What Press for a beginner?

[OldCannon]

Why do you rate the "ease of reloading" a single stage press a 3?

Because in a single stage, you are literally performing one stage at a time. This entails a stop to change dies, plus the need to have case holders for your works in progress (well, AFTER you make the first mistake of knocking over a few cases that you have already loaded with powder ).

Relatively speaking, a single stage is less easier for reloading than a turret, which is less easier than a progressive. I suppose the key factor here is reflected in the average rounds per hour you can load, so maybe that line is redundant.

[v-rog]

Thanks for clarifying.

[wharvey]

I started back in the early 70's with a Lee loader, talk about a pain. But they do work.

I've used and have both single stage presses as well as a progressive. Never tried a turret. For beginning you can start out with a progressive but I personally think it is better to start with a single stage, or possibly a turret. Doing each stage separately helps with understanding what you are doing and at least for me is a lot easier to reload without errors, which can be serious. (Can you say double charges or a charge not dropping and going unnoticed. A primer getting stuck and dropping powder in an unprimed case isn't serious but a pain to clean up. Using a single state really isn't that slow unless you need to load quite a few boxes a week.

What do I usually use? My Hornady single stage. In fact since my move I haven't even set up my progressive as I only shoot a box or two a week since I no longer compete. My work flow for handgun cartridges is:

1st - deprime and resize all my cases then quickly inspect.

2nd - change to my case mouth expander die - again inspect, specially the case mouth area for cracks and or splits

3rd - prime. I use an RCBS hand primer for handgun cartridges, (The on press tool is used for rifle and done during the depriming/resizing step). Very quick and has excellent feel for seating the primers.

4th - drop powder. Even though I have an auto disk powder measure I drop powder from a Lyman 55. I put each case with powder in a loading tray. This prevents the knock a case over spilling powder problem and more importantly I can look at all the cases at once, comparing powder levels to assure I got consistent drops. Depending on powder type this can be a real problem with any powder measurer.

5th - change to my bullet seating die and seat all the bullets.

Without rushing I can do 2 boxes, (100 rounds), in about an hour and feel I have full control over the process. It isn't that much slower than using a progressive and MUCH easier to QA my work. Strictly my own preference, but when I load on a single stage I feel like I am reloading hand crafted ammo. A progressive makes me feel more like a machine operator. With the new presses with die adapters it takes seconds to change dies since you don't have to screw them in which reduces the advantage of a turret press.

As to brand, any will do. RCBS equipment is great. So are the other brands. I got a Hornady press when I started loading rifle cases. My old Lee O press was doing fine but seemed to have more spring than I liked. For pistols it worked fine.

Like many I enjoy reloading as much, or possibly more than, shooting. I find reloading on a single state somewhat relaxing while when using my progressive it is just plain work, much like the old Lee Loader was.

BTW, just like in choosing a carry gun, holster or most anything, it is unlikely you will end up with the perfect solution the first time. Reloading, like most hobbies, can be very addicting and if you are like most will be adding and changing as you grow. There is no getting around it.

[OldCannon]

... (good comments deleted)...
BTW, just like in choosing a carry gun, holster or most anything, it is unlikely you will end up with the perfect solution the first time. Reloading, like most hobbies, can be very addicting and if you are like most will be adding and changing as you grow. There is no getting around it.

Right, and experienced reloaders can be very comfortable with any press, I would think. If you told me to use a single press, I think I could hit similar rates as well (ok, ok, a _little_ slower ). The key here is "beginner." I would never recommend a progressive loader to a beginner unless they had an experienced reloader helping them every step of the way. And, of course, when people upgrade to a progressive, it's not like they toss the single/turret press away -- it gets used for those fun "boutique" loads

[wharvey]

And, of course, when people upgrade to a progressive, it's not like they toss the single/turret press away -- it gets used for those fun "boutique" loads

That and when they no longer need to do high volumes and just want to slow down and enjoy the process. If you want to see slow, just watch me do rifle cartridges.

[Rifleman55]

Buy a Dillon and be done with it, I have been using one for about 20 years. I started with a single stage Pacific, in the early 60s there was nothing else but single stage. I doesn't take a rocket scientist to load quality ammo on a progressive press. I will get flamed for this, you get what you pay for, leave the Lee cast presses in the junk bin where they belong.
I have a couple of RCBS's that are older than most of the posters here, when I got them Dillon was not in business.

[OldCannon]

Buy a Dillon and be done with it, I have been using one for about 20 years. I started with a single stage Pacific, in the early 60s there was nothing else but single stage. I doesn't take a rocket scientist to load quality ammo on a progressive press. I will get flamed for this, you get what you pay for, leave the Lee cast presses in the junk bin where they belong.
I have a couple of RCBS's that are older than most of the posters here, when I got them Dillon was not in business.

Spoken like somebody who is really out of touch with the beginning reloader's challenges.

