Hand loader or single stage
- Thread starter IamClutch
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Blue68f100
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SS will be more en-joyful to use. And not that much difference in price.
I guess I should’ve put more explanation in. I got out of loading in 2013 after about 10 years. Sold or gave away most of my “things”. So long story short, I want to go at it again. A little mor slowly than in past years. Older and wiser. Space is a factor as I have a room dedicated in the house but it doubles as a sewing room. So, I never used a hand loader but I had a turret in the past. Thanks for reading !
AJC1
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Check out the Lee app. It's great for what it costs and it's light enough to clamp down and then put up in a closet when your done.
.38 Special
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I'm not sure I really understand the question.
I started out with a single stage. I moved on to progressives when I needed high volume as a competition shooter. Now I'm back to single stage, for the most part. At this point, the progressive is just work. I use it when I need a bunch of cartridges for training. The single stage is a joy. I use it when I want to load another fifty rounds just like Skeeter and Elmer did.
The really old tools, like the Lyman 310, are pure nostalgia. I break them out every once in a while, to load a dozen or two in front of the fire. It's a fun little project, but I'm glad I don't have to depend upon such things in any real way.
I started out with a single stage. I moved on to progressives when I needed high volume as a competition shooter. Now I'm back to single stage, for the most part. At this point, the progressive is just work. I use it when I need a bunch of cartridges for training. The single stage is a joy. I use it when I want to load another fifty rounds just like Skeeter and Elmer did.
The really old tools, like the Lyman 310, are pure nostalgia. I break them out every once in a while, to load a dozen or two in front of the fire. It's a fun little project, but I'm glad I don't have to depend upon such things in any real way.
docbrown
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If by "hand-loader" you mean the Lee "whack-a-mole" or a single stage, I would say go with a single stage. If space is a major concern go with the small Lee "C" press or the RCBS Rebel single stage. Either will be sufficient for 9mm or 357 and not take up a lot of room. For priming you could do the Lee Ram Prime or any of the hand priming units. You'll get tired of hammering with the hand loader and you are more likely to set off a primer with it too. If there is ANY chance that you will do rifle down the road, skip the "C" press or smaller presses and get a larger single stage which will generally include a priming unit for on press priming. The Frankford Arsenal folding reloading bench is pretty nice and can be folded up and tucked out of the way.
westernrover
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The press is not even 1/10th of what reloading involves. Not in expense, not in time, not in space.
Thanks for the replies! I understand the press is little expense compared to other item. The issue is space. I’ll do the single stage on a small sturdy “desk”. It will give me a couple drawers to lock for safety. I’m excited to get back in to the scene!
I'd highly reommend the RCBS Summit...very small footprint and easily stored away; especially if you mount it on a Inline Fabrication Quick Change mount using their Flush Mounting Plate
westernrover
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I'll second the Summit for a good stowaway press. I've seen people mount it on a 5-gallon bucket and stow it inside. The reason it works better for this than common O-frame or C-frame presses is because it will mount entirely above the surface. Because it does this, it does not need to be mounted on the edge and overhang. Because it does not mount on the edge, it does not exert a lot of torque on the bench edge. Because it doesn't exert all that torque, it will mount and work very well on a piece of 3/4" plywood -- no need for a super stout mega-beefy behemoth benchtop.
I also like it for short handgun rounds because the press can be short-stroked while keeping the shell-holder in the same place. I can lift the press handle just enough to get a handgun shell in and out of the holder. With a shell-holder-on-ram press, the shell-holder doesn't have a positive stop unless the press handle is stroked fully up. It doesn't compare to a progressive for efficiency, but it's a pretty good all-purpose single stage with unique features and benefits.
Some of the weird things: the high handle position on the press is higher and the linkage surrounds the die so collet bullet pullers might not be easy to use.
The distance between the shell holder and the handle in the up position is greater. There are short handles available from RCBS and Inline Fabrication but they give less leverage for resizing rifle brass -- and the Summit doesn't have a ton of leverage to begin with.
If you mount it higher on a riser, the upper handle position can be quite high and the lower handle position will be high to bear down on with your weight. Mounted closer to bench-height, the handle positions will be better, but the shell holder will be lower than a press on a riser mount. I mounted mine on a stand at a custom height I found best for me when standing, but it also works fine on the bench-top.
I also like it for short handgun rounds because the press can be short-stroked while keeping the shell-holder in the same place. I can lift the press handle just enough to get a handgun shell in and out of the holder. With a shell-holder-on-ram press, the shell-holder doesn't have a positive stop unless the press handle is stroked fully up. It doesn't compare to a progressive for efficiency, but it's a pretty good all-purpose single stage with unique features and benefits.
Some of the weird things: the high handle position on the press is higher and the linkage surrounds the die so collet bullet pullers might not be easy to use.
