Looking to gain a new skill in reloading ammo. Saving money? Is it a bad idea to buy fired brass?

[The_Quartermaster]

If they can't figure out a progressive, then they won't be able to understand the single stage either then.

 

[50of4064]

Some reasoning why I would teach a person, that had no experience at hand loading, on a single stage press, as opposed to a progressive. It is not because one press is superior over the other, for each has it's merits, but rather the simplicity of a single stage press allows me to focus on the task at hand as opposed to the machine and it's mechanism and movements, bells and whistles as it were. Single Stage llows me to explain say .. cam-over, to a student who has never heard the term.... The student has a better chance to feel it, isolated from the bumps, vibrations and noise that may or not be present on a progressive unit...that may not be the best example but I hope it convays my thought. It allows me to show the student each step of the process, and what each die is intended to accomplish, and how to determine when it is set up correctly and within specifications and when it's not...and how to tell when it's NOT. A single stage press allows me access to my components much more easily should there be a need for access.
So that's what I use when I teach someone.
After all, it's not all about the machine, it should be about passing along the correct and safe practices of handloading . Did I just sound like my Dad?
My two cents

 

[The_Quartermaster]

I first learn learned on a progressive and I must say, there was nothing to be distracted about. No bumps, no noise, no vibrations. In fact as a newb I found the sound of the auto indexing to be rather soothing. You can still learn seeing step by step as there is no rule that says we have to crank as fast as we can place another casing and seat another projectile. There really isn't that much to it. Plus on a pistol setup the flaring is the first step, then powder drop, then seat, then factory crimp. Add either a powder check or a powder lock out die before seating, done. You can go as fast or as slow as you want. I prefer going slow but that's just me. And you can even do one round at a time during the entire processes, as there is still no rule that says you have to keep adding casings after each crank either. Sheesh.

As a testament to the above, I taught a first timer the same way I was taught, with the same type of progressive. He started like I did at a crawl, then soon enough he was walking and then eventually he turned that walk into a sprint. lol, no big deal here.

This is more about "I don't like it being done that way" than anything else. I'd even argue that this could also be a bit about the person having misophonia if the whole "noise, bumps, and vibrations" is a serious issue with them that is obsessive compulsive in nature. YMMV but to each our own then.

 

[Buzznrose]

The way I see it, if setting up and running a progressive is all you know, then you don’t know what you don’t know and what you do know starts to seem easy while what you don’t know seems strange when you eventually learn about it. I call it the Bliss Syndrome: ignorance is bliss as long as you remain in a bubble of ignorance. I saw it with tool operators, programmers, motorcyclists….
So if you learn everything you need to know about reloading using a progressive then it will be easy to do everything you need to do on a progressive and anything else will seem strange and unnatural.
Or am I just way off in left field?

Nope…you are spot on! This is me in a nutshell. And I am happy with my Dillon.

 

[Buzznrose]

OP,

I took reloading up during COVID (worst possible time) but I have some suggestions that worked well for me:

1. Save all brass and ask all your buddies to save brass for you, regardless the cartridge.

2. As brass builds up, get a wet tumble. I went back and forth with wet and dry…wet is much cleaner IMO (no dust!). Start sorting and initial clean with Dawn soap and water.

3. Find a cheap used single stage press and get a Lee depriming die. I deprime everything with it! Then I do second wet tumble with car wash/wax and Lemishine (citric acid). Store clean and dry brass in containers or bags with desiccant packs.

4. Start buying primers as you see them. Same with powder and bullets, but don’t go crazy stocking up until you figure out what you like.

5. The press…I load on a Dillon 550C. It is expensive but I can sell it tomorrow for about what I have spent on it. I prefer the manual indexing model as I take my time and check everything constantly. But I still load 100 rounds of 9MM in under 30 minutes. My single stage is for depriming only at this point.

