single stage press, reloading 9mm is it worth it?

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savage M110 BAS

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does anybody reload 9mm from a single stage press? in your opinion is it worth it in terms of dollar savings?. $16 dollars for a box of 50 compared to the time it would take to reload + supplies, i cant decide what to do.
 
It's worth it if you're not a competitive shooter that needs 1000's/month (then get a progressive - site sponsor Budget Shooter Supply has/had compelte Hornady setups). Also, Custom Reloading Service (CRS - site sponsor) has the best prices I've seen for 9mm. I think he has a deal if you buy a certain number of boxes too? I think I bought 10+ boxes under $12/box a while back. Not sure if it's still the same.

If you're paying $16/box, that's $0.32/round. At $12/box, CRS is $0.24/round. You can reload for under $0.20/round (buying bulk). If you're not precision loading and want to shoot a lot, I would recommend a progressive press. If you want to buy low cost 9mm, CRS is the way to go. imo.
 
I had a nice perk at my job, I could reload on night shift.

I found I could do 400 357mag loads (weighed each round) without too much effort, on an RCBS Rockchucker.

if I did it again, I'd use the LEE Scoops.
 
I have been reloading with a single stage Rockchucker for many years. I currently load 9mm, 38/357, 44mag and 45 LC. I can generally load 100 in about an hour for the first hundred, 40 min for each hundred after that. For the first hundred I have to load my powder measure and check it with a scale and load my primer feed. I also check the first 10 or so loaded rounds for OAL, after that I check OAL every 50 or so. I load 9mm for about $16.00/100 for plated bullets, less for lead. So as mentioned if you are not competing I think a single stage is well worth it. However having said that if I were to start over with what I know now I would get a turret press which is a good compromise between a single stage and progressive. TC
 
Depends how much you shoot, if I had to reload all the ammo I shoot on a single stage press I'd kill myself. I'd say if you currently have free time and shoot 300-400 a month the single stage will be fine, but after that you will want to step up to a progressive press
 
Not worth it at all IMHO!!!

Hell I don't even think it's worth my time with a Lee Turret anymore, especially when MFS bulk was $225 for 1000 rounds.

You can find others now for $270 per 1000 rounds anyways...

1000 plated bullets = $100
1000 Primers = $35
Pound of powder = $25

Assuming brass is free it is a decent savings, but when your time is calculated in it gets to be expensive.

With a progressive setup you can crank out those rounds in no time, but on a single stage you will be working for hours at it.

It was OK when I was single, and had a bunch of spare time on my hands but with work, and the wife there is no way in hell I can afford to spend all those hours locked in the basement.

If you are gonna do it invest $500 in a progressive, and do it right.
 
Using a single stage for loading pistol ammo is a great idea if you're the type of cat who is amused watching paint dry...otherwise get a progressive.
 
Reloading is just as therapeutic to me as it is a hobby. If it takes me an hour to pump off 100 Rounds of 9mm in a single stage press then I’m happy with that.

Thanks for all the advice out there gentlemen.
 
I would rather stab my own eyes out with a #2 pencil before I loaded handgun ammo

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Buy bulk or go progressive.
 
I'm on the fence. I reload 9mm, 38, 357 and 45 on a single stage and am currently shooting 300-450 rounds/week. My wife helps out alot with the hand primer and seating bullets after I powder cases. My mind says this is simple and cheapest way to do it.......still... when I'm in the midst of sizing/decapping/flaring 100 rounds (300 press handle cycles, 100 powder drops) I cant help but feel like a fool wasting my time. I mean, I need to do that 3-4 times a week to keep up. During this time I'm envisioning a Dillon and 1 round per swing of the handle.

My wife is worried that if I buy one she won't be involved at all and she kinda likes it, but I worry more about excessive complications, and PITA calibre/powder changes. So I keep swinging away on the single stage because I can't decide. :yingyang:
 
I reload simply because these days getting a constant supply can be dicey. Half the time you look at the online dealers and they are sold out of just about everything. If I was into competition I would go progressive, but as it is I do just fine with a single stage. I do one stage complete at a time. I try to size a couple of thousand rounds followed by flaring them all. At that point I can load them as needed. I use a bushing powder thrower, so I don't have to measure anything. Since I reload a number of calibers including some large rifle. I need the single stage anyway and just plain don't have the room for multiple set ups as much as I'd like to.
 
as mentioned before^^^ buy bulk or get yourself a progressive press......

with no rush, I can do 350-400 rounds an hour on my Dillon 550....

my cost now - just undet $0.15/round.......
 
Well I agree get the Dillon 550 BUT I just don't see 300-400 rds/hr. more like 200 without going bannanas or getting careless and never checking periodically your powder weight and oal.
 
I started loading handgun ammo with my Lee turret press, it's a good economically press for occasional shooters. It's incredibly flexible in what it can do for you. A heavy duty single stage is useful if you are doing a lot of swaging, forming or working large brass. Although I load 9mm and .40cal on my LNL and Loadmaster, my Lee turret loads 357Sig, .45acp, .455Webely, .303, .308, 7.62x54 and also I do all my sizing and crimping for .223 on it and swaging crimped primer holes. Super useful press , buy extra turret plates and swap them out as needed.
 
bigi said:
Well I agree get the Dillon 550 BUT I just don't see 300-400 rds/hr. more like 200 without going bannanas or getting careless and never checking periodically your powder weight and oal.
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have everything set up, and it is doable. load primers up a head of time. I check every so often, you just need to get into a groove.
 
If you love tedium, then yes. If not, no way.
I did a bunch of 9mm on a turret press a few years ago and even that was brutal. One of the most boring things I've ever done, for little result.
 
You guys are awesome - I completely agree. My single stage makes my life feel pointless when I'm in the doldrums of sizing/flaring. I may jump on the next 550 I see.
 
I would rather just buy commercial reloads if I couldn't reload on a progressive press. Given limited time, I would rather spend more of it shooting and less of it reloading.
 
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