One thing I'll say, I'm surprised it took this long before a "Blue Press Religious Fanatic" posted on this thread. It's not Dillon presses that put me off (they're decent, but very overpriced), it's the Holier-Than-Thou attitude the users all eventually seem to get infected with. Your post, sir, is an outstanding example.

[Jumping Frog]

Spoken like somebody who is really out of touch with the beginning reloader's challenges.

FWIW, my first press was a Lee Loadmaster, so it can be done.

Regarding your "Ease of Caliber change", personally I think it is easier to change calibers on a progressive. I swap the old turret out and the new turret in and change shellplates in about 2 minutes.

Regardless of the press type, the first time you load a new caliber you need to set the dies correctly. After that initial setting, you should be able to swap dies or turrets in quickly without having to reset everything.

Regarding "Load Accuracy", I think you should distinguish between rifle and pistol, as they are hugely different.

[housewolf]

The experienced reloaders here can correct me if they think I'm wrong, but I would be very budget minded on my early purchases. I mean - buy good sturdy equipment, but keep in mind you'll probably replace it later. If you notice how many people say "my first press" or "I started with" you'll realize this is a hobby you're going to have to learn before you can make a decision on the equipment you want to use. I think I went through about three completely different setups/presses before I settled on what I wanted : Dillon for pistol, and Wilson hand dies & and arbor press for benchrest & hunting. That said, I gave away all my stuff about five years ago and no longer shoot handloads. If you don't embrace handloading as a hobby and only do it for the economics, you probably won't stay interested. I just quit hunting & benchrest shooting.

I do suggest buying quality; dial calipers, dies, & a scale, as those are tools you'll use as long as you reload regardless of what method you use.

[NcongruNt]

Spoken like somebody who is really out of touch with the beginning reloader's challenges.

FWIW, my first press was a Lee Loadmaster, so it can be done.

Regarding your "Ease of Caliber change", personally I think it is easier to change calibers on a progressive. I swap the old turret out and the new turret in and change shellplates in about 2 minutes.

Regardless of the press type, the first time you load a new caliber you need to set the dies correctly. After that initial setting, you should be able to swap dies or turrets in quickly without having to reset everything.

Regarding "Load Accuracy", I think you should distinguish between rifle and pistol, as they are hugely different.

The Lee Breech-Lock Challenger single stage is a snap to change dies on. Once you have your dies set in the quick-change bushings, they're set indefinitely. Changing a die or caliber takes all of 5 seconds, and they're set exactly the same as you had them last time you used them..

[Jumping Frog]

The Lee Breech-Lock Challenger single stage is a snap to change dies on.

I agree that single stage presses are easy to change the dies -- changed many dies myself on a single stage press. For non-Breech Lock presses, aka a standard press, I am partial to the Hornady lock rings as the set screw does not bugger up the threads like the RCBS lock ring set screw. Once a die is lock-ringed, changing it happens as fast as you can screw the old one out and the new one in.

The point I was addressing was he rated "Ease of Caliber Change" as a 1 for single stage presses and 3 for a progressive. I can lift out my quick-change turret and change all 4 dies in my Loadmaster in the same amount of time it take me to change one die in my single stage. I am not saying a single stage is bad, I am saying that a "3" rating seems a little too harsh for a progressive since it is as easy as a single stage.

[OldCannon]

The Lee Breech-Lock Challenger single stage is a snap to change dies on.

I agree that single stage presses are easy to change the dies -- changed many dies myself on a single stage press. For non-Breech Lock presses, aka a standard press, I am partial to the Hornady lock rings as the set screw does not bugger up the threads like the RCBS lock ring set screw. Once a die is lock-ringed, changing it happens as fast as you can screw the old one out and the new one in.

The point I was addressing was he rated "Ease of Caliber Change" as a 1 for single stage presses and 3 for a progressive. I can lift out my quick-change turret and change all 4 dies in my Loadmaster in the same amount of time it take me to change one die in my single stage. I am not saying a single stage is bad, I am saying that a "3" rating seems a little too harsh for a progressive since it is as easy as a single stage.

Fair point. How would you score that if you had a Hornady LnL or a Dillon 550? I've never claimed my chart was perfect. Glad to change if y'all think it should say something different.

[Jumping Frog]

How would you score that if you had a Hornady LnL or a Dillon 550?

I can't. I don't own those presses, but I am willing to bet that someone will come along a relate their experience.

[tomneal]

My first press was a Dillon 650 with case feeder.
I bought it in 1997 and have never looked back.
I've reloaded between 50,000 and 100,000 rounds.

I shoot USPSA/IPSC when I can. Each match takes between 80 and 200 rounds. I've had some months where, I reloaded enough rounds for the match in the 10 minutes before I left the house for the match and other months where I loaded up a years worth of rounds. Neither the 650 nor Dillon has ever let me down.


9mm under 10,000 rounds
.40 S&W over 20,000 rounds
.45 ACP over 30,000 rounds
.38 Super over 30,000 rounds
.243 plus .308 under 1000 rounds
all set up for .44 Mag. and .223 but have never reloaded any.


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.

[Seabear]

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.