Turret? Progressive? Single Stage? Reloading Press for Beginner

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Hi, I'm looking into reloading my ammo since I'm thinking of attending regular shooting night at my local gun club and occasionally hunting with a group. I wanted to know if its better to start out with a Progressive Press, Turret Press or Single Stage Press? I went looking for different presses and was going to settle on a single stage press to start but someone recommended a Hornaby Progressive Press that was on sale.

Is there a big difference between these presses is it better for $20 more to go with a progressive press over the others? I primarily use rifle ammo but I do shoot the odd 9mm, .45 and .22lr (not that I would reload .22lr) handgun.
 
I'm still using my single stage RCBS Rockchucker press I bought in 1973 and have no desire for a progressive press.

I think of a progressive press as used by someone who shoots in competition and needs large volumes of ammunition.

And think of a single stage press as loading the most accurate ammunition.

After over 46 years of reloading seeing how fast I can reload ammo isn't my objective, and making quality ammo is.
 
Buy a single stage to start. There are some good starter kits with a single stage press, scale, etc. You will outgrow some of the things included in the kits but they are a very practical way to start the process.

And as said above, you'll always have a use for a single stage, even if you get a high end progressive later. I use my single stage (a Lee Classic Cast Breech Lock) for decapping all my brass before tumbling and for all of my rifle and .357 reloading. My Dillon does all my .40 and 9mm.

There is no perfect press. Just like firearms, people have their preferences, their aversions. If you possibly can, go and at least watch someone run their press. Progressive presses can be tricky to set up and get working and to switch over to a new caliber. Single stages are very easy to switch over.

And lastly, read a book or two before you buy a press. I recommend The ABCs of Reloading. A good reloading book will help you fully understand all of the steps before you start acquiring the tools to do it all.

Best of luck.
 
Years ago, When I started reloading to be able to compete in NRA high power matches, a good friend advised me to buy a Lee turret press. Said you could use it as a single stage if you wanted to, that is was easy to set up and use, that LEE stuff wasn't expensive and worked well, and that Lee's warranty was good, so I bought one. I loaded thousands and thousands of 223 on that press, along with 38/357, 45, 9mm, 7X57, 308, 8X57, 3006, 7.62X39, 7mm mag, etc. I only gave it to my son when I bought the new (then) Lee 4 hole turret press. I love the versatility of the turret, the ease of set up and use, and the durability. I have never seen the need for something like a Dillon 650 or any of the other admittedly wonderful progressives. I know many here will look down their noses at my choices and what I have said here and for them other choices may indeed be better, but for my money and time the Lee stuff just works.
 
I'm with reomack on this, my Lee Classic turret press (4 hole) has loaded around 30K rounds of 6 different calibres. Some small pieces do wear out but I consider that to be normal.
The ease of switching calibres is unbeatable and and it's easily used as a single stage for prepping brass or loading more precise rifle rounds.
 
For rifle cartridge reloading it is best to have a solid single stage press, especially if you have a larger magnum cartridge. The Lee Classic Cast is my choice. The Lee Challenger press is OK too, especially for smaller cartridges. If you are into high volume pistol cartridges, then a turret press makes more sense. For occasional loading a single stage is fine.
 
I just started reloading and went with a Dillon 550 for 9mm and .223. Haven't set up the .223 but am very happy with the 9mm it turns out.

If you have the budget and intend to load lots of ammo, go with a progressive.
 
Start with a single stage press and learn the craft. Later, you can make an informed decision based on you own personal needs.

The Lee Challenger or Classic Cast presses are both good quality, economical choices.
 
I started with lee classic cast turret press (4 hole). I've been reloading .45, .40, 30-06, 308 and 223 on it. Soon I'll start the 9mm reloads as I've got the dies already.

To date:
Loaded 1000 rds of .45 ACP on it
Loaded 300 rds of .223
Loaded 100 rds of 30-06
Loaded 100 150 rds of 308
Just started to reload .40SW and did 50 rounds the other day

Quick change turrets are really fantastic.

I'm using the lee autodrum for it and it's by far the most accurate powder thrower mounted on a press.
 
Another vote for single stage. I started with a Lee challenger and eventually upgraded to a cast iron version. Presses move quick on the ee if you ever feel the need to upgrade. If you ever want to do a lot of pistol, a turret or progressive would be a no brainer as a second press.
 
I would vote for the Lee Classic Cast Turret. It can easily be used as a single stage, and when you are ready be used as a turret. Obviously the turret is much faster than a single stage, which is a huge plus, especially once you include pistol cartridges. It gives you both functions in one unit. And if you buy it as a kit, it comes with the rotary powder measure, one of the best measures available.
 
Not progressive. Unnecessary complexity, unnecessary cost, less precise.

I bought a lee turret imagining I'd be constantly spinning from due to die. I don't.

I just grabbed a lee classic cast on the WSS clearout, and an RCBS partner.

Get a single, a good one.

GGG
 
roadcarver said:
I started with lee classic cast turret press (4 hole). I've been reloading .45, .40, 30-06, 308 and 223 on it. Soon I'll start the 9mm reloads as I've got the dies already.

To date:
Loaded 1000 rds of .45 ACP on it
Loaded 300 rds of .223
Loaded 100 rds of 30-06
Loaded 100 150 rds of 308
Just started to reload .40SW and did 50 rounds the other day

Quick change turrets are really fantastic.

I'm using the lee autodrum for it and it's by far the most accurate powder thrower mounted on a press.
Click to expand...

That's really a really really really low count, really!
The extra cost of a turret is unnecessary, now if you churned that out every week...
 
I started with a RCBS single stage and now also have a Redding Turret press. Love them both, have loaded many thousands of rounds with no issues. I don't load 9mm so never felt the need for a progressive.
 
Yep, definitely my count is low. I only reload on demand. I only have time to go to the range once a month so usage is not as high. I like the turret quick change feature, just don't have to fiddle with the setup.

yomomma said:
That's really a really really really low count, really!
The extra cost of a turret is unnecessary, now if you churned that out every week...
Click to expand...
 
When I was first getting into reloading many people told me to get a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme single stage press, which is exactly what I did. It was a great way to learn about reloading, and it's very meditative. That said, I only reload for my rifles, not pistol, so I don't have the sheer volume pistol reloaders have. I may upgrade to a turret one day, but not for a long while. The thing that worries me about progressives is losing some of the accuracy, as I like to be pretty precise and consistent with my loads.

My vote is for single stage!
 
If you are going to load a bunch of pistol get a progressive. I am loading 9mm on a single stage and it sucks. An hour to load 100-150 rounds and 15 min to shoot them. I do however use a single stage for all rifle and wouldn't consider a progressive for rifle loading.
 
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