6. Books and manuals. I won’t argue their value, and I have a couple hard copy manuals and the ABC’s of Reloading, but I’d be lying if I said I read them much. I use the Hodgdon library, the Vihtavuori App, and other web resources much more than my heavy, bulky books.

7. Start out with straight wall cartridges. 9MM, .38/.357, .45, etc., are good cartridges to learn on. Keep your loads middle of the scale.

8. Get a beam scale! I statt d with a Hornady pocket digital scale and it constantly measured way light, meaning I was loading 5.5-6.0 grains when trying to load 4.0. Holy crap! That was bad. Got a beam scale and all is good. I check my Dillon powder throw every 10-12 rounds but it is very consistent with the powders I use. But I’m kinda anal about QC.

9. Find a seasoned reloader to help you set up the press first time. I found that very helpful!

This is a good source of good to know info:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/reloading-library-of-wisdom.649184/


Take your time and be safe!

 

[Espy42]

OP,

9. Find a seasoned reloader to help you set up the press first time. I found that very helpful!

Take your time and be safe!

I'll second this. I spent A LOT of time setting up my Dillon. I constantly had YouTube going on my phone at the bench getting things right.

I read through the ABCs of Reloading twice before I even thought about starting a session.

I do about 150 rounds of 9mm in an hour but I am slow and deliberate. I measure my powder about every 20-25 rounds.

 

[Big Wes]

When I started reloading back in the early 90's I started with a Dillon 550B self taught, didn't know anyone who reloaded their own ammo.I didn't find it difficult to learn how things worked and became proficient in the process. Since then I've aquired 5 presses and the last press I purchased was a Mec Metallic single stage
last year to load small amounts of rifle ammo 308 & 223 for ladder work. I have loaded 223 in quantity on the 650 with no issues. Very enjoyable hobby. Saved money for several years but now at the prices of components, powder, etc. not so much anymore, well you all know how that is these days. Lots of satisfaction in rolling your own though!

 

[Buzznrose]

A few more things that work for me….

1. Value: I’m a frugal person…I pay up for quality where it makes sense, but I don’t chase the “everything has to be the best” mindset. I like RCBS and Hornady dies. Thought about using Dillon or Redding but I’m good with what I have so why pay double? But everything I buy I buy to the quality it should last for many years…which is pretty much all the common brands.

2. I’m not just a reloaded…which is why I bought a progressive press. The reasons I reload are to have the ability to craft my own ammo, give me a useful hobby I can do on crappy days, and to pas on a skill to younger generations. There are guys who reload to shoot, and guys who shoot to reload. I’m the former.

3. I’m taking this hobby slowly due to cost of components. I buy primers like I buy ammo…less when prices are high, and I stock up by the case when they drop. I have not bought any primers below $80/1000 but will double down when the get $60\1000 and continue buying on the way down. Same with powders and bullets. Nothing but common sense, but patience is hard! LOL!

Again, I’m new to this, so consider the source. But at almost 60, I’ve learned a bit about value and patience….

 

[AJC1]

So I'll just put out there what we all forget util there are problems. Get standards for your measuring devices. If your loading 9mm get a precision ground .355 Guage pin and practice with your calipers. Get check weights for your scale, so you really know how much powder your putting in each case. It seems like money you could spend elsewhere but they check and develop your skills and precision.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Lots of good advice here. One more to consider is the PIF tradition here on the THR/H&R forum. PIF is “Pay It Forward,” and a lot of us old-timers, some of the new kids and various wandering Minstrels of the craft post things here that are available to someone in need. Those of us who just want tend to let things go a round or two unclaimed before chiming in but, really, anybody can claim whatever’s up fro grabs. Some folks are generous enough they go out and buy stuff just to give it away. Asking for something isn’t exactly encouraged but it has been done and I don’t think anybody takes offense - I sure don’t. Learned a long time ago, in this life if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Anyway, keep an eye on the PIF thread, check in with the Reloading Wisdom sticky - LOTS of good articles there, if you can take the time to read through some of the longer posts - and if you’ve got a question, just ask. I’m a minimalist so not too helpful in general but some folks here are professionals and own good sized businesses making reloading gear.

