How much reloading merits a progressive press?

[$P-Ritch$]

Hey all,

This June it will have been one year since I began reloading. I am just now about to load my 10,000th round. Ever since I got into matches at the local range I've been rolling my own 9mm's like crazy. Then there's also been some .40, .45, and .223. Right now I reload an average of 400-500 rounds a month.

I've done all of this on a little Lee Challenger single stage press. So far, it seems to be working out fine for me. I just have to break my reloading sessions into increments otherwise I would be at that press for hours at a time. My question is what volume of rounds loaded, in your opinion, would justify the extra cost of a progressive press?

It isn't going to happen any time soon, but I was kicking around the idea of looking for a used dillon 550 in about a year or so.

Thanks for the advice!

[vwynn]

i wouldnt really base it off volume of reloading..

Think of it like this. With a progressive press.. you can do 400-500 rounds in one sitting in 1 -1.5 hours. (doing 9s or handguns).

1.5 hours compared to 1 month.

I would save the time saved is more valuable compared to a single stage.

[John Browning]

I actually really enjoy the reloading process. For me, I don't mind the time spent (and all things being equal, a single stage press will give you a better product) and would be sad if I spent $200 on reloading components and they only lasted for an hours worth of work on the bench.

[killshot44]

IMHO it depends more on the Type of reloading rather than the volume.
If I was to shoot 500+ pistol rounds per month 'd be a Dillon in the garage instead of my Turret. Once set up they are very simple to run.

I think Dillon should get kick-backs from the powder/primer makers. Those things gobble components like a fat kid eats cake.

[bumpo628]

You should get a progressive when your free time is worth more than the money it would cost to buy press tooling.

[Bongos]

you can pump out 300-400hr of 40 or 45 with a 550B. For 223, you still have to do the brass prep work, if use a hand priming tool like I do, I can pump out and average of 300-400 an hour... For me, when I only do rifle reloads, a single stage made most sense, when I got started in handguns and shot more, well, it's a no brainer.. progressive.

Later, the question will come up as it always does.. 550B, LNL, or XL 650.. for me, I ended up keeping the 550B and selling my XL650.. I played with my friend's LNL and wasn't impress. For my shooting style.. I have 9 different calibers.. the ease of switching out caliber done it for me.. 550B hands down. Do I miss the XL650... absolutely.. I might get another one in the future, what got me was the primer change system, took too long to switch.. plus I really don't have the room on my bench

[chickenfried]

You just want us to be your enablers . 500 rounds a month of one caliber is enough to justify the cost of a progressive. Loading that much ammo would take 4-5 hours on a single stage vs. 1-2 hours on a progressive.
I'd suggest an auto indexing press instead of a manually indexing press like the 550, one less spot for human error to enter into things.

Hey all,

This June it will have been one year since I began reloading. I am just now about to load my 10,000th round. Ever since I got into matches at the local range I've been rolling my own 9mm's like crazy. Then there's also been some .40, .45, and .223. Right now I reload an average of 400-500 rounds a month.

I've done all of this on a little Lee Challenger single stage press. So far, it seems to be working out fine for me. I just have to break my reloading sessions into increments otherwise I would be at that press for hours at a time. My question is what volume of rounds loaded, in your opinion, would justify the extra cost of a progressive press?

It isn't going to happen any time soon, but I was kicking around the idea of looking for a used dillon 550 in about a year or so.

Thanks for the advice!

[jdg30]

I started out with a Dillon 550B and have quick changes for .38 special, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 acp. I wouldn't want it any other way because I shoot a lot of rounds and the machine loads them pretty quick.

I have a RCBS Rockchucker single stage press I got for cheap but haven't set up yet. I plan on using it for when I start reloading rifle rounds that warrant more attention to detail and precision. Plus I need to actually get some rifles first.

If I were you I'd get a progressive press. I enjoy the process of reloading but I also enjoy getting several hundred rounds loaded quick so I can shoot them.

[$P-Ritch$]

I do enjoy reloading, but not as much as I enjoy actually shooting the ammo. Time savings is the biggest prompt to looking a progressive press for me. Being a full time student and now working as well I find it very hard to get enough hours available in the week to load ammo. Usually I have to stay up late the night before the match and load my ammo.

I'm thinking it will happen, just not for a while longer. I still plan to use the Lee press for my rifle and less common pistol calibers. The progressive would more likely be dedicated to cranking out high volumes of match 9mm ammo.

Oh and chickenfried, if the calguns community tells me a progressive is a good idea then it just validates my purchase.

[ireload]

Best wishes when you do get the progressive. I roll 200 rounds or less in a given month or sometimes week so single stage is enough for me. I do mine in stages also when I have to process 500 or 1k of brass. Then load in another time so I do not get overwhelmed. I do enjoy and find it relaxing loading even though at times it's slow.

[Bill Steele]

Cheap alternative

You might consider an interim step.

You can buy a Lee Classic Cast Turret for about $85 from the guys below. It will do about 150 rounds an hour pretty comfortably.

https://factorysales.com/html/company.html

If you went this way and don't already have one, you might want to consider an Auto Disk Pro for powder drop and Safety Prime to complete the package.

This setup will greatly increase your output, albeit below what a Dillon 550B will produce.

[Chief-7700]

I shoot on the average of 1500+ rounds of .45ACP per month. The Dillon XL-650 fills my needs for ammo now! Been negotiating with my financial manager (wife) about a Dillon 1050, so far the negotiations are still on the table not looking good in my favor.
Chief

[chim-chim7]

If I didn't purchase a progressive I would have quit reloading. Of course my volume far exceeds what can be done on a single stage without spending 8 hours at a time on it. No thank you.

[Tzvia]

Hmmm... I started on a Dillon 650- was only really interested in pistol reloading- 45acp, 9mm, .357 and 45Colt. I can do a caliber change in just a few minutes, and can crank out 500 in under 2 hrs.

You have great patience and much time, reloading pistol on a single stage press. I don't have that kind of time; if I am going to reload all day, it's going to be due to brass prep rifle reloading. That is when I break out the Redding Big Boss single stage- spend my time doing the prep, and load up 50 on the block.

Once you have a progressive press, you will wonder how you did it on a single stage...

[CSACANNONEER]

Once you have a progressive press, you will wonder how you did it on a single stage...

I agree and disagree with this. My first metalic cartridge press was a 550. I now own a 550, a 650, an Ammomaster progressive and a bunch of single stage presses. Now, I tend to load most rifle rounds on SS presses instead of progressives. I also feel that anyone with a progressive should also have a SS press on their bench or, at least, a Lee hand press.