Why not start with a progressive?

FearSheeple · April 7th, 2008, 12:27 PM

I'm looking into reloading as I am going to start shooting more since applying for my CHL. I have a SIG 229 and am looking at also purchasing a Glock 23 for my EDC. So i'd be reloading .40 S&W.

Reading a lot of reloading posts everyone seems to suggest starting out with a single stage press, rather than progressive. I have a hard time justifying buying a press that I'll just end up selling down the road, I know I will want a progressive press for the speed, and the 550B seems to me that you can manually index it and just do a single round at a time anyways.

I also am looking to buy an AR-15, and would probably reload it, whether it be .223 or .308, so the Square Deal press is out for me at least once I buy an AR15. I'm very particular about things so I know I'd have the patience to check rounds and do things properly on a progressive.

i've really only been considering a dillon 550B, because I'd like to eventually add the case feeder to maximize my rounds per hour output. I did see a hornady in a magazine that looked nice, and autoindexed but everyone everywhere seems to recommend dillon.

I'm 23, so I've got plenty of time left in my life to reload so I'd like to get something that will last me a long time.

cvhoss · April 7th, 2008, 01:25 PM

I think a lot of us preach about starting with a single stage press because that's the way we started out and it has served us well throughout the years. I actually see no problem with starting out with a progressive and the Dillon RL 550 B is one of the best choices out there. However, an investment in a decent single stage press would not be a waste. About the only items necessary for the use of the single stage press (aside from the press itself) that wouldn't be needed for use with the Dillon would be a powder measure, shell holders and a loading block. You will always find a use for the single stage in your reloading. When working up a new load, you normally only want to load 10-20 rounds for testing. This is much easier to do on a single stage press and if you get into accuracy loading for your rifles, the single stage press can give you much greater control over the process especially when it comes to weighing individual charges.

In the final analysis, what's most important is your paying attention to detail. With a progressive, it's sometimes easy to get "lazy" and not pay as much attention as you should. Learning on a single stage creates good reloading habits that will carry over to your use of a progressive.

Good luck whatever your decision. Reloading is a beneficial and rewarding hobby that can often become as enjoyable as the shooting itself.

Hoss

ps -- you may want to do a search on reloading for the Glock 40. I don't own a Glock, but I've read several articles that indicates they aren't the best candidate for reloading due to not fully supporting the cartridge case in the chamber.

stgdz · April 7th, 2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearSheeple

So i'd be reloading .40 S&W.

May want to start with a single stage doing that load.

FearSheeple · April 7th, 2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stgdz

May want to start with a single stage doing that load.

Really? hmm... How is reloading the .40 that much different than say the .45acp or 9mm?

stgdz · April 7th, 2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearSheeple

Really? hmm... How is reloading the .40 that much different than say the .45acp or 9mm?

I believe the powder sits a bit higher in the 40 and with the progressive some can jiggle out if you don't watch what you are doing. To play on the safe side starting with a 40 I would suggest a single stage.

9mm and 45acp the powder sits lower, especially the 45.

fatboy97 · April 7th, 2008, 05:08 PM

Nothing wrong with buying a 550B as your first press... I did and I love it. I started with just 9mm, but have added the .40S&W - very easy to change between the 2 calibers. I will be adding a .38 set sometime soon.

HotGuns · April 7th, 2008, 05:35 PM

I say go for it.

Loading the .40 is no different than any other cartridge.

BTW, I started with Dillon when I was 23. That was 25 years ago. I've never regretted it.

ridurall · April 7th, 2008, 06:47 PM

The cost of changing calibers in a progressive loader is quite a bit more expensive then with a single stage press or turret press. I started with a RCBS Rockchucker and back in the early 1980's got a progressive Universal machine. (Berdon copy) While it will load fast I only load .357 and 45 ACP on it. All my rifle calibers reloading is on the Rockchucker and I also use my Rockchucker for testing my lead for hardness with a Lee hardness tester. I also use a Belding and Mull powder measure with the Rockchucker which will not work with a progressive press. It's about the most accurate powder measure available. As someone else mentioned, working up loads is much easier with a single stage or turrett press. Actually the turrett press is about 1/2 way between a single stage and progressive press. You might look at that for your first press.

Danger Mouse · April 7th, 2008, 07:11 PM

I have just started and my first was a progressive. A Dillon 550B that was purchased for about 300.00 off the net with the dies for .357/38 already set up on a head, 9mm, and .45 ACP's already set up in a head, along with primer pick up tubes, low primer warning, spare head. No problems other than getting into the "Rythem". Then there is the ocasional mishap when you need to remove a round, getting started again is somewhat of a pain. Just watch when you do remove a round and restart that you dont get 2x powder charge which is easily done. Also load 9 and clear out the tray, then the 10th one is checked for OAL, crimp, powder. I set my reloaded rounds into a 100 round box primer up so I can see that they are set good. if I find the 10th one is bad, I only need to go back on 10 instead of 100.

rocky · April 7th, 2008, 08:13 PM

I started with a 550b loading .40 S&W . I just took it slow , single loading rounds till I got it all down , then moved up to progressive loading for mass production. As long as you start slow and think / double check as you go I don't see a problem. The biggest trick I found was never turn the turret counter clockwise as it can cause a double feed of powder. I would rather stop and remove the offending case.