The distance between the shell holder and the handle in the up position is greater. There are short handles available from RCBS and Inline Fabrication but they give less leverage for resizing rifle brass -- and the Summit doesn't have a ton of leverage to begin with.
If you mount it higher on a riser, the upper handle position can be quite high and the lower handle position will be high to bear down on with your weight. Mounted closer to bench-height, the handle positions will be better, but the shell holder will be lower than a press on a riser mount. I mounted mine on a stand at a custom height I found best for me when standing, but it also works fine on the bench-top.
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Lennyjoe
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I’d ask you what’s your end goal? Do you want to load for volume or just as a hobby? Are you shooting several thousands of rounds per year?
Single stage is fine for low volume reloading but if your shooting a lot, building reserves then maybe a progressive would be a better buy.
Single stage is fine for low volume reloading but if your shooting a lot, building reserves then maybe a progressive would be a better buy.
wcwhitey
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Do you have any components or equipment left? I still load off the same RCBS Rockchucker Master Kit my father bought in the 70’s. I have a Dillon but It doesn’t get used. Hard to beat one of their new Master Kits, always sales. Ever needed to make good quality ammunition. You may add a few things later but only because you want to, no need to.
Hard to beat a deal like this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102492877
And those primers work great for pistol too! That saves at least $90
Hard to beat a deal like this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102492877
And those primers work great for pistol too! That saves at least $90
edwardware
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If by "Hand loader", you mean a whack-a-mole. . . that's an entry drug, not a long term solution.
Buy a single stage press, it's cheaper by the time you buy the second set of dies.
Misplacedtexan
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Rock chucker, all I use. To me, it's relaxing and fun to reload.
Skeptic13
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I would go with the single stage. That will be a more enjoyable experience.
doubleh
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I say go with the single stage press and I have experience with the whack-a-mole rig. It is just a get-by until you can move into a press IMO. I started with one one because of lack of funds for something better at the time.
lightman
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I would go with a good press. A kit with a Rockchucker and a few accessories would get you back into the game and should hold its value pretty well. Never been a fan of the Lee hand loader.
Seedy Character
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I have loaded on a Rock Chucker for 45 years.
I bought a Lee Turret and a Dillon 550.
When I go to load, the RC gets used 95% of the time.
Can't go wrong with anything RCBS.
I bought a Lee Turret and a Dillon 550.
When I go to load, the RC gets used 95% of the time.
Can't go wrong with anything RCBS.
CoalCrackerAl
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Amazon has rock chuckers for 150.00.
Amazon.com : RCBS 9356 Rock Chucker Supreme Press : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com : RCBS 9356 Rock Chucker Supreme Press : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors
1KPerDay
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Lee classic turret. Use it as a single stage if you want, but you have the option to run it as a "semi progressive". It's WAAAAAAY faster and easier than a SS, but if you insist, you can use it exclusively as a SS. No downsides.
BrotherMaynard
Member
Lee Precision sells factory seconds and reconditioned equipment direct at a decent discount:
https://leeprecision.com/closeouts/
I picked up one on the cheap to use for a dedicated recapping press.
https://leeprecision.com/closeouts/
I picked up one on the cheap to use for a dedicated recapping press.
Archie
Member
Hand loader or single stage?
By 'hand loader' may I understand you are referring to the Lee (hammer operated) Loader? If so, it has benefits. Mostly, that of storage space. I do not know for how many calibers you plan to load, but three or four of the 'sets' takes up less room, probably is not significantly different in weight and should be cheaper than a single stage, dies and such.
Since you mentioned storage space is a premium, that should help.
On the other hand, the Lee Loader is the slowest modern system to use. The only system slower is the old Lyman 'pliers' type. No one has made them (except for some reinactors) for years. I did - a long time ago - set off a primer with a Lee Loader. Only once.
The above comments are quite correct: The Lee Loader is not nearly as satisfying and not nearly as fast. (That of course depends on your quantity of shooting.) But it doesn't take up as much space. And can be economical.
By 'hand loader' may I understand you are referring to the Lee (hammer operated) Loader? If so, it has benefits. Mostly, that of storage space. I do not know for how many calibers you plan to load, but three or four of the 'sets' takes up less room, probably is not significantly different in weight and should be cheaper than a single stage, dies and such.
Since you mentioned storage space is a premium, that should help.
On the other hand, the Lee Loader is the slowest modern system to use. The only system slower is the old Lyman 'pliers' type. No one has made them (except for some reinactors) for years. I did - a long time ago - set off a primer with a Lee Loader. Only once.
The above comments are quite correct: The Lee Loader is not nearly as satisfying and not nearly as fast. (That of course depends on your quantity of shooting.) But it doesn't take up as much space. And can be economical.
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