showmebob

I'm planning on getting started in reloading. I reloaded approx 750 rounds single stage about 25 years ago but nothing since. I plan on 1-2 thousand rounds a year. I'm torn between press choises thinking a single stage might be to time consuming. Is a turret press that much faster than a single stage? Or, should I consider a progressive press (I have concerns I won't use it enough to be worth the money). I like quality equipment only!! Does anyone have first hand experience with RCBS turret presses?
If I go progressive I would go Dillon from friends recommendations.
Your advice will be appreciated! Thanks!

Cupcake

Some will say that dillon progressives are the only way to go, but for that volume I don't think it's worth the extra$$. I'm very happy I went with the lee classic turret.

__________________
Sixto for President!

rocky

A progressive / turret press will be faster. I guess you need to decide if it's worth the extra $$.

__________________
"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/

jfl

The Lee is a good machine, if you have the model that feeds the primer automatically; if you have to place each primer separately, it is not that much faster than a single stage.
When I was into Silhouette, I would always use the single stage, it makes more consistent ammo.
Now, if you are reloading SD practice rounds, and if you can afford it, get a progressive. If you catch any kind of bug, like IDPA or others, you'll be reloading a lot more than you plan now

__________________
The first rule of a gunfight: "Don't be there !"

jfl (NRA Life Member/Instructor - GOA - IDPA - GSSF - ex-IHMSA)

farronwolf

I picked a turret press, Lyman in my case, but nothing wrong with the Lee's or others.

The reason I picked the turret is because I can set up each turret with either 2 pistol or 3 rifle cartridge sizes, and once they are set up, I am done. I can switch between calibers in about 30 seconds.

The way I do my reloading I can do a little over 100 rounds per hour. If you calculate it out, if I were to spend 100 hours a year, or 2 hours a week roughly, you should be able to get 10,000 rounds of ammo cranked out. Well within the 1 - 2 thousand you want to do.

I do not use my turret press like a progressive though. I don't decap and resize, then immediately go to the neck expansion and prime, followed by the powder fill then bullet seating.

I instead to all the calibers in stages. For instance I decap and resize all my .357, then 9mm, then .45, and so on. Then I go back and expand the neck and prime all the cases. I use old plastic rice containers or such to store the primed cases in. Then pick which caliber I am going to finish and will charge, and seat all the rounds in that caliber at once. Then I will move on to the next caliber, and so on.

I find it much easier to do all the different types of ammo like this in stages, since I can pull one bolt, swap turrets and shell plates and be ready for the next caliber in such a short time, no resetting dies, or anything like you would on a single stage, or recalibration for a progressive.

Price was another factor in going with the turret. I didn't want to spend the $ on a progressive, and since I don't shoot more than 5 or 6 thousand rounds a year, I can get that many easily out of my turret press. Oh, and I don't use the powder measure on the dies. I have it mounted to the work bench permanently, so that I only am doing the powder by itself.

Good luck with your decision.

__________________
Just remember that shot placement is much more important with what you carry than how big a bang you get with each trigger pull.

dukalmighty

I use a dillon 550 and reload about 1000 rounds a week

__________________
I like Poetry,Long Walks On The Beach,And Poking Dead Things With A Stick

showmebob

I'd love to have the time and $$ to load and shoot that much ammo!

srfl

I have had my Lee Turret (non-auto indexing) press for 15 years. It's a good, reliable press. One will serve you well.

I would consider a progressive if you plan on loading much more than 1K round a year as it will take you a while to amortize the cost of the press, dies, and ancillary equipment at that rate to make a progressive worth your while.

__________________
USAF: Loving Our Obscene Amenities Since 1947

GunnyBunny

In fact I have two of them. One is set up for small primer, and one for large. That way I can reload 38/357, 9, 44, and 45 by only changing the tool head assemblies. I must have replaced every part of each over the years (including a cracked frame), all under warranty. Great service. If you're only loading pistol calibers, it's the way to go IMHO.

__________________
CCW permit holder for Utah, Pennsylvannia, Maine and New Hampshire. I can carry in your country but not my own.

Colin

I have the Lee classic turret press, I can load about 150 rds an hour, the plus side is that you are involved in every round and know it's correct. Mine has the autodisk and powderhopper through the die setup. You can get a primer feeder kit for it at $41.

turret press
Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Turret Press

autodisk powder measure
Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Powder Measures