This may have been covered in previous posts, but I would like to hear from guys who load both rifle and pistol ammo. I only load rifle cartridges. Do you use the same press for both? Do you have one dedicated to pistol and the other rifle? I have an RCBS Single Stage Press. Do I just need the dies? How much different, if any, is loading pistol vs rifle ammo. Do some press brands work better for pistol? Thanks for your help.
Presses rifle/pistol
- Thread starter Sniper66
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I have loaded everything I load with the same RCBS Rockchucker press I bought in 1970.
All you need is another set of dies & shell holder for the caliber in question.
The main differance in rifle & pistol is the number of dies used.
Most rifles use a sizer and a seater.
Most hangun calibers use a sizer die, an expander/belling die, and a seater/crimp die.
It is well explained in every reloading manual.
rc
All you need is another set of dies & shell holder for the caliber in question.
The main differance in rifle & pistol is the number of dies used.
Most rifles use a sizer and a seater.
Most hangun calibers use a sizer die, an expander/belling die, and a seater/crimp die.
It is well explained in every reloading manual.
rc
greyling22
Member
you can load your pistol on a single just like your rifle, but since you don't have to trim or lube pistol cases, and powder weight is not as critical, they can be more quickly loaded on auto indexing turrets or progressive presses.
if you're not loading many cases, I'd just buy the dies and use your single. if you are going to reload in large quantities, I'd look for something faster, but you'll still need to buy dies. So I'd say buy the dies, reload on your single a while, then watch a youtube video on a lee turret press or a dillon or hornady progressive and see if that appeals to you.
if you're not loading many cases, I'd just buy the dies and use your single. if you are going to reload in large quantities, I'd look for something faster, but you'll still need to buy dies. So I'd say buy the dies, reload on your single a while, then watch a youtube video on a lee turret press or a dillon or hornady progressive and see if that appeals to you.
I think you will get burned out soon on a SS but if you don't mind paying shipping twice it doesn't hurt to try. the mane thing is ether a measure or scope to speed it up.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a Load Master myself. No complaints of my Pro1000 tho.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a Load Master myself. No complaints of my Pro1000 tho.
rfwobbly
Member
Like RC said, you can load everything you need on a single-stage press. AND, even if you bought the fanciest, whiz-bang progressive tomorrow, you'd still need the services of that single-stage press.
Volume is the key. Where you might grow tired of the single stage is if you decided to start shooting 1000 rounds of a single caliber per week. As long as you're not chasing a national pistol championship title the press you have will do just fine.
Volume is the key. Where you might grow tired of the single stage is if you decided to start shooting 1000 rounds of a single caliber per week. As long as you're not chasing a national pistol championship title the press you have will do just fine.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The thing is, I like using 50 round loading blocks.
I like to be able to look in 50 charged cases and compare the powder levels in all 50 of them before seating bullets.
I like having never blown up a gun, or had a squib load in 50 years.
And thats more then a lot of progressive press owners today can say!
rc
I like to be able to look in 50 charged cases and compare the powder levels in all 50 of them before seating bullets.
I like having never blown up a gun, or had a squib load in 50 years.
And thats more then a lot of progressive press owners today can say!
rc
Arkansas Paul
Member
Me 2 amigo. I may get a decent turret eventually, but I don't ever really see me going progressive. For one, I just don't shoot the volume to justify it. A normal range trip is somewhere around 100 rounds for me, and frankly I like the process of loading. I can load about that many rounds in about an hour, and it's almost as fun as shooting to me.
BigGreenZ_71
Member
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I reload 270 winchester, 41 mag pistol, and 9mm pistol rounds all on my rcbs Rockchucker. No issues here.
4895
Member
I went progressive to save time when reloading large batches of pistol ammo. I can't afford to shoot 500 rounds every week, so I still use the single stage for certain pistol calibers. You may tend to make 50 rounds per hour with a single stage more or less, but you will find things to help you. It really comes down to time and money. If you are spending more time loading 50 rounds of ammo than cleaning the yard (who would think of it?) and pay the paper boy $20 to rake leaves, you are not saving money. It is what you make of it and a single stage is absolutely fine for loading any ammo.