Have fun and be safe.

 

[Charlie98]

If they can't figure out a progressive, then they won't be able to understand the single stage either then.

I'm not saying a person can't figure out a progressive, what I'm saying is give a noob reloader a chance to learn the craft. Not all people are mechanically inclined, either.... not that they can't learn, but everyone has a different learning aptitude and method. You throw the basics of safe reloading, AND the task of properly setting up a press like the LNL at the same time... you see? Some people will take to it lickety split, others not so much... and it's not a question of 'maybe they should take up tennis instead.'

Judging by your avatar, you are familiar with the Army, and Army BRM. Do the Drills just hand everyone a rifle and head to Range 1 for qualification? NO!

Going back to the 'right tool for the job.' Yes, a progressive is a fantastic tool... as is a quality single-stage press. I use my single-stage as much as my progressive... it's not a throw back to the Good ole Days, when men were men... but, to use the phrase... the right tool for the job, to handle the task at hand.

This is more about "I don't like it being done that way" than anything else.

No, not really. It's more like 'I don't like it not being done MY way...'

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm not saying a person can't figure out a progressive, what I'm saying is give a noob reloader a chance to learn the craft. Not all people are mechanically inclined, either.... not that they can't learn, but everyone has a different learning aptitude and method. You throw the basics of safe reloading, AND the task of properly setting up a press like the LNL at the same time... you see? Some people will take to it lickety split, others not so much... and it's not a question of 'maybe they should take up tennis instead.'

Judging by your avatar, you are familiar with the Army, and Army BRM. Do the Drills just hand everyone a rifle and head to Range 1 for qualification? NO!

Going back to the 'right tool for the job.' Yes, a progressive is a fantastic tool... as is a quality single-stage press. I use my single-stage as much as my progressive... it's not a throw back to the Good ole Days, when men were men... but, to use the phrase... the right tool for the job, to handle the task at hand.



No, not really. It's more like 'I don't like it not being done MY way...'

If we were going to do things “The Right Way,” every wannabe reloader would start with an 8-cup percolator and a bag of roasted coffee beans. If they can’t make a good cup of coffee then they have no business trying to make safe ammo. Long before the TI’s taught us to use a weapon, they taught us how to walk, how to talk, how to eat, how to dress... Mostly, how to be useful human beings. And it all started with the understanding that there were exactly two ways to do things: the right way, or not at all.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

I'm not saying a person can't figure out a progressive, what I'm saying is give a noob reloader a chance to learn the craft. Not all people are mechanically inclined, either.... not that they can't learn, but everyone has a different learning aptitude and method. You throw the basics of safe reloading, AND the task of properly setting up a press like the LNL at the same time... you see? Some people will take to it lickety split, others not so much... and it's not a question of 'maybe they should take up tennis instead.'

Judging by your avatar, you are familiar with the Army, and Army BRM. Do the Drills just hand everyone a rifle and head to Range 1 for qualification? NO!

Going back to the 'right tool for the job.' Yes, a progressive is a fantastic tool... as is a quality single-stage press. I use my single-stage as much as my progressive... it's not a throw back to the Good ole Days, when men were men... but, to use the phrase... the right tool for the job, to handle the task at hand.



No, not really. It's more like 'I don't like it not being done MY way...'

In bold, it definitely checks out here.

You're basically saying no one can figure out a progressive unless they've been trained on it, yet that also applies to a single stage as well. A new person can and will learn, they have the same chance as they would on a single stage.

The Army was also wrong in so many areas too and taught BRM not by who was the best NCO (most apt) to teach it, but by either who's available or who's turn it is on the DA Form 6. So many duty stations, so many units from CA, CS, to CSS and all FORSCOM, and I can count zero times the elevation wheel on the A2 was being taught.

