Now that I have a progressive, do I need my single stage?

[Rusty_Rivers_911]

Howdy all.

I've read this website for a long time, but just registered. I have had a hornady single stage press for a long time, and just came across a great deal on an older LNLAP reloader that I cleaned up and now functions great.

I use my work bench for all projects in the garage, but am wondering if I sacrifice and mount both presses on the bench, or just mount the progressive press. I load anything from 9mm to 300 win mag and all in between.

Debating to sell single stage, and just mounting the progressive instead of losing workbench area and mounting both- do I need both?

When I want to load accurate rounds, I could use my digital scale and precisely measure powder and brass length/trimming etc and still use the progressive to prep and then seat bullets. Or I could mount my single stage on a little work bench I could build.

I'm waiting for a few small parts to arrive in the mail then I will be able to use the progressive. I didnt buy the bullet or case feeder, just the press and powder drop attachments.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Rusty

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Welcome to THR. As far as I'm concerned you need your single stage no matter what other press you have. Most of us have a single stage sitting somewhere to do piece work or to load some obscure caliber we can't load on the progressive.
You can always drill the holes and mount it then take it back off until you need it, then it won't be in your way for other projects.

I would not get rid of it, I have two progressives and still use my single stage for a lot of things.

 

[jmorris]

I have or have had just about every progressive press one can buy and yet the last press I bought was another single stage.

Save it for a year or so and if you still haven't used it by then, then you can sell it. At the very least wait until after the post election panic sets in, you'll get more for it.

 

[splattergun]

I do all my rifle cartridge reloading on my single stage press, and weighing each charge, in order to maintain control of each step.

Many progressive or turret owners use SS presses for utility chores like decapping before tumbling.

Keep it, mounted on a piece of plywood so that you can easily mount it and remove it using C clamps.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, in my opinion, it is handy to have a single stage press around. There are tasks that are needed once in a while that just cannot be done well on a progressive.

Things like removing a live primer for some reason, pulling a bullet with a collet bulling die, trimming with a trim die, depriming cases with no other actions being done, forming wildcat cases, loading cartridges that require only a few rounds that it does not make sense buying all the progressive components and more.

I have several progressives but still load most of my rifle cartridges on my single stage. I have an old single stage that I leave set up with a universal depriming die. It gets used quite frequently for depriming purposes.

I mount all my presses on free standing floor stands which makes it handy to move a press not in use out of the way. An option I prefer but bench mounting a press is a good way to go. But, you build a stand for your single stage press and store it out of the way and clear of the bench when not in use.

Or, as Tightgroup Tiger suggested, drill holes in your bench and mount the single stage when needed if bench space is at a premium.

 

[bbqreloader]

Absolutely keep it. I use mine when I run test loads, no need to ramp up my LNL for 30-40 rounds of test ammo and/or new powder. I also like to deprime and size seperately so I can check my cases too.
Plus it's a great back up for if/when something happens that the progressive goes down.

 

[evtSmtx]

+1 to what bbqreloader said

 

[Reloadron]

I still have and use my old Rockchucker press. The thought of getting rid of it naver crossed my mind. Unless you really need the money for something else why get rid of it? The best and most accurate loads I make run off that old Rockchucker.

Ron

 

[thomas15]

You can buy a brand new Hornady single stage for about $125.00

So the question has to be asked, how much money could you realistically get for it? Let's say you get $75.00 Is not having the press worth $75.00? I say no, as others have said there is a use for a single stage when you mainly use a progressive.

 

[25-5]

Although I have kept my Rock Chucker, I haven't used it for thirty years. I use a Dillon 450 as a progressive and as a single stage. For rifle I size,
de-prime, and seat. Same goes for a few pistol test loads. Powder and primer done the manual way.
Good reasons to keep the single stage have been mentioned, however, reloading is not one of them as far a the Dillon is concerned.

 

[Dudedog]

Welcome to THR,
Lots of great people here.

Since you have the SS I would say keep it. Never can tell when it will come in handy.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Keep it, I bought a Lee Classic Turret in December, but still find many uses for the Pacific Multi Power C, including, but not limited too, loading rifle shells.

You can thank us later.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[orionengnr]

I know that the conventional wisdom is to keep the SS. Not sure my experience supports that position.

I have had a Rock Chucker for nearly ten years now, and I can remember using it twice--once to see if it worked and once to put together probably 50 10mm rounds.

