I really like my single stage press.

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Whirlwind06

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I know at some point I'll buy a turret or progressive press. But since I have been reloading for less then a year now. I really like the single stage.

I have the Lee press that came with the reloading book. I have since bought a the Lee auto disk power measure. I like the fact that all of my charged cases are sitting on the tray before I start seating bullets. I can visually check each case to verify that the power level is uniform.

I'm sure once I get a faster press I'll be amazed how fast I can reload. But right now I think a slower pace is a good thing for me.

Sorry just felt like sharing ;)
 
Good to hear. Welcome to one of the most addictive hobbies there is - take your time and have fun. When it's time to upgrade, you'll know it and there are many people here who are willing to help you when that time comes.
 
I'm sure once I get a faster press I'll be amazed how fast I can reload. But right now I think a slower pace is a good thing for me.
Click to expand...

I wish everybody that wants to get into reloading would follow your path. There's a lot to learn at first, why complicate things by starting out with a progressive?
 
I think a single stage press is a good place to start too.

Besides, there are a lot of things you can do with a single stage press besides reloading - like bullet pulling.
 
I felt the same way until i wanted to begin loading 9mm. There was something about having 5000 pieces of brass sitting on the bookshelf that made me cringe when i thought about doing batch work. I still do rifle on the single stage, but enjoy my classic turret for everything else.
 
Whirlwind06,

I very glad to see that you are starting with the basics and not just in a rush to crank out rounds. I have a single stage Rock Chucker that I have had for 25 years and still use even though I have a progressive. I have use my single stage to resize all rifle since I don't want the lube on my progressive and also use it to load the calibers I don't shoot to much of such as 22-50, 30-06 and 44 mag.

Since you didn't start out with a turret press you may be like me and decide that since you already have a good single stage press that a progressive may be a better choice.
 
what does the " Lee auto disk power measure" thing do?

I haven't bought my kit yet, want to make sure I get all teh stuff I need.
 
The Lee auto disk mounts to the charging / sizing die.
It gives a consistent power charge every time you pull down the press.
I started out using the Lee dippers so it was a big step up for me :)

All of the reloading companies have a similar device.
 
I too wish that everyone would start out on a single stage press. I have been reloading for many years, and still just My Lee Classic Cast Press. This is the third single stage press that I have used, and I can load fast enough with it, for what I shoot.:D
 
You might be surprised... the single stage press might be all you'll need. I had a pregressive shotshell press when I was shooting 200+ rounds at the traprange every week. When I decided to try my hand at reloading metallic cartridges, I decided to start small and got a Lee hand press and some carbide dies to reload .38Spl, which I only shoot about 100 rounds/mo. It works just fine and takes up hardly any space.

One handy accessory I picked up was a reloading block.

http://mtmcase-gard.com/products/reloading/reload.html

It makes it very easy to methodically and carefully reload my .38s. Best to be slow and safe than to have a KaBOOM ruin your firearm and maybe yourself. :eek:
 
Definately a good place to start with a single stage or a turret. You will probably want a faster press in the future. I have been loading rifle and pistol on a single stage for about 10 years. This winter I was given a SDB for pistol and it is a world of difference. Last week I had to load up some more rifle rounds and I forgot what a slower process it is. It is time to get a turret. the good thing about the single stage is if you upgrade, there is always a use for the old one. Good luck in your new hobby
 
Vit. G: 9mm on a single isn't that bad.

I currently do not own a 9mm (I know, I'm sorrly lacking, but money's tight), but a friend of mine does. He also was paid for some landscaping work in reloading supplies and components, including 9mm brass, projectiles, powder, and dies. He didn't have any use for them (he doesn't reload), and didn't have much luck finding someone to buy them from him. So, we made a deal; he gave me all the stuff, and I got to keep the leftovers after I loaded up all the components for him. Not a bad deal. I got the use of his Sig 226 for a few weeks to make sure the reloads worked correctly, and then in the course of a football game (on TV, great background noise, and I can just stop for a few seconds break every once-and-a-while) or so, managed to reload about 200 rounds of 9mm; all on a single stage press. Do I want something faster for my pistol work (45, 40, etc), sure, but I just enjoy reloading, so it's no big deal. Would I want to reload several K of 9mm on my single, probably not. But, if I was sitting at home and couldn't get to the range, it would be something to do.