I digress. You are free to opine just as much as I am but if you try to insist that there's only one way to learn, then I too will keep insisting that it is NOT the case here.

By the off chance, did you not figure it out that this is one these arguments where there is no wrong answer? Because there is none, and that's a fact.

By the by, my single stage is only good for de-capping and sizing. However if I only could have one, see ya single stage. YMMV but the status quo here will not change so I'm going to also agree to disagree with you and leave it at that.

 

[Charlie98]

I digress. You are free to opine just as much as I am but if you try to insist that there's only one way to learn, then I too will keep insisting that it is NOT the case here.

By the off chance, did you not figure it out that this is one these arguments where there is no wrong answer? Because there is none, and that's a fact.

Actually... we do agree in some respects, except you are so busy insisting I'm wrong... or, perhaps, not right.

not that they can't learn, but everyone has a different learning aptitude and method.

Some people may be able to pick up a progressive and run with it, while learning the basics of reloading at the same time... I'm not saying that's an impossibility, just unusual, and particularly so if you take the mentor part out. Again, we aren't learning to crochet pot holders, this is something that can hurt the reloader and perhaps others if it's not done correctly. Yes, you have your opinion, I have mine...

and I can count zero times the elevation wheel on the A2 was being taught.

What's an A2 elevation wheel??? I'm an '80's soldier... we had A1's back in the day. We had to wait until the enemy got in range...

 

[EricBu]

I guess it's time to chime in here....you know, since we had to drag army training in and all;-)

I used to be of the "start on a single" camp, and maybe still am to a certain degree. But these days, the hobby has progressed to the point that progressives are not difficult to learn, and there are more resources. 30 years ago, I had to learn from a crusty old retired CSM who ran the Ft Ord Sportsman's club. Now, there are literally thousands of resources to train. So my new philosophy is..sure, I won't argue that learning on a single is preferable to learn to practice the CRAFT of HAND LOADING... But not everybody wants to learn the craft...they want to minimize the amount of time they are cranking out high volume inexpensive range ammo in common calibers. So for those folks...starting with a progressive is the right decision. Of course, there is no excuse, and nor can I condone, starting with a product that isn't Blue.

BTW, the Army taught casting, patching, and where to place your tools inside, and where to wear your possibles bag as a precursor to BRM...150 years ago. Times change, training processes change, and Army BRM is not what it once was, but is likely better than it ever will be again. So life, changes in technology, and what people want goes. The only thing that doesn't change is that the enemy always gets a vote. Whether the enemy is time, resources, or a literal opposing force....it always gets a vote.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I guess it's time to chime in here....you know, since we had to drag army training in and all;-)

I used to be of the "start on a single" camp, and maybe still am to a certain degree. But these days, the hobby has progressed to the point that progressives are not difficult to learn, and there are more resources. 30 years ago, I had to learn from a crusty old retired CSM who ran the Ft Ord Sportsman's club. Now, there are literally thousands of resources to train. So my new philosophy is..sure, I won't argue that learning on a single is preferable to learn to practice the CRAFT of HAND LOADING... But not everybody wants to learn the craft...they want to minimize the amount of time they are cranking out high volume inexpensive range ammo in common calibers. So for those folks...starting with a progressive is the right decision. Of course, there is no excuse, and nor can I condone, starting with a product that isn't Blue.

BTW, the Army taught casting, patching, and where to place your tools inside, and where to wear your possibles bag as a precursor to BRM...150 years ago. Times change, training processes change, and Army BRM is not what it once was, but is likely better than it ever will be again. So life, changes in technology, and what people want goes. The only thing that doesn't change is that the enemy always gets a vote. Whether the enemy is time, resources, or a literal opposing force....it always gets a vote.

