An extra press

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Poppa Necktie

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Hi guys, I have a strange "problem" that I was hoping you guys could help me "solve". The reason I use quotes is that my "problem" is likely something that a lot of you would like to have!

I became interested in handloading and bought the manuals, read the forums, etc. and had discussed with my wife how I would like to get into handloading. Well, being the awesome wife that she is, while I was at work, she went to our local range that has a reloading store (Angeles National, great place) and asked the one of the guys what I would need to get started loading. He sold her a single-stage press and told her to have me come in and get the dies for the calibers I'll be reloading.

Unbeknownst to her, I had already ordered a LnL AP press earlier in the week.

I came home from work this weekend to a brand new Rockchucker supreme that she had bought me from the reloading store with a big "Surprise!! Look what I got you!!" from her. Now, I'm home today and UPS shows up with my LnL.

So, my question is this--Do you guys that have both a progressive AND a single ever find a use with your single stage presses (enough so to justify keeping both)?? If so, what kind of things would you do with the single?
 
When you want to take some quality time and just relax the single stage will be your best friend. I use both. I only load 357mag plinkers in the progressive press. Anything else is on the single stage. Also I use the progressive to deprime, size, install primer and bell the case. Then I store the primed and ready to go cases to use them on the single press. I could take an hour to load 10 rounds and I love every minute of it.
 
Absolutely! Sometimes I wanna work up a new rifle load, and only want to make 10 rounds of each powder load. Sometimes I only plan on loading 50 or 100 rounds at a time. That's the single stage's job. Sometimes I find myself doing some frequent semi-auto shooting, and I want to leave the progressive set for 9mm or 40SW or 45ACP, what have you. This way, I can make a handful of 45 Colt without changing out a bunch of junk. I typically leave my Dillon in whatever caliber and configuration I shoot the most of, and then single stage for all else.

For 223, I deprime on the single. I trim, chamfer and deburr, and then I load it through the progressive for priming powder and bullets.

Lots of reasons to have both. :)
 
Congrats! Nice wife. :p

I have both single stage and progressive presses mounted on my reloading bench.

I use the single stage press to size/deprime all of my cases - I found this provides more complete sizing as top part of the shell holder for single stage is thinner than my shell plate for the progressive press thus allowing the sizing die to come down further. (YMMV - measure your shell holder/shell plate to see if this is the case) Also, I use range brass with Glocked cases and very few sized cases fail the case gauge for me with this setup.

Having pre-sized and hand primed cases also help me better concentrate on the rest of loading process (flare/powder drop/bullet seat) and decrease the effort needed to work the ram lever (I use only 2-3 fingers to work my Lee Pro 1000 now).

Some here may disagree, but once I switched to single/progressive setup, I have never gone back.
 
I do not have the Hornady L-N-L, I do have other progressive presses, if I had one press it would be a single stage because I find the progressive awkward to work with when doing short run projects and because of the shell (holder) okates, I do not believe the progressive shell plates are as strong as the shell holder on top of the single stage press, I believe there is less flexing, point being when forming and full length sizing I want to have control of the length of the case from the head of the case to it's shoulder 'without the flex', so in my opinion the first press is strong and single stage, the second press can be progressive, like a package deal.

It will be necessary to acquire shell hoilders for the Rock Chucker, and I would suggest purchasing the companion to the press tool, the feeler gage.

F. Guffey
 
Having both is the best.

I have 3 presses on moveable bases. I can have all or none on either my bench at home or at work. The benches are identical which was no accident.

First press was a Dillon 550B. Progressive is great for big runs. It is a bonus on .223 in quantity even though the full use of the progressive is not utilized.

I don't find a single stage that bad to load on. I ended up with 2 as presses 2 & 3. A hand priimer is good to have also.

I use the single stage for callibers that don't warrant the expense of a progressive setup. Single stage makes it easy get a set of dies & shell holder and load another caliber. On a Dillon The caliber change may be cost prohibitive. On bottle neck rifle case that you need to trim it is just as easy to do on a single stage if the quantity is low. Get some lock rings that actually lock the dies and setup is a snap.

I size on press 2 & seat on press 3. (Doing all the rest in between) Shell holders for press 2 stay with press 2 & 3 stays with 3 or I use the same shell holder for both presses. I dont swap 2 shellholders after setting up dies/shellholders on 2 presses.

Of coures get a good manual or 2.
 
I have a single stage as I use it to form cases from other cases
such as 40/65 Win from 45/70. As others have said a single stage comes in handy for small test lots and the like. Besides it never hurts to have a back up in case the LnL breaks
 
I have three, a progressive (Dillon 550), Lee Classic Turret, and a Lee Single. I use them all often and for different things. I wish I had room on my bench for more presses. :)
 
I have a Rock Chucker in the garage where I deprime all my brass when I get back from the range. I have another Rock Chucker on my reloading bench along with an older RCBS press that I use for reloading rifle loads. I also have a Dillon 550 progressive that I use for reloading handgun loads. Unfortunately none of which were purchased by my wife. :(
 
Thanks guys. I'm sure I'll figure out a setup utilizing both presses that works for me. Just wanted to check to see what you guys are doing with this kind of setup. Thanks again!
 
Learn on the Rock Chucker, then start using the LNL. You will always find uses for the single stage afterwards.
 
You will ALWAYS have a use for a good single stage press and the RC is as good as they get. I have four Dillons, two RC's, and an old Lyman press I still sometimes use. IMO, you got a keeper! In the press and the wife!
 
I have a Hollywood Single Station press that is almost 50 years old that I mainly use for my rifle caliber reloading.
For my pistol shooting needs a Square Deal with set-ups for .38 Special and .45 Auto fills the bill.
 
Last edited:
Hey Zeke,

Nearly fifty years ago, I bought a used Hollywood press that was nearly rusted in place. I spent some time and work cleaning it up, and when I was finished, I painted it and sold it for nearly what they were selling for at retail.

I wish I had taken pictures of that press and others that I rebuilt over the years and put back in use. My E-Mail address is [email protected]. If you happen to have any pictures of your old Hollywood, would you mind sending some to me via E-Mail?

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
Don't get rid of it!:what:

Some things you just can't do on a progressive.

Lead hardness tester needs a single stage, Resizing bullets can be done on a single stage, most push thru dies need a single stage or a turret.

I use my single stage to collet pull bullets on messed up or bad rounds.

Sometimes I like to correct the OAL on a round or two. I will use the single stage.

All my precision rifle reloading is done on a single stage.:p

I use mine a bunch, for lots of things.

Come to think if it, a single stage can do it all, while a progressive can't.

This is what it looks like.
IMG_0848.jpg
IMG_0882.jpg
 
I agree with the above posters that there are definitely tasks which are far better suited to a single-stage press. I use mine for decapping before ultrasonically cleaning the brass. Since I just got a collet-type bullet puller today, it will most likely see its greatest usage in my singleton.
 
Lucky Man

You will find your uses for your presses - but start with the single stage & learn the basics before you head off on the progressive. I can't recommend that highly enough - walk before you run and avoid all kinds of problems. I learned on a Herter's U3, moved up (some would say laterally) to a Rockchucker & then to a Dillon 550B, and I still use all three. You just lucked out & got to condense your learning a bit. I sure hope you pulled out the stops for Valentines Day for that lady - you have a jewel worth keeping and polishing ;)
 
I'm currently using a Rockchucker and a LnL AP just as you have ended up the proud owner of.

I started on the Rockchucker, and still use it for the odd tasks, as many have stated already.
For things such as pulling bullets, swaging a few primer holes, and working those extra long cases, a single stage is hard to beat.
 
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