Advice on upgrading to progressive press

[Kenm]

I currently have a RCBS Special-5 single stage press and trying to decide if I should upgrade to a progressive press. My wife is starting to shoot USPSA and is using 700-800 rounds of 9mm per weekend for practice. I am retired so I have the time but my arm is getting tired. For the RCBS Piggyback 3 it would cost $400 from Midway USA. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[undercow16969]

I am about to get into reloading myself. I just inherited a .22 Ackley Improved and a .22 PPC...so I really don't have a choice. Based on some of the research I have done, Dillon Precision seems to have a good bit of options for reloading (multi and single stage available). Other than that I'm not too familiar with very much yet. Good luck Sir.

[Endofcomment]

Hornady lock n load ap it's as much of a press as the 650xl but at a cheaper price tag and they give you 500 free projectiles..

I vote red.

Flame suit on..

Blue punch anyone??

[XDRoX]

I never cared for the piggyback.

If 500 rounds an hour is satisfactory, then I vote for a 550b.

If you need to produce more than that, I vote for a 650 with a case feeder or a 1050 if you have the money.

Currently I load on a fully decked out 550b that i can not say enough good things about. My next press will be a 1050 for 9mm only. The 550b will stay on the bench for everything else.

IMO the ultimate reloading room has a 550b, a 1050, and a high quality single stage.

[XDRoX]

Here is a video of me loading 100 rounds of 9mm on my 550b.

[Wrangler John]

There is an early Hornady LnL progressive sitting on a shelf in my loading room. I could never keep it running due to broken parts and the advancement pawls constantly needing readjustment. Worse, and this is fault of most all progressives, the primer feed would jam, either requiring disassembly to clear, or jamming the shell plate and breaking the drive dog. It went back to Hornady and was modified with newer parts, but still didn't work consistently. Recent models may be more reliable.

The Hornady shell plate and case retention system is superior to all other though, as is the LnL bushings.

The RCBS Pro 2000 Auto Progressive is what I use these days. Although, like all progressives (except the Hornady with the case retention spring) allows cases to shake when the shell holder snaps into position for the powder check and seating die. This causes powder kernels to be cast out of loaded cases where they lodge in the mechanism and over the bench top. The RCBS was truly messy in this regard, especially with bottleneck cases near full load density, or straight handgun cases. When I contacted RCBS regarding the excessive spring tension of the shell holder indexing detent ball causing powder to jump the cases, they sent me a redesigned spring that reduced the effect. Using a nylon detent ball may also help prevent the shock from steel ball snapping home from kicking powder out of the cases.

I discussed the problem with Nosler's custom ammo loading staff, where they load using Dillon presses, and found this is a common problem with all progressives. Nosler uses acid brushes placed where the bristles can hold cases still as they index into position. (Similar to a finger board on a table saw.)

I modified my RCBS with pieces of shrink tubing placed over the case retention springs after the charging station which reduced the effect to tolerable levels. The RCBS would be ideal if they licensed the Hornady patent case retention spring system as they do the Case Activated Powder Measure system (it's a direct copy of the Hornady system).

The RCBS uses the CCI plastic primer strips instead of a vertical primer feed tube. I found this superior to the tube and transfer linkage for priming. It is also safer, as primers are isolated from one another by the plastic strip, and feed directly into cases in a straight line. I use the strips with any brand primer by loading with either the RCBS strip loader, or my big thumb.

So there you have it. Using a progressive requires the development of a very disciplined consistent technique, similar to playing a musical instrument than loading. Do not allow any distractions while you begin loading on one. Forget a step, double charge a case, jam a primer, and you create more problems.

[Dark Mod]

Here is a video of me loading 100 rounds of 9mm on my 550b.

If my math is correct and you made 100 rounds in 9 minutes, thats 666 rounds an hour. One might even say, your a reloading Demon?