100%! I don’t not use a progressive because I can’t figure it out or don’t understand the processes involved. Just the opposite, I don’t use a progressive because I understand the process extremely well and know it’s not compatible with my shooting, loading, or lifestyle. I shoot seldom, but when I shoot it’s a varied menu - from .32Short to .45Colt, possibly some .32ACP and a .45ACP, possibly a .30Carbine or .351 Winchester, all in one outing. I’m not shooting hundreds of rounds, I’m shooting a dozen or fewer. Of each. I may collect dirty brass until I have enough to process to fill a box or I may load the one or two of each caliber I shot and refill the box they came out of. It’s up to me and I like that flexibility. If I had to reset a progressive for six or ten or two rounds I wouldn’t. But I can sit outside with the hand press or a whack-a-mole and do the same job, just as well, maybe better, than if I had setup a progressive. I don’t have a “reloading room” - the world is my reloading room! - I have a mobile and lightweight reloading setup I can take anywhere, anytime, to reload anything.

I’m not knocking progressives or the cavemen who secure themselves in isolation to use them - but it’s not for me. That’s why I don’t use one. I think any reasonably intelligent human being can learn any task and most can learn it well.

 

[50of4064]

ALLOW ME TO BUY YOU ALL A BEER...

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Actually... we do agree in some respects, except you are so busy insisting I'm wrong... or, perhaps, not right.

Your projection game is pretty strong there.

What's an A2 elevation wheel??? I'm an '80's soldier... we had A1's back in the day. We had to wait until the enemy got in range...

Here is where I explain things as best as I can so that maybe you'll finally be able to understand here. I joined when we were still analog, BDU's, PRC-77's, PASGT, and all grey PT's with ALICE. I left after becoming part of Force 21 and into digital, ACU's, OCP, two more different PT's, a change in APFT standards, molle, RFI's, IBA's, IOTV's, SINGARS, no more irons, etc. And I am telling you that no matter what changed on the technical side it wasn't even that hard. This argument between us is not any different.

Both can be learned and even taught to newcomers, this is more of don't support what I think shouldn't be supported issue with you alone. You're going to have to find a way to accept that your way isn't the only way anymore because that is a fact.

 

[gifbohane]

I understand that for a very long time single stages were the only way to get it done, same for walnut media only for cleaning brass. But things have come a very long way with rotary wet tumbling and progressives.

So I'm a bit perplexed when people say that single stages are better for new people.

What is exactly overwhelming here?

If you intend to reload say 223, there are steps that you have to take that would make a progressive a lot less desirable.

Put shell on press and deprime and size

Do you tumble again to remove lube? When in process?

Take off press and swage or ream out military crimp on pocket

Put on Giraud trimmer to trim, chamfer and deburr

Ream inside of case

Put back on Progressive and powder, seat bullet and (maybe) crimp

Now I could buy a $ 1600+ Dillon to do some or all of these processes on it but..................

Also, I think that the repetitive nature of placing a case on the single stage and pulling the handle 100 times and then repeating the process for each step teaches us a lot.

Also fine tuning each station on a Progressive is also challenging, especially crimping a 9mm with mixed headstamps.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

If you intend to reload say 223, there are steps that you have to take that would make a progressive a lot less desirable.

Put shell on press and deprime and size

Do you tumble again to remove lube? When in process?

Take off press and swage or ream out military crimp on pocket

Put on Giraud trimmer to trim, chamfer and deburr

Ream inside of case

Put back on Progressive and powder, seat bullet and (maybe) crimp

Now I could buy a $ 1600+ Dillon to do some or all of these processes on it but..................

Also, I think that the repetitive nature of placing a case on the single stage and pulling the handle 100 times and then repeating the process for each step teaches us a lot.

Also fine tuning each station on a Progressive is also challenging, especially crimping a 9mm with mixed headstamps.

I've successfully made 1 MOA or less at 100 yards Mk262 clones using just a progressive, so that's simply not true.