April 7th, 2008, 12:27 PM	#1
FearSheeple Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: VA Posts: 102	Why not start with a progressive? I'm looking into reloading as I am going to start shooting more since applying for my CHL. I have a SIG 229 and am looking at also purchasing a Glock 23 for my EDC. So i'd be reloading .40 S&W. Reading a lot of reloading posts everyone seems to suggest starting out with a single stage press, rather than progressive. I have a hard time justifying buying a press that I'll just end up selling down the road, I know I will want a progressive press for the speed, and the 550B seems to me that you can manually index it and just do a single round at a time anyways. I also am looking to buy an AR-15, and would probably reload it, whether it be .223 or .308, so the Square Deal press is out for me at least once I buy an AR15. I'm very particular about things so I know I'd have the patience to check rounds and do things properly on a progressive. i've really only been considering a dillon 550B, because I'd like to eventually add the case feeder to maximize my rounds per hour output. I did see a hornady in a magazine that looked nice, and autoindexed but everyone everywhere seems to recommend dillon. I'm 23, so I've got plenty of time left in my life to reload so I'd like to get something that will last me a long time.

April 7th, 2008, 01:25 PM	#2
cvhoss Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 528	I think a lot of us preach about starting with a single stage press because that's the way we started out and it has served us well throughout the years. I actually see no problem with starting out with a progressive and the Dillon RL 550 B is one of the best choices out there. However, an investment in a decent single stage press would not be a waste. About the only items necessary for the use of the single stage press (aside from the press itself) that wouldn't be needed for use with the Dillon would be a powder measure, shell holders and a loading block. You will always find a use for the single stage in your reloading. When working up a new load, you normally only want to load 10-20 rounds for testing. This is much easier to do on a single stage press and if you get into accuracy loading for your rifles, the single stage press can give you much greater control over the process especially when it comes to weighing individual charges. In the final analysis, what's most important is your paying attention to detail. With a progressive, it's sometimes easy to get "lazy" and not pay as much attention as you should. Learning on a single stage creates good reloading habits that will carry over to your use of a progressive. Good luck whatever your decision. Reloading is a beneficial and rewarding hobby that can often become as enjoyable as the shooting itself. Hoss ps -- you may want to do a search on reloading for the Glock 40. I don't own a Glock, but I've read several articles that indicates they aren't the best candidate for reloading due to not fully supporting the cartridge case in the chamber. __________________ I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I always was Kahr PM-9 / Sig P-245 / Para NiteHawg / Walther PPK / Beretta Tomcat / Ruger LCP BDA 380 / Taurus 85 / Kel-Tec PF-9 / Am. Derringer 357 / Sig Sauer 239 SAS / Walther PPS .40 NRA Life Member My Web Site

April 7th, 2008, 05:08 PM	#6
fatboy97 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Land of 10k Lakes Posts: 728	Nothing wrong with buying a 550B as your first press... I did and I love it. I started with just 9mm, but have added the .40S&W - very easy to change between the 2 calibers. I will be adding a .38 set sometime soon. __________________ Be Observant and Be Safe. Current Collection: Glock G26, G19, G23C, SIG P226-40 TT, Ruger GP-100, and 22/45 MKII Former Collection: Taurus 92SS, SIG P220 TT, S&W 360, SIG P239-40

April 7th, 2008, 05:35 PM	#7
HotGuns VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4,085	I say go for it. Loading the .40 is no different than any other cartridge. BTW, I started with Dillon when I was 23. That was 25 years ago. I've never regretted it. __________________ AR. CHL Instr. If you carry a gun for protection, then learn to shoot like your LIFE depends on it, because some day it might.

April 7th, 2008, 06:47 PM	#8
ridurall Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SW Oklahoma Posts: 664	The cost of changing calibers in a progressive loader is quite a bit more expensive then with a single stage press or turret press. I started with a RCBS Rockchucker and back in the early 1980's got a progressive Universal machine. (Berdon copy) While it will load fast I only load .357 and 45 ACP on it. All my rifle calibers reloading is on the Rockchucker and I also use my Rockchucker for testing my lead for hardness with a Lee hardness tester. I also use a Belding and Mull powder measure with the Rockchucker which will not work with a progressive press. It's about the most accurate powder measure available. As someone else mentioned, working up loads is much easier with a single stage or turrett press. Actually the turrett press is about 1/2 way between a single stage and progressive press. You might look at that for your first press. __________________ Life member NRA since 1983 I normally carry a Sig Pro .40 in a Crossbreed IWB but when necessary will switch to: Baby Eagle .40 W/Kramer holster Bersa Thunder380 Kel-Tec P3AT Skyy 9mm

April 7th, 2008, 07:11 PM	#9
Danger Mouse Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cumberland, VA Posts: 350	I have just started and my first was a progressive. A Dillon 550B that was purchased for about 300.00 off the net with the dies for .357/38 already set up on a head, 9mm, and .45 ACP's already set up in a head, along with primer pick up tubes, low primer warning, spare head. No problems other than getting into the "Rythem". Then there is the ocasional mishap when you need to remove a round, getting started again is somewhat of a pain. Just watch when you do remove a round and restart that you dont get 2x powder charge which is easily done. Also load 9 and clear out the tray, then the 10th one is checked for OAL, crimp, powder. I set my reloaded rounds into a 100 round box primer up so I can see that they are set good. if I find the 10th one is bad, I only need to go back on 10 instead of 100. __________________ Think twice Buy once!

April 7th, 2008, 08:13 PM	#10
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 10,946	I started with a 550b loading .40 S&W . I just took it slow , single loading rounds till I got it all down , then moved up to progressive loading for mass production. As long as you start slow and think / double check as you go I don't see a problem. The biggest trick I found was never turn the turret counter clockwise as it can cause a double feed of powder. I would rather stop and remove the offending case. __________________ "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson Nemo Me Impune Lacesset Link to my kydex builds:http://rocknloadkydex.blogspot.com/

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