Cheap, Fast, Match Grade...Pick one.
Cheap, Fast, Match Grade...Pick one.
Salmoneye
Member
All I have ever used in 30 years is a Lee Hand Loader...
MrCountyCop
Member
I only load 45 ACP, 223, and 38 spl but they are all loaded on a RCBS RC single stage. Like RC, I load 1 or 2 50 round loading blocks at a time to see the powder in each one before moving on to seating. Lotta dies changes but no KB's or ND's in the two years I have been reloading.
Blue68f100
Member
I used a SS press for 35+ years till I started shooting pistol's more. Then moved to a LNL-AP to save time and wear & tear on my elbow and bad back.
There is nothing wrong with SS press and they still have there uses if you move to a progressive. SS press are faster to use if you only loading a few rounds that your AP is not setup for.
There is nothing wrong with SS press and they still have there uses if you move to a progressive. SS press are faster to use if you only loading a few rounds that your AP is not setup for.
I have an antique Lyman All American on which I load about 75% of my pistol ammo. It has four stations so I can load auto ammo and have the taper crimp die in the fourth hole. I use a Rockchucker for most of my rifle ammo. I load it in smaller batches. I also have a pair of Lyman Spar Ts, which I keep set up for the stuff I don't load very often...32 S&W long, 38 Super, etc. I have a pair of Lee Pro 1000s which I would sell for a song as I'm tired of tipped primers, misfed primers, and a lousy method of refilling primers. The case feeder has issues also. Shotshells, I use a Grabber by MEC for trap loads (several thousand a year) and a trio of 600/700 series for 12 and 20 ga slugs and 410s. Too many presses, too little time.
I'm satisfied with all I have but the Lees.
I'm satisfied with all I have but the Lees.
Hangingrock
Member
I have (3) Dillon progressive units and (1) Redding single stage press. If you view hand loading as a hobby and time constraint is not a consideration then a single stage is applicable for your needs. On the other hand I reload in order to shoot. Volume quality ammunition within a reasonable amount of time is my requirement thus progressive loaders.
My original Rock Chucker ('81 vintage) got dedicated to pistol rounds when I put a PiggyBack unit on it. It actually works very well and has an extra hole to mount a powder checker die.
All my rifle loads still get made one at a time in another Rock Chucker or the bigger Redding press I use for sizing the big magnums. I also have a Harrell turret press for light work and an arbor press for using Wilson seating dies on the 'good stuff'.
All my rifle loads still get made one at a time in another Rock Chucker or the bigger Redding press I use for sizing the big magnums. I also have a Harrell turret press for light work and an arbor press for using Wilson seating dies on the 'good stuff'.
I use my Lee classic cast to reload everything I shoot. I am not a competition shooter just a hog hunter and weekend warrior pistol shooter so volume is not a huge concern for me.
I load for 30-06, 30-30, .32 Win special, .45 Colt, and .45 Acp
ID
I load for 30-06, 30-30, .32 Win special, .45 Colt, and .45 Acp
ID
I load everything on my LNL now. Anything from a 25 round test group of .32 ACP to 500 .223s, 9MMs, .38s, .357s, or .45s, to 50 .458s, or anything in between.
I loaded 25 test rounds of .357 last night. Get out bullets, get out some pre-sized/prepped/primed brass, dump powder in the hopper, dial in the charge weight, run 15 to 20 charges through using pre-primed cases and then check the charge weight. Pop the expander, seater, and crimp die in the press, and load em up.
My cases are sized and primed in advance. I just grab a few cases and run off a small test batch, or grab a box of 500 or so and load them up with a proven load. Loaded 1K .38 Spls not long ago. Did it in two sessions.
I loaded 25 test rounds of .357 last night. Get out bullets, get out some pre-sized/prepped/primed brass, dump powder in the hopper, dial in the charge weight, run 15 to 20 charges through using pre-primed cases and then check the charge weight. Pop the expander, seater, and crimp die in the press, and load em up.
My cases are sized and primed in advance. I just grab a few cases and run off a small test batch, or grab a box of 500 or so and load them up with a proven load. Loaded 1K .38 Spls not long ago. Did it in two sessions.
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