Your entire process isn't the same as mine making your argument a false equivalency to argue semantics over.

Now nothing, choosing to make it a monetary issue is a straw man.

You aren't really being taught a lot, just the same as you would with a progressive.

Your "also" is just another fallacy with a bias and that's it. Fine tuning is easy that requires the same tuning that a single stage would use. Plus I've done mixed headstamps before I started separating them and crimping is the same on a progressive as it is for a single stage.

This is again, about one way being deemed incorrectly as the better way than the other.

There is again, no wrong answer on which to to choose from to learn with.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I’ve been watching YouTube videos on that particular press. I will read the manual thanks

Hey Turk, a couple of things to keep in mind. You asked about cost and the thing is, you won’t save money reloading the common 9mm/5.56mm/7/62mm cartridges. The commercial and surplus offerings are just too cheap to compete. What you can do, after some experience and practice, is reload to your specific firearm’s preferences. That’s something the factories can’t do, only because they don’t have your barrel, chamber, breech face, gas tube, etc. etc. to examine and accommodate. You do!
So, aside from making ammo that shoots better in your guns, after some practice and experience, your only other real advantage in reloading is being able to make ammo for very specific to your needs. The factories can load “light” or “hi-vel” or “hunting” ammo but only in very generic terms. As a reloader you can make loads light enough for you, and only you. It’s a matter of customization like any other kind: you know your needs and wants. Only you know those things.
As for the infernal internal constant argumentation over “progressive” versus “single stage,” don’t sweat it. Eventually you’ll probably end up with at least one of each, just to make life easier and accomplis specific tasks more effectively. If you do, you do and you don’t you don’t - no problem.
What we’ve got here is the classic Goldilocks Principle in action: the Goldilocks learning rate is the learning rate that results in efficient, effective and economical application of the lessons being taught, by whatever source and by whatever means. The goal is not to achieve maximum gain but to achieve minimal loss without exposure to catastrophic failure. If you can learn how to reason your way out of a sigle-point-of-failure scenario, it does not prepare you for solving a complex multiple point of failure situation; but if you can reason your way out of enough single point of failure scenarios then eventually you will have learned the skills necessary to solve a complex set of unrelated failures. The equipment is not the point of failure; it’s the process and practice which produces failures. Realizing that is the first step forward. You don’t want too hard or too basic, you want just right.

 

[reddog81]

If you intend to reload say 223, there are steps that you have to take that would make a progressive a lot less desirable.
Put shell on press and deprime and size Yep
Do you tumble again to remove lube? When in process? When finished I wipe off cases with rag
Take off press and swage or ream out military crimp on pocket Only needs to be done first time and only if using crimped brass
Put on Giraud trimmer to trim, chamfer and deburr I chamfer before putting on the press. Maybe not ideal but it works.
Ream inside of case I don't do that
Put back on Progressive and powder, seat bullet and (maybe) crimp already on press...
Also, I think that the repetitive nature of placing a case on the single stage and pulling the handle 100 times and then repeating the process for each step teaches us a lot. Maybe, Maybe not.
Also fine tuning each station on a Progressive is also challenging, especially crimping a 9mm with mixed headstamps. Run the progressive as a turret press until the dies are set where they need to be. If using a single stage press do you adjust the crimp for every piece of brass?

Hopefully my answers embedded above worked... Reloading on a progressive is certainly possible as people have been doing it for decades.

 

[EricBu]

If you intend to reload say 223, there are steps that you have to take that would make a progressive a lot less desirable.

Put shell on press and deprime and size

Do you tumble again to remove lube? When in process?

Take off press and swage or ream out military crimp on pocket

Put on Giraud trimmer to trim, chamfer and deburr

Ream inside of case

Put back on Progressive and powder, seat bullet and (maybe) crimp

Now I could buy a $ 1600+ Dillon to do some or all of these processes on it but..................

