How many tool heads and conversion kits do you have for your progressive press?

[GW Staar]

I like Nature Boy's setup....everything easy to reach, but I can't do that living in dusty New Mexico. So I box 'em up!


When I only had one progressive, the Pro 2000, I didn't need a lot of Powder Measures....one of the perks to their system, but what I did need is powder die/lowers for each tool head....and at one time Hornady's was the easiest way to procure that..... (Hornady version is mounted on the tool head). This year (finally) RCBS sells them separately (right chromed one).


It all fit in the dustproof Sterlite boxes from Walmart. That is until I added the Pro Chucker 7..........the plates are a lot bigger.....punt.

Still looking for a wider box.......

 

[lightman]

I have tool heads and conversions for the stuff that I shoot in volume. Thats most of my pistol rounds and 223 and 308.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

(2) Dillon 650's, (1) Dillon 900, so...

10mm
9mm
45 Colt
45 ACP (2)
308
223
300BO
9mm (2)
40 S&W
357 Sig
357/38 (2)
6.5 Creedmoor
500 S&W
44 Mag
12ga
20ga
28ga and separate press for 410

Yes I reload all of them, granted some not as much as others. The nice thing about the presses and like probably most here...I reload almost everything I have over the winter (2-3 months) and that keeps me shooting the rest of the year, except the 12 and 28 ga., they get depleted about every other month (skeet league for 2 shooters) so the 900 runs all the time and is hardly ever covered.

 

[frankmako]

44 mag
45 acp
40 s&w
9 mm
357 mag
38 sp
5.56

On my mid 80's dillon 550.

 

[2011redrider]

10 of them, one for each caliber on my RCBS Pro 2000, ; plus one for the universal decapper.
9mm
32 ACP
38 sp
357 mag
40 SW
41 mag
44 mag
45 colt
223
I also store them in the plastic boxes that GWStarr uses for my Pro 2000, also use the boxes for storing cast boolits.

 

[9mmepiphany]

A lot of LNL bushings on a lot of dies.

Yup, that's what I use also. It was a tipping factor in going with the Hornady rather than the Dillon. The way I use my progressive (sometimes only a couple of dies installed) I'd need to have two tool heads for many of the calibers I reload.

I didn't need a lot of Powder Measures....one of the perks to their system, but what I did need is powder die/lowers for each tool head

I've found this is one of the secrets to maintaining my zen when reloading. Not having to adjust for different case lengths makes so much sense and cost a lot less...having extra pre-set metering inserts for the powder measure is another anxiety reducer

I prefer to store my dies in die boxes and just spin them in and out when I want to use them.

I considered this when I began reloading (Highboy76 recommends it). It only takes a few moments to spin in another die, but...the nerd in me figured out that it takes ten plus (10+) times as long as twisting in a bushing to change a die

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

A have five toolhead setups for my 550. Almost all have their own powder measure.

 

[GW Staar]

...having extra pre-set metering inserts for the powder measure is another anxiety reducer

Oh! Absolutely! Anxiety reducers......my saving grace reloading with progressives. Some of you super men can handle all the setup steps to change calibers, and keep your sanity.......but for me, I need help......ample money would help to be sure.....the ultimate being to have a man castle instead of a man cave, and have one progressive for each caliber, or how about one for each bullet! or at the very least a conversion kit, Dillon style for each caliber as Nature Boy was able to do.

I'm not poor, but I also have priorities and responsibilities that preclude personal castles or even caves! So then what to do? Find anxiety reducers where possible. 9mmepephany's pre-set metering inserts are big, fairly inexpensive ones, IME. I don't miss the p.m. mics at all....sorry.

 

[bobinoregon]

15 quick change setups for 550's, one machine set up for large primers one for small. Maybe another 4-5 tool heads with dies in them.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Sounds like my little operation is just that, little.

I'm debating if I need a bunch of powder measures or not, but it is one less thing to worry about changing out.

I'm thinking for my purposes my investments are pretty reasonable.

