Single Stage v Turret v Progressive
- Thread starter JohnnyCanuck10
- Start date
I have been reloading for 40 years and still use my original Pacific 'C' frame press scale and powder measure of the same vintage. I can't even guess how many rounds have been reloaded on it by now. I did buy a cheap digital scale from Amazon and it agrees within 1/10th grain what my 40 year old Pacific scale reads.
I don't shoot pistol competitively but I shoot alot for fun. My pistol ammo gets the same level of care as my rifle loads do...clean primer pockets case length etc.
I am never in a hurry reloading and enjoy the process almost as much as shooting.
It is hard, but not impossible to screw up doing things on a single stage, but would say more can go wrong on progressive presses.
I don't shoot pistol competitively but I shoot alot for fun. My pistol ammo gets the same level of care as my rifle loads do...clean primer pockets case length etc.
I am never in a hurry reloading and enjoy the process almost as much as shooting.
It is hard, but not impossible to screw up doing things on a single stage, but would say more can go wrong on progressive presses.
Yea, there is nothing better than letting a total newbie loose on a machine designed to produce hundreds of rounds an hour. This is the single best way to produce HUNDREDS of flawed rounds that will need to be pulled apart later.
OP, do yourself a favour and ignore all the people telling you to buy a progressive. The best choice for a newbie like you is something like a Lee Turret Press, which allows you to slow down the production rate so you can learn how each step works and how they feel when you operate the handle. It is not simply running the handle up and down, there is a rhythm to reloading.
I have a Dillon 550 and would NEVER choose to use it as a single stage press. That would be stupid because the thing is simply not designed to be used in that manner.
We have specific tools and presses for specific jobs. You will find that you end up with multiple presses. I have 2 single stage, a Lee Turret and a Dillon 550 and I use all of them.
Why? In 36 years of reloading I have never ever cleaned the primer pocket in a pistol case or even bothered to measure the case length. That would be a waste of time and effort.
Works well for me. I don't have the space needed for a large progressive press. Turret press is much easier to store. Use the Lee press mount plate.
Lee turret presses are the unsung heroes of a lot of loading rooms. I got my first one in the early 80's, now have three, one of which is part of a portable set up for loading at the range. They are versatile and repeatable, and quite robust. I own other presses (Dillon, Lyman, RCBS, MEC), but for their purpose, Lee's work very well. I have no idea how many hundreds of thousands of rounds that first one reloaded, its getting somewhat loose (time for a rebuild, if I can find parts), but it still servicable. FWIW. - dan
That's what I would do too. Dillon 750 + a single stage.
Loading handgun ammo in any sort of quantity on a single stage press will make you want to pull your hair out.
Buy yourself a good quality bullet puller. You are gonna need it and it will see way more use than you can possibly imagine.
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Hi there
there is tonnes of good valuable info here for sure but ultimately only you can decide what you need based on amount of ammo needed and skill level, there is no question that un skilled reloader can make a bunch of useless ammo in a progressive whether that be from assumption or lack of knowledge or both, I have never owned a dillon but have owned many lee presses, hornady rcbs and frankford lees are great presses to learn on because you will be farting around with the primer systems on them all the time they are good presses for the money but lack any kind of tolerence in the auto priming dept and thus the need to tinker at least with every single one i owned anyways, the hornady progressive is a nice kit but expensive and i am not sure if a dillon would be better money spent??? the franford was junk cool design poor delivery , as of today I have a redding turret press and an rcbs summit single stage and honestly i had a lee cast single stage that was perfect regardless my opinion is this, a turret press will give you all the love of a single stage and with being able to set up all your dies at once still make some quick pistol ammo. and when your ready to go streamline keep it use it for rifle and get your pistol progressive just another opinion but you will end up going down a rabbit hole where there may be a lot of slightly used presses at your garage sale hahaha if that is the case i also suggest you reload for 410 shot gun get a press and let me know when your next garage sale is cuz i am in the market for a 410 reloader hahaha just kidding ..... but seriously read read read there is so much good info out there and be safe and welcome to the crazy
there is tonnes of good valuable info here for sure but ultimately only you can decide what you need based on amount of ammo needed and skill level, there is no question that un skilled reloader can make a bunch of useless ammo in a progressive whether that be from assumption or lack of knowledge or both, I have never owned a dillon but have owned many lee presses, hornady rcbs and frankford lees are great presses to learn on because you will be farting around with the primer systems on them all the time they are good presses for the money but lack any kind of tolerence in the auto priming dept and thus the need to tinker at least with every single one i owned anyways, the hornady progressive is a nice kit but expensive and i am not sure if a dillon would be better money spent??? the franford was junk cool design poor delivery , as of today I have a redding turret press and an rcbs summit single stage and honestly i had a lee cast single stage that was perfect regardless my opinion is this, a turret press will give you all the love of a single stage and with being able to set up all your dies at once still make some quick pistol ammo. and when your ready to go streamline keep it use it for rifle and get your pistol progressive just another opinion but you will end up going down a rabbit hole where there may be a lot of slightly used presses at your garage sale hahaha if that is the case i also suggest you reload for 410 shot gun get a press and let me know when your next garage sale is cuz i am in the market for a 410 reloader hahaha just kidding ..... but seriously read read read there is so much good info out there and be safe and welcome to the crazy
