twice barrel
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2009
- Messages
- 226
A little background:
I started handloading for shotguns around 1970 using single-stage Texan presses, then Bair Hydraulic progessives at a range and a Bair-Pacific DL366 at home - thousands of reloads. Lots of freebie paper cases, fiber wads and then power piston/AA wads in both Peters High-brass and Win AA hulls.
Around 1978 I started metallic for rifles and some revolvers. Stopped in the 80's and restarted in the 90's quitting around 1996. Lots of casting bullets for revolvers (357mag, 44 mag) and rifles shooting 44mag. Got into archery and blackpowder and ceased reloading for metallic around 1995.
Now I'm ready to pick it back up but for auto-pistols. I've scoured the internet, read a cagillion threads, and viewed some truly neat videos - particularly the Lee loaders. Some of these appear much more capable than the one's I remember but in the end I still have my doubts. The videos primarily demonstrate someone who "has it down" running cases on either their turret press or their progressive press. Then as in now many folks have various opinions (some strong) about them.
My question(s):
If a man is using a turret press; how much faster is he than a good single station with Hornady's Loc-n-Load preparing 100 rounds when he takes the time to trim his once-fired and resized cases first, clean primer pockets, etc.?
Same question for a progressive Lee loader - take your pick?
Reason I ask is because its a step I would probably go thru just because I'm anal about having clean cases all resized, trimmed to same length, chamfered and deburred BEFORE I start stuffing them with powder and lead.
Most of the videos don't address this and I wonder if this process impedes the production enough that if someone is going to do this they will not benefit enough from a turret or progressive's rapid reload capability?
I'm not going to work at seeing just how fast I can get because I feel getting in a rush is dangerous yet I sure can appreciate the efficiency a smooth operating progressive might provide. Before I take the plunge again I'd appreciate some honest feedback.
Thanks in advance!
Regards,
TB
I started handloading for shotguns around 1970 using single-stage Texan presses, then Bair Hydraulic progessives at a range and a Bair-Pacific DL366 at home - thousands of reloads. Lots of freebie paper cases, fiber wads and then power piston/AA wads in both Peters High-brass and Win AA hulls.
Around 1978 I started metallic for rifles and some revolvers. Stopped in the 80's and restarted in the 90's quitting around 1996. Lots of casting bullets for revolvers (357mag, 44 mag) and rifles shooting 44mag. Got into archery and blackpowder and ceased reloading for metallic around 1995.
Now I'm ready to pick it back up but for auto-pistols. I've scoured the internet, read a cagillion threads, and viewed some truly neat videos - particularly the Lee loaders. Some of these appear much more capable than the one's I remember but in the end I still have my doubts. The videos primarily demonstrate someone who "has it down" running cases on either their turret press or their progressive press. Then as in now many folks have various opinions (some strong) about them.
My question(s):
If a man is using a turret press; how much faster is he than a good single station with Hornady's Loc-n-Load preparing 100 rounds when he takes the time to trim his once-fired and resized cases first, clean primer pockets, etc.?
Same question for a progressive Lee loader - take your pick?
Reason I ask is because its a step I would probably go thru just because I'm anal about having clean cases all resized, trimmed to same length, chamfered and deburred BEFORE I start stuffing them with powder and lead.
Most of the videos don't address this and I wonder if this process impedes the production enough that if someone is going to do this they will not benefit enough from a turret or progressive's rapid reload capability?
I'm not going to work at seeing just how fast I can get because I feel getting in a rush is dangerous yet I sure can appreciate the efficiency a smooth operating progressive might provide. Before I take the plunge again I'd appreciate some honest feedback.
Thanks in advance!
Regards,
TB
Last edited: