I have been using a friends press for quite some time to load my 45 ammo with. I only have a single stage and it takes forever. My wife asked me the other day, why I did not buy one for my self. As my birthday is coming up (40th) she mentioned that perhaps she could buy me one that I could use for the 45. As I know nothing about progressive press's I thought I would ask here. I would probably load about 500 rounds annually. Mostly hardball, any suggestions and experiences? Thanks all !!
Progressive press
- Thread starter Elkman
- Start date
Ridgerunner665
Handloader
- Oct 28, 2008
- 2,516
- 299
Myself...I wouldn't spend the money for only 500 rounds per year...I load 45acp and 223 on a Lee Classic turret press.
Its waaaay cheaper, and it does have its quirks, but it does the trick...I can load about 150 rounds per hour on it, after everything is setup.
Nothing against a true progressive press...I just don't believe its worth the investment for only 500 rounds per year.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/785993 ... deluxe-kit
You won't see me recommend very many things made by Lee...but I do like this press.
Its waaaay cheaper, and it does have its quirks, but it does the trick...I can load about 150 rounds per hour on it, after everything is setup.
Nothing against a true progressive press...I just don't believe its worth the investment for only 500 rounds per year.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/785993 ... deluxe-kit
You won't see me recommend very many things made by Lee...but I do like this press.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,513
- 6,532
Elkman":14l40zdf said:
Fortieth? Really, Bill? Are you trying to put one over on us? :mrgreen:
pre6422hornet
Handloader
- Jan 24, 2012
- 974
- 12
Dillon Square Deal B. You can go wrong. It will come up fully set up to produce a factory duplicate round. All you have to do is set powder charge.
So easy my 6 year old cranks out rounds under my supervision. In 15 years of owning it Bill I have only had one issue when I snapped off the head of the shell plate screw. I called Dillon and told them I broke it and they still refused to charge me for the replacement.
Top notch company with top notch quality equipment.
So easy my 6 year old cranks out rounds under my supervision. In 15 years of owning it Bill I have only had one issue when I snapped off the head of the shell plate screw. I called Dillon and told them I broke it and they still refused to charge me for the replacement.
Top notch company with top notch quality equipment.
Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 825
- 188
You can do 500 rds a year easy on a single stage press. But I use a Lee Classic Turret for all my pistol loading. You can change calibers in seconds and it cranks them out pretty quick. You can do your 500 easy in an afternoon.
You can also add auto prime and a powder drop to speed things up a bit.
I just can't see spending the money for a true progressive for that amount of ammo. Plus I think it costs quite a bit more to add calibers. Not sure though.
You can also add auto prime and a powder drop to speed things up a bit.
I just can't see spending the money for a true progressive for that amount of ammo. Plus I think it costs quite a bit more to add calibers. Not sure though.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,848
- 6,364
Single stage RCBS, starting with 50 empty .45 ACP cases, I've got 50 loaded hardball cartridges about one hour later.
For 500 pistol cartridges annually, I wouldn't mess with the expense of a progressive.
For 5,000 of them, absolutely I'd get a progressive of some sort.
Scotty - I did look hard at the Square Deal B, but ended up with a Dillon 550.
Regards, Guy
For 500 pistol cartridges annually, I wouldn't mess with the expense of a progressive.
For 5,000 of them, absolutely I'd get a progressive of some sort.
Scotty - I did look hard at the Square Deal B, but ended up with a Dillon 550.
Regards, Guy
I've had a Square Deal B for over 20 years now.
Probably loaded about 250k rounds on it and it's broken twice.
Great press for pistol ammo only.
It will load about 400 rounds an hour at a leisurely pace.
Dies for it are a Dillon proprietary type and are pretty pricey.
I just got a 650 to load 223 ammo on.
IF I had known then what I know now ?
I would have bought the 650 to start with.
For 500 rounds a year ?
It's not worth the $$$$
Probably loaded about 250k rounds on it and it's broken twice.
Great press for pistol ammo only.
It will load about 400 rounds an hour at a leisurely pace.
Dies for it are a Dillon proprietary type and are pretty pricey.
I just got a 650 to load 223 ammo on.
IF I had known then what I know now ?
I would have bought the 650 to start with.
For 500 rounds a year ?
It's not worth the $$$$
- Thread starter
- #12
Thanks for the input guys, I was 40 once, in another millennium. I am going to start counting backwards. And in reality I have 60 year old Partitions.
