Should I start with a single stage press

[Cowboy T]

Cowboy T,

He'll be using Berry's plated. Unless he is sticking his finger up his nose or other places, I think he'll be okay.

LGB

True, but there's also the residual dust from the case cleaning operation (usually tumbling). Residual lead styphnate compound from the fired primer will still be on the cases, even if the cases look shiny.

- T

[Nessal]

+1 for bootcamp's words. Learn your fundamentals first and get good with 'em. And since you're choosing a Rockchucker, that thing will outlast you and several generations afterward with proper care.

To all those telling newbies to "just buy Dillon" right off the bat, shame on you. You're inviting blown up guns or worse. Now, now, chill out; I'm not saying Dillon's bad gear. We all, including me, know better. The newbies will have plenty of time to drink the blue Kool-Aid later on, *AFTER* they learn what they're doing and reduce their chances of serious injury. Gotta remember, folks, safety first.

Yes, I'm being a little judgmental here. I get like that sometimes when it comes to safety, and I don't apologize one bit for it.

I do feel that someone that is extreme patient, detail oriented, and careful can learn on a progressive just fine. But that's only 2% of the masses out there.

[AAShooter]

Personally, I think starting on a single-stage press is not necessary but doesn't hurt. I think saying it is mandatory is a "belt and suspenders attitude". Maybe every gun owner should first buy a .22LR rifle to learn to shoot before taking on anything else. Personally, although the knowledge is nice, I have a hard time having a guy invest $100 or $200 in a single stage press he doesn't plan to use once he gets up and going.

My first reloading press was a progressive machine. I started by reloading single rounds through the press until I could smoothly do so and understood each station. Then I ran small batches--10 or 20 rounds. Finally, "volume" production.

[chickenfried]

This isn't about the blue kool aid. He's already buying a hornady progressive. If you're careless you'll find a way to make dangerous ammo, single stage or progressive. If I run into trouble down the road (knock on wood) it's on me not whether I load single stage or progressive. Learning on a progressive might be slightly more hassle, when treating it as a single stage. But you can go slowly and learn the fundamentals just as well. It's not the leap from fourth grade math to calculus some make it out to be.

[bootcamp]

AAS and Chickenfried, say what you want. We're all entitled our opinions.

The reason why I suggest a single stage is you don't exactly know who you're dealing with unless you know them personally, so I usually assume them to be novice to be on the safe side.

[bootcamp]

I also wanted to add, use the other guy in the other thread that squibed within his 1st 15 rounds as a PRIME example. THAT IS WHY you want to caution on the safe side.

If you don't know your fundamentals, you can easily get flustered and "miss" a step.

[Nessal]

Personally, I think starting on a single-stage press is not necessary but doesn't hurt. I think saying it is mandatory is a "belt and suspenders attitude". Maybe every gun owner should first buy a .22LR rifle to learn to shoot before taking on anything else. Personally, although the knowledge is nice, I have a hard time having a guy invest $100 or $200 in a single stage press he doesn't plan to use once he gets up and going.

My first reloading press was a progressive machine. I started by reloading single rounds through the press until I could smoothly do so and understood each station. Then I ran small batches--10 or 20 rounds. Finally, "volume" production.

[toby]

Twentyfive years later, I still have no progressive reloader..you can only shoot so much!

[chickenfried]

I think we alll want that whether we think he should buy a progressive or a single stage.

Those that advocate the single stage just want to make sure that the OP can minimize the risks as much as possible while learning the hobby at minimal costs. Nothing wrong with that.
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[CSACANNONEER]

I own a Dillon 550, a Dillon 650 and a RCBS progressive Ammo Master. I would NEVER think of not having a few single stage presses on my bench too. No matter what, you should get a single stage press.

[LGB Loader]

I love Dillon Precision and have a 550 and 650 but I don't regret one bit starting off on a rock chucker.

I have a number of progressives, a couple of turrets, and a few single stage and I could live without all except one good single stage.

As for the Cal Gunner team on this thread, way to hold it together. Everyone gave great advise and was, for the most part, color blind. Tip my hat....

LGB

[slopoke]

Bottom line is how many rounds are you going to shoot per month? I only have time to shoot about twice per month so I shoot about 300 rounds pistol and about 150 or so rounds of rifle ammo. The bulk of my shooting is 22 pistol and rifle. So for me a single stage fits my needs. It takes me a little less than an hour per 100 rounds pistol. I don't count the couple of hours of tumbling and case prep for pistol is not too much time. For rifle, case trimming, deburing, primer pocket cleaning adds a little more time. Reloading 100 rounds is pobably more like an hour and a half. The primer pocket cleaning and deburring is done with a pocket brush in a electric drill and a debur and chamfer tool in a Possum Hollow drill adapter chucked up in a electric drill, which cut down on prep time for rifle brass. So with that I spend about 5 hours per month reloading.