Mwahahahha

No but seriously thats a lot of rph, i look at your pace and i figure i load about just as fast with autoindexing, kinda blows my mind that im doing over 500

[hayaku]

if you are going to invest at least 400 into that piggyback system, i say go ahead and upgrade to a full progressive. i haven't heard much good things about the piggy back systems. heard they take alot of love to get them to function mindlessly like you would want and then it won't last long... i dunno, don't have a piggyback for my rockchucker nor have i used one tho.

a dillon square deal in 9mm is in that price range. if all you need/want to do is massive 9mm rounds, this package is probably the cheap way to do it. you can find some used too which will still be factory warrantied.

the hornady lnl is close in price to that too with more flexibility/upgradeability. rcbs and dillon progressives will run you more but give you more...

[damndave]

I have not sued a piggyback system, but hear mixed reviews about them. With the amount your wife is shooting, a full on progressive will be the ticket. Get a casefeeder with it and the making rounds will be a breeze.

[tujungatoes]

If your intention is to only load 9mm I too would suggest looking into the dillon square deal. If you want the abillity to load multiple calibers either the Hornady LNL AP(what I have) or the Dillon 650 is the way to go. Both are excelent machines but one may suit you better than the other. Do your homework and see what fits with your needs.

[XDRoX]

If my math is correct and you made 100 rounds in 9 minutes, thats 666 rounds an hour. One might even say, your a reloading Demon?

Mwahahahha

No but seriously thats a lot of rph, i look at your pace and i figure i load about just as fast with autoindexing, kinda blows my mind that im doing over 500

It's a wide accepted belief that auto indexing equates to more speed. It just isn't true. Maybe a tiny bit like 50 rounds an hour or something like that. But IME auto indexing doesn't add enough increase in speed to buy the 650 over the 550b.

A case feeder on the other hand, pulls a tremendous advantage over not having one. And the 550b was not designed for a CF. It was an after thought that doesn't work as well as it should. The 650 was designed with a CF in mind. In fact it's a bit awkward without one.

So if someone's needs are a lot of rounds per hour (over 700rnds an hour) then I suggest a 650 with a CF. If 500rnds an hour is acceptable, the 550b is hard to beat. It's simplicity is what makes it so damn awesome.

[HighLander51]

I currently have a RCBS Special-5 single stage press and trying to decide if I should upgrade to a progressive press. My wife is starting to shoot USPSA and is using 700-800 rounds of 9mm per weekend for practice. I am retired so I have the time but my arm is getting tired. For the RCBS Piggyback 3 it would cost $400 from Midway USA. Any guidance would be appreciated.

800 rounds per weekend, get the Dillon 650 with case feeder.

[Bill Steele]

Totally agree.

....So if someone's needs are a lot of rounds per hour (over 700rnds an hour) then I suggest a 650 with a CF. If 500rnds an hour is acceptable, the 550b is hard to beat. It's simplicity is what makes it so damn awesome.

I agree.

I would keep the RCBS as my single stage and get a Dillon 550B.

A good resource to investigate Dillon equipment is Brian Enos' web site forums. If you end up deciding on anything Dillon, Brian is the guy to buy it from.

[joefreas]

My vote is for the Dillon square deal. It comes with the 9mm dies installed and you should be able to load 800 rounds in a couple of hours. It also costs about 400 bucks and is a great press to leave dedicated to a given pistol caliber.

[Dark Mod]

My vote is for the Dillon square deal. It comes with the 9mm dies installed and you should be able to load 800 rounds in a couple of hours. It also costs about 400 bucks and is a great press to leave dedicated to a given pistol caliber.

For the same price you can get a LNL which is a full fledged progressive press with auto-indexing, 5 stations, uses regular dies, and is set up for a case feeder and bullet feeder. The Dillon SDB while a fine machine, is only good for pistol cartridges and has alot of other limitations.

I got my LNL for $379 with free shipping and 500 free bullets, when i was in your shoes i did my research and the deal was just impossible to pass up.

To be honest ive always wanted a dillon but i couldnt justify it economically. If money werent an issue i would have gone blue all the way

Looking at it objectively, the LNL can do just about everything a 650 can for the price of a SDB, cheaper actually if you factor in the free bullets

If you have the money though i say get a 650 with a casefeeder