. hand charge using small electronic scale into the turret funnel
6. seat bullet and crimp

always done in stages usually days apart unless I'm in need: 1 then 2,3,4 then 5,6

stages 2,3,4 are done whenever I'm bored in front of the tv or computer and then set the cases aside until later.
stages 5,6 to finish off, I tend to pay close attention to detail and can generally rip off 60 or 70 rounds per hour. not particularly productive but works for me.
 
For the small difference in money, I honestly don't know why anyone who even reloads in small volume would consider anything other that a turret press. Remove the indexing rod and bam, you're back to single stage. Put it back in and you're getting closer to progressives speeds.

It truly is a happy medium. More options equals a better press IMO.
 
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