I've been loading mostly rifle rounds on a Lee single stage press for about a year. I've had great success and learned an awful lot. Recently I started loading 44 mag and 9mm handgun rounds and have discoverfed just how slow and laborious a single stage can be to make pistol rounds in quantity.
I don't make rifle rounds in any quantity and really don't mind spending a lot of time to make custom, high quality rifle rounds on a single stage. Last night I spend about three hours making 100 each of 9mm and 44 mag. I think I could shoot them faster than I can make them!
I'm considering a turret or progressive setup and spent some time reading the manufacturers instruction manuals online and the sticky's atop this High Road category. I'd be very thankful if anyone could go beyond what I found and clarify further.
What is the difference in a turret style and progressive? Can one be upgraded to the other?
When operating slow enough to have a "safety first" approach, how many rounds per hour could I make with either style of press?
I have mostly Lee equipment now. I appreciate value, but that value shows in the quality of some of the tools. When I started, I did not know enough to know where to spend heavy and where to skimp. As example, I really appreciate the Lee dies but the powder measuring tools leave something to be desired. For someone with an average tolerance for cheap and average appreciation for quality, can you talk a little about the Hornady vs. the Lee systems?
If one wants to "substantially" change calibers, how long does it take to switch? By substantially, I mean different crimp, primers, powder.
If I wanted to, could I make bottleneck rifle rounds on either a progressive or turret? Or are these faster systems exclusively for straight walled pistol calibers?
This post was intended to be simple and easy to answer. Somehow it grew into a full-blown set of questions. I don't have any expectations for someone to sit down and answer any of it, let alone the whole post. I will appreciate any info you want to offer.
I don't make rifle rounds in any quantity and really don't mind spending a lot of time to make custom, high quality rifle rounds on a single stage. Last night I spend about three hours making 100 each of 9mm and 44 mag. I think I could shoot them faster than I can make them!
I'm considering a turret or progressive setup and spent some time reading the manufacturers instruction manuals online and the sticky's atop this High Road category. I'd be very thankful if anyone could go beyond what I found and clarify further.
What is the difference in a turret style and progressive? Can one be upgraded to the other?
When operating slow enough to have a "safety first" approach, how many rounds per hour could I make with either style of press?
I have mostly Lee equipment now. I appreciate value, but that value shows in the quality of some of the tools. When I started, I did not know enough to know where to spend heavy and where to skimp. As example, I really appreciate the Lee dies but the powder measuring tools leave something to be desired. For someone with an average tolerance for cheap and average appreciation for quality, can you talk a little about the Hornady vs. the Lee systems?
If one wants to "substantially" change calibers, how long does it take to switch? By substantially, I mean different crimp, primers, powder.
If I wanted to, could I make bottleneck rifle rounds on either a progressive or turret? Or are these faster systems exclusively for straight walled pistol calibers?
This post was intended to be simple and easy to answer. Somehow it grew into a full-blown set of questions. I don't have any expectations for someone to sit down and answer any of it, let alone the whole post. I will appreciate any info you want to offer.