Using A Progressive Press as a Single Stage?

Sinasta

Sinasta

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Looking to start handloading some precision rifle rounds. Am I missing anything that this isnt viable to use my progressive as a single stage. Is there slop in the turret plate and shell plate?

I tried a google search and all I've found has been progressive vs single stage threads.

Press is a Lee Loadmaster.
 
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What progressive?

When I started my first press was a Lee Classic cast turret press. I used it for everything, including as a single stage for my rifle. If you are starting you can make it work. Yes there will be some slop, I found that the trick was being consistent in all things, including in how you pulled the handle even. It’s not optimal.... but I made it work and got honestly very good results.

Later get a Co-Ax though.
 
Size all the brass, prime using a hand tool, which I do for rifle rounds anyway. Charge the cases as you normally would with your scale. Put your seat die in the handiest spot, and cycle the press. Remove whatever dies you don't need. I keep a spare tool head or2 for custom jobs like that on my 650 The thing is, is that since you will have the dies and scale already, the cost of a used single stage alone is negligable. If you want to load for precision, you'll end up with a single stage anyway.
 
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CreamySmooth said:
What progressive?

When I started my first press was a Lee Classic cast turret press. I used it for everything, including as a single stage for my rifle. If you are starting you can make it work. Yes there will be some slop, I found that the trick was being consistent in all things, including in how you pulled the handle even. It’s not optimal.... but I made it work and got honestly very good results.

Later get a Co-Ax though.
Click to expand...
Co-Ax is a great option
 
dogzilla said:
Size all the brass, prime using a hand tool, which I do for rifle rounds anyway. Charge the cases as you normally would with your scale. Put your seat die in the handiest spot, and cycle the press. Remove whatever dies you don't need. I keep a spare tool head or2 for custom jobs like that on my 650 The thing is, is that since you will have the dies and scale already, the cost of a used single stage alone is negligable. If you want to load for precision, you'll end up with a single stage anyway.
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking. But was wondering if I am overlooking anything.

I dont use the press anymore to load high volume so it wont be a bother using it as a dedicated single stage press.
 
Very important consideration is case lube. If this is your only press, then set it up for case sizing first... run all the case around with no other steps. Tumble clean.

Now you can put the neck sizer (I prefer the Lee collet) into position 1 and add primers in step 2... at this point the primed case is indexed for powder.

how precise you want your ammo will determine what happens in the powder dispensing. Assume you want to use an extruded powder of some kind. ALL powder dispensers have some level of variation when throwing extruded powder. I would expect up to +/- 0.3gr variance so that can be alot of powder variation.

You can weigh on a separate scale and then dump into the case

You can use a ball type powder and deal with retuning for varying temps.. but the dispenses charges can be very consistent

You can use the powder measure and accept the accuracy that results.

For me, controlling my powder charge is my #1 priority when making the most accurate ammo I can.... your needs and rifle may not be as fussy.

From here, stuff in a bullet and done.

If there was a way to dump extruded powder precisely, I would save so much time by using a progressive. But for me, I use a single stage and it works out less of a headache then remembering to change this and that on my progressives.

Jerry
 
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