Not sure why I did it that way. It was a lot slower, and I obviously already had dies, so I could have done it on the 550. Maybe I didn't yet have the 10mm 550 shell holder, or maybe I didn't have a spare tool head? That problem has since been resolved.

I have actually lent the RC for a while to a guy who was interested in handloading, but he didn't follow through and I got it back. Offered it to another recently.

I wouldn't get much for it, and it don't each much hay, as a friend would say.
Think I'm with this guy:

Although I have kept my Rock Chucker, I haven't used it for thirty years. I use a Dillon 450 as a progressive and as a single stage. For rifle I size,de-prime, and seat. Same goes for a few pistol test loads. Powder and primer done the manual way.
Good reasons to keep the single stage have been mentioned, however, reloading is not one of them as far a the Dillon is concerned.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've still got my Rockchucker that I was given in 1975 when I started reloading at the age of 15. I still use it as a depriming station. The majority of my rifle loads I put together on a Redding Ultra Mag. About the only rifle cartridges I load on my Dillon are 5.56/.223 and .308, all my other rifle calibers are loaded on a single stage.

Chuck

 

[Bartojc]

I started with a Lee Classic Turret, and I wish I had a single stage. I'd keep it if I were you.

Jeff


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Walkalong]

It will come in handy. Hang onto it.

Welcome to THR

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use a Lee Classic Turret Press and a RCBS Rockchucker and I use both. I load handgun ammo and sometimes .223 ammo on the Lee and other rifle ammo on the RCBS. There are times I load 30-06 ammo for the Garand on the turret press too. I personally feel there will always be a use for a good single stage press.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I started with a Hornady LNL AP and later added a single stage (Lee Classic Cast) of odd task...I don't have a shell plate for all the calibers I reload, only the handgun calibers that I shoot alot of... so I'd recommend keeping the single stage.

If you're pressed for bench space, consider the Inline Fabrications Ultramount with the interchangeable top plates and switch out whichever press you'd like to use

 

[newfalguy101]

I do all my rifle cartridge reloading on my single stage press, and weighing each charge, in order to maintain control of each step.

Many progressive or turret owners use SS presses for utility chores like decapping before tumbling.

Keep it, mounted on a piece of plywood so that you can easily mount it and remove it using C clamps.

Sounds like solid advice to me, AND also addresses your limited bench space

 

[GarySTL]

If you're concerned about bench space, Inline Fabrication makes a nice mount system with interchangeable top plates. One base and as many top plates as you need, one for each press. I interchange my LnL and my Iron Press in about 30 seconds.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Rusty Rusty Rusty.

Keep your old single-stage. I have a Dillon 550b, a Rockchucker, and a Lee Classic Turret.

The single-stage is very handy. I reload all my hunting rifle cartridges on the single.

Keep it. At least for a year as I read in one of the posts above. It is so handy to have around.

BTW - welcome to the high road. It is good to have you onboard.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hondo 60]

I bought a progressive 4+ years ago.
I still have (and still use) my single stage on occasion.

I would suggest you not get rid of it.
You most likely will find use for it.
(atleast I did & still do)

 

[Rusty_Rivers_911]

Wow!! I sure am glad I joined THR. Im going to take the advice, keep the single stage, mount it to plywood and attach to my bench via C-clamps when needed. Sounds like for precision purposes or even depriming crimped in primers with a universal depriming die this thing will be needed.

Additionally, your right. I paid a couple hundred for the initial kit, but that included the press, scale, etc for reloading. Selling the press alone wont get me alot.

Thanks to all for the advice, Im going to pay it forward and help others with any questions on THR.

Take care all!

Rusty

 

[Crashbox]

For what it's worth, I started reloading with an LnL AP, then bought a single-stage a month or two later because operations like decapping, resizing large rifle cases, etc. are often better performed on a single-stage IMO.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Wow!! I sure am glad I joined THR. Im going to take the advice, keep the single stage, mount it to plywood and attach to my bench via C-clamps when needed. Sounds like for precision purposes or even depriming crimped in primers with a universal depriming die this thing will be needed.

Additionally, your right. I paid a couple hundred for the initial kit, but that included the press, scale, etc for reloading. Selling the press alone wont get me alot.

Thanks to all for the advice, Im going to pay it forward and help others with any questions on THR.

Take care all!

Rusty

I agree with what you said. You can also process military primer pockets on a single stage press.