D
 
I use the same Lee press as the OP, and my dad's old Lyman single stage.With the 2, I can reload fast enough to crank out plenty of ammo, but can still get a good "feel" of everything I'm doing, and be able to visually verify each step.Doubt I'll ever really need a progressive (although I do have 2 for shotshells that I'm very familiar with that were dad's also).Do need to spring for a tumbler though....
Very happy with the Lee Perfect Powder measure too, much faster than weighing out every charge by hand.
 
I used a RCBS single stage for about 15 years, I never got into reloading hnadgun ammunition- its just too painstakingly slow for me on a single stage.
I recently got a Lee Classic Turret and my single stage press is only used for sizing cast bullets or as a stand for the Uniflow powder measure.
 
A good choice

I have a Dillon 550 and love it. I also have an RCBS Big Max and use it a lot for case prep work. I started out on a Rock Chucker and sold it. The point is, you may not reload enough to warrant a progressive type press. I like to size 223 cases on the RCBS. Then there's the trimming. These steps need to be done prior to loading the case. Once that's done, I've got a choice of loading them on the progressive or using the Big Max. I think the Big Max was one of the best presses ever made by RCBS. With it's O design, I have tilted the press back and the brass cases fall into a bin by gravity. Handy time saver.
 
I went the opposite when I began reloading , starting with a progressive - a Dillon Square Deal back when they were $135 ready to load one caliber! It was and still is , a pistol reloader only. The simplicity and the self indexing made it relativley mistake free for me and for the high volume pistol shooting I was doing it was the right press at the right time.

It was not until some years later that I began to use the single stage. First a simple Lee C-Press , about $15. Now I use my Lee Classic cast press for my rifle reloads and it loads excellent quality ammo.
 
For my rifles all I 've ever used since the 60s is a single stage press. For a hundred rounds a week I don't need speed, just quality. Now, if I were going thru 1000 rounds a week for the pistols, I'd be upgrading quite quickly I'm sure.
 
I reload pistol. But I only need 300 rounds a month.
I can crank out 200 rounds in about an hour and a half.

That is doing the actual reloading. I spend about 2 hours a month decapping every 9mm case I have. Then I inspect and re-prime them while I'm sitting in front of the TV.
 
You might be surprised... the single stage press might be all you'll need.
Click to expand...

+1, I agree.

I've been reloading on a weekly basis for almost 30 years. I only do 200 --> 300 rounds a week, so I have no need or desire for anything else.

Joe
 
i've been reloading for over 25 years and i still like to use single stage presses.... got two on my bench and like some of the rest i like to look into the cases and compare and be sure each case has the right amount of powder before i seat the bullet...... it does help same time that i got another die body and custom bullet seater from lee for my speed die set..... i can use both presses at the same time to reload .357 mag or .38 spls..........
 
I do pistol cartridge reloading on the rockchucker - the first and only press I have.

I don't use a reloading block, but instead work like this: from left to right,
..pile of primed cases
..RCBS powder drop
..pile of bullets
..rockchucker press.

Grab a case; drop the powder (visually note fall of powder through transluscent guide); quick peek into case to check powder; grab bullet and set on case; insert case in press; seat bullet.

Works for me better and faster than setting all the cases in a loading block and then having to pinch them back out again.

Short of a fully mechanized dillon, I don't think a plain turret press would add appreciably more speed.
 
I started reloading over 30 years ago and still use a single stage press. I do have a turret press I use when I'm loading for seat a bunch and break up the monotony by crimping some.

I have nothing against progressive presses but I think a lot of people use them to pull the handle 50 times and crank out a box of ammo without attention to quality control. Just look at the stories of reversed primers, no powder, etc on any reloading website.

I may be slower but my ammo always works.
 
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