 

[cfullgraf]

I considered this when I began reloading (Highboy76 recommends it). It only takes a few moments to spin in another die, but...the nerd in me figured out that it takes ten plus (10+) times as long as twisting in a bushing to change a die

Dies used on the Hornady get stored with the L-N-L bushing installed on them. They fit nicely in the RCBS or Lyman die boxes except one of the die saddles near the box clasp needs to be cut out of the box to make enough room for the flange on the bushing.

I agree, spinning dies in and out of the bushings would take too much time. Die plates not so much.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Multiple Powder Measures: Those extra powder measures really pay off when you are loading two cartridges fairly close together. Like most folks that reload there is an hoarding instinct that kicks in. Go ahead and pass up on a deal for a widget. Within the next two weeks that widget would have come in handy. I leave one measures on the 45ACP tool head. I load up two hundred rounds every two weeks. Really fast set up this way.

When your are using any tool head make sure that thing is right when it goes into temporary storage. Don't do it? One of the major payoffs for the extra tool heads goes out the window.

 

[Havok7416]

I have a 550 and I'm counting up 16 separate toolheads loading 18 calibers (.38/.357 and .40/10mm are done using adaptor plates from a guy who builds such things). I also have a dedicated toolhead for decap. I think there are currently 5 or 6 powder measures with plans to acquire 1-3 more.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm debating if I need a bunch of powder measures or not, but it is one less thing to worry about changing out.

You have three options to consider to have the powder measure set up for a particular cartridge load.

I. Get a powder measure with interchangeable metering inserts. The Hornady L-N-L and the new RCBS Quick change Uniflow powder measures have this feature. You buy a metering insert for each cartridge that you load and pop it in the measure when loading that cartridge.

2. Get a powder measure with a micrometer metering insert. You must record your setting for each cartridge that you load so that you can re-set the metering insert the next time you load that cartridge.

3. Have a powder measure for each cartridge that you load. You can keep the powder measure installed in the die plate and pre-set for that cartridge.

For Options 1 and 2, depending on the cartridges loaded, you may have to change the metering drum between the large and small cavity.

Any of the three options works. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Pick the option that best suits your reloading process and pocket book. Be happy and reload away.

 

[Kaldor]

Lots of LnL bushings
2 powder drops, one set for pistol, one for rifle.

 

[Walkalong]

2. Get a powder measure with a micrometer metering insert. You must record your setting for each cartridge that you load so that you can re-set the metering insert the next time you load that cartridge.

Bingo. At least fort me anyway. I do use three measures though. 10X for pistol, BR-30 for small/medium rifle, Hornady (Not micrometer) for large rifle like .458 Win Mag.

 

[wally]

I have a pair of Dillon 650 one set for .45ACP the other 9mm. I recently got a .40 S&W change kit. For other calibers (10mm, .38Super, .38/.357, .380) use my Lee Classic turret where the caliber change only costs about $10 added to the cost of the dies.

 

[GW Staar]

You have three options to consider to have the powder measure set up for a particular cartridge load.

For Options 1 and 2, depending on the cartridges loaded, you may have to change the metering drum between the large and small cavity.

Only one tiny correction, There's only one metering drum on the new RCBS Quickchange. small/large cavity is part of the metering stems on that one. That's the feature that tweaked my interest to try it.....changing drums isn't one of my favorite pastimes. That's why I had so many of the old uniflows ..... drum-size specific. No longer feel the need for a measure for each drum size.

Below....Clockwise from top left" Drop tube, one size Quick Change Drum, small cavity measuring stem, large cavity measuring stem, powder dump stem.

 

[9mmepiphany]

There's only one metering drum on the new RCBS Quickchange. small/large cavity is part of the metering stems on that one.

Looks very interesting.

When I got my Hornady LNL AP, he was only using the Pistol drum and had no idea where the Rifle drum was...he was in the process of selling and moving. I didn't complain because it was basically a gift. Little did I know how easy it was to get a Pistol drum, on the after-market, but that the Rifle drum (that comes standard with the powder measure) was pretty rare. I may have to look at adding an RCBS powder measure to my LNL

 

[cfullgraf]

I may have to look at adding an RCBS powder measure to my LNL

That should be doable.

