tomneal wrote:I reload so I can shoot. I don't change powders or calibers that often. If you want to fiddle with load development or change calibers a lot, you may want a single stage press. But, if you're like me, and just want ammo to shoot. You'll be happy with a Dillon.
One last thing. If I decided to get out of reloading. The Dillon has good resell value.
Please feel free to count me among those that have drunk the Dillon Blue Kool-aid.
I'll have to agree with this part.
My early days of reloading were mostly for shotgun shells. Man I would reload and go shoot all I had and then reload again...take off ....On my bicycle with my WInchester 1200 in a case across the handle bars (age 14) and go blow 'em all shooting whatever moved. Back then , Lee Load all and Mec Jr.
I then progressed to center fire and being a cheap broke ***k, I used Lee Handloaders for 45-70 and .45 acp.
Fast forward to now.
I thought I was gonna go cheap and buy a Lee Pro 1000, saw it in person and decided it was a little cheap/flimsy.
I didn't drink the blue Kool-aid yet, but I bought a Dillon Square Deal-B on Ebay...hindsight, I should have just bought new. Anywho, I have this thing tweaked finally and if I ever get more boolits, I will see how fast I can go. All I know is that before I ran out of boolits I had 2 dozen left and decided to load 'em up. I went out to the shop, loaded 10, checked powder level on scale and loaded the rest. Crap...the party was over in less than 5-10 minutes. I love to shoot, and I can shoot a bunch. I run through 2-300 a week ...playing with Steel Challenge every Wednesday night. I don't think a single stage can keep up with my schedule. I know a fellow shooter that has one and he has to be "cautious" with what he uses so he can be ready for our monthly match.
Long story short, if you like to shoot, find a progressive that will work for you. If you like building model airplanes, and doing puzzles, get a single stage. Nothing wrong with them, just WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY slower. As long as you take your time learning, and pay attention, you can get the hang of a progressive.
I have in, the short time that I have owned this progressive, learned that NOBODY , I mean NOBODY can be jaw jackin' with me while I am loading. Distractions cause mistakes. Period
Good luck and have fun whatever you decide on.
Carry safe and carry when and where you can. I'm just sayin'.