Also, I think that the repetitive nature of placing a case on the single stage and pulling the handle 100 times and then repeating the process for each step teaches us a lot.

Also fine tuning each station on a Progressive is also challenging, especially crimping a 9mm with mixed headstamps.

Hmmmm.

Fill case feeder with brass, turn on RT1500, turn on vacuum, turn on autodrive. Dump yesterday's prepped brass into Revo, fill the Revo hoppers. Make coffee. Read email. Add cases to feeder, refill Revo hoppers. Reply to emails. Add cases to feeder. Eat breakfast, refill revo hoppers. Dump 5000 cases of trimmed, decapped, and swaged pieces of brass into cement mixer to tumble again and get the brass shavings off. Read for a while. Take 5,000 pieces of ready to load brass over to the Revolution, and take the 5K finished rounds to the cement mixer. Fill bullet feeder, fill case feeder, fill primer bowl. Start it up. Check email. put the finished ammo in cement mixer and run for 20 minutes. Fill all the hoppers again. Make some phone calls, other business. Fill hoppers. Set up other press, tune the dies. Fill Hoppers. Remove media from finished rounds, and start case gauging. Take the finished batch from the revo, and put in cement mixer for 20 minutes. Finish case gauging everything. Pack in containers. Total time elapsed: 6 hours, rounds made: 10,000. All sub MOA from a 20 inch AR.

Have fun with your hundred a day. The only thing you'll get out of pulling a single stage all day to load .223 that I won't get on an automated progressive is.......carpal tunnel syndrome.

Honestly, .223, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP are case studies in automation and using progressive presses. If you're loading any of those on a single, you either a) don't shoot very much or b) have resource limitations other than time. Time is my greatest resource, and the one I am shortest of....for me loading those calibers on a single stage simply makes no sense at all. None.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Hmmmm.

Fill case feeder with brass, turn on RT1500, turn on vacuum, turn on autodrive. Dump yesterday's prepped brass into Revo, fill the Revo hoppers. Make coffee. Read email. Add cases to feeder, refill Revo hoppers. Reply to emails. Add cases to feeder. Eat breakfast, refill revo hoppers. Dump 5000 cases of trimmed, decapped, and swaged pieces of brass into cement mixer to tumble again and get the brass shavings off. Read for a while. Take 5,000 pieces of ready to load brass over to the Revolution, and take the 5K finished rounds to the cement mixer. Fill bullet feeder, fill case feeder, fill primer bowl. Start it up. Check email. put the finished ammo in cement mixer and run for 20 minutes. Fill all the hoppers again. Make some phone calls, other business. Fill hoppers. Set up other press, tune the dies. Fill Hoppers. Remove media from finished rounds, and start case gauging. Take the finished batch from the revo, and put in cement mixer for 20 minutes. Finish case gauging everything. Pack in containers. Total time elapsed: 6 hours, rounds made: 10,000. All sub MOA from a 20 inch AR.

Have fun with your hundred a day. The only thing you'll get out of pulling a single stage all day to load .223 that I won't get on an automated progressive is.......carpal tunnel syndrome.

Honestly, .223, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP are case studies in automation and using progressive presses. If you're loading any of those on a single, you either a) don't shoot very much or b) have resource limitations. Time is my greatest resource, and the one I am shortest of....for me loading those calibers on a single stage simply makes no sense at all. None.

Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone going from, “I’m thinking about reloading,” to “Load up the RT1500 and make 10,000 perfect rounds a day,” in one step with no tutoring other than YouTube videos and a forum post. Incredible! You’re a real freak of nature.

 

[film495]

I use a single stage press. I have a turret press I inhereted and I've still never mounted it. If I loaded more I'd probably set it up, but - to change cartrdiges you have to swap out the dies anyways, so - anyway I just never advanced to it and I appreciate the simplicity of the single stage. It makes me go slower, think about what I'm doing, and I feel like it makes me less prone to errors.