[Corbin Dallas]

I have never reloaded before. I will be doing Berry's plated .45 ACP 230 gr RN. I have ordered a Hornaday Lock N Load AP, but am seriously considering canceling the order and buying a single stage press to start out. Initially I was only going to get the single stage and not do the progressive at all, but everyone told me to get a progressive or I would go crazy doing the 500 - 1000 rounds a month that I anticipate shooting. I think I feel more comfortable doing one step at a time, and doing it perfectly. Does this make me crazy? If I were to get the single stage, how long would it take me to load 250 rounds for a day at the range? 2-3 hours? More?

When you give your advice, please note that I work out of the country on a rotational basis, so when I am home, I have nothing to do but golf, shoot and play computer games while my wife is at work. I don't golf on Mondays because the course is closed. I figured I would shoot 4-5 boxes on Saturday, and then reload them on Monday.

Thank you for your opinions

I was a first time loader a few years back and I also asked the same question. Single stage or progressive.

Now, 5 years later, WOW am I glad I bought a Dillon 650 and DID NOT listen to the old men who insisted I start with a single stage.

Unless you're loading 20 rounds for hunting or some bullseye benchrest match, the single stage is a waste of time and money IMHO.

It took me all of about 2 hours to learn how to load on a progressive press. I went VERY slow making sure to follow each and every step of the setup before ever putting out a live round.

Once I was happy with everything I was then able to crank out rounds at a slow 300/hour. I then took my case gauge and checked each and every round.

Now some years later and much wiser, I would NEVER recommend a single stage press to anyone unless they are not loading in quantity.

So, here are the answers to your questions:

I have ordered a Hornaday Lock N Load AP, but am seriously considering canceling the order and buying a single stage press to start out.

For the quantity you say you'll be loading, stick with the progressive

but everyone told me to get a progressive or I would go crazy doing the 500 - 1000 rounds a month

Yes, you will.

If I were to get the single stage, how long would it take me to load 250 rounds for a day at the range? 2-3 hours? More?

A LOT more. You MIGHT be able to do 100 rounds in 2 hours. Remember, each step requires a new setup.

For 100 rounds you will:

Deprime & Resize
Prime (by hand maybe?)
Bell & Powder drop (You have to set proper bell & drop when you change dies)
Seat (Remember you have to re-set the COAL when you change dies)
Size and Crimp (Again, you have to re-set crimp when you change dies)

Does this make me crazy?

If you like doing the same thing 5 times, yes.

so when I am home, I have nothing to do but golf, shoot and play computer games while my wife is at work

With a single stage, forget Golf and computer games. Move your bed in the man cave, because that's where you will live if you try to make 1000 rounds on a single stage.

[Cowboy T]

I was a first time loader a few years back and I also asked the same question. Single stage or progressive.

Now, 5 years later, WOW am I glad I bought a Dillon 650 and DID NOT listen to the old men who insisted I start with a single stage.

He's not buying a Dillon. He's already ordered a Hornady LnL AP.

Besides, I might well be younger than you, kiddo! :-)

With a single stage, forget Golf and computer games. Move your bed in the man cave, because that's where you will live if you try to make 1000 rounds on a single stage.

Actually, that's not true. I did 1,000 rounds on a cheapie $30 Lee single-stage before I went progressive, and I definitely didn't have to do all that. I'm also a better reloader for it, and I have a great little single-stage on which I can easily--and quickly--develop loads...and resize large quantities of my cast boolits...and fix the occasional errant round that pops up.

Besides, Golf is for wussies. Quiche-baking--now, there's a REAL MAN's sport!

[chickenfried]

Come on now, getting a little silly with the dillon disdain. You know very well he's just stating what progressive press he started out on. Rather than telling the guy to buy dillon.

Specifics on how starting on a single stage made you a better reloader? What essentials did you learn on the single stage that couldn't be learned just as well on a progressive

Golf, that's one hobby I would've been better off buying the cheapest stuff to try out the sport. But in most every other hobby, skipping over the cheap beginner stuff and going to the middle of the road has saved me money in the long run.

Quiche is for wusses, real men make frittatas.

He's not buying a Dillon. He's already ordered a Hornady LnL AP.

Besides, I might well be younger than you, kiddo! :-)



Actually, that's not true. I did 1,000 rounds on a cheapie $30 Lee single-stage before I went progressive, and I definitely didn't have to do all that. I'm also a better reloader for it, and I have a great little single-stage on which I can easily--and quickly--develop loads...and resize large quantities of my cast boolits...and fix the occasional errant round that pops up.

Besides, Golf is for wussies. Quiche-baking--now, there's a REAL MAN's sport!