Single stage vs progressive?

[cavemanlrrp]

"Match grade" "buy once cry once" Have you looked into the Forester Co-Ax at all?
May not work on the "money tight" side. But you cane make some high grade ammo on them.

Nothing wrong with a rock chucker, it's been the bench mark for years, unless quality has gone down hill.
Lots of good ammo has been made on a cast Lee for that mater.

Rolling your own is the way to go. Enjoy the ride.

Best
caveman

[bohoki]

the powder measure on dillons are very good

if i were a betting man i would say rounds cranked out with new bagged brass coming out of a dillon would be more accurate than someone using a powder trickle with mixed brands brass

[C.G.]

Depends on what you are doing. For match rounds, I use a SS. For plinking or bulk reloading, I use a progressive. IMHO, anyone who owns a progressive should also have a single state press on their bench. It comes in very handy at times.

+1. To add, single stage for developing rounds is great. I have a Rockchuker and Hornady LNL progressive. I thought I would sell the ss when I got my progressive but ended up keeping it for the reasons above.

[the_tunaman]

I always advocate a 550... best of both worlds. It is progressive and can knock out volume when appropriate, but I can also run it in single-stage mode for my precision rounds. One of the best features is the tool head, where I can have the dies all set and adjusted and then just work each stage independently.

Also, the decap/size/prime cycle all in one motion saves precious time.

[hambam105]

How would have you accepted a non-updated 40 year old design on a single stage press back in the 70s or 80s? If you did you didn't get a RC.

In 1978, a RCBS Rock Chucker, cost at least 35% more than it's nearest competitor. And worth every penny. I know. I bought one. Still works flawlessly.

But I sure as heck know that there has been a few proven robust single stage press proven design upgrades since. And those upgrades were not on a RC.

[Old_Eyes]

Precision rifles get accurized loads. That means single stage presses

For things like 223 and handgun calibers, progressive machines are the way to go.

[Ramsh00ter]

I have two Rockchuckers and a 550. The cover comes off the Dillon a few times a year, the RCs are used every week.

I have never considered using a progressive for match ammo, no even pistol.

The Dillon is used for plinking ammo and AR pray and spray shooting.

JMHO

[scamp62]

accuracy = Forester Co-Ax I sat down and figured out that I have had mine for 37 years! And I'm still shooting bug holes

[JagerDog]

Rock chuckers are a solid SS. As is the Forster Co-Ax. Redding makes
a great SS too.Personally, once I added a Redding T7, the regular SS collects dust.

The LnL AP runs bulk pistol ammo and sometimes bulk AR ammo.

No doubt progressives are faster, but they make mistakes much faster too. Rifle ammo, you'll spend more time prepping brass than stuffing brass.

[hntnnut]

After running RCBS for 30 plus years I went to Redding and cant believe I didn't do it sooner so much beefier than RCBS. I have both a Big Boss II and a T7 turret press. Check this out-

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2018/05/redding-t7-press-has-loaded-over-1000000-rounds/

As far as dies go I completely happy with RCBS which are good dies for a reasonable price and a great warranty with the only exception being the Redding comp die set for my 300 win mag.
Oh and don't skimp on pistol dies, get the carbide sets their worth every penny.


Richard

[Sir Toast]

If you want accuracy, then single stage. Period. You need to weigh each charge individually. If you want decent .308, then progressive works.

I don't care how great your progressive is, it can't put accurate ammo out like a single stage.

Just my 2 cents.

I haven't read all the posts, but it may be dupe: Get both. I did.

[slayer61]

Yup. Get both.
I have a Hornady LnL AP for most pistol cartridges and an RCBS Rock Chucker for 357 Sig, 9X25 and 460 S&W

[kteas1]

I have Dillon 550 1050 progressives. Great for 9mm, 40 etc. Gave away my SS. Wanted to reload some rifle and went and bought a Rock Chucker. Also my sister shoots .380 and I load that on the SS because she doesn't shoot more than couple hundred rounds.
Dillons good press, but when i want rifle and tighter tolerances, the SS. It's relaxing, SS takes longer but who cares, relax, enjoy, save money.

If money is tight, just get the SS. I see people say my time is worth money, but if you relax and enjoy working loads, it's time well spent even if your not paid. If you decide you want progressive down the road, keep the SS. You'll use both anyway.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Yetiultimate]

This is a good deal on a Hornady SS starter kit.

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/749997/hornady-lock-n-load-classic-single-stage-press-kit?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses&utm_content=749997&cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses-_-Hornady-_-749997&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3-KqrObZ4QIVUxh9Ch21pAPQEAQYASABEgJr2_D_BwE

[Whiterabbit]

IMHO, anyone who owns a progressive should also have a single state press on their bench. It comes in very handy at times.

This is the reason I suggest single stage. I load everything on a progressive today. But I have 2 or 3 single stage presses (can't remember now) that I used for years. And still use to this day for isolated operations. And was a great way to get started, even if I had planned on going progressive from day 1 (which I didn't, it just kind of happened)

I strongly suggest single stage, and not any fancy or expensive press. Just get started. don't stress too much on the press choice. Buy an load.

Rock Chucker, RCBS RS press, LEE classic cast, redding big boss, whatever. Just get it and go. You can always buy again 2 years later and the old one has value.

It's not like buying a harbor freight tool which you replace later because it breaks. It's still a press that your grandkids will use, no matter if it is a lee classic cast or a dillon 1050.

Less planning and more loading! none of the money will be wasted, I promise!