I have the Hornady L-N-L, Redding 10-X, and the old style RCBS Uniflow adapted to run on my Hornady L-N-L progressive press. They also work on my RCBS Pro2000.

I prefer the Hornady case activated system over the RCBS version but the RCBS version will work on the Hornady press.

I think the Hornady case activated powder measure system is a license built version of the RCBS case activated powder measure system.

GW Staar could answer if the case activated system for the Quick Change Uniflow is still the same as for the older Uniflow.

As a side note, I like the micrometer adjuster metering stems.

There's only one metering drum on the new RCBS Quickchange. small/large cavity is part of the metering stems on that one.

Cool. An improvement over swapping out metering drums.

 

[GW Staar]

That should be doable.

I have the Hornady L-N-L, Redding 10-X, and the old style RCBS Uniflow adapted to run on my Hornady L-N-L progressive press. They also work on my RCBS Pro2000.

I prefer the Hornady case activated system over the RCBS version but the RCBS version will work on the Hornady press.

It does have a couple of pluses.....The Hornady c.a. system has a milder spring which makes it easier to engage/disengage from the powder die. For some reason RCBS believe in using a spring suitable for he-men only. Annoying to weaklings like me. Hornady's c.a. linkage has a helpful slot cut out of the linkage where it connects to the powder measure. RCBS really should add that.....some users "fix" that with a dremel cutter.....I haven't yet....maybe this winter I'll get a round toit.

The slot means only a loosening of the thumb screw is necessary instead of having to totally remove said screw on the RCBS to lift off and separate the hopper.

Hornady use to have a PTX that Pro 2000 users "borrowed", but RCBS listened to our complaints and actually make PTX's that improve on the Hornady design, by adding a "M" die expansion feature.......so then Hornady recent changed their PTX's to include a similar one (pioneered by Mr. Bullet Feeder's similar PTX's for Dillons)

I think the Hornady case activated powder measure system is a license built version of the RCBS case activated powder measure system.

GW Staar could answer if the case activated system for the Quick Change Uniflow is still the same as for the older Uniflow.

I do think Hornady and RCBS have "shared" in these products. RCBS invented the Uniflow a long time before Hornady added their P.M. of a similar design....and you can Frankenstein some of the inside parts.....I have. As for the case-activated linkage, RCBS had another version on their early progressive renditions, and it didn't work worth a d...mn. So I'm pretty sure Hornady was the original inventer of the one both companies use today.

So my guess is Hornady licenced the Uniflow and RCBS licenced the c.a. linkage........so maybe it's a wash now.

And yes, the case-activated system is the same on my Pro Chucker 7 which comes with the Quick Change, as the one that came with my Pro 2000.

As a side note, I like the micrometer adjuster metering stems.

Yes....beats the hell out of stems without mics if you have to adjust them over and over for different cases/bullets. It's the adjusting them over and over that I don't miss.

 

[cfullgraf]

That should be doable.

I have the Hornady L-N-L, Redding 10-X, and the old style RCBS Uniflow adapted to run on my Hornady L-N-L progressive press. They also work on my RCBS Pro2000.

I forgot, the powder measures work on my Dillon BL550 as well.

 

[billybob44]

Dillon 550
14 tool heads loaded with dies-Some duplication as in 38 Spl. and also 357 Mag., 40 S&W and also 10MM, 44 Special and also 44 Magnum...I hate resetting dies...Bill.

 

[9mmepiphany]

With the number of tool heads that seem common for Dillon users, I think the current availability of after-market toolheads would be a godsend

 

[Havok7416]

With the number of tool heads that seem common for Dillon users, I think the current availability of after-market toolheads would be a godsend

Aftermarket toolhead stands are common. The problem I would have with most aftermarket support for my Dillon is that I lose the warranty. I realize there's almost zero need for a warranty on their toolhead. I guess I just prefer OEM equipment.