Reloading Press Kit Question

[blacklisted]

I'm thinking about putting this http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=646599
on my Christmas list, depending on if I get this job I applied for (so I will have more guns to load for!)

My question is, does anyone have the new Rock Chucker Supreme press? I'm curious if it has auto priming, or if you have to use the hand primer. I'd prefer to be able to do both.

Thanks.

[BigAL]

I started reloading on this kit before it had the "Supreme" upgrade. You'll never wear it out but as with all single stages it's pretty slow if you are looking for hi-volume loading. Other than that it's excellent. All that I would add is a set of dial calipers.

[C.G.]

I use an RCBS Turret Press which came with an "auto" priming feature. I've never used it. I've always used a hand priming tool. I think it gives me a better feel for the pressure I'm using to seat the primer--it also doesn't tie me to the bench.

Ted, re-loading noob question: What is the difference between single press and Turret press? Which one would you recommend for a noob?

[Turbinator]

Ted, re-loading noob question: What is the difference between single press and Turret press? Which one would you recommend for a noob?

Doesn't a turret press have a "turret" that rotates with different dies on it, so that you can switch between die functions easily? You still have a single shellplate that holds 1 shell, but you don't have to keep unscrewing the dies to get a different function.

If you can afford it, look for a used progressive Dillon - you'll find that you can crank out loads faster and much easier. It's worth the time savings to pay the extra up front, in my opinion.

Turby

[blacklisted]

I started reloading on this kit before it had the "Supreme" upgrade. You'll never wear it out but as with all single stages it's pretty slow if you are looking for hi-volume loading. Other than that it's excellent. All that I would add is a set of dial calipers.

That's what I was thinking, and a case trimmer.

[C.G.]

Doesn't a turret press have a "turret" that rotates with different dies on it, so that you can switch between die functions easily? You still have a single shellplate that holds 1 shell, but you don't have to keep unscrewing the dies to get a different function.

If you can afford it, look for a used progressive Dillon - you'll find that you can crank out loads faster and much easier. It's worth the time savings to pay the extra up front, in my opinion.

Turby

I would be using it only for exotic stuff like my .50 Beowulf, the 6.5 Grendel and maybe eventually, .338 Lapua and .408 Chey-Tac, where speed is not necessarily that important as I would not be loading that many rounds. Accuracy does matter, though; Bu-bye suggested that a single stage provides more control resulting in more precise rounds. What do you think?

[C.G.]

I did find out that there's a bit of play in the system. I was able to overcome that with an aluminum shim cut from a soda can.

Very hi-tech!

[BigAL]

That's what I was thinking, and a case trimmer.

Hmmm. My kit came with RCBS case trimmer. I guess they got rid of that in their new kit.

[DULLYJAY]

However, for handgun cartridges, I would love to have a progressive to turn out mass quantaties of handloads.

T.A., this should fit your needs good. I've seen thim go for about 200bucks used.

http://dillonprecision.com/template/p.cfm?maj=6&dyn=1&cookieClean=1

[bu-bye]

PS
Square Deal will only load hand loads and you must buy dillions dies that only work with the Square Deal

[ivanimal]

I sat buy the 550B or better you can still learn to load one at a time. Buy a progressive Dillon and never look back.

[Turbinator]

PS
Square Deal will only load hand loads and you must buy dillions dies that only work with the Square Deal

Yeah - the SDB only loads for handgun calibers and the dies are reverse threaded from other dies - good point. There might be SDB conversion kits out there that change it out to use standard dies, but a quick Google search showed nothing.

Turby

[Matt-man]

I would be using it only for exotic stuff like my .50 Beowulf, the 6.5 Grendel and maybe eventually, .338 Lapua and .408 Chey-Tac, where speed is not necessarily that important as I would not be loading that many rounds. Accuracy does matter, though; Bu-bye suggested that a single stage provides more control resulting in more precise rounds. What do you think?

I don't think that's necessarily true. I just moved from a single-stage RCBS to a Hornady AP progressive, and I don't expect to have any less consistency out of my loaded rounds. The progressive is probably a little harder to get set up, especially if you are doing a lot of operations progressively.

Note that rifle rounds don't really lend themselves that well to progressive loading. Most of my time savings comes from having a case feeder on board, and the ability to group related operations together (e.g. priming, charging, and seating in one pass). Since you usually have to trim rifle cases after sizing, it's hard to run full progressive (empty case to loaded round in one pass through the press). What I do is process everything before trimming in the press, then take the cases out and trim, then put the cases back in the press (with a die change) and finish up. Another option is Dillon's trimmer that fits on the press, but that has a separate set of issues - if you want more info I can link you to some discussions elsewhere.

I do intend to reload some .44 Magnum with this press also, and expect it to blaze through that in full progressive glory. But that's secondary to my rifle reloading - I got this new setup because I was spending way too much time loading.