I will be looking at a "turret" press, I have been using my friends for several years. I like the example that ridge runner sent, are their any others, that anyone else would recommend????
I will be looking at a "turret" press, I have been using my friends for several years. I like the example that ridge runner sent, are their any others, that anyone else would recommend????
I'd say that Dillon makes the best for what you desire.
If you're like me you will do all your rifle ammo on a single stage and have no desire to load bulk .223 ammo.
If that is true the Square Deal B makes a good choice. You will have the cost of proprietary dies but if loading only one handgun caliber the die cost difference you would save by going to a different model is not worth it. If you were loading multiple handgun calibers, or the 357 Sig caliber, I'd recommend the Dillon 550.
If you're like me you will do all your rifle ammo on a single stage and have no desire to load bulk .223 ammo.
If that is true the Square Deal B makes a good choice. You will have the cost of proprietary dies but if loading only one handgun caliber the die cost difference you would save by going to a different model is not worth it. If you were loading multiple handgun calibers, or the 357 Sig caliber, I'd recommend the Dillon 550.
Ridgerunner665
Handloader
- Oct 28, 2008
- 2,516
- 299
Only the Lee is auto indexing (turns itself)...makes it a little faster.
If you're only loading about 500 a year, that wouldn't really justify a progressive. I have a Dillon 550B and it's set up for 9MM and .45 ACP. Once you learn it, 500 rounds and hour is more than doable. The last large batch I loaded up was .38 Spl. Did them on my Rockchucker. Working three to four hours a day they were done in less than a week. I think you could easily load 500 rounds of .45 ACP over a week end without any problem at all. The only thing holding me back on loading the 9MM and .45 ACP is finding the time and energy to cast up 5,000 bullets for each cartridge. 
I am also thinking of setting it up to do .223 Rem. to feed my Kimber.
Paul B.
I am also thinking of setting it up to do .223 Rem. to feed my Kimber.
Paul B.
Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 825
- 188
These are the only Lee products I own but I like these a lot;
http://www.titanreloading.com/presses/l ... rret-press
I've gone to the Lee Deluxe 4 die sets now for all my pistol reloading. After using a set for awhile in 9mm I decided I really liked them;
http://www.titanreloading.com/pistol-re ... 4-die-sets
When you add a new caliber it works best if buy a new 4 hole turret. Once the dies are set up you just leave them on the turret and store the whole setup. When you change calibers you simply twist and lift to remove the present set up, then just drop in the next selected caliber that's already set up on it's own turret. And just start loading. As Ridgerunner said this press will auto index, or not, depending on your needs.
http://www.titanreloading.com/press-acc ... ole-turret
http://www.titanreloading.com/presses/l ... rret-press
I've gone to the Lee Deluxe 4 die sets now for all my pistol reloading. After using a set for awhile in 9mm I decided I really liked them;
http://www.titanreloading.com/pistol-re ... 4-die-sets
When you add a new caliber it works best if buy a new 4 hole turret. Once the dies are set up you just leave them on the turret and store the whole setup. When you change calibers you simply twist and lift to remove the present set up, then just drop in the next selected caliber that's already set up on it's own turret. And just start loading. As Ridgerunner said this press will auto index, or not, depending on your needs.
http://www.titanreloading.com/press-acc ... ole-turret
truck driver
Ammo Smith
- Mar 11, 2013
- 7,369
- 986
Oh My! let me think a minute. I've got one Square Deal B set up and one in the box, had 3 but sold one and there is a 450 converted to a 550 and a 550 also mounted on the bench besides my Lyman bullet lubricater and sizer Oh ya I almost forgot the RCBS Reloader Special II on the bench and the C&H Super C press that's in the box and that doesn't include the shot shell presses.
For the money the Square Deal is a great press and a life time warranty and you can buy conversion kits for other calibers.
For the money the Square Deal is a great press and a life time warranty and you can buy conversion kits for other calibers.
Wincheringen
Handloader
- Jan 10, 2012
- 931
- 1
Dillon is the only way to go if you want a progressive.
- Thread starter
- #20
Thanks all for the great info. I also failed to mention that I don't use a powder measure when I load. The coarse grain powders don't meter well. I use a plastic spoon for all of my rifle loading and weigh every charge. That can take forever for 500 rounds of 45. I